Chapter 160: Roar of Thunder
Scene: The battlefield is in ruins, the walls of the Aquarian Empire cracked and scorched by relentless mana blasts. Blood stains the ground as Eren, Rylan, and Zarek struggle to stand. Their breaths are ragged, their bodies trembling, but the fire in their eyes hasn't died. The Overdrive-enhanced Aquarians tower over them, their sinister grins stretching wide as their dark auras flicker like an unholy flame.
Lead Aquarian: (mocking) Is that it? The so-called 'Heroes' of the South Nation? Pathetic.
Second Aquarian: (grinning) They lasted longer than I expected. But it's time to end this.
Third Aquarian: (darkly) Prepare for oblivion.
Narrator: Zarek chuckles, his lips curling into a bloody grin as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Zarek: (laughing) Hah… This is the best fight I've had in a long time! You bastards are actually pushing me back!
Eren: (panting) Damn it, Zarek, you're enjoying this?!
Zarek: (grinning) Of course I am! When's the last time we got to go all out? Stop holding back, Eren, Rylan—fight like you actually want to win!
Narrator: Without hesitation, Zarek unleashes a wave of Divine Mana, his Holy Bombs doubling in size. He rushes forward with Heavenly Pierce, his blade glowing so brightly that it illuminates the entire battlefield.
Second Aquarian: (eyes widening) What the—?!
Narrator: The Aquarian barely dodges as Zarek swings, but the sheer force of the attack slices the air, leaving a trail of white-hot energy that carves deep into the ground. The Aquarian retaliates with a devastating Dark Crescent Slash, a curved blade of shadow mana that rips toward Zarek.
Zarek: (grinning) Oh? You're getting serious now?
Narrator: Zarek doesn't dodge—he deflects the attack with his bare hands, his Divine Mana dispersing the dark energy as he laughs maniacally.
Zarek: (taunting) Come on! Hit me with something stronger!
Narrator: The Aquarian snarls and lunges, the two engaging in a brutal, close-quarters battle, their blows shaking the ground beneath them. Blood splatters as they tear into each other, neither willing to back down.
Eren: (watching) Zarek's insane… but he's right. No more holding back.
Narrator: Eren glances at Rylan, who smirks and nods. Without another word, they leap into action.
Rylan: (charging) Let's show them what we can really do!
Eren: (grinning) Hell yeah!
Narrator: Eren and Rylan unleash their combined technique—Thunder Clap.
Eren & Rylan: (in unison) 雷鳴一閃! (Raimei Issen - Lightning Flash Strike!)
Narrator: Their lightning mana fuses together, creating an explosion of crimson and violet thunder that arcs toward the sky before crashing down on the two Aquarians. The impact is deafening, the air charged with so much electricity that the ground beneath them turns to glass.
Third Aquarian: (groaning) Ghh—!
Lead Aquarian: (growling) Tch! Impressive… but not enough.
Narrator: As the smoke clears, the Aquarians remain standing—injured, but still very much alive. Then, they speak in a foreign tongue, their voices merging into a haunting, guttural chant.
Aquarians: (chanting) 昇りし者よ,力を解放せよ… (Noborishi mono yo, chikara o kaihō seyo…)
Narrator: The words ripple through the battlefield like a death sentence. A dark pulse erupts from their bodies, and suddenly, their forms begin to distort, shifting as their mana spirals out of control. Their once humanoid forms now pulse with unnatural energy, their muscles stretching, their veins glowing with an eerie black light.
Eren: (wide-eyed) What… the hell…?
Lead Aquarian: (grinning wickedly) This… is true power.
Narrator: Their final form—Ascend.
Rylan: (gritting his teeth) Shit. Their power just skyrocketed.
Zarek: (spitting blood) Heh. Finally, something interesting.
Narrator: Before anyone can react, the Lead Aquarian vanishes. In an instant, Eren is sent flying backward, a devastating kick slamming into his ribs with such force that he crashes through a nearby structure.
Eren: (choking) GHHH—!!
Rylan: (yelling) Eren!
Narrator: Before Rylan can react, dark tendrils shoot from the Second Aquarian's arm, wrapping around him and slamming him into the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath him.
Rylan: (gasping) Damn it—!
Narrator: Zarek tries to counter, slashing toward the Third Aquarian, but he's met with a point-blank blast of black energy, sending him sprawling across the battlefield.
Third Aquarian: (mocking) Pathetic. You thought you stood a chance?
Narrator: Across the battlefield, Aria and Asher—who had been tracking Eren, Rylan, and Zarek's mana—suddenly feel their energy plummet.
Aria: (panicked) Eren's mana just… dropped!
Asher: (clenching his fists) Damn it! We need to move!
Narrator: But Kaitaro's voice echoes through their minds.
Kaitaro: (telepathically) No. Stay on your mission. If you abandon your task, this entire war is lost.
Narrator: Aria's fists tremble, but she knows he's right.
Aria: (whispering) Be okay… please.
Narrator: Back on the battlefield, the Aquarians stand over the beaten heroes, their glowing eyes filled with murderous intent.
Lead Aquarian: (mocking) This is the end. Any last words?
Narrator: A sudden gust of wind sweeps across the battlefield. A low, rumbling sound fills the air.
Rylan: (breathing heavily) We… haven't lost yet.
Narrator: He slowly rises, blood dripping from his mouth, his Mystic Elf form awakening. His once deep-blue mana is now an ethereal shade of violet, crackling with untamed energy.
Lead Aquarian: (raising an eyebrow) Hoh? You still stand?
Rylan: (grinning, blood dripping down his face) You're damn right I do. And I'm not alone.
Narrator: A loud crackle echoes through the battlefield.
Eren: (growling) RAAAAAAHHHHHH!!
Narrator: A massive surge of red lightning bursts from the ruins where Eren had been thrown. The ground quakes as he emerges—his Raged High Elf form fully activated. His once golden aura is now a violent crimson storm, his eyes burning like molten fire.
Eren: (low, dangerous voice) You bastards are gonna regret this.
Narrator: The Aquarians take a step back, sensing the sheer power radiating from the duo.
Zarek: (watching) Holy shit…
Narrator: Eren and Rylan, the Lightning Duo, step forward, their bodies crackling with unrelenting energy.
Eren: (grinning) Round two, assholes.
The chapter ends as the final battle begins.