Kairos’ hesitation was unnecessary but understandably so.

The Ice World Array is similar to Edward’s Frost Art: Broken World, an ultimate technique of the Greater Frost Spirit Boreas that is so brutal it causes all living things to be encased in ice and even speeding objects will decelerate to a halt from the sub-zero temperature.

However, in the end, a power summoned by a Formation Plate is far from comparable to a Greater Frost Spirit’s ultimate technique.

The Veritable Sight revealed the weak energies swirling within the white spherical half-orb, and Kairos immediately found a counter. A silver shimmer appeared in his hand as he re-summoned his Swallow the second time for the day.

Kairos infused his Fire Ki into his weapon, and a flare engulfed one of the blades becoming like a tiny shining sun. With a mighty force, he stabbed the Swallow into the ground and dispersed the heat into the area. The temperature instantly raised, counteracting the effects of the formation plate.

Then, in a concentrated beam, Kairos sent a ray of fire straight towards one of the five shields protecting Lucas, the shield of flames.

Fed by the new source of energy, it burst into a huge conflagration. Lucas couldn’t believe his eyes, and he cried out in frustration, “Damnit! Sea of swords, strike down my enemy!”

He knows what Kairos is planning, and the only solution he has is to defeat his opponent right this instant.

The circle of protection around him is made by intersecting elements supporting each other. Earth born Metal, Metal creates Water, Water grows Wood, Wood feeds Fire, and Fire turns into Earth.

However, at the same time, the five elements are also mutually counteragents.

Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood, and Wood leeches the Earth.

While the five elements of creation form a powerful shield for Lucas as long as they strike a balance, it will crumble from within when one of the element becomes too strong for the rest.

With Kairos feeding the fire shield, the Wood Element supplementing it will be too quickly consumed, and the Water Element that is counteracting the heat will be dried-up.

Afterwards, Metal will melt away, until finally, everything turns into ashes.

With a single-move, Kairos had nullified two of his protections; it wasn’t surprising that Lucas immediately panicked and countered using his Sword Array.

A series of air blades crashed into Kairos’ body, covering him entirely from head to toe, however, the attacks disappeared harmlessly after striking him.

Lucas turned grim at the spectacle but otherwise remained composed. Knowing that his opponent had survived the bombardment of six self-destructed clones, he expected as much from Kairos, but he did not believe that whatever protection technique was used could last against the hundred blades array for long.

Kairos’ robes started tearing apart. The cloth provided incredible resilience against all forms of attacks and elements and does not break apart easily. To protect the modesty of the students – a virtue highly appreciated in the empire – it was necessary.

Of course, it wasn’t the clothes that actually had such defensive abilities, after all, many students wore robes they brought from home and some were made from the cheapest, scratchiest materials. It was protective runes assigned by the academy and embellished on the cloth and the energies from the ingredients used to activate it, which caused such an effect.

Even throughout all his battles before, Kairos’ robes did not fall apart. But now, standing in a rain of slashes, his top becomes quickly exposed.

If not for the sash around his waist, he would’ve become naked.

The crowd that saw his bare skin gasped.

It was almost as though a heavenly being was brought onto Gaia.

They wowed at how perfect his muscles looked, being neither bulky nor too slender. It held an amazing power, just from the look of it, making him a specimen for the ultimate form a body should have.

However, there was no swooning from the crowd; the body tempering runes from the Origin Manuscript is at such a high-level for the practitioners in Gaia that they could not fathom how could anyone’s body be sculpted this way.

No, it was far too majestic that he appeared to have transcended from human beauty; perfect if not for the many white scars covering his skin.

The near-fatal injuries that he received from his previous battles had left their marks:

The killing blow from Forever Hope, patriarch of the Hope family and Jim’s living-ancestor.

The uncountable claws and bite scars from the wolves and punctures left by the crows from the Black Forest dotted his arms.

The cuts he endured when he fought side-by-side Jones while surrounded by the Silent Lambs’ royal guards in the Death Maw Forest.

The blows he received while fighting Syriong, and once again against the devil-mode Guardian. And, recently, the damage he took from the otherwise would-be assassin sent for Relestia.

All in all, the more carefully the audience observed his scars, the more astounded they became.

Fortunately, with every rank he broke through, the scars faded a little and all in all it did not look too horrible.

The air blades struck him a hundred times a second. A minute passed, and Kairos was cut over six thousand times.

Each blow had an impressive A ranked power, but the total force behind the attacks was definitely within the ranks of Triple S.

Unfortunately, there is a fundamental misunderstanding that Lucas – and almost everyone watching – had assumed of Kairos; he had not been using a specific technique to defend against the attacks.

The Origin Body Tempering runes that strengthen him did not merely increased his physical ranks but altered him fundamentally. His appearance is only the least of his changes when his body is slowly acquiring the traits of all the external martial arts he is practising without him realising.

His True Heavenly Armour, for example, was assimilated by the Origin Body Tempering runes, and over time he would have that level of indomitable defence. Other than that, his speed has improved beyond other practitioners of his level even without using his movement technique, precisely because of the Lightning Flicker Body is an external movement skill.

The runes embedded in his flesh allows his body to adapt to greater strength, swifter speeds, and more resolute defences the more he uses it. It is a process that had been passively working in his body, but that doesn’t mean that Kairos did not notice.

He dared to brave this Sword Ki array because he already has complete immunity to any physical attacks below S rank. Which means, without even using any strand of energy, he could receive all the air blades Lucas throw at him all day long.

Kairos stalked towards his target like a wolf cornering a deer. As he came near, the attacks striking him become frenzied.

In desperation, Lucas roared, “You… you forced me!”

An explosive strength escaped from the 7th ranked duellist, clan head of the Purple Turtle, as he unleashed a forbidden empowerment technique and jumped two minor stages in his cultivation, reaching Peak S rank in a breath.

However, that was not all the cards up his sleeve, and Lucas cried out, “Secret Art: Repeating Gale Barrage!”

The air stilled around them, and a gentle breeze brushed against Kairos’ face.

The wind picked up quickly, and before three breaths, it had turned into a gust.

By now, Kairos has to use force if he wants to move forward, and the wind that is blowing against him is still becoming stronger. Soon, it was as though an A ranker is pummelling him.

It appears that the power is still increasing, but Lucas’ face is also turning white with strain at the same time.

As the assault crosses S rank in strength, scratches started appearing on Kairos. At first only pale white lines, then as time passed, red stripes began covering him.

Seeing this, the gently confident smile on Kairos face turned into a wide, excited grin.

“Hoh…? This technique is interesting. How much more power can it release?”

Before everyone’s horror, Kairos Astroire halted his steps and waited. The boy’s eyes glowed with anticipation as if an interesting toy is before him.

It took several more breaths before the attack reached its peak.

The thin red lines on his skin, turned into long slashes when every attack from Lucas’ Secret Art broke through and entered Entry Double S.

After using a forbidden enhancement technique and combined with his Secret Art, it was Lucas’ limits, and it forced Kairos to use his first defensive technique since the fight began.

He unleashed his Ki Barrier as a golden crown of light appeared above his head like a shining halo, then from top-down, the white light wrapped around him like a robe.

He nodded at Lucas, acknowledging the strength of his opponent, then he took a step forward.

In Lucas’ eyes, it was as though a giant had taken the step with the oppressive pressure upon him. Despite him being the attacker, he was the one shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Kairos continued going closer until he stood face to face with Lucas, with their noses almost touching.

They looked at each other for a moment, and the entire stadium turned until complete silence until the whipping wind against Kairos was the only sound they could hear.

Then, the moment passed.

Like a puppet which strings were cut, Lucas slumped to the ground. His enhancement technique released, his Secret Art dispersed, and all the strength fled from his body.

His position caused him to directly kneel in defeat before Kairos.

Lucas was spent, not only from pushing himself to his limits but more from the tyrannical tension in the air; so fearsome that many of the audience had cold sweat rolling down their backs.

There was a respectful silence, then white wings of light unfurled themselves behind Kairos’ back, spanning across the arena: the complete form of his Ki Barrier.

The cheers were deafening, then before the noise, the announcer screamed.

“MATCH OVER!

WINNER, KAIROS ASTROIRE!”