My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

He crashed heavily into the platform, shattering a large section of the ground and sending cracks spreading in every direction.

The entire Colosseum fell into a brief, stunned silence — then erupted into shocked cries. The way Nova had sent Liam flying looked almost effortless.

Nova had not used much force. He had deliberately limited himself to the strength of a Level 1500 warrior, yet even that was overwhelmingly heavy for the current Liam.

The pressure behind the earlier thrust still lingered in his body.

Almost instantly, Liam forced himself up from the cracked ground. He clenched the hilt of his sword tightly and glared at Nova with pure rage.

”You bastard...!”

Nova looked at him calmly. He was not cheating in any way. He was simply far more experienced and skilled than Liam.

”Is that all you’ve got?” Nova asked.

Then, with a faintly mocking smile, he continued:

”I heard you’re from the Everhart family — the great Imperial family of the Human Continent. But it seems you’re not living up to that prestige, are you?”

Gasps erupted across the audience.

Nova was openly mocking Liam, and by extension, insulting the Imperial family itself. He was playing with fire.

”Is he insane?”

”Does he not fear the Human Emperor?!”

”I already told you that guy is crazy!”

Murmurs spread rapidly through the stands. Some praised his arrogance because he clearly had the strength to back his words.

Others simply called him outright insane for insulting a family that even the royal households of the three kingdoms would not dare to provoke so casually.

On the high platform, Vaorak let out a loud laugh. He genuinely liked Nova’s attitude. Draeven, on the other hand, merely sneered at the recklessness. Lyra and Aurora remained silent.

”You bastar—!”

Liam was about to launch himself at Nova again when the latter interrupted him. Nova was already growing bored and wanted to finish the fight soon.

”Let’s not drag this out any longer. I have a suggestion.”

Those words shocked nearly everyone. What was this guy thinking? This was the Championship Match.

Yet many experts felt a flicker of interest. They, too, wanted to see something more exciting.

Liam stared at him, teeth gritted. He was furious, but he was not stupid. He already knew Nova was stronger than him. Still, he refused to back down now.

”...What do you suggest?”

Nova smiled. The entire Colosseum seemed to lean forward to listen.

”I want you to use your strongest attack on me. Whether it’s a single skill or a combination of multiple skills — it doesn’t matter. I won’t dodge it. I’ll simply block it.”

Liam’s eyes widened. So did everyone else’s.

No matter how strong Nova was, this sounded like a death wish. Taking a full-powered attack head-on — even if only by blocking — was extremely risky.

Of course, Nova only said he would ”block” it so he would not sound completely absurd. In truth, Liam’s attack would not be able to harm him even if he did nothing at all.

”He’s too arrogant for his own good!” Darius finally broke his long silence. Many people around him nodded in agreement.

Maria remained quiet beside him. She could not understand why Nova was doing this. It seemed far too risky — he might even lose.

Leonis and the other kings sneered at what they saw as pure recklessness. After coming this far, the boy was practically asking to lose.

Vaorak and the true powerhouses, however, stayed silent. From their long years of experience, they had learned never to underestimate anyone until the result was clear.

Asia, Rieka, Nova’s parents, Nyxara, and Velena all remained calm. They knew Nova’s real strength — and more importantly, they knew how unparalleled his physique truly was.

In the contestants’ section, Tank frowned.

”Your junior brother is making a mistake, Shorty.”

Bai Chen simply replied, ”This old one knows his junior brother. Let’s just wait and watch.”

Liam let out a cold laugh.

”Hahahaha... I get that you’re stronger, but this is outright arrogance. Do you really think you can stop my strongest attack with a simple block?”

Nova’s smile did not fade.

”Whether I can or not — you’ll know after the attack. I’m giving you a chance to claim the win. Don’t disappoint me, blonde.”

”Hmph! You’ll regret that choice!”

Liam began preparing his attack.

At first, a small part of him still wondered if Nova was scheming something. But he quickly dismissed the thought. The gap in strength was already clear — Nova had no need for tricks. This was pure arrogance.

He was underestimating the Everhart family.

Liam would make him regret it.

Brilliant light energy began condensing around his sword as he slowly floated into the air. Multiple light blades formed around him one after another.

The pressure continued to rise as Liam poured nearly all of his remaining mana into the technique. The air itself began to buzz under the weight of that power.

The audience gulped.

Light energy was often viewed as pure and associated with healing, yet when used offensively, it could become just as terrifying — even against targets who were not demons or demonic beings.

Liam’s eyes turned golden. His sword and all the surrounding blades shone with the same radiant hue.

Then he spoke coldly,”Shadow Chains.”

In the next instant, multiple black chains erupted from the ground beneath Nova. They shot upward and tightly bound his arms and legs, completely immobilizing him.

Gasps erupted across the Colosseum. For a moment, many believed Nova was finished. On the high platform, Vaorak raised an eyebrow.

”This Everhart boy is truly a genius. He has mastered this skill to such an extent and can use two affinities at the same time with this level of efficiency... I underestimated him.”

Lyra turned slightly.”What do you think? Will Nova be able to take it?”

Vaorak shook his head.

”I don’t know.”Even he could not say for certain after sensing the dangerous power behind Liam’s attack.

”That boy will lose because of his own arrogance,” Draeven said coldly.

”He won’t lose.”

Aurora’s calm voice suddenly cut through the air, dumbfounding those around her.

She had remained quiet for most of the tournament, yet now she spoke with such certainty about something even they were unsure of.

The others fell silent and chose to simply wait for the result.

The pressure surrounding Liam’s attack continued to climb, reaching a level that no longer belonged to a mere Level 1500 warrior. It had clearly surpassed that threshold by a wide margin.

This was the true terror of the Light element when refined to such an extent. When mastered properly, it became lethally destructive.

Nova could not help but briefly wonder just how far Maria’s light energy had reached — it was obvious that hers far surpassed Liam’s.

Thousands of radiant blades now floated around Liam. The sky above the Colosseum had turned blindingly bright, to the point that many in the audience had to squint or look away, as if they were staring directly into the sun.

Liam’s grin widened as he finally completed his preparation. His sword left his hand and rose into the air.

The thousands of light blades began revolving around it at high speed, creating a deafening, high-pitched buzzing sound that forced many spectators to cover their ears.

The attack was ready. Liam looked down at Nova and shouted with open arrogance:

”Prepare yourself, you commoner! Face my strongest skill and count yourself worthy!”

Nova simply smiled.

He could clearly sense the aura of the attack — it had already reached the level of a mid-King Realm technique.

Liam’s voice rang out once more.

”Lightfall Annihilation!”

BUZZZZ— BUZZZZ

The golden construct tore through the air with insane speed. Liam’s sword sat at the center while thousands of revolving golden blades spun violently around it, forming a massive, spiraling spear of pure light that descended toward Nova like divine judgment.

The entire Colosseum held its breath. In full view of every spectator, Nova calmly lifted his hands.

The shadow chains binding his limbs shattered instantly, breaking apart as if they were made of fragile glass. Then, without taking a single step back, Nova raised his sword and met the overwhelming attack head-on.

BOOOOOOM!!!!

**

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