Chapter 245: Chapter245:Obstruct
Its massive form casts a shadow over the land as it descends upon a mountain peak, transforming Dragons Land once more into a sea of crimson.
"The trial has concluded!"
Announces Nicolet, the black dragon.
Instantly, everyone present in Dragons Land is teleported to a designated clearing.
"Those in the top ten, step forward!"
Nicolet proclaims again.
Following this, the crimson curtain in the sky descends, casting ten beams of light upon the members of the top-ranked teams.
Other challengers gaze in astonishment, particularly at the first-place team, which is met with incredulity.
There stands but a single individual!
Moreover, that person possesses a mere Level 7 strength, making them one of the weakest among those present.
What could possibly explain this anomaly?
Upon witnessing the expressions of bewilderment etched upon the faces of the crowd, Nicolet could not suppress a smirk. He then mockingly addressed the assembly, "This trial evaluates solely the quantity of Magic Crystals you accrue, without concern for their provenance. Whether you resort to theft, coercion, or other means to acquire them matters not.
As for Merck, fortune smiled upon him as he stumbled upon some previously gathered Magic Crystals, thus securing his position as the trial's victor."
"That's unfair!" an indignant voice cried out.
"Unfair!" At this proclamation, the black dragon Nicolet erupted into raucous laughter, yet his countenance swiftly darkened as he bellowed, "Fairness? What constitutes fairness? Only the feeble cling to the notion of fairness.True strength lies in the ability to assert one's will! And you, all of you, are but a throng of weaklings!"
"Moreover, luck is also a facet of strength!"
"The rankings are final. If anyone is dissatisfied, step forward. Should you withstand a single strike from me, I shall grant you the opportunity to partake in future trials!"
No one dared to respond.
Even amidst Nicolet's tyrannical demeanor, his formidable power extinguished any rebellious thoughts, leaving the crowd to gaze enviously as Merck claimed a token from the black dragon trial.
Yet, Nicolet bypassed the team to which Enzo belonged.
As the tokens for the tenth-place team were distributed, Enzo's team remained empty-handed, a foreboding sense creeping into his heart. He boldly stepped forward, challenging Nicolet, "Mr. Black Dragon, why have I not received the token for passing the black dragon trial?"
Nicolet, brimming with disdain, replied, "Why? There is no why. I have already stated that luck is a component of strength. Your ill fortune renders you unqualified. Thus it stands."
As those words escaped his lips, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Yet, not a soul questioned the black dragon Nicolet's decree. Rather, they reveled in the anticipation of Enzo's impending humiliation.
Nicolet continued to provoke, "Boy, what's the matter? Are you dissatisfied? If you are, prove yourself in another manner. Should you withstand a single strike from me, I shall grant your team eligibility."
"If you dare not, then begone!"
The black dragon Nicolet exuded an overwhelming aura, akin to the sky itself collapsing, leaving the onlookers gasping for breath.
Enzo's eyes burned with fury.
Melissa quickly interjected, "Enzo, please calm down. There's no need for a confrontation."
Dandil added, "Mr. Enzo, let us seek alternative solutions."
Enzo shook his head resolutely.
Under the gaze of the assembly, he stepped forward, radiant light emanating from his hands, transforming into a Flame Spear, while blood-red armor enveloped him, and Flame Wings unfurled from his back.
Ascending into the air, Enzo faced Nicolet directly. Meeting the colossal black dragon's gaze, he declared, "I accept!"
Nicolet, taken aback yet filled with exhilaration, fixated on Enzo as he remarked, "Boy, you initiated this acceptance. Should you perish, you shall have no one to blame but yourself!"
Just as the dragon and the young man prepared to engage in battle, from the unique realm above, Dorek, Shivard, and other guardians from various trial zones observed Enzo and Nicolet.
Dorek furrowed his brow, "Nicolet has gone too far."
The red dragon Shivard shook his head, responding, "This indeed falls within the parameters of the rules, and Nicolet possesses the authority to revoke an individual's qualification."
"Cancel the passage qualification? What mischief has that black reptile committed now?" Just as Dorek and Shivard were engaged in conversation, a flippant female voice echoed, and a gentle breeze swept through the peculiar space, bringing with it a figure.
It was a woman.
She clad in a form-fitting leather jumpsuit that accentuated her flawless physique. Her face bore a bewitching expression, yet her eyes were chillingly indifferent, as if veiled in a sea of corpses and rivers of blood.
Dorek, Shivard, and the multitude of guardians of the trial grounds were taken aback, bowing in unison to greet the woman: "Lady Ravella, you have awakened."
"Indeed, I have."
Ravella's response was strikingly flat, yet no one dared to express any dissatisfaction. She was not merely a subordinate of the immortal deity Boyega, but a confidante of the Lord Immortal Deity, with powers nearly on par with an immortal deity. Even though she bore injuries and had yet to recover, she was far beyond their capacity to confront.
At that moment, Ravella's gaze shifted to the screen before them.
Enzo and Nicolet were locked in combat.
...
"Boy, engaging with me will be the gravest mistake of your life!" the black dragon Nicolet boomed with laughter, raising his massive head, gathering a torrent of fiery elemental power in his maw. Once the energy reached its zenith, he directed it at Enzo, unleashing a formidable pillar of flame.
The strike was swift and wide, landing squarely on Enzo.
Seeing this, Nicolet's disdain only grew.
"Foolish!" he sneered.
The other trial participants below wore expressions of contempt, as if it were they who had bested Enzo.
"That lad truly is blissfully unaware of his own insignificance!"
"Lord Black Dragon possesses extraordinary strength. How dare such a mere insect challenge his authority!"
"Such foolish behavior!"
The crowd incessantly commented, their voices a source of delight for the Black Dragon while instilling a sense of unease in Dandil.
Fidgeting with anxiety, he declared, "Ms. Melissa, we may need to devise a plan to assist Mr. Enzo."
Melissa shook her head, replying, "Enzo is fine."
"Fine?" Dandil exclaimed, utterly bewildered. That column of fiery light was immensely powerful—no being of supernatural Level 9 could withstand it in direct confrontation. How could Enzo possibly be unharmed?
In the peculiar space above the crowd...
Dorek too appeared puzzled, stating, "That can't be right. The boy has mastered teleportation. Though Nicolet's attack is formidable, its speed is not particularly swift, and Enzo certainly had the capacity to evade it."
"Mastered teleportation?" Shivard gasped in astonishment.
Teleportation—a formidable ability that can only be mastered by those who comprehend the laws of spatial elements—was an exclusive power of the divine. Enzo had achieved it now.
That was utterly astonishing.
Dorek chuckled, "What other explanation could there be?"
At that moment, a clear, melodic laughter echoed.
"How intriguing, how remarkably amusing this young man is." Ravella remarked, having witnessed the unfolding events with keen insight.
Clearly, she perceived more than Dorek and Shivard, including certain unexpected elements.
As she withdrew her gaze, she inquired, "This boy radiates the essence of a Mithril Crystal Key.
He must be the chosen one of that Melokuhle fellow."
Dorek and Shivard nodded in unison.
Upon confirmation, Ravella mused, "This time, that fellow Melokuhle is remarkably fortunate to have found such an exceptional heir in this world. Had he not chosen in advance, I would have considered taking this young man as my own student."
This revelation left Dorek and Shivard momentarily speechless.
They regarded Ravella with disbelief, for she was a being of immense power, second only to an immortal deity. They were almost certain that once her injuries healed, she would ascend to become the next immortal deity.
Here was a living immortal deity.
Yet she openly acknowledged Enzo's brilliance!
Dorek, struggling to grasp this notion, questioned with curiosity, "Your Excellency Ravella, does Enzo truly possess such talent?"
"No, it is not merely talent!" Ravella replied with a knowing smile, her spirits evidently high. She continued, "Even without that rascal Boyega's inheritance, given a century, he would, through sheer diligence, rise to become an immortal deity. I am confident in this judgment."
"What!"
Dorek and Shivard gasped in astonishment.
Such praise from Ravella for Enzo was beyond their expectations.
Such an heir must not come to harm.
Dorek urgently exclaimed, "Shivard, you must stop that rascal Nicolet! We cannot allow anything to jeopardize such a rare heir!"
Yet, it seemed Dorek's warning came too late.
In Dragons Land, Nicolet unleashed a colossal pillar of flame, believing that Enzo had been reduced to ashes. He retracted the flames with a powerful flap of his immense wings.
At the next moment, Nicolet's eyes widened in shock.
Enzo still hovered in mid-air, unscathed, yet his aura surged with a ferocity akin to an impending tempest.
"This is impossible!"
Nicolet shouted inwardly.
At that moment, Enzo slowly lifted his gaze and enunciated, "Nicolet, it is now my turn!"