Real Dream: Infinity

The air inside the Nexar Stadium was charged with adrenaline. The crowd's roars thundered like a storm as No Limits surged forward, leaving a trail of destruction and awe in his wake. His figure moved like a black lightning bolt; the metallic gloves encasing his hands glimmered like polished onyx under the stadium lights, and the multicolored glow of his mask seemed to ensnare every gaze in the audience. His white cloak billowed behind him, transforming him into a mythical figure as the ground cracked beneath each of his strides.

CRASH!

***

Meanwhile, Aurora couldn't take her eyes off the holographic screen in front of her. The aerial view displayed No Limits closing the gap between himself and Melisfir, who ran like a streak of light, jumping and weaving through obstacles with calculated agility. The stage map lit up with warning signals, marking danger zones and competitor trajectories. Every one of No Limits' steps echoed like thunder throughout the arena.

BOOM!

A competitor wielding a halberd suddenly emerged from a side alley, aiming to ambush No Limits with a decisive strike. The man spun his halberd in a wide arc, aiming straight for the unstoppable runner's chest. But No Limits reacted with superhuman speed. Lowering his stance, he explosively pivoted his shoulders and caught the weapon's shaft with one gloved hand, while his other fist smashed into the attacker's chest.

The impact was catastrophic. The competitor was hurled backward into a nearby building, shattering a glass window into thousands of shards before slumping unconscious.

Aurora held her breath. "Oh my God! How is he still moving with that level of precision and power?" she asked, more to herself than to her companions.

Clara screamed excitedly, "It's No Limits, Aurora! This guy doesn't follow rules. Why do you think he's called that?"

Swish! Bang!

Meanwhile, Melisfir darted ahead in a serpentine motion, firing bursts of energy from Sleepy behind her to slow her pursuer. The bullets exploded on impact with walls and pavement, but No Limits dodged them effortlessly. His feet barely seemed to touch the ground as each step created an invisible shockwave that propelled him forward.

Suddenly, Melisfir spun on her heels and unleashed a barrage of explosive bullets at the ground in front of No Limits, opening a massive crater beneath his feet.

BOOM!

A cloud of dust and debris erupted, momentarily obscuring everyone's view.

"Yes! That has to stop him!" Ethan shouted, slamming his hands on the railing in excitement.

But as the dust cleared, the audience erupted into cheers. No Limits emerged from the wreckage, stepping through the rubble with a faint smile barely visible under the shadow of his crown. His eyes gleamed with determination, and his pace hadn't slowed in the slightest.

Melisfir gritted her teeth. "This idiot just doesn't know when to quit." With an agile twist, she launched herself onto a series of floating platforms, seeking higher ground to escape.

Aurora noticed something on the screen. The crown atop No Limits' head began glowing even brighter, its diamonds sparkling like distant stars. "Wait a second… is he charging something?"

CRACK!

The ground beneath No Limits fractured again, but this time it was different. The In around him started to gather like a pulsing torch. Without warning, he launched himself toward the platforms with a sonic boom, leaving behind an explosion that sent shards of concrete flying in every direction.

While in mid-air, he extended his right arm, and his gloved fist ignited with raw energy. A dark blue light swirled around it, writhing like liquid flames.

KRAK-THOOM!

The impact was brutal. The platform where Melisfir had landed shattered into fragments, and she barely managed to leap to a nearby building in time. Her boots clanged against the metal as she turned to face No Limits, her gaze fierce.

"You want to fight, jackass? Fine!" Melisfir growled, raising Sleepy with a confidence that radiated through the air. "But we'll do it my way," she added, a hidden grin playing under her black mask, its faint white crack glowing as it divided the mask into two halves.

The audience went wild, fully aware they were about to witness a battle that would be remembered for years to come.

Without warning, Melisfir fired a shot into the sky. The bullet traced a precise arc before exploding into a vibrant display of fireworks, illuminating the area in dazzling colors. It was a simple trick for someone like Melisfir, whose ability to manipulate In with surgical precision compensated for her limited capacity to accumulate raw power.

No Limits tilted his head upward, watching the spectacle briefly. The dancing lights reflected off the multicolored crystal embedded in his crown, giving him an almost otherworldly appearance. But his attention soon returned to his immediate surroundings. His masked sensors detected movement behind him.

In the nearby streets, figures began to emerge from the shadows. Shadow Gale, cloaked in his signature dark cape that rippled like a river of ink; Daeron, with his disheveled blond hair and battered armor. Another figure caught the light: Xandra, a woman with fiery red hair tied tightly into a braid. She wore a knightly black suit accented with gold details and a half-cape draped over her left shoulder, partially obscuring her figure. Her rapier gleamed with silvery reflections under the streetlights. But it was the last figure that stood out the most—a muscular woman with a severe expression and deliberate movements. Her armor, seemingly forged from pure steel, bore scars like trophies of countless battles.

"Iron Will," thought No Limits, recognizing her instantly.

However, his gaze returned to Melisfir. The fireworks and the arrival of the other combatants hadn't shaken the certainty he felt. He could swear that, behind that mask, she was smiling. And that was precisely why he had come after her.

"You destroyed both my gloves and left me without In last week, disarmed in front of three enemies," No Limits said, his tone firm but tinged with sardonic humor. "That's not happening again."

Melisfir chuckled softly, her laughter echoing mockingly in the night. "Oh, come on. Don't lie. You're chasing me because you like me."

No Limits paused momentarily. The silence was awkward but telling.

Melisfir laughed louder this time. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Well, shall we get started?" she said, raising Sleepy into a defensive position.

No Limits, his gaze locked onto her, replied calmly, "That's why I like you."

For an instant, the grin under Melisfir's mask faltered. Her thoughts tangled momentarily, but she shook them off with a quick jerk of her head. There was no time for distractions. Feinting a charge toward him, she suddenly changed direction at the last second, breaking the ground beneath her feet to descend to the lower level.

No Limits wasted no time, diving after her, his speed generating a gust of wind that cleared part of the dust she had kicked up.

Bang! Bang!

Two quick shots fired from the shadows. No Limits blocked them effortlessly, raising his onyx-black metallic arms. The impacts echoed through the already crumbling structure.

Boom!

He landed, creating a crater at the point of impact. Dust and debris filled the air, reducing visibility to nearly zero.

Swish!

A metallic glint cut through the air. Sleepy hurtled toward his back with lethal precision. But No Limits didn't dodge. He spun on his axis, delivering a roundhouse kick at head height, forcing Melisfir to duck just in time to avoid the blow.

Without hesitation, Melisfir launched a series of rapid jabs at No Limits' torso.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The metallic clash of her blade against his reinforced gloves reverberated through the air as sparks illuminated the dusty battleground.

"Admit it, No Limits!" Melisfir said, her voice playful but tinged with frustration. "You're enjoying this as much as I am."

No Limits remained silent, his movements precise and deliberate. With every calculated step, he blocked her strikes with mechanical precision, his glowing visor revealing nothing but determination.

Suddenly, an earth-shaking crash interrupted their exchange.

CRASH!

The glass wall on the building's side shattered as a figure burst through. It was Iron Will, her entrance as imposing as her presence. Extending her arms, she clapped her massive hands together, unleashing a shockwave strong enough to clear the lingering dust.

As the debris settled, the Nexar Stadium's lights flared to life, illuminating the scene. Onlookers, both in the stands and watching from holographic screens, saw the battlefield clearly now:

Melisfir and No Limits stood motionless, facing each other. Their outfits were battered and dusty, yet both appeared ready to continue as if the prior clash had been nothing but a warm-up.

Iron Will's voice boomed, cutting through the tension. "No more games," she said, taking firm steps forward. The ground trembled under her armored weight. Her expression was as severe as a judge delivering a final verdict.

Melisfir adjusted her cap with a quick motion, retreating slightly. Her eyes, barely visible through the edges of her mask, didn't waver. No Limits, meanwhile, shifted slightly toward the new arrival without dropping his guard against Melisfir.

***

Meanwhile, outside the building, the battle raged on with equal intensity. Just a few meters from the main entrance, two combatants attempted to approach, searching for an opportunity to enter the structure and shift the tide of the confrontation. That was when a sharp whistling sound sliced through the air.

Bang!

A massive arrow tore through the space, striking the first combatant and sending him flying several meters before slamming him into the ground. The impact immediately disqualified him, as his combat visor flashed red. The second participant, realizing the danger, dashed toward a nearby house, seeking refuge. However, another arrow pierced the air, cutting clean through the thin wall and hitting him square in the torso, disqualifying him as well.

From an elevated platform encircling the area from above, Therion, the solitary archer, released the string of his colossal bow once more. His figure stood stoic, his green suit rippling slightly under the stadium's lights. Each shot was a death sentence, and with cold precision, he kept the area clear, ensuring that no intruders could approach the building where No Limits and the others were locked in battle.

***

Near the base of the building, Daeron, wielding his radiant spear, took down an enemy who had tried to ambush him. He retrieved a battery from his fallen opponent and was about to activate it when a swift slash streaked toward his chest. Forced to retreat, he dropped the battery, which shattered in the process.

Standing before him was Xandra, her silver mask adorned with a finely etched cross. Her rapier glinted under the artificial light, its tip held upright in a dueling stance.

"Would you grant me a duel?" Xandra asked with a politeness that seemed out of place amidst the chaos.

Daeron's lips twitched. Although he didn't answer with words, he raised his spear and adopted a defensive stance. Xandra's mouth curved into a faint smile beneath her mask as she stepped forward with graceful yet deliberate movements.

***

In the nearby shadows, Shadow Gale moved like a predator among the combatants who had chosen to stay on the fringes of the main chaos. With nearly imperceptible motions, he took them down one by one, collecting batteries with chilling efficiency. The darkness seemed to be his ally, concealing him until the very moment he struck.

***

Back inside the building, Iron Will stopped a few meters from No Limits and Melisfir, her presence dominating the space.

"What are you waiting for?" she growled, addressing them both with a mix of mockery and authority. "Are you going to fight each other, or me?"

Melisfir exchanged a quick glance with No Limits, and for a fleeting moment, something resembling an understanding passed between them. There wasn't time to decide whether they were allies or enemies; the real chaos was only just beginning.