Enzo vanished from the ground in an instant.
This wasn't normal movement his speed was so sharp and sudden it could leave a race car behind. The ground beneath his feet cracked, the air itself lagging behind as he reappeared directly behind Michael.
Enzo materialized at Michael's back and spoke in a cold, focused voice:
Enzo: Ellie… now or never.
Ellie in his left hand gleamed. Golden energy condensed tightly around the blade, and in a single, flawless motion, Enzo unleashed a perfect cutting strike.
Michael's eyes widened for a split second.
By pure reflex, he raised his hand and intensified gravity. A massive rock was torn from the ground and shot upward, positioning itself like a shield in front of him.
The cutting strike hit the rock and split into three.
The first strike cleaved the rock straight down the middle.
The second and third lacked sufficient energy and dispersed in midair, vanishing completely.
But the main strike did not stop.
The sharp energy reached Michael's abdomen. It lacked the power to cause serious damage, but it was enough to leave a shallow cut.
At that exact moment, Enzo raised his right hand.
April was still in his grip.
From the blade's tip, an enormous wave of dense black paint erupted. It spread like a tidal surge and poured over Michael.
The ground, the trees, and Michael's body were all stained pitch black.
Even as Enzo fell to the ground, he spoke:
Enzo: Ultimate Assassination Technique… Chain Effect!
Michael's body stiffened.
The cut he had just received flared with pain, as if it had been struck a second time. His nerves burned, his muscles reacted violently.
Michael clenched his teeth then smiled.
Michael: That's an insanely good attack!
The moment Enzo touched the ground, he didn't stop.
He lunged forward with everything he had, charging straight at Michael at full speed. Each step he took left glowing traces of golden energy on the ground.
At that moment, Michael raised his voice:
Michael: Super Technique! Gravitational Pull of the Sun!
Everything collapsed.
Enzo was slammed face-first into the ground.
The earth compressed, stones sank, and even the trunks of trees were dragged downward, unable to withstand the crushing force.
The entire area was being pressed by an invisible, overwhelming power.
Enzo grit his teeth, his breath catching.
Enzo: What kind of technique… has this level of power!?
Michael slowly stood upright. Gravity was still active, yet he stood calmly at the very center of the pressure.
Michael: Only certain technique users can access this
he said in a composed voice.
Michael : Chances are, you'll learn it yourself someday if you survive.
Super Technique – Explanation
Super Techniques are divided into many types.
Attack-type, defense-type, enhancement-type, weakening-type, and others.
A Super Technique allows a user to unleash an attack two to three times stronger than their strongest normal technique.
However, among all types, there exists an extremely powerful and rare category—Barrier-type and Anti-Barrier-type.
These types can comfortably counter most others.
Michael, however, is an Attack-type Super Technique user.
Michael raised his hand and looked upward.
Michael: Now… I think it's clear who's winning.
Enzo was still on the ground. His body was being crushed, his breathing strained but his eyes remained unwavering.
Enzo: I… can't lose yet…
Meanwhile, the situation of the other participants was quite different.
Location: Central Area of the Artificial Zone
Luna: After seeing that ork's head… I understood it. Everyone's in the same area.
(Luna was actually the one who realized this even before Michael.)
Luna: (Suspicious) Something's off… Why aren't there any monsters?
The surroundings were unnaturally silent.
No rustling leaves, no distant roars. The sky of the artificial zone was motionless, and the wind was nearly nonexistent.
The silence tightened around Luna's chest in an unsettling way.
???: Hello…
(Luna turns around.)
The voice was calm, yet unnervingly clear as if the speaker wasn't behind her, but directly inside her mind.
Luna: I'm guessing… you're the reason.
The person standing before her looked completely relaxed.
No signs of battle no blood, no scratches, no exhaustion.
???: Me? No, no. Not at all.
Luna narrowed her eyes, studying him.
Luna: You're… Mark. The one who didn't enter the first stage.
Mark: (Surprised) You know my name…?
Luna tilted her head slightly as she spoke.
Luna: Of course I remember. You're the one the overseer didn't accept.
(Mark looks away, embarrassed.)
His shoulders droop slightly. He avoids her gaze, scraping the dirt with the tip of his shoe.
Mark: Being known that way… is humiliating.
As Luna watched him, her suspicion only deepened.
Being this calm in a place like this… wasn't normal.
Luna: Putting that aside… how did you do it?
Mark: (Confused) Do what?
Luna: Don't play dumb, Mark. Why are there no creatures in this area right now?
Mark's expression froze for a split second.
His pupils contracted, almost imperceptibly.
Mark: Because… they're probably targeting stronger individuals.
Luna's suspicion intensified.
Luna: But monsters usually go after the weak first, don't they?
The question hung in the air.
The forest seemed to grow even quieter.
(Mark's face darkened.)
Mark: You know… you're really irritating.
Luna: (Shocked) His tone changed!
Mark straightened his posture. The timid demeanor from before vanished completely. His gaze sharpened, his voice turning cold.
Mark: Kneel.
Luna suddenly collapsed to her knees, as if an invisible hand was pressing down on her shoulders. Her chest tightened, her breath caught.
Luna: Why… did I suddenly drop!?
Mark tilted his head slightly. His expression was unfamiliar—inhumanly calm.
Mark: Let me explain… I'm not Mark.
Luna: What!?
Mark: Physically, yes… but mentally, no.
Luna's heart began to race. She stared at Mark's face-
the same face, yet it felt like someone else entirely.
Luna: Then… who are you?
Spot: Let me introduce myself. I'm Mark's second personality… Spot.
(Luna comes face to face with a truth she never expected.)
Luna: I… never saw this coming…
Spot slowly steps toward Luna. With each step, the pressure weighing down on her intensifies.
Spot: This is an artificial zone, and places like this… filter out those who are mentally weak.
Luna clenched her teeth and lifted her head.
Luna: So there are no monsters because-
Spot: -Because I'm not letting them come near.
Luna's eyes widened.
Spot: They're unnecessary. Humans are already dangerous enough to each other.
Spot steps back slightly, as if giving Luna space to process it all.
Spot: Now that we've met… you'll die here.
(Luna stands before Mark—no, Spot.)