The Annual Rumble Festival (Part 4) - The Final Clash

The duo exited the arena apprehensive about breaking their winning streak. Tension gripped the onlookers while they exchanged intense gazes.

"Hey Kazuki, you can do it."

A young man in the audience cheered, and a wave of support echoed in Kazuki's favor.

"You hear that, you little..., the crowd prefers me."

Kazuki remarked, seemingly taunting Ace. Unfazed, Ace, the young student, maintained his usual icy glare, visibly taken aback by Kazuki's words.

"Hey hey, chill out."

The commentator intervened upon sensing the escalating animosity between the two students.

"Now, go back to your seat and enjoy a break before your next match."

They both went back to their seats along with other students in the arena. They both watched each other closely as they attempted to evaluate their abilities.

Of course, they couldn't find anything that spoke of their abilities. They were both about to walk blindly into a match.

They had both completed their preparation, but due to the limited time, Ace opted for a brief nap. It proved to be a pleasant rest. The cheers from the spectators echoed like rain, soothing Ace's mind as he closed his eyes.

"Now, the next match will begin," voiced the commentator.

"Ace."

"Ace!"

"Ace!!"

Ace finally opened his eyelids, revealing eyes accustomed to darkness and adjusting to the light.

"Come on, bro, wake up!"

Kazuki's voice finally reached Ace, who was deep in slumber.

"Wait, what? Did I win?"

Ace questioned as he slowly returned to reality, his eyes still red from the unintended nap that turned into a deep sleep.

"Oh, it's starting."

Ace said after he realized the current situation.

"Come on, man, you're such a mess."

Kazuki expressed disappointment and disapproval as Ace struggled to lift himself from the bench.

"Now, all contestants return to the battlefield," the voice of the commentator resounded.

The two contenders, Ace and Kazuki, rose from their seats, gazing toward the arena, attempting to hype themselves up. Shortly after, the two decided to advance to the match grounds.

"Bro, let me try to see you win,"

Kazuki said, taunting Ace once again. Ace restrained himself, refraining from retaliating. Instead of the usual cold glare, he forced his muscles to convey a contrasting expression – a smile.

"Okay. We'll see if you can keep up,"

Ace replied, turning his face, attempting to mask the evolution of his smile into a frown.

"Now we shall begin. Contestants, stand your ground."

"In 5 seconds, you will be fully immersed in this match, spectators."

The commentator declared, seeking to uplift the spirits of the crowd, although their spirits were already high enough.

-5-

-4-

-3-

-2-

-1-

Swiftly, Kazuki rushed toward Ace without a hint of hesitation. Ace, as an entity, experienced no fear or reluctance to retaliate. His senses tingled, and the desire to strike Kazuki's face intensified due to the taunts he received.

The question lingered: how would their confrontation unfold?

"Hey, stupid. Come over here," Kazuki provocatively said, further fueling Ace's anger.

"What the heck, man."

"Oh. I'm coming," Ace responded to Kazuki's taunts.

"Wait, how will I beat this guy? He's not a demon."

That thought resonated as Ace approached Kazuki blindly. Unbeknownst to Ace, Kazuki was knowledgeable about defeating fellow humans.

With no alternative, Ace resorted to physical combat instead of Spectrum, proceeding steadily even as his anger uncontrollably escalated.

Finally reaching Kazuki, Ace couldn't help but wonder why Kazuki maintained a smirk on his face. However, ignorant of his opponent's combat strategies, Ace pressed on.

In a mere fraction of a millisecond, Kazuki's lips moved in a way that sustained his smirking expression.

"Deflect."

Suddenly, Ace was pushed back, and subjected to intense damage.

"What's happening?" Ace exclaimed, left confused by the unexpected turn of events.

"I'm happening," Kazuki responded to Ace's question.

"That does not explain!" Ace exclaimed, angered by Kazuki's response.

"Yes, I would have clarified if you had allowed me to finish."

"It seems you have learned nothing if you know nothing about Spectrum."

"Spectrum can be employed in various ways, and Deflect is one of many Spectrum skills."

"Deflect is...."

"Ahhh. It's self-explanatory. You'll learn more during this forthcoming training."

Ace glanced back at Kazuki, pondering how he possessed so much information. He sprinted toward Kazuki, attempting to strike him.

"Deflect!" Kazuki reiterated.

"Don't you get it? The harder you hit me, the harder you will get damaged."

"Yes, I know. But there has to be a limit to how much you can use Deflect," Ace said, trying to make a point.

"You're right. There's a limit, but you're certainly not skilled enough to pass that limit."

"Ahhh. I'll keep trying," Ace said, utterly vexed but desperate for victory.

He rushed back toward Kazuki, making several attempts to hit him. His continuous trials awed the spectators, providing an interesting fight for them.

Amid the heated battle, Ace's injuries only seemed to worsen. His trials were fruitless, and he knew that fact very well, but he chose to continue with the battle as he saw it shameful to forfeit a match.

"Alright," the commentator remarked, expressing pity for Ace, "The match is seemingly one-sided."

Despite the ongoing struggle, nothing favorable for Ace unfolded. Dealing damage to his already worn-out body, his desperation was immaculate, yet he remained on the losing end. The contender on a winning streak had finally faced true danger.

"Ahhhh!!!"

"Ahh!"

"Ah."

Following a series of exclamations of pain and exhaustion from Ace, he ultimately succumbed. Falling flat on the floor, he became the loser of the match.

"We have our winner," the commentator announced.

Looking up at the commentator, Kazuki smiled, urging him to continue the announcement. He moved away from the arena with a calm smile concealing the exhaustion within him.

"This Deflect truly uses immense power," Kazuki spoke to himself.

"Our winner is Kazuki," the commentator declared, reaching everyone, including Kazuki, who paid little attention, fully exhausted from the fight.

"If he had lasted longer, I would have lost. Is he stronger than me?" Kazuki reflected, gazing at Ace lying unconscious on the arena floor.