Real Dream: Infinity

The Nexar Stadium and the battlefield fell into complete silence. Thousands of spectators stood motionless in the stands, watching in awe as the two unconscious competitors lay at the center of the stage. For an eternal moment, only the sound of the wind existed. Then, the massive screens suspended above the stadium flickered before displaying the results for all to see.

Participant Melisfir: Eliminated.

Participant No Limits: Eliminated.

The commentators broke the silence:

"Incredible! It's a draw! This level of combat is something rarely seen in the history of the Dominion! Melisfir and No Limits have delivered a duel that will go down in history!"

The crowd reacted like a surging wave. The roar of the stadium was deafening as flags waved frantically, and applause rumbled like thunder. The spectators celebrated the sheer intensity of the battle, even though neither of the fighters had remained standing.

Aurora blinked several times, struggling to believe what she had just witnessed. Her heart raced as she tried to process the events. She glanced to her side and saw Ethan and Clara sharing the same astonished expressions. The three exchanged brief looks before sinking back into their seats in silence, still digesting the outcome.

Ethan was the first to break the stillness.

"Are you kidding me? H-How did he escape that situation?" he asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Aurora nodded repeatedly, unable to contain her excitement.

"No Limits is incredible... and so is Melisfir! She didn't back down. S-She even managed to disqualify him..."

Clara, with her dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, wore a different expression. Beyond the surprise, her face reflected a calculating analysis. As a graduate of Helion Red Diamond and an active worker for Helios Tech, her understanding of In surpassed what most could perceive.

The way he caught those bullets earlier... That wasn't normal. No Limits usually focuses on releasing his In in bursts of aura to overpower others. But at that moment, his control, the fluidity of his movements... that was Xeris.

"The first step toward the next phase…"

Ethan noticed the tone of her reflection and frowned in concern.

"Is something wrong?" he asked cautiously.

Clara immediately smiled, her expression softening into something more playful. She took Ethan's hand with a theatrical gesture.

"Do you think I'm scared?" she teased, pretending to be a damsel in distress. "Oh, Ethan, how fortunate I am to have you here to protect me. If No Limits comes after me, surely you'll save me!"

She leaned slightly toward him, resting her weight on his shoulder as she laughed softly. Ethan, visibly uncomfortable due to his lack of physical presence compared to Clara's dramatics, turned away and muttered:

"O-Of course."

Clara leaned in even more, completely resting on him as her smile turned mischievous. Aurora watched the scene with a faintly melancholic smile, one that carried a flicker of nostalgia. Her gaze, however, soon returned to the battlefield, where the unconscious fighters were being removed from the stage.

***

Xandra remained motionless, her sharp eyes fixed on No Limits' body as it disappeared beneath the stage alongside Melisfir. Her thoughts lingered on what she had just witnessed. She, too, had noticed that No Limits had used Xeris, a technique that elevated him to an entirely new level.

"If they've reached this point... I can't stay behind," she thought with determination.

Her rapier glowed with an intense red light as she turned her gaze toward Shadow Gale, whose suit now had only three active batteries remaining.

Shadow Gale, fully aware of his situation, swallowed hard. "Damn it... she's too fast. My main advantage is useless against her," he thought, desperately retreating while throwing knives in a last-ditch effort to keep her at bay.

Xandra's rapier glowed even brighter, her half-cape on her shoulder fluttering in the wind.

Zoom!

In an instant, Shadow Gale completely lost sight of Xandra. A sharp, piercing pain shot through his stomach before he could react.

Crack! Slice!

Xandra's rapier struck with lethal precision from a low stance. The In counter on Shadow Gale's mask plummeted instantly:

"Critical In level. Disqualified."

Shadow Gale stared at her in shock, his strength fading as the pain overwhelmed him. Xandra's eyes, visible through her mask, were as sharp as the tip of her blade. Without hesitation, she reached out and stripped the batteries from Shadow Gale's suit. She withdrew her weapon with a swift motion, shaking the blood off the blade in an elegant spin.

Standing tall, her every step exuded confidence as she advanced in search of her next opponent.

"Heh... monster," Shadow Gale thought as he collapsed to one knee.

***

In the center of the plaza...

Bang!

An arrow exploded behind Zephirin as he dodged, the blast kicking up a cloud of dust and stone fragments that scraped against his suit. "Damn it! Why are you shooting at me, Therion? Iron Will is running straight toward you!" he thought, leaping sideways to avoid another arrow. His breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped from his face. Each time he dodged, the open field seemed to chain him to an inevitable fate.

"I need to get out of here. If I stay exposed like this, I'll be eliminated soon. But... I lost my scythe when I threw it! Ahh, that Melisfir... no matter the situation, she always finds a way to make things worse," he muttered, gritting his teeth as he scrambled to his feet.

Frantically, he scanned the area, searching for cover or a weapon.

"For now, I'll hide until I find something to defend myself."

Swoosh! Slice! Slice! Slice!

An unstoppable whirlwind descended upon Zephirin. It was Xandra, her movements swift and precise, like a predator closing in on its prey. The dim light reflected off her crimson rapier, creating flashes that momentarily blinded him. Her strikes were calculated, as if tracing a deliberate pattern across his skin, tearing his clothes and leaving searing red lines in their wake.

"Ahh!" Zephirin screamed in frustration and pain, throwing a desperate punch into the air, hoping to create some distance.

Slice! Slice! Slice! Clank!

But Xandra didn't relent. Her rapier moved with the precision of a metronome as she continued her assault. An arrow came from the side, but she deflected it with an elegant twist of her wrist. The burst briefly illuminated her face beneath the mask, revealing eyes that burned with barely contained fury.

Zephirin's In counter hit zero, his body battered and covered in shallow but stinging wounds. With a frustrated growl, he fell to the ground, barely holding himself up as he glared at Xandra.

"Hey, that wasn't necessary," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Xandra's eyes turned icy, and her rapier hovered near his throat. Her voice was as cold as a death sentence.

"A treacherous rat like you has no right to complain."

With a graceful turn, she spun on her heels, casting him one final, murderous glance.

"I'll take care of the cowards," she declared before vanishing as swiftly as she had appeared.

Zephirin, groaning in pain, stared up at the sky, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I hope you buy me lunch tomorrow, Melisfir."

***

Bang! Bang!

Iron Will burst through two concrete walls, leaving a trail of dust and rubble in her wake. Her body, strong and charged with red energy, moved with unshakable determination. Her objective was clear.

"That attack consumed too much In. And that girl with the rapier... she's too fast. Just like him..." she thought, recalling the figure that always stood tall and calm.

First, I'll deal with Therion. Then, I'll try to ambush her.

As she advanced, a raised platform began moving slowly in the distance. On it stood Therion, his green suit and hawk-like mask gleaming under the lights. An arrow already drawn on his bow, his cold gaze analyzed the distance with precision.

"The woman with the cross is dangerous... I can't let her get close," he thought.

Iron Will didn't wait. With a roar, she charged her arm and hurled a wave of red energy toward the platform. Therion moved at the last second, leaping onto a nearby building while keeping his bow drawn.

Swoosh!

The arrow shot straight through the air, heading for Xandra, who had just appeared between the buildings. It struck her side directly, shredding part of her half-cape and armor. Yet she didn't falter for even a moment. Her body glowed with an intense red aura as she continued advancing without missing a beat.

Iron Will froze, stunned by her presence.

She took care of Shadow Gale so quickly? That guy's slippery. Zephirin's probably out, too... But showing up head-on was a mistake!

With another roar, Iron Will crossed her arms in front of her chest, reinforcing her defense with the remaining In. She charged toward Xandra.

Xandra, cutting through the air with speed, stretched her body to its fullest, letting In flow from her feet to the tip of her rapier, which emitted a blinding crimson glow.

"Pierce, Requiem of Blood!"

Slice!

The tip of Requiem of Blood pierced through Iron Will's defenses like a hot knife through butter. Her energy was split in two, and a deep wound began to burn in her chest, Xandra's In searing her from within like an unrelenting fire.

Slice! Clank!

With icy precision, Xandra withdrew the rapier in a clean motion, twisting it to deflect another arrow fired by Therion.

A message flashed across Iron Will's vision: "Critical In level. Disqualified."

"Who is she?" she murmured before collapsing, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Xandra, radiating a palpable aura of murderous intent, turned her gaze toward Therion, who remained trembling atop the building. Blood dripped from the blade of her rapier, pooling on the crumbled ground below.

Therion fired another arrow, but Xandra deflected it with a disdainful flick of her wrist. The explosion rumbled behind her as she continued advancing.

Feeling humiliated, Therion leapt from the building, wielding a sword he had stolen earlier. His eyes burned with a fire that barely concealed his fear.

"I suppose there's still some honor left in you," Xandra remarked coldly, raising her rapier. "But there's no forgiveness for traitors."

Swoosh!

The two charged at each other. Therion's sword shattered into a thousand pieces upon clashing with Requiem of Blood, and Xandra's blade continued its trajectory, piercing his side mercilessly. She held him in place with her gaze, her eyes glowing like embers beneath her mask. Blood dripped onto the ground as she withdrew her rapier with elegance, shaking it clean before turning toward the stands.

"OOOAAHHH!" The crowd erupted in a frenzy, chanting her name. "Xandra! Xandra! Xandra!"

Under her silver mask, Xandra allowed a faint, awkward smile to surface. She bowed slightly, letting the roaring cheers envelop her as all the lights focused on her.

***

Not far away, in the nearest stand overlooking the battlefield, William's lips curled at the sight.

"That girl... with her absurd obsession with knights, and now this, her ego will skyrocket," he thought, a mix of frustration and resignation washing over him. "I hope the master knocks her down a peg when she gets back, with that maniacal smile he always wears during training. Besides, she didn't even bother to change her hair color."

William wore a simple yet immaculate white outfit: a fitted linen shirt and cotton trousers that highlighted his relaxed yet vigilant posture. At first glance, he seemed uninterested in the spectacle, but his bright brown eyes glasses missed no detail of the arena. Distractedly, he brushed his hand over the sleeve of his jacket, where a subtle golden embroidery shimmered under the stadium lights.

He sighed deeply as he watched Xandra ascend a massive white platform, its design sophisticated and adorned with golden engravings along its edges. Around her, organizers and cameramen swarmed eagerly, bringing forth an immense crystal trophy that sparkled with the colors of a rainbow under the setting sun. The majestic piece had facets carved to resemble outstretched feathers, as if a mythical bird were spreading its wings.

Xandra stood tall with a commanding presence. Her fiery red hair, now loose, cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, contrasting against her lightweight armor, crafted from black plates designed for both protection and intimidation. Requiem of Blood hung sheathed at her side, still marked by the remnants of her final battle—a lasting symbol of her victory. Her silver mask, adorned with the finely detailed cross at its center, hid a smile barely contained as she reveled in the crowd's adoration.

The voices of the audience still thundered through the stadium like an unstoppable wave. "Xandra! Xandra! Xandra!" A surge of collective euphoria swept through the stands as she lifted the trophy with both hands, raising it triumphantly toward the sky. The cameras zoomed in on her mask, capturing the unmistakable spark of pride in her eyes.

William remained seated, motionless, as the scene unfolded. His gaze drifted into the buzzing crowd, watching as people began discussing the events, some still exhilarated, others passionately debating the details of the duels. Small groups formed here and there, laughing or leaving together as the stadium lights gradually dimmed.

His sharp eyes, which had initially observed everything with precision, began to glaze over, growing distant. His mind wandered far beyond the noise, lights, and cheers. He sat like a statue in his seat, his hands clasped before him, as the stands slowly emptied around him.

It wasn't until a soft knock echoed against a metal door behind him that William seemed to return to the present. The hollow sound reverberated through the now-empty space, shaking him from his stupor. He stood with slow, mechanical movements, casting one last glance at the stadium.

His steps echoed faintly as he left the Nexar Stadium, leaving behind the voices and glittering lights that still lingered faintly in the nightfall.