In the battle arena, the audience was captivated by what they were witnessing.
The clash of swords.
The hand-to-hand fight.
The collision between the cold blue aura and the silver star aura.
The weakening techniques, (Path of the Stellar River) and (Subzero Duel), intertwined smoothly, as if this was not a display based on raw power, but rather one based on style and skill.
This battle had become an art being watched.
Because they did not realize that the two people fighting at that moment were the greatest individuals of their respective eras and worlds in the past.
Some remained silent from awe.
Some cheered for Glass Sano.
Others cheered for Shion Lan.
As sparks scattered across the arena, Crown Princess Jina Joul asked,
"But didn't Shion only have two stars? How did he display such power?"
Director Tim Ayr replied,
"Because when opposing elements merge, one of two things occurs."
He was pointing to the fire star and the water star of Shion.
"Either the elements weaken each other, or they create an explosive force."
He was wondering.
"But what is strange here is Shion's ability to control aura efficiently...
In fact, he controls it even better than Glass."
However, Jina watched with her golden eyes and said,
"But I don't think Shion is fighting Glass.
I can see that he is different."
The director smiled.
"Who knows?"
Yet Celisia Joul's voice echoed inside Jina's mind.
"Are you saying that your Shion is fighting the legendary Yossi Sano?!"
She sneered.
"You have quite the imagination, girl!"
However, the golden eyes that could see through the depths of people noticed a vast difference between Glass at the beginning of the match and the current Glass.
Although there was a slight resemblance in appearance...
The essence seemed different.
Meanwhile, King Jord Joul remained silent.
He was seeing something else with his eyes.
Value.
He had evaluated many people through what he saw.
And what he was seeing now was different.
'In this situation... Shion Lan is more valuable than Yossi Sano.'
He thought.
'And his value continues to rise.'
His golden eyes glew faintly.
'Hmm...'
...
Inside the arena, Shi Yun Lan skillfully avoided (Ice Age Touch) and swung (Star Claws) with perfect control.
The swords continued clashing.
But the strange thing was...
As time passed, the aura became more stable.
His techniques became stronger.
His movements became more precise.
Inside the star realm, Shion was arranging the flow of aura when he suddenly noticed something important.
"I can try this!"
The stars surrounding the Fire Star moved.
They flowed through the aura pathway of the technique (Cutting Flames).
And it transformed into its final form:
(Cutting Stars).
On the battlefield, Shi Yun Lan sensed something strange in his aura.
As if this was an opportunity.
Yossi took advantage of the moment and rushed forward.
"(Ice Age Touch)! Now! You are the loser!"
At that moment, Yusei saw Shi Yun Lan's calm gaze.
A gaze that did not move.
What Shi Yun Lan saw was a line of nine shining stars appearing before his eyes.
As if an idea suddenly appeared.
His voice merged with Shion's voice.
And they said together:
"(Stellar Summet Art: Star Severance)!"
This technique was the evolution of (Cutting Stars).
The slashes merged into one overwhelming movement, cutting through everything along the path of the stars.
With a single sword movement, he faced the approaching hand.
The auras clashed for a moment.
Then came the shock.
Glass was pushed backward and slammed into the wall.
His hand had a bloody crack.
If that movement had not been close to the fifth level, his arm might have been cut off.
On the other side, Shi Yun Lan examined his sword.
It had shattered because of the ice and the sudden surge of aura.
But he simply shrugged and threw the sword to the ground.
'I felt a sudden pulse from the sixth vein.'
Shi Yun Lan's eye got cold.
'Could it be that this spirit in front of me does not care about its host's soul?'
He communicated with Shion.
"Is this your new move?"
"Yes."
"Then try to keep up with me."
"Our energy is about to run out."
"And also..."
He looked toward Glass's almost destroyed body.
"Your friend is in mortal danger."
"!!!"
Shion never expected to hear that.
But Shi Yun Lan transmitted everything to him.
...
At the same time, the audience was shocked by that attack.
But their shock was nothing compared to the Six Great Families.
They finally understood what was happening.
'Yossi Sano is being suppressed?!'
It was something completely unprecedented.
The person most shocked was Brad Sano.
Yet at the same time, a relieved smile appeared on his lips.
He remembered Glass from the past.
"Uncle! You know that I never hurt anyone!"
Brad had replied,
"Yes, I know.
The entire matter was because of the heritage guardian spirit."
Glass cried.
"Then please!
Remove him from me!"
Brad shook his head helplessly.
"The elders do not want that.
They want another Yossi Sano in our family under the excuse of prosperity.
And I cannot oppose everyone here."
But at that time, Beliza Sano shouted,
"But Glass is suffering because of that bastard!"
Brad looked at her but she continued.
"I don't care if he is my ancestor or whatever!
He must be removed from my brother's body!"
Brad said,
"I have an idea about what happened.
When you destroyed Yossi's statue, he forcibly created a contract.
And as you grew, the contract became attached to you."
With a sharp gaze, he continued,
"There is only one way to remove him without severely harming you."
Glass asked desperately,
"Tell me, Uncle!
I am suffering because of this!"
Brad replied faintly,
"Someone must defeat you..."
They looked at him confusedly.
"And defeat Yusei Sano."
Glass stood at once.
"I am ready, Uncle!
Hit me!"
Brad shook his head.
"It has nothing to do with strength.
It is about talent."
Beliza interrupted,
"What do you mean?"
Brad explained,
"Yossi Sano was known for defeating every talented person of his generation.
So we cannot simply bring someone older and have them defeat him."
Because of this condition, everyone distanced themselves from Glass Sano.
His peers and family members abandoned him.
Leaving him in unbearable loneliness.
Whenever he entered a battle and decided to surrender...
His ancestor's spirit would take control.
And destroy his opponent violently.
Day after day...
He truly began to resemble Yossi.
He no longer saw any talents worthy of standing before him.
But it was not because of arrogance.
It was because of deep despair.
He felt his body being taken away from him.
He tried several times to kill himself.
But Yossi would seize control and prevent it, leaving him in endless pain.
With these memories, Brad looked at Shion below.
He was not even looking at Yossi.
And Brad secretly hoped,
'Shion Lan...
Please defeat the Sano Family.'
...
At that moment, Yossi stood before his defeat was announced.
His previous elegant and noble image had disappeared.
His arm was destroyed.
He constantly spat blood.
Under Shi Yun Lan's gaze, Yossi felt cold for the first time in his new life.
He took a cowardly step backward.
"Judge!
His sword is broken!"
Everyone looked at him in disbelief.
"Is Glass trying to retreat?!"
But the person who interrupted everyone's whispers was King Jord Joul.
"True, he lost his sword.
But you lost an arm as well."
Yossi said,
"Then we can consider it a draw."
King Jord frowned.
"This is the final match.
The winner and loser must be decided."
His eyes got sharp.
"So continue fighting."
In his eyes, Yossi's value was rapidly decreasing.
Yossi looked toward the Lan Family balcony.
He saw Shion's mother.
He smiled.
"Lady Lan."
"?!"
Rita Lan did not understand what Yossi wanted.
He spoke,
"Are you not afraid that I will hurt your son?"
With a confident smile, he was certain she would do something to cancel the match.
However...
Her gaze became sharp.
"Shion..."
Shi Yun Lan turned toward her.
He thought Shion's mother would try to stop him.
The audience shouted for her not to do it.
But she said,
"You survived countless dangers.
And you cannot defeat a mere corrupted spirit like that?!"
"!!!"
The audience was shocked.
Even Shi Yun Lan was stunned.
Solan Neumann continued,
"I can sense a corrupted spirit inside Glass Sano.
It has nothing to do with the heritage.
It is trying to control him.
So..."
She looked toward the king.
"I request that His Majesty restrain Glass Sano for now."
Yossi trembled.
He had been labeled as a corrupted spirit that needed purification.
But the director stopped the discussion.
"I believe Shion has a way to deal with him."
He looked at Shi Yun Lan.
"Isn't that right?"
Everyone looked toward Shi Yun Lan.
He smiled calmly.
"Let us finish the match.
And at the same time...
Finish the corrupted spirit."
Inside, he raised his thumb toward Solan.
Under his gaze, Yossi trembled.
"If you approach any closer...
I will kill you!"
But Shi Yun Lan felt his body and mind had reached their peak.
"I will end this now."
...
Inside the Stars Domain, Shion saw his world.
It had been completed beautifully.
"This is enough.
I will have time to train and review it later anyway."
The stars shone.
The final battle began.
Lines forming magical pathways spread throughout the entire area.
They represented his soul.
His body.
His power.
Outside, Shi Yun Lan thought,
'(Weapon Fundamentals) did not only allow the body to be built around a weapon.
It allows the body itself to become a weapon.
Through kicks.
Through punches.'
The Weapon Aura erupted from Shion's body.
His muscles contracted and strengthened under the pressure of this power.
He whispered,
"(Star Claws)."
But this time...
It appeared at the intermediate level.
Shion's arms and legs shone.
They filled the battlefield with a magnificent silver light.
Shi Yun Lan clenched his fists.
His arms were protected by aura.
Claws emerged from the tips of his fingers.
The same happened with his legs.
With a gaze filled with power...
The ground exploded beneath Shion's feet.
He rushed toward Yossi.
Yossi moved with difficulty and avoided the attack.
Only to see Shion's fist embedded into the arena wall.
But Shi Yun Lan did not stop.
He rushed toward Yossi.
Yossi attempted to use his techniques and spells.
But they shattered under Shi Yun Lan's overwhelming pressure.
Until the distance between them disappeared.
Shi Yun Lan finally struck Yossi's stomach.
Yossi stepped back and vomited blood.
But another feeling overwhelmed him.
'What is...
What is happening to me?!'
The director watched the attacks and expressed his admiration.
"Isn't this...
(Neumann Duel)?
It specifically targets spirits."
Solan was also shocked.
She was watching her family's style being used before her with swords.
But not by fists.
The audience erupted.
The battle had taken another direction.
From the final match of the tournament...
To an exorcism ritual.
Shi Yun Lan remembered,
(Path of the Stellar River).
With abstract thinking, he merged the Neumann Family style with this technique.
Creating a new combat style.
Inside the star realm, Shion had to rearrange his stars again.
The new techniques and styles created by Shi Yun Lan were putting pressure on him.
"What is wrong with this bastard?!
He could slow down a little!"
In reality...
A storm of attacks rushed toward Yossi.
He screamed from the pain attacking his soul.
A punch followed another.
Then a kick.
Then a palm strike toward his chest.
Pushing him further and further.
The attacks flowed like water.
And exploded against Glass's body like fire.
At the same time...
Yossi's soul was in great danger.
Many cracks appeared in the contract.
With one final movement from Shi Yun Lan...
The aura reached its greatest potential.
He delivered the final punch.
Shi Yun Lan spoke.
"It's over!!"