Chương 62: Luna Gemella

"I apologize if anyone dies from this attack." The wrapped man lowered his stance.

"I'll try to hold back." Noah felt the danger in his bones. Every instinct screamed the same warning. If he failed to stop this attack, there would be no tournament left for him to compete in. Possibly no arena either. Noah glanced toward Cyrus.

"Sorry about this." Cyrus's eyes narrowed.

"What are you—" Noah stuck out his tongue. The black spots across his body began to glow. Cyrus understood immediately. His body was filled with Black Mist. Living resentment. Condensed negative energy. To Noah, he was practically a walking battery.

"You damn parasite," Cyrus muttered as darkness began flowing from him. Noah absorbed it through The Ladybug. The black spots across his skin shrank as the stolen resentment poured down his arm and into the Lion King of Heroes. Darkness wrapped around the golden blade as the weapon greedily drank the negative energy. The wrapped man tightened both hands around his axe. Golden rings appeared along the weapon. Royal Arts.

The rings spun faster, linking together until they formed the shape of an enormous serpent coiling around the axe head. The sand beneath the man's feet cracked.

"Royal Arts—" The serpent opened its jaws.

"World-Cleaving Leviathan!" He swung. The arena screamed. A massive wave of force tore across the field, ripping stone from the walls and throwing nearby fighters from their feet. Noah planted one foot against the sand. Golden circles appeared beneath him.

"Royal Arts—Shooting Star!" He launched himself into the air. More golden rings formed around the Lion King of Heroes, reflecting and condensing the sword's light until the blade shone like a falling sun. Noah turned in the air. Then descended. He crashed into the incoming strike with everything he had. The collision shook the entire arena. Golden light exploded outward. The sand beneath Noah vanished into a crater. His arms screamed beneath the pressure, but he refused to let the attack pass.

The wrapped man stared at him through the narrow gap in his coverings.

"Royal Arts…" His gaze moved toward Noah's horns.

"And those horns." A smile could be heard in his voice.

"A Fafnir?" From the stands, Leonardo suddenly rose. His crimson eyes widened with recognition.

"That attack…" Then his face split into an enormous grin.

"I know it painfully well." The wrapped man froze. Leonardo leaned over the railing.

"Noah Crest." The entire arena seemed to go silent.

"The Axe Tyrant." Leonardo laughed.

"That's you, isn't it?" The wrapped man stared blankly up at him.

"No." His answer came far too quickly.

"Shut up, Leo." He lowered his axe slightly.

"I'm Nameless." Leonardo's grin widened.

"A wandering axe wielder with absolutely no relation to anyone important?"

"Yes."

"That was very convincing." Nameless looked away. Naturally, none of the other competitors believed him. The moment the name Noah Crest spread through the arena, panic followed. The Sixth Hero. The Hero of Perfection. The Axe Tyrant. A man whose name still haunted the history books. Fighters dropped their weapons. Some surrendered immediately. Others fled through the open gates without waiting for permission. Within seconds, the thirty-person battle royale had been reduced to four. Noah Fafnir. Cyrus Sanguine.

Nameless. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. And one final woman standing near the edge of the ruined arena. She had long blonde hair, calm blue eyes, and no visible weapon. Her outfit resembled that of a cheap birthday-party magician. To the audience and Noah, she was merely another competitor. Luna Gemella. A member of The Crows. Codename— Illusionist. Only this time, she had come without her mask.

"Hey, you three." Luna smiled as she walked toward Noah and Cyrus.

"I doubt any of us can defeat the second-strongest Hero in history alone." Her gaze shifted between them.

"Want to team up?" Cyrus adjusted his glasses.

"I agree." Ice gathered faintly around his fingertips.

"We can eliminate each other afterward." Noah barely heard them. His attention remained fixed on the man hidden beneath the heavy cloth.

"So…" He tilted his head.

"Are you really my great-grandfather?" Nameless went completely still.

"The man I was named after?"

"Nope." His answer came instantly.

"Definitely not." He looked away with all the subtlety of a child caught stealing sweets. Noah smiled.

"Are you sure? I'd really love an autograph." Nameless shifted awkwardly beneath the cloth.

"After the tournament." Noah's smile widened. Nameless immediately corrected himself.

"I mean, I'm definitely not him." He cleared his throat.

"But I'm sure the real Noah Crest will find you eventually." There was a brief pause.

"…Yeah." Noah slowly backed away. Cyrus moved beside him. Luna followed, still smiling. Whatever happened after this, the three of them currently shared one enemy. High above the arena, Lux laughed.

"That brat is still as awkward as I remember." Noah glanced toward her.

"No social skills whatsoever," Lux continued, sounding far too pleased with herself.

"But easily the second-strongest of all my Heroes." Her expression softened slightly.

"Only Lumiar stood above him." Noah looked back toward Nameless. Lux leaned over the railing.

"I'm sure you already know this, young Hero, but his ability is called Perfection." Noah tightened his grip around the Lion King of Heroes.

"He masters any skill the first time he attempts it," Lux explained.

"Every movement he makes is flawless. Every technique is performed at its highest possible level." Noah stared at the massive axe resting against Nameless's shoulder.

"So he has no weaknesses?" Lux smiled.

"I didn't say that." Before Noah could ask more, Luna stepped forward.

"Ability Activate—Subspace." She removed the small hat resting on her head. Then she reached inside. Her entire arm vanished into the opening. Noah blinked. The hat was barely large enough to cover her hand. Yet Luna leaned farther into it, rummaging around inside an impossible space.

"Where did I put it…?" She smiled brightly.

"Found it." Luna pulled. A massive wooden horse emerged from the tiny hat. It crashed onto the arena floor, towering over all four competitors. Its carved mouth stretched into a wide grin while hidden panels along its body began to creak open. Luna proudly presented it. Then hurled it toward him.

"Here you go, Nobody." Nameless stared at her.

"It's Nameless." Then he swung his axe. One clean motion. The blade passed through the wooden horse. Then through Luna. Both were split perfectly in half. The horse collapsed into two enormous pieces. Luna's body fell with it. Noah stared.

"That was fast." Cyrus raised an ice spear.

"Too fast." Then Luna's voice came from beside them.

"Wow." Noah spun. She stood directly beside him, completely unharmed. Luna watched Nameless with open admiration.

"He sure is scary." Her smile widened.

"And kind of hot." Cyrus slowly looked at her. Luna clasped both hands against her chest.

"Though nowhere near as hot as my beloved." Noah glanced toward the two halves of her body still lying beside the wooden horse. Then back at the perfectly healthy Luna.

"What exactly did he cut?" Luna giggled.

"That's the fun part." Across the arena, Nameless rested his axe against his shoulder. His hidden gaze remained fixed on her.

"An illusion?" Luna placed one finger against her lips.

"Nah." Her smile widened.

"You definitely cut me." Nameless tilted his head.

"Then how are you still alive?"

"A magician never shares her secrets." Luna turned toward Noah and Cyrus.

"So, who wants to throw something at him next?" Cyrus sighed.

"You're enjoying this far too much."

"Of course I am." Luna clasped her hands together.

"It's not every day you get to meet a living legend." Something shot from her sleeve. A long metal handcuff tore across the arena and wrapped tightly around Nameless's leg. The chain snapped taut. Luna planted both feet against the ground and pulled.

"Go!" She laughed.

"I'll hold him!" Noah and Cyrus moved instantly.

"Ability Activate—Niflheim!" A massive tree of ice erupted behind Cyrus. Its frozen branches stretched across the arena as countless leaves hardened into spears. With a sweep of Cyrus's hand, they tore free and rained down toward Nameless. At the same time, golden circles appeared beneath Noah's feet.

"Royal March!" He launched himself from the left, circling around Nameless's flank before swinging the Lion King of Heroes.

"Laceration!" A crescent blade of golden light shot from the sword. Nameless did not attempt to dodge. He planted his feet. Then pulled his trapped leg backward. Luna's eyes widened as the chain yanked her across the arena.

"Wait—" Nameless dragged her directly into the path of Noah's attack. The golden blade struck Luna. Her body was sliced cleanly in half. The ice spears followed, tearing through the remains before crashing into the ground around Nameless. Noah froze.

"Luna!"

"Damn." Her voice came from behind Nameless.

"That's twice." Noah and Cyrus turned. Luna stood there unharmed once again, hands resting on her hips.

"That really sucks." Nameless slowly looked over his shoulder. Luna grinned back at him. The severed body near his feet dissolved into smoke. Nameless stared at the empty space for a moment. Then tightened his grip around his axe. Luna's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Let's keep going, Hero." Nameless slowly turned toward her. For the first time, the awkwardness in his posture disappeared. The air around him grew heavy. The sand beneath his feet began to crack. Noah raised his sword. Cyrus formed another spear. Luna laughed as another chain slipped from her sleeve. The Sixth Hero lifted his axe. And the real battle finally began.