My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

As someone who had also walked the path of hard work, Nova could clearly see the same determination on her face while she fought. He understood that feeling well.

In that moment, he felt genuinely grateful to whoever had given him the system space — a place where he could train for years alongside his loved ones, growing stronger without limit.

The fierce exchange continued for some time. In the end, Celine emerged victorious by a narrow margin.

The deciding factor had been her royal bloodline, which granted her a clear advantage in mana capacity. Without that edge, Kael might very well have won.

[Now, I would like to invite our top four contestants onto the arena.]

Nova, Rieka, Asia, and Liam stepped down onto the platform as Slickmouth continued.

[Let’s see who will be facing whom in the Semifinals.]

Nova already had a good idea of what the organizers might have arranged. Still, Asia had already told him that if she was paired against Liam, she would like to fight him.

Since she would not be eliminated at this stage and would still receive a pass to the secret realm, there was no real risk. Nova did not stop her.

In fact, he was curious to see whether she could push Liam and force him to struggle.

Slickmouth instructed them to face the large mana projection. A few seconds later, the pairings appeared.

By this point, many experts, powerhouses, and even ordinary members of the audience had already predicted the results.

...

[Nova Valencrest vs Asia Frost]

[Liam Everhart vs Rieka Vargirth]

...

[We have our results, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s see what our contestants have to say about it.]

Nova, Rieka, and Asia had already expected something similar. With this outcome decided, both Rieka and Asia chose to forfeit their matches, allowing Nova and Liam to advance directly to the Finals.

Rieka knew her own limits clearly. Unless it was absolutely necessary, she did not wish to face off against other humans in a life-or-death setting. That was the main reason for her forfeit.

Asia, on the other hand, had already sparred with her husband countless times and felt she had nothing more to prove in this particular matchup. There was no need to drag the rounds out any longer.

[Since Rieka Vargirth and Asia Frost have forfeited their matches, Nova Valencrest and Liam Everhart will advance to the Finals.]

[However, we will not be holding the Final match today. Instead, it will take place tomorrow. ]

[Don’t worry though — since we still have time, we will first witness an intense face-off between Asia Frost and Rieka Vargirth to decide third and fourth place.]

The audience erupted into even louder cheers. Almost everyone wanted to see the two strong women, Asia and Rieka, fight each other.

Although the two of them had considered avoiding the match, they knew the audience would not react well if they both simply withdrew.

Besides, even though they already knew who would most likely win, they still wanted to fight in this tournament. It simply carried a different atmosphere compared to their private spars.

They had already sparred countless times. Rieka had never managed to defeat Asia, though she had forced her to struggle more than once.

Nova did not stop them. Why would he? He also wanted to see how they would perform against each other in front of such a large audience.

On the high platform, Draeven turned toward the others. ”Who do you think will win?”

”Well... isn’t it obvious?” Lyra replied.

Vaorak let out a loud laugh that drew many eyes toward them.

”Both lasses are quite powerful. That boy Nova has great taste in choosing women, I’ll give him that! Hahaha!”

Lyra and Aurora both rolled their eyes. In this world, it was not uncommon for powerful men to keep multiple partners. In the end, it often came down to strength.

However, a relationship only remained healthy when there was genuine love involved. Simply collecting partners without consent, or forcing them through strength alone, would never create a true bond.

Nova’s situation was different. That was what made his relationships appear normal — even beautiful.

A powerful Demon Princess like Nyxara could have killed him at any moment, yet she loved him and was even willing to share him with his other wives.

Such relationships were worthy of praise from both men and women, because they could not be achieved through strength alone.

Returning to the arena, Nova and Liam moved back to their seats, leaving Asia and Rieka alone on the platform.

The moment the signal was given, both women exploded into motion.

Asia’s sword flashed forward in a clean, precise arc, silver light glinting along the blade. Rieka met her head-on with her claws, the sharp tips of her beast-folk hands sparking against steel.

Their figures blurred almost at the same time as both activated their movement techniques.

For a short while, their speeds were nearly equal.

The platform became a storm of blue and silver afterimages. Every time their weapons clashed, a sharp metallic ring echoed across the Colosseum, followed by faint trails of frost left behind by Asia’s blade.

The audience leaned forward as one, completely absorbed by the intensity of the exchange. Asia began to steadily increase the pressure of her icy aura.

At first it was subtle — a slight drop in temperature, a faint mist rising from the platform. Then the cold grew denser, heavier, clinging to the air like an invisible weight.

Rieka could still clearly read Asia’s intent through Heartseeker. She predicted the trajectory of most attacks before they fully formed, allowing her to twist, duck, or deflect at the last possible moment.

But predicting an attack and fully resisting the cold that came with it were two different things.

The deeper chill gradually seeped into her muscles, slowing her reactions by the slightest degrees. Each clash left a lingering numbness in her arms.

Realizing that pure close combat would put her at a growing disadvantage, Rieka suddenly split apart.

Multiple clones burst into existence around her, identical in appearance and aura. Without hesitation, they spread out and charged from every direction, claws flashing.

Asia’s eyes remained calm behind the veil.

Dozens of ice spears instantly formed in the air around her, their tips gleaming with lethal cold.

With a single thought, they shot outward in a dense, overlapping barrage. Several clones were pierced cleanly through the chest or head and shattered into fading afterimages of frost.

Yet Heartseeker allowed the remaining clones to weave through the gaps in the storm of spears. A few managed to close the distance.

Sharp claws grazed Asia’s arms and side. Thin cuts opened across her skin, and shallow bruises formed where the strikes landed with greater force.

A faint trace of blood appeared on her sleeve, but her expression did not change. The audience gasped at the sight of Asia taking actual injuries.

Rieka pressed harder, her real body mixing among the clones as she tried to create an opening. For a brief moment, it looked as though she might force Asia onto the defensive.

Then Asia decided the fight had gone on long enough. A dense, oppressive cold suddenly expanded from her body like a silent explosion.

Her Domain activated.

In an instant, the entire platform was sealed in absolute frost. The air itself seemed to freeze. Every remaining clone locked in place mid-motion before cracking and shattering into pieces of ice that scattered across the ground.

Even the real Rieka found her body completely immobilized. A thick layer of crystalline ice rapidly spread across her limbs, torso, and even her claws, locking her in a frozen stance.

For a brief second, Rieka struggled against the binding cold, her muscles straining. The ice groaned under the pressure, but it did not break.

Then she let out a quiet breath and stopped resisting.

”...I lose.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Asia released her Domain. The ice covering Rieka cracked and fell away in large chunks, melting into cold mist.

Rieka staggered slightly as feeling returned to her limbs, her breath visible in the lingering chill that still hung over the platform.

Asia lowered her sword, her posture straight and composed. Behind the veil, her expression remained calm, as if the outcome had never been in doubt.

The Colosseum fell silent for a heartbeat — then erupted into thunderous cheers.

**

Thanks for reading...