My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

The Colosseum’s armory held many different types of weapons, and anyone who wished could take one and use it in the tournament. However, most contestants preferred to use their own weapons.

After receiving the spear, Nova gave it a quick inspection. It was solid and sturdy. Although the spear in Kael’s hands was a mid-King Realm weapon, the difference meant nothing to Nova.

He spun the spear lightly in his grip, handling it with such natural ease that it looked as if he had been a pure spear user for years.

Even Kael, who knew exactly how much time and effort it took to master the weapon to this degree, found himself thinking that Nova must also train with the spear alongside the sword.

What Kael didn’t know was that Nova only needed a few days to reach a high level of mastery with any weapon, thanks to his S-rank skill Eternal Weapon Sovereign.

The skill allowed him to rapidly master every type of weapon in existence and, at the same time, clearly perceive the weaknesses in an opponent’s technique when they used that same or any other weapon.

The crowd leaned forward in anticipation, curious to see how Nova would fight with a spear instead of his usual sword.

Seeing that both fighters were ready, Slickmouth looked at them and asked:

[Are you both ready?]

Both men nodded.

In the next second, a large circular platform rose from the ground beneath their feet. At the same time, the same type of protective mana formation from the previous rounds activated around the fighting area.

[The rules are very simple. Either kill your opponent... or force them to concede. Either outcome will count as your victory.]

Both contestants understood clearly, and so did everyone watching. There was no need for further explanation.

The mana formation was already in place, yet this time there was also the option to win by forcing a concession instead of going for a kill.

Even if death inside the formation was not permanent, many still disliked the idea of killing.

[NOW... BEGIN THE MATCH!]

The moment Slickmouth’s voice rang out, Nova and Kael locked eyes.

Kael Aster was level 1520 and possessed a Fire affinity. The moment Slickmouth’s voice faded, Kael exploded forward.

Flames roared to life along the length of his spear as he thrust with explosive speed, the tip screaming toward Nova’s throat. The heat distorted the air around the weapon. It was a clean, powerful opening strike from a true spear specialist.

Nova tilted his head slightly.

The flaming spear tip passed less than an inch from his cheek.

Before Kael could pull back, Nova’s own spear moved. The motion was small, almost lazy — a simple sideways tap against the shaft of Kael’s weapon.

The impact was light, yet Kael felt a jarring force travel up his arms, forcing him to take a several steps back.

Kael’s eyes sharpened. He spun the spear in a wide arc, sweeping low toward Nova’s legs while simultaneous jets of fire burst from the tip in a spreading fan.

Nova hopped lightly over the sweep. His body drifted sideways through the flames as if they were nothing more than warm wind. The faint lightning coating his spear flickered once, dispersing the fire before it could touch him.

Then he stepped in.

His spear moved like a living thing — three rapid thrusts in the time it took most fighters to complete one. Kael barely managed to parry the first two.

The third slipped past his guard and scraped across his shoulder, cutting through fabric and leaving a thin line of blood.

Kael clicked his tongue and retreated, flames exploding outward to create distance. He planted his feet and began weaving denser fire around his spear, the temperature rising sharply.

Nova watched him calmly, spear resting loosely in one hand. Nova wanted to play with him a little longer since he was enjoying himself.

”Not bad,” he said quietly.

Kael roared and charged again, this time unleashing a flurry of thrusts mixed with sudden sweeping slashes.

Every attack carried concentrated fire, forcing the air to shimmer. This was the full extent of a level 1520 fighter.

Nova met him head-on.

Spear clashed against spear in a rapid series of sharp metallic rings. Each time their weapons met, Kael felt his arms tremble. It was not raw power that overwhelmed him — it was precision.

Nova’s spear always arrived at the perfect angle, always striking the weakest point of Kael’s guard, always disrupting the flow of his fire.

Nova’s control over his own strength was so refined that he could easily deceive the vast majority of people watching.

To them, he simply appeared as an outstanding genius of his generation. If they ever learned the truth, most would refuse to believe it.

The more Kael attacked, the more he felt like he was being dissected.

In less than twenty seconds, Kael’s rhythm completely collapsed. A sharp thrust from Nova struck the side of his spear with perfect timing, twisting it out of alignment. Before Kael could recover, the butt of Nova’s spear smashed into his stomach.

Air exploded from Kael’s lungs as he was launched backward, rolling across the platform before forcing himself up onto one knee. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was ragged.

”That boy is playing with him,” Vaorak said with a smile.

”Yes. He could finish him at any time,” Lyra agreed.

The other high-level figures silently shared the same thought.

Nova stood in the same spot as before, spear lowered, expression still faintly bored.

Kael wiped the blood away with the back of his hand and glared. Flames surged wildly around him as he poured nearly all of his remaining mana into one final technique.

The spear in his hands transformed into a blazing lance of concentrated fire. He shot forward like a meteor. Nova finally moved with real intent.

White lightning crackled faintly along his spear as he stepped in to meet the charge. At the last possible moment, his body shifted half a step to the side. The flaming lance tore past him, missing by a hair.

In the same motion, Nova’s spear swept upward in a clean, rising arc.

Crack!

Kael’s spear was smashed aside with such force that the shaft splintered. The follow-up strike landed squarely against his chest. The impact sent him flying across the platform, skidding to a stop near the edge.

His body trembled as he tried to push himself up. Blood now ran freely from his mouth, and one arm hung weakly at his side.

Many experienced spear users in the crowd found it difficult to believe what they were seeing. How could a young man who had not even reached thirty handle a spear with such terrifying mastery?

Nova, in particular, was on an entirely different level. The only question lingering in their minds was why someone this skilled with the spear rarely used one.

Of course, they had no way of knowing that he was equally terrifying with every weapon.

Nova walked toward the fallen kael at an unhurried pace and stopped a few steps away. He rested the tip of his spear lightly against the platform and looked down at him.

”Do you concede?”

Kael’s eyes burned with stubborn pride. Even with his body screaming in pain, he forced one knee beneath himself and tried to rise again, refusing to speak the words.

Nova watched him for a brief second. He had no interest in dragging this out any longer. lightning around his spear flared once.

In a single clean thrust, the spear pierced straight through Kael’s heart.

Kael’s eyes widened. His body stiffened, then slowly went limp as the light faded from his gaze.

The protective formation activated immediately, removing Kael from the platform. A moment later he reappeared outside the fighting area, standing with his fists tightly clenched, his face pale and filled with frustration.

The crowd erupted into loud cheers. Fights of this level were not something they could witness every day. Many experts among the audience openly praised both young men — especially Nova.

Nova turned toward Slickmouth without expression, waiting for the official result.

[Nova Valencrest wins the match and advances to the next round. Kael Aster will proceed to the losers’ bracket of Round Three.]

**

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