Chapter 552

It was the first time Felix had seen his disciple demonstrating this ability with a red mist. It is worth paying tribute to Dick, he revealed new facets of possibilities in the girl! However, he will have to pay for it.

The young man will definitely lose…

Elsa, worrying about Kyon, tensed up and clenched her fists so tight that her knuckles turned white.

Clementine, Seraphima, and all the spectators no longer believed in Baker’s victory.

A bloodthirsty gleam appeared in the red eyes of Valkyrie, and she rushed to the opponent with such speed that almost no one could see her, and even the surface of the arena cracked.

Kyon’s pupils narrowed. In an instant, a variety of thoughts flew through his head.

{This mist… The aura emanating from it… Had the emotions taken on a physical form? Does she have a body linked with emotions? This would explain why she strangely strengthened after each missed attack… And it would immediately become clear why she mocked past participants: not because of her disgusting upbringing, or rather, not only because of it, but because she has a unique body that requires other people’s emotions for development, like my body of the Void!}

Kyon’s eyes widened with realization. All these thoughts were just an assumption, however monstrously plausible, and if things really are like that, then he still has a chance.

A moment before Valkyrie’s punch crashed into the fat man’s chest, the whole world suddenly went out, it was pitch black. All the senses seemed to be turned off at once, whether it be sight, hearing, smell, touch, spiritual feeling and even emotions.

The true purpose of “The flash of darkness” has always been a mystery to Kyon. It would be a mistake to attribute this technique to attacking abilities, because it can only be used to kill an ordinary rodent that is very close. But what was the purpose of this flash, besides the banal blinding? What is the principle on which it works? He had a theory: “The flash of darkness” is the reverse side of life, so it eliminates the brightest manifestations of vital energy – the element of light and… sensations, emotions and feelings – the concentrate of this very life.

Under the influence of “The flash of darkness” the scarlet mist covering Valkyrie’s body quickly dissipated like frost on the sun. All the emotions accumulated by the girl, which she used to strengthen herself, instantly disappeared.

At this moment, only a small part of those present could feel what was happening in the arena, Lanatelle and Felix were among them. They felt Baker suddenly disappear!

Valkyrie’s strike suddenly did not find its target, although it was impossible…

Just at that moment, the darkness that had engulfed the entire arena hall dissipated…

Discouraged, Torres turned around abruptly and almost bumped her forehead against the sword, covered with a black film, raised above her head. The girl tried to take the blow in the palms, but suddenly realized that all her explosive speed had disappeared somewhere, and weakness appeared in her body from nowhere… The red mist has dissipated!

~BA-A-ANG~

“The cut of darkness” crashed into Valkyrie’s head, slamming her into the floor of the arena with a terrible roar.

The audience was shocked. Elsa, Seraphima and Clementine jumped up from their seats.

Lanatelle lost her composure for a second, raising her eyebrows in mild surprise.

Felix’s eyes bulged at the unprecedented sight.

However, Valkyrie is not one of those who will calmly lose because of one missed attack, even in the head? The knocked down girl jumped up sharply, but suddenly absurdly leaned sideways, almost falling again. However, she was still standing. Numerous bloody tracks ran down her face from the place of injury. Her gaze had lost its predatory crimson luster, but that didn’t make it seem any less sinister.

«W-what did you do to me?!» – the girl growled in a weak voice. She felt a strong malaise in both soul and body… She will definitely not be able to fight at the same level. She is unlikely to be able to fight for 10 seconds!

«I kicked your ass.» – Kyon answered shortly, smiling confidently.

«Kicked my… ass?» – Valkyrie’s beautiful face contorted in rage. – «Well, no!» – to the detriment of herself, the girl forcibly activated the spiritual attack that she had previously used on Asagi. Her purple eyes lit up.

{«Wring your neck!»} – Torres commanded by telepathy.

«Screw you!» – Kyon rumbled imperiously, activating “The sovereign’s stare”.

Something broke in Valkyrie’s soul. She began to feel dizzy. Her heart was shackled with fear she had never experienced before, as if Magnus had said it. Her eyes took on a blue tint, as if showing the emotions experienced by the girl.

Lovr did not stand idle. Having shortened the distance, he attacked the opponent in the chest, but not with “The cut of darkness”. Plasma enveloped his sword. It was necessary to get rid of the evidence – to evaporate all the blood that he had shed in the arena. And a transparent “Sphere of annihilation” has formed at the tip of the weapon. An incomparable all-pervading aura emanated from it, causing awe. Its will is unbreakable. She stood above everything.

Only Elsa recognized this aura, since no one else was at the tournament of families in Boston.

{Will I… Lose?..} – a frightening thought flashed through Torres’ mind. – {No! No way!} – a moment before getting hit, the girl activated the formation in the scepter, which was created for her by her grandfather’s old friend – the guardian.

The air vibrated with overflowing energy.

Kyon felt the weight of the mountain fall on him. He slammed into the floor together with the sword, and with such force that he almost pierced it with his body. He couldn’t move or breathe… “The sphere of Annihilation” collapsed. The searing heat spread through the arena, evaporating all the blood.

Valkyrie smiled vindictively, looked complacently down at Baker, and ruthlessly said: «You will pay dearly for all your vile tricks… And you will remember your punishment for the rest of your life. Blame only yourself for this.» – having collected all the energy available to her, she hit the defenseless guy with a scepter in the back, right in the spine, intending to make him a cripple for the rest of his life.

«Sto-o-o-op!» – Elsa screamed in panic.

The onlookers became quiet.

Lanatelle disappeared from her throne in an instant, swept away the protective barrier with her palm as if it were a soap bubble, and grabbed Torres by the wrist, stopping her blow.

Valkyrie felt a strange energy invading her body, similar to cold, but in fact it wasn’t it. The blood in her veins trembled with some primal horror… But the girl did not succumb to fear.

«You’ve done a big stupid thing, girl.» – the empress said with her usual impassive look.

«I don’t understand you…» – Torres pretended to be silly. She regained her original development and tried to pull her arm out, but realized that she still couldn’t do it.

Felix appeared nearby and demanded in a steely tone: «Let my disciple go.»

As soon as the empress released her hand, the girl immediately stood next to the master, shifting her hostile gaze from the woman to the vile fat man who was rising.

«Why did you stop the fight?» – Felix asked angrily.

«Obviously, the reason is in the formation that your disciple used.»

«There is no such prohibition!» – Valkyrie was indignant. – «Baker also used the formation, teleporting his sword to him! You had no right to interfere!»

«You weren’t asked.» – Lanatelle narrowed her eyes menacingly, and her silver eyes glowed unkindly.

Torres tried to look away, but she couldn’t. She seemed to be riveted to the eyes of the empress. Her soul was seized with awe. Terrible images of rivers and rains of blood appeared in her head from nowhere… The girl turned pale sharply and almost lost consciousness, but the master blocked her view with his palm in time.

«How dare you use a spiritual attack on my disciple?!» – Felix was angry. There was no respect left in his voice, only rage. Moreover, the pressure of the overlord phaser at the beginning stage began to emanate from him, because of which everyone in the hall felt like a small and insignificant bug. He was trying to intimidate the empress!

However, Lanatelle did not even raise an eyebrow and, with a smooth gesture, put out her palm in front of her…

There was an explosion in Felix’s head. His eyes were dull, he heard ringing in his ears… The old man fell to his knees, gasping for air convulsively. The pressure that had just hit him could not belong to a mortal being… Images of boundless oceans of flame flashed in his mind. The earth, water and even the heavens were burning…

«Master, are you all right?!» – Valkyrie excitedly hugged the old man by the shoulders.

«You came to my palace and offered to test the strength of my disciples under a plausible pretext, but in reality you are using formations of a completely different level to cripple them! So that’s what the honor and dignity of the Torres is worth?!»

The imperious icy voice of Lanatelle penetrated the hearts of all listeners. Her indignation was felt physically and spiritually, and no one would dare to argue with her. Everything is so obvious: the cracks on the floor will not lie. Torres used a really powerful formation.

Valkyrie was afraid to even look up. She didn’t think it would turn out like this… She hoped that the master would silence the indignant empress, but the woman suppressed him with a wave of her hand… Yes, the girl acted meanly, but she could not put up with such injustice. She had all the trumps in her hands, but somehow Baker beat them all! He didn’t deserve to win! The bastard should be punished for everything he did to her…

«I turned a blind eye to the fact that you made Asagi humiliatingly beat himself up, that you mentally crushed Elsa, that you broke Stein’s knees and spirit… But using a powerful formation to cripple Dick is the ultimate dishonor. It’s strange that your master stood up for you after what you did. You deserve each other. But I won’t tolerate that. Apologize to my disciple.» – demanded Lanatelle.

«What?» – Valkyrie looked up at the empress in amazement and shuddered. Apologizing means admitting you’re wrong. Whoever is stronger is right, therefore the apology of the granddaughter of the patriarch of the Torres to the noble phaser at the finishing stage is equivalent to a crushing blow to dignity – that is, an incredible humiliation.

Valkyrie shifted her gaze to the master, but his unhealthy appearance did not inspire confidence. Obviously, he was afraid of the empress, that is, he recognized her superiority over himself.

{«I’m sorry, I can’t help. The empress has some kind of secret weapon against which I can’t oppose anything… You know you’ve made a mistake. There are always consequences. Do it… Just apologize to him.»} – Felix asked.

Sighing heavily, Torres looked coldly at Dick and quickly said: «Excuse me.» – there was no sincerity or regret in her voice, only irritation.

«Your apologies are no good. Do it properly, getting down on one knee, putting your fist on your heart and bowing your head.» – Lanatelle nodded at the dirty, cracked floor.

There seemed to be an invisible explosion in the air – that’s about how everyone reacted.

Even Kyon felt a little confused.

Today, the audience was already surprised several lives ahead, but the fact that the empress demands from the granddaughter of the patriarch of the great Torres to apologize to Dick in a particularly humiliating pose for her is another event that defies common sense.

«I won’t kneel! And if you try to force me, then my grandfather…»

«Don’t even try to scare me.» – Lanatelle snapped. – «No one is forcing anyone. However, you know that your act is worthy of everyone’s contempt. Since you are unable to apologize sincerely, then you will do it, observing all the formalities. If you refuse, I will have to teach you another lesson: the record of your duel will fall into the hands of all the families of Saturn. I wonder what they will say when they see if the legendary Lady Torres “knows” how to lose.» – the nephrite with the formation appeared in her hands.

People couldn’t believe their ears. The empress is almost openly blackmailing the granddaughter of the patriarch of the 1st rank family of the greatest empire in the world! Moreover, in the presence of the venerable master, who, however, does nothing, only remains gloomily silent.

Valkyrie was in indescribable shock. She was confused and depressed. If the record of the fight where she lost to the noble phaser falls into the hands of all the families, then she will be laughed at… She will be disgraced! Grandpa will definitely do something stupid! The honor of the Torres, as well as her own, will take a serious blow, and then Magnus will definitely not allow the first prince to date someone who failed miserably…

{Why did I snap…} – the girl regretted what she had done. Being the queen of emotions, she eventually was misled by emotions… She still has a lot to learn.

Seeing the hesitation on Torres’ face, Lanatelle added: «Don’t worry. No one outside the palace will know about it. My servants will execute anyone who spreads the news, as well as their inner circle. I give you an imperial oath.» – she looked at everyone present with an icy gaze, causing them to tremble uncontrollably.

{«You don’t have to apologize… I’ll explain everything to the patriarch, and he…»} – Felix began.

{«I feel that if I don’t do this, my life will change for the worse… The consequences will be terrible. I have no choice, master.»} – Valkyrie concluded with tears in her beautiful dark purple eyes. Since Dick is from the Baker family, and the grandfather will want to deal with the offender of his granddaughter at any cost, a war between two great families is coming… Her pride is not worth such long-lasting catastrophic consequences. However, she didn’t want to apologize to this geek… But she has no choice.

When the sister knelt down, put her fist on her heart and bowed her head, Kyon felt such indescribable satisfaction and peace that it seemed that his soul would soar to heaven right now. Here it is, the taste of justice.

«Forgive… me… please…» – Torres said slowly.

Lovr felt negative emotions coming from Valkyrie, which gave him 10% of darkness! No doubt the lady felt a dizzying hatred. If they were alone, she would have torn off his head… However, the girl skillfully took control of all emotions and hid them so that none of them could be seen on her face.

«Apologies accepted.» – Kyon replied with a condescending smile, as if he had spared a beggar who accidentally stepped on his foot. – {But not approved.} – he thought, because such an insincere apology, even in a kneeling position, is certainly not enough for her attempt to cripple him. And her bullying of Elsa is not forgotten. As for the duel, he did not hold a grudge against the girl, because she fought honestly almost to the very end.

Valkyrie’s face turned treacherously red because of the fat guy’s mocking words. She experienced such a burning humiliation for the first time in her life. Her pride took a crushing blow… And all because of the damn Dick. She hated him so much… Here he is – her antagonist.

Without looking up, Torres got up and, together with the master, silently left the arena hall in utter silence. However, they did not go to the teleportation hall, but upstairs, because they still had unfinished business with the empress.