บท 14: Beyond Privilege
Commander Thane pulled out a tablet and activated its holographic display, projecting a list of names that floated in the air. He swiftly scrolled down the roster, his eyes scanning the information until they landed on Erich Kruger's entry. As he took in the details of Erich's Soul Binding ability, a mixture of concern and admiration creased his face, and he couldn't help but smile worriedly.
Without warning, Karma launched his staff at breakneck speed, hurtling it towards Erich with unrelenting force. Erich dodged the attack by a hair's breadth, the staff barely missing him as it struck the ground with a resounding crash, sending shockwaves through the earth. The impact left Erich reeling, his expression a picture of shock and disbelief.
As he spun around to face his opponent, Karma had vanished, only to reappear above him, descending with a powerful punch. Erich narrowly avoided the blow, leaping out of the way just in time as Karma's fist slammed into the ground, sending tremors through the air.
"He's fast," Erich thought, gritting his teeth in admiration.
Karma swiftly retrieved his staff, yanking it out of the ground with a flick of his wrist. The weapon zoomed back to his hand, and he spun it rapidly, assuming a fighting stance as he beckoned Erich to come at him.
Erich panted slightly, his chest heaving with exertion, as he acknowledged Karma's speed. "You're quick, I'll give you that." But Karma didn't respond, instead charging at Erich with a fierce battle cry.
The two combatants clashed in a whirlwind of movement, their hands and feet blurring as they exchanged blows. The air rippled with each impact, a testament to their incredible skill. Erich seemed to be gaining ground, his movements almost matching Karma's pace, but then a strange phenomenon occurred, leaving the audience gasping in shock.
Erich's body suddenly felt weighed down, as if an invisible force was anchoring him to the ground. Before he could comprehend what was happening, Karma's staff struck him with incredible force, sending him flying across the floor. Erich rolled with the momentum, using it to spring back to his feet as the mysterious weight lifted from his body.
"What just happened?" Erich wondered, his mind racing.
Karma broke into his thoughts, a hint of a smile on his face. "You're surprised, aren't you? That's my Soul Ability – Mass Anchor. I can immobilize objects or people, fixing them in place. Normally, your movements would be completely restricted, but...you're not just anyone."
Erich's eyes narrowed, his gaze locked on Karma. "Is that so? Well, let's see you do that again."
Captain Diane's voice cut through the tension, "You have to admit, he's quite impressive." Gray's eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the astonishment of the entire stadium. The air was electric with anticipation as everyone waited to see what would happen next.
Erich's finger rose to his lips, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Hum...," he murmured, and a low, pulsating energy began to emanate from him. Karma's eyes flashed with recognition, but he swiftly shook off the effects by planting his staff in the ground. The stadium shuddered as a massive section of the earth was lifted off the ground, only to be shattered by Karma's staff. The resulting fragments hovered around him, and with a swift motion, he began striking them towards Erich at breakneck speed.
Erich's smile was calm and collected as he sidestepped the incoming boulders with ease, advancing towards Karma with an unnerving tranquility. Karma's eyes narrowed, suspicion growing - he was certain Erich had activated his Soul Ability, but what was its nature? He wouldn't take chances, pointing his staff at Erich and unleashing a barrage of flying rocks. The ground trembled, and chunks of earth surrounded Karma like a shield.
Erich's fist slammed into the ground, sending dust flying everywhere. Karma swiftly retaliated, sending the rocks hurtling towards the smoke-filled area, but Erich was nowhere to be found. Spinning around, Karma expected to see his opponent behind him, but there was no one. When he turned back, a massive punch collided with his face, slamming him to the ground, shattering the ground beneath their feet
Karma's eyes widened as he struggled to his feet, his gaze fixed on Erich. "How did you...?" he started to ask, but Erich cut him off with a sly smile.
"You don't reveal your secrets to your opponent, especially not to someone like me," Erich said, his voice low and menacing. He took a step closer to Karma, his movements fluid and calculated.
Karma's face twisted in frustration. "But how...?" he demanded, his staff trembling with rage.
Erich chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Does it matter, Karma?".
"Maybe you shouldn't get too confident, you aristocratic bastard!" Karma with a fierce cry swung his staff down in a powerful motion.
Erich eyes widened as he felt the same heavy feeling as before, but it was stronger and heavier this time, making his movements very restricted. "What do you think of that, huh?" Karma sneered, his veins bulging with strained effort.
The stadium gasped in shock as Erich froze, unable to move an inch.
"This is my victory!" Karma declared, his voice ringing through the stadium. "I will become a Nightcore!"
Erich's face contorted in a snarl. "I should have seen this coming... Shit, I'm fucked," he growled, his limbs straining against the unseen force.
"You privileged elites have everything handed to you on a silver platter. You've never had to work for anything in your life. It's all about who you know and the power you wield. Meanwhile, people like us struggle every single day, only to watch others like you reap the rewards. It's infuriating! That's why my goal is to ensure that no one, especially not someone like you, gets something they don't deserve."
The stadium fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the tense standoff between the two combatants. Erich's expression remained unreadable, his gaze fixed intently on Karma.
"You were a worthy opponent, I'll give you that," Karma sneered. "But in the end, I emerged victorious. Admit defeat and spare yourself the agony, or I'll make sure this is a pain you'll never forget."
Erich's smile was razor-sharp. "Privileged, you say? That sums it up nicely. Was I lucky to be born an elite? Maybe. Do I get my way because of my power and authority? Definitely. But let me tell you, I didn't get where I am today solely because of my connections. I've worked hard for everything I've achieved, and I won't let you insult my efforts."
Karma's face twisted in rage. "Then you deserve every bit of this!" He raised his staff, ready to strike.
Erich's smile never wavered.
The stadium erupted into stunned silence, with even the World Orders themselves looking on in shock.
"Soul Extension," he said, his words heavy with boldness
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