The island couldn't hold anymore.
It cracked.
Split.
Sank.
Because of them.
Four Sovereigns.
Clashing without restraint.
Overwhelmed
Lightning struck again.
Faster than before.
Adrian blocked—
Black ash forming a shield—
BOOM
It shattered.
He was pushed back.
Immediately—
Water followed.
A crushing current—
Like the ocean itself collapsing onto him.
He cut through it—
But—
Earth erupted beneath him.
CRASH
A spike slammed into his side—
Sending him flying.
[HP -37]
He crashed across broken stone.
Blood spilled.
"…Three at once…"
He stood slowly.
"…This is different."
Relentless Assault
Raizen didn't stop.
"…Don't let him breathe!"
Lightning rained down—
Constant.
Endless.
Seris moved her hand—
Water spiraled—
Binding Adrian's legs.
Durog slammed his fist down—
The ground collapsed inward—
Trying to crush him.
No Escape
Adrian broke free—
But barely.
Each move—
Slower.
Each breath—
Heavier.
"…Tch…"
He wiped blood from his mouth.
"…So this is pressure."
Observers Above
The unknown figure watched.
Silently.
"…He's being pushed."
A pause.
"…Good."
Back to the Battle
Adrian stood still for a moment.
Not moving.
Not attacking.
The three paused slightly.
"…What is he doing?" Seris muttered.
Then—
Adrian smiled.
"…I get it now."
Understanding
His eyes sharpened.
"…You're not stronger individually."
A pause.
"…You're stronger together."
Raizen frowned.
"…So?"
Adrian raised his hand.
Black ash gathered—
But different.
More controlled.
More precise.
"…Then I just have to break that."
Targeting Weakness
He vanished.
Not toward the strongest—
But the most unstable.
Seris.
"…What—?!"
She barely reacted—
Adrian appeared in front of her—
Too fast.
Black ash surged—
Piercing through her water defense.
CRACK
His strike landed.
Direct.
Seris was launched backward—
Crashing into the sea.
"…One down," Adrian muttered.
Shift in Balance
Raizen roared.
"…You bastard!"
Lightning exploded violently.
Stronger.
Wilder.
Durog slammed both hands down—
The earth rose—
Trying to trap Adrian completely.
But Adrian didn't dodge.
He stepped forward.
Through it.
Adaptation Complete
Black ash shifted again.
Now—
It crackled.
Faint electricity running through it.
Raizen's eyes widened.
"…You copied it…?"
Adrian's voice was calm.
"…I told you."
A pause.
"…I take everything."
Ash Evolution: Lightning Fusion
He moved again.
Faster.
Lightning and ash combined—
Exploding with each step.
He closed the distance instantly.
Raizen attacked—
Lightning vs lightning—
But—
Adrian's was heavier.
Denser.
Overwhelming.
BOOM
Raizen was slammed into the ground.
Unconscious.
Two Left
Durog roared.
Charging forward.
Massive.
Unstoppable.
The ground moved with him.
Adrian stood still.
"…Big."
A pause.
"…Slow."
Earth vs Ash
Durog's fist descended—
Carrying immense weight—
Adrian met it head-on.
Black ash surged—
Mixed now—
Lightning—
Frost—
Everything.
CRASH
The impact shattered the battlefield.
But—
Durog's arm cracked.
"…What…?!"
Adrian stepped forward.
Unshaken.
"…Too predictable."
Final Domination
Ash wrapped around Durog—
Binding him completely.
He struggled—
But couldn't break free.
"…Impossible…"
Adrian raised his hand.
"…You're done."
Ash compressed—
Crushing him.
From all directions.
Until—
Silence.
Durog collapsed.
Defeated.
Aftermath
The battlefield was gone.
The island—
Gone.
Only ocean remained.
Floating debris.
Broken sky.
Adrian stood at the center.
Breathing slowly.
Covered in blood.
But alive.
Victorious.
System Surge
[Multiple Sovereign Candidates Defeated]
[Authority Greatly Increased]
[New Evolution Available]
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"…Evolution?"
The system flickered.
More violently than ever before.
Above
The unknown figure finally moved.
Stepping forward slightly.
"…He survived."
A pause.
"…Now he qualifies."
Final Scene
Adrian looked up.
Directly at it.
For the first time—
They made eye contact.
And Adrian smiled.
"…You're next."
Silence.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on the figure above.
"…Soon."
The war—
Was only beginning.