The moment the red light ignited in Starbreaker's eyes, the greatswords in his hands lit up with strange, intricate patterns.
Those markings resembled capillaries running through a living body—branching, spreading, and crawling across the entire length of both blades.
"Interesting."
Lucas's gaze sharpened slightly.
Through his ki, he could clearly sense a living aura emanating from the weapons.
That's right—the twin greatswords were alive.
Still, Lucas was only mildly intrigued.
Then, in the very next instant, Starbreaker's aura began to surge violently, swelling like an overinflated balloon.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
'So the blades could amplify their wielder as well.'
Hoo—!
As Starbreaker's energy skyrocketed, his golden armor began to glow. His originally pale skin gradually took on a faint golden hue.
With a thunderous roar, Starbreaker vanished—his body dissolving into an afterimage.
Lucas's eyes flickered.
His gaze locked onto a seemingly empty space directly in front of him.
At that very spot, Starbreaker's body suddenly shuddered—as if he had been targeted by an ancient, apex predator.
Without hesitation, Starbreaker invoked spatial rules, forcibly shifting his position in an attempt to confuse Lucas.
This was his greatest trump card—a technique only the strongest of his race could comprehend. It was his natural talent.
Yet the instant he reappeared—
What greeted him was still Lucas's cold, unwavering gaze.
"???"
Starbreaker was stunned.
How could his opponent lock onto his position the moment he moved?
Refusing to believe it, Starbreaker shifted again.
And again—
Lucas's eyes were already waiting for him.
At that moment, Starbreaker finally understood.
No matter where he went, he could not escape Lucas's perception.
From Lucas's perspective, Starbreaker's movements were laughably obvious—like a glowing beacon in the darkness.
Not looking at him would have felt impolite.
There was no more room for hesitation.
The vein-like patterns on Starbreaker's blades flared brilliantly as both swords lunged forward, closing in on Lucas in a blur.
Lucas calmly raised his right hand.
But in Starbreaker's perception, that hand had already clenched into a fist—and was coming straight for him.
Although Starbreaker had struck first, every instinct screamed the same warning:
If I don't dodge, I'll be hit first.
But he couldn't retreat.
This was his all-out attack.
Then—
Before the blades could touch Lucas—
Lucas's fist smashed into Starbreaker's face.
BOOM!
A deafening impact echoed throughout the arena.
Starbreaker's body was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing into the super-alloy wall of the coliseum in less than a blink.
The wall caved inward, forming a massive crater, with Starbreaker embedded deep inside—unable to fall free.
"T-This… is impossible…"
Starbreaker stared blankly.
One punch.
Just one punch—and he had been defeated.
And he knew something even more terrifying:
Lucas had held back.
Had that punch been delivered at full force, he would have been gravely injured—or worse.
"Your ability is special," Lucas said as he walked toward the wall.
"Against anyone else, even someone stronger than you, it could have been decisive."
He stopped in front of Starbreaker.
"But you were never my opponent. The gap between us isn't small—it's overwhelming."
Lucas raised his hand and made a gentle pulling motion.
An invisible force seized Starbreaker, dragging him effortlessly out of the crater and setting him on the ground.
"I want to know," Starbreaker said, looking up at Lucas,
"just how strong you really are."
He already knew he couldn't win.
Between true experts, a single exchange was enough.
But what he didn't know—what haunted him—was how far behind he truly was.
Lucas studied Starbreaker's expression, then nodded.
"You want to know?"
"As you wish."
He released his grip.
Starbreaker collapsed onto the arena floor.
Lucas inhaled deeply.
Since leaving the hell planet, he hadn't truly unleashed his ki at full capacity—not once.
Now felt like the right moment.
Suddenly—
Lucas roared.
His ki erupted like rocket exhaust, blasting skyward in a furious torrent.
A violent storm of energy surged outward in all directions.
The entire arena froze.
Wave after wave of overwhelming pressure slammed into the stands.
Spectators in the inner rings were flung away instantly. Those farther back felt the rising tempest and scrambled to escape their seats.
Even the hovering spectator ships in the air were thrown into chaos—spinning wildly, some crashing directly into the stands and triggering mass panic.
And still—
Lucas's eruption continued.
The arena floor cracked under the crushing pressure, fractures spreading outward like a massive spiderweb.
Within half a meter of Lucas, the ground collapsed layer by layer, sinking as if crushed by an invisible weight.
Starbreaker's expression turned completely rigid.
He had known Lucas was strong.
But this—
This was beyond imagination.
With another thunderous roar, the fractures spread even further—reaching the spectator platforms themselves.
In the highest viewing chamber, the ground beneath the Grandmaster began to shake violently.
His expression changed.
Surrounded by guards, he immediately fled the arena.
Beyond the coliseum, the city itself began to tremble, as if the entire world were reacting to Lucas's power.
Only Hela remained unmoved.
She shattered the observation glass and soared into the sky above the arena, personally enduring the unmatched shockwaves.
Her eyes shimmered.
In thousands of years, she had never encountered a man like this.
After more than ten seconds—
Lucas finally reined in his power.
An invisible aura enveloped his body. His eyes, once deep brown, had shifted into a faintly teal hue.
"So this…"
Lucas clenched his fist, feeling the explosive strength coursing through him.
"…is the result of two months of training on the hell planet."
A confident smile formed at the corner of his lips.
_____
T/N:
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