Tomaru no longer even tries to hide his disgust toward our young protagonist, claiming that his aura is disturbing and that he has never felt anything as repulsive in his entire life.
Noa does not give a direct response, but he must admit that his opponent is not entirely wrong. The chaotic energy emanating from him is no longer the same: it is much darker, paler, and colder.
"He's right… it's not the first time I've been told that when I'm in this state… but I don't really have a choice anymore."
In the observation rooms, every remaining member of both teams watches the fight that will decide whether the first round ends in a draw or not. Indeed, Power, Guy, and the third member of their team are no longer able to fight. On team Z.X's side, Hajime drew with Guy and Nicolas lost, bringing the score to 3–2.
"I have to defeat Tomaru… If I lose, it will be a tie and we'll be forced into an extra round. I don't have time for that… I need to make up for the delay."
In the observation room of team L.K, a female silhouette in the shadows, with long black and red hair, states that if Tomaru loses, she will be the next to enter.
And the fight resumes.
Noa launches a frontal attack, then disappears and reappears in close combat. Tomaru dodges, irritated to see him so close. He reinforces his fist with chaos and throws himself at his opponent.
Noa blocks the attack without even drawing his sword and immediately counters, but Tomaru is fast… too fast. He is furious. He positions himself above him and strikes violently, but Noa deflects it easily and pushes him back.
Noa's gaze changes. A cold light appears in his eyes.
Tomaru leaps from rock to rock. Noa continues to block and dodge without immediately counterattacking. Tomaru is clearly controlling the pace… but something is off.
"This isn't normal… I'm deliberately leaving openings, but he doesn't even take them… and the longer it goes on, the less I can surprise him… this is bad."
In the Z.X observation room, Harman notes that Tomaru's abilities are truly exceptional. Even without fully using his powers, he fully deserves his title as Kira's genius.
On the battlefield, the fight goes one-sided: Tomaru continues his assault. Noa keeps blocking and dodging, eyes closed.
Tomaru finds an opening and touches Noa's arm to activate his attraction technique. But to his surprise, his aura disperses before it can even activate.
That brief moment allows Noa to draw his sword: the so-called fourth arcane weapon newly revealed to the world. The blade vibrates, absorbing Noa's energy.
His teammates in the observation rooms are shocked. A legendary weapon… absent from all records. Even Harman did not expect this.
Only Atela remains focused on the outcome of the fight.
"Arcane weapons are artifacts dating back to the Great War against REWRITE, 3000 years ago… They are said to choose their wielder and possess a consciousness of their own…"
Harman genuinely wonders why such a weapon accepted Noa as its master.
And for the first time since the beginning of the fight, Noa changes stance.
A simple stance… but perfect.
His icy aura begins to affect Tomaru. He immediately understands: this stance represents the pinnacle of adaptability.
— That's why my technique doesn't work on you anymore… You adapt during the fight… you feed on my style until it holds no secrets anymore.
But instead of being frustrated, this revelation only fuels Tomaru's rage even more.
If he can no longer reach him like this… then he must evolve.
The exchanges resume immediately. Dozens of blows are exchanged. This time, Tomaru no longer attacks: he only dodges. He even begins to suspect that Noa's closed eyes are the key to his adaptation.
Tomaru wears a ferocious expression.
Noa says nothing. The smell of blood grows stronger… but he is not surprised.
"Nothing is more dangerous than a man willing to sacrifice everything for his goal…"
And he already knew that.
Faced with his opponent's perfect stance, Tomaru lowers his guard. His muscles tense. He lowers his head, completely defenseless.
"I don't like this… but to stop you, I have to make the first move."
Noa realizes what he is about to do and begins to doubt. With his eyes still closed, he starts to sweat, sensing things are about to become much more complicated.
And then Tomaru raises his head and reopens his eyes, shocking everyone in the observation rooms.
Black, unsettling eyes, with green pupils burning as intensely as his rage.
— Cardinal Mode.
Harman cannot believe it. This day is truly full of surprises.
Atela, Kobra, and the others ask what has just happened to Tomaru.
Harman explains that he has activated Cardinal Mode. This mode is only accessible to prodigies and geniuses who have reached a certain level. It is what allows one to distinguish a prodigy from a genius: the shape of their eyes in this state.
And from what he observes, this form clearly shows that Tomaru is truly a genius.
— The situation is going to get complicated for your friend.
He continues:
— Geniuses are individuals born with such an exceptional understanding of chaos energy that they could be mistaken for madmen… but that is not the case.
Tomaru's face no longer shows explosive rage, but terrifying coldness.
He has absolutely no intention of letting Noa become a leader, even if he has to cripple him for life.
He charges.
Noa can no longer fully adapt to his movements. They are far too unpredictable and chaotic.
He does not even give him time to use his own technique. At this point, his speed begins to surpass Noa's.
Harman continues:
— In this state, for geniuses, chaos energy reacts directly to emotions and circulates ten times faster through their bodies, greatly enhancing their physical strength, reflexes, and speed. In this state, they are driven only by their goal. Nothing else matters. The circulation is so intense that the blood in their eyes turns black.
He adds:
— If this continues, I will have to intervene. It could become dangerous for Noa.
— Absolutely not.
Atela says.
She adds:
— Even though I don't know Noa very well, I've already seen how far he is willing to go to achieve his goal. I'm certain of it: Noa will not lose.
And there it is.
Tomaru lands the first major wound of the fight: a massive slash to Noa's torso, simply from the force and condensed energy in his hand.
"I noticed he still had fresh old injuries… so I'm taking advantage of that."
Noa drops to one knee, clearly in a bad state.
He has already pushed beyond his limits by ignoring the injuries sustained in the Empire's underground… but with this new wound…
Tomaru looks at him, completely disgusted.
He thinks of his mother… and of his younger brother who never even had the chance to be born because of people like him. No… like them.
Tomaru thanks Noa… and especially Nicolas… for making him realize something.
He and Noa… are the same.
In trying to take revenge on people like him, he has become what he hated most.
He now considers it a necessary evil: to defeat darkness, one must become part of it.
But Noa disagrees.
— I don't know what opinion you have of me… but I am not obsessed with revenge. And I have no intention of taking revenge on anyone.
Tomaru asks who he is trying to fool.
But Noa isn't saying this to convince him…
It is to understand his own situation.
He is certain of it. He always has been.
His obsession with Hadès has nothing to do with revenge.
In truth, he has already tried to give up on killing him… several times.
But every time he thinks about it, even slightly, a voice appears in his head.
As if his entire being is screaming at him not to abandon that goal.
He hears them… all the time.
Even now.
And suddenly, the boy's monstrous aura takes shape, radiating overwhelming pressure across the area.
But Tomaru's aura does not weaken.
It also ignites, clashing against Noa's.
Noa resumes his stance, unwavering.
Tomaru charges again.
Without warning, a slash cuts Tomaru's shoulder without him seeing the attack. He steps back instinctively.
He looks at his wound, surprised.
"What is this…? I didn't see anything coming… that attack came out of nowhere, even though he didn't move…"
Noa had not intended to use this technique during the selection.
A modified copy of his younger sister's technique, the seventh daughter of the patriarch.
He adapted it into a killing technique.
But he must use it carefully.
However, it is becoming difficult.
His concentration weakens, and his aura becomes unstable again, raw.
He risks destroying the entire area… and beyond… if he loses control.
From now on, every strike must be surgically precise.
Tomaru continues to charge again and again.
But how can he be dominated by his own nature as a genius…?
He slowly begins to enjoy the exchanges… and even the pain.
But he is constantly pushed back by Noa.
Cuts appear out of nowhere.
He then realizes:
His invisible attacks move at least at the speed of sound.
A monstrous fight.
A genius versus a pure prodigy.
Blood everywhere. Cuts appearing from nowhere.
Everyone is left speechless by the brutality of the battle.
And then it happens again.
Noa adapts again.
Faster. More efficiently.
Forcing Tomaru to evolve again and again.
Without either of them truly gaining the upper hand.
They push each other further and further.
"What is this feeling…? I'm supposed to be angry, but… this joy exploding inside me… no… it can't stop… it has to continue… I want more… more!"
He finds an opening.
At incredible speed, he lands another devastating strike to Noa's side.
Unaware that Noa had already anticipated it.
He only realizes it too late.
Noa coats his sword in aura and prepares to strike.
"Domina."
From the tip of his blade, he unleashes dozens of lasers toward Tomaru.
Tomaru seems to enjoy it and destroys each one, at the cost of his own body, which is reaching its limits.
Tomaru is in ecstasy.
That feeling… of surpassing his limits again and again… is too intoxicating.
Tomaru is in his element.
But despite that, Noa remains focused, sweating heavily, waiting for the right moment.
Even if only two minutes remain, the fight still has no conclusion.
In other zones, Ranta and Émilia feel the intensity of the battle despite the distance.
Tomaru smiles.
His rage fades.
His disgust fades.
The memory of his mother's funeral disappears.
Nothing matters anymore… except his own pleasure.
Noa uses his sword and cuts off Tomaru's arm.
He follows up with a kick that sends him flying back.
It is over.
He has won.
Tomaru does not even have time to touch the ground before a massive attack covering all angles is unleashed upon him.
"Requiem Breakers."
Before his stunned eyes, a titanic explosion engulfs the entire battlefield, destroying rock in crushing heat.
It is the most powerful technique Noa can still use without completely losing control.
The light blinds everyone in the observation rooms.
Atela was certain he would win… but did not expect this at all.
Smoke completely covers the battlefield.
Tomaru's battered body lies on the ground.
Noa has won.
Tomaru opens his eyes again, back to normal.
Unable to move, he wonders if he is dead.
Slow, silent footsteps approach him.
Noa emerges from the smoke, still with his eyes closed.
Even though he has won… he is in a pitiful state.
— So… are you satisfied with the result?
Noa does not answer.
He remains standing, motionless.
Tomaru takes this as a yes.
For a brief moment, he feels relieved.
All the weight he carried without realizing it… is gone.
— Maybe it was because of Cardinal Mode… they say that in that state, all masks fall… revealing one's true personality… but I think it was also thanks to you… but don't misunderstand… I still hate you.
Noa slowly raises his head.
And opens his left eye.
Tomaru's eyes widen.
A black eye… with a blue pupil… the eye of an awakened prodigy.
— All I want… is for all these voices to stop.
The remaining minutes pass, and team Z.X emerges victorious from this first confrontation. Despite the victory, the voices in the young boy's head continue to echo without end. His body drags him downward, and he can no longer breathe properly.
"Is it over?"
Noa's battered body collapses to the ground. His blood spreads across the scorched earth.
In the observation room, Atela picks up Marie and stands up with determined steps, stating that she is going to retrieve our protagonist.
Meanwhile, in a dark room, a mysterious figure has also been observing the entire course of the battle. His scarlet-red pupils stare at the boy's body, but he seems more interested in the arcane weapon in his possession than in Noa himself.
— Now that… is a surprise. A very big surprise.
The door of the room creaks open.
Cloé, an S-Class leader, stands at the entrance, hands behind her back, a small bead of sweat on her face.
— Master Arthur Pendragon requests that you meet Hiro Kazao.
Barely has she finished speaking when the silhouette of the second most powerful of the twenty generals appears in front of her, staring at her with eyes filled with a sickly joy and twisted happiness.
Cloé holds her breath in the presence of this man, regarded as a true natural disaster.
Kazao turns his gaze away with machine-like precision and walks toward the exit.
Cloé lets out a heavy sigh of relief as the man's footsteps slowly fade away into the deepest silence.