Chapter Seventy-Two: Utter Defeat

Ace stood alone, sword in hand, blocking the path of Wendy and her group. His cold gaze swept across every face present, the atmosphere icy and taut. There was Tenka Miyuki, Dita—two level-nine combat espers—and Wendy, who, while only at level eight, was no less formidable than a level ten. Such a lineup would be daunting no matter where it appeared.

“Though I’m not keen on it, now isn’t the time to indulge in the thrill of battle. We need to complete our mission,” Ace declared, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a dense array of buttons on his arm. “This is the Alliance-issued Fluid Armor, a privilege granted only to our strongest special forces operatives.”

He swiftly pressed several buttons. “Armor activation: speed mode.” The faint mechanical hum did not escape anyone’s notice. At that moment, Ace’s combat suit seemed to come alive. The silver-haired operative looked down at his tightening fist. “The real battle begins now.”

Before his words faded, he shattered the reef beneath his feet and, like a bullet, shot straight toward Tenka Miyuki.

“Watch out!” Wendy reacted instantly, darting to Miyuki’s side to protect her.

The young girl, likely still in middle school, showed no sign of fear. As Ace lunged at her, she was already on the move, her slender form leaping lightly back several meters. With a graceful hand, she pointed to the ground before her. “Rise!”

At her cry, sand and stones whipped up, forming a wall of rock in front of her. Her ability, electromagnetic manipulation, allowed her to control any magnetizable material. With the metallic elements in the sand, she wielded her power with ease.

What was once loose sand now, under Miyuki’s command, became impregnable. Ace’s sword sliced down, but failed to breach her defense.

His attack ineffective, Ace’s instincts flared with danger. He leaped back just as a golden beam pierced the sand wall. Had he been a moment slower, that radiant blast would have struck him.

Miyuki held her pose, finger extended, blue arcs of electricity crackling around her, her lovely face twisted in frustration. “Tch, he dodged.”

Wendy arrived, stepping in front of Miyuki. “Fall back. Don’t let him get close.” She knew that Miyuki’s success in blocking Ace was due to his unfamiliarity with her. She might block him once, but not necessarily again.

Miyuki didn’t push her luck and retreated quickly. Wendy unsheathed her twin blades, facing Ace. Having dodged Miyuki’s strike, Ace was now beyond Wendy’s immediate reach, when suddenly Dita’s flames transformed into a slender whip, lashing down from above.

Ace dodged back and forth, evading Dita’s attacks. Seizing the moment, Miyuki widened the distance between herself and Ace.

“Buy me some time!” Miyuki called out, her hands turning claw-like as iron sand from all directions gathered in her palms, quickly coalescing into massive black iron spheres.

She spun one into her hand, blue lightning crackling over its surface. The once unwieldy orb now rolled obediently in her palm, growing larger.

Wendy, realizing Miyuki’s intent, laughed aloud. “No problem. I’ll hold him off. Dita, cover me!” Dita, riding her flight device, glided through the air, wings of flame blazing behind her, painting half the sky red.

As Wendy’s sword aura crisscrossed the sea, she became her team’s unshakable bulwark. Wild flames in Dita’s hands turned into elegant whips, lashing toward Ace with relentless precision.

No matter how strong Ace was, facing these three together left him at a disadvantage. Wendy’s twin swords spun and danced in a seamless chain, weaving through the fiery lashes without a single one striking her.

Dita’s obsidian eyes gradually burned crimson as she masterfully controlled her power, targeting only Ace and avoiding any harm to Wendy. Their coordination was flawless, driving Ace steadily backward.

In the darkness, Wendy’s blades became ribbons of light, unwavering and sure. Her swords never faltered. Through a tangle of fire whips, she moved like a sprite dancing in the flames, her swordplay pressing Ace relentlessly.

Despite forcing Ace to retreat, they could not secure a decisive victory. Ace, though driven back, appeared composed, showing no sign he had yet exerted his full strength.

Minutes passed. The iron sphere in Miyuki’s hands reached the size of a basketball, apparently her limit. With a sharp cry, she pointed forward, blue arcs rippling from her fingertip.

All dust stilled, and time itself seemed to freeze. Wind paused, and the world held its breath. Under the moonlight, Miyuki’s figure blurred, fading from sight. After a fleeting silence, it was as if the world erupted from beneath her feet. Blue flames radiated outward, lightning exploding in a thunderous blast.

Dust ignited into countless sparks, metals burning in myriad colors. For a moment, Miyuki stood amidst a dazzling display, like a burst of fireworks.

The still wind resumed, tossing her tea-brown hair into wild disarray. “Take this, if you dare—it’ll hurt!” she proclaimed with a triumphant smile. Endless electricity gathered around her, channeling into the black iron sphere before her.

With a shout, Miyuki smashed her fist into the sphere. The instant the current passed through, the iron melted into a golden liquid and, with a howl, shot toward the retreating Ace!

“Get down!” Miyuki cried. Before the metal ball hurled forth, Wendy leaped aside, exposing Ace to Miyuki’s onslaught.

This blow was leagues beyond what Xu Xiong could produce. As the iron ball roared out, it ripped open the entire beach, sand and debris flying for hundreds of meters.

Deprived of Wendy as an opponent, Ace now faced the incoming golden blaze. For the first time, surprise flickered across his face. This attack demanded his full attention.

Time seemed to freeze. Facing Miyuki’s all-out strike, Ace exhaled softly, drew back his blade, and crouched.

“Speed boost: maximum.” He closed his eyes briefly, reopening them to fix his gaze on the golden torrent.

As the golden blast closed in, just before it struck, Ace let out a sharp cry and thrust his blade forward.

A thousand sword shadows merged into one, the culmination of countless slashes unified in a single instant—so swift the naked eye could not follow.

The sword’s brilliance blossomed in a flash, transforming into a silent white flower that shredded the golden sphere before him!

“If my sword is fast enough, even the wind can be split,” Ace sneered. The golden light shattered into a thousand fragments, scattering in all directions.

A moment later, the wind itself, broken by the sword, scattered wildly—shattered into myriad pieces, fleeing like frightened creatures, sweeping away sand and the remnants of gold light.

Ace had destroyed Miyuki’s golden assault.

Miyuki froze, still in her throwing stance, her body trembling. Eyes wide, she could not believe what she saw.

“This…this is impossible…” she murmured in despair. “It can’t be real…”

Wendy quickly retreated to Miyuki and shielded the shaken girl. Her own eyes brimmed with shock. “This guy’s unreal.”

Ace had already returned his blade to its sheath, standing as if he had never moved at all. Bathed in moonlight, he seemed untouchable.

“How can anyone hope to defeat him?” Wendy felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. Ace’s strength repeatedly defied her understanding. She now knew that at the start of the battle, he had been concealing his true power.

“To force me to activate my armor’s enhancement mode—you’ve earned your pride.” Ace’s gaze settled calmly on Miyuki behind Wendy. The girl clutched her head in despair, for the first time doubting her own abilities.

“And you, Rose Blade Maiden, as a fellow warrior, I must offer you my respect. Your strength matches my own. I wished for a fair duel, without technological aid, but circumstances won’t permit it.” Ace bowed slightly to Wendy, who nodded in acknowledgement. In that moment, she understood: Ace was not hiding his power, but using technology to bolster it—a method she herself disliked, knowing its side effects.

“Defeat is defeat. There’s nothing more to say.” Wendy lowered her swords, their tips grazing the sand. Her gaze drifted from Ace to the massive metal giant still advancing. “I’m not one to dwell on loss. I admit, even without your enhancements, I might not be your match.”

Ace shook his head in silence. After a deep breath, Wendy pushed Miyuki behind her. “Go. This is beyond what you can handle now.” She knew Miyuki’s abilities could no longer change the situation. “Go with Dita.” Dita landed beside them, her flaming wings no longer threatening Ace.

“Dita, retreat. Be careful,” Wendy instructed. Dita pulled Miyuki to her side.

“Did I say you could leave?” Ace suddenly spoke. His armor emitted a low, feminine voice: “Speed boost. Strength boost. Maximum.”

Wendy’s eyes widened. “No—everyone, quick—” But before her words were finished, Ace appeared before her.

No one saw how he drew his sword. Instinctively, Wendy blocked, but the blow sent her hurtling like a cannonball, crashing into Dita and Miyuki. The three of them flew backward, slamming into distant rocks, cries of pain ringing out. Miyuki and Dita spat blood, collapsing motionless.

Defeated in a single stroke.

Wendy also lay on the ground, the rocks behind her gouged into a deep gash. Her weapons lay nearby. She struggled but failed to rise, gritting her teeth as she crawled toward the fallen Chapter of the Broken Wing—her heirloom from Franny, and the symbol of the Black family.

After felling Wendy’s group with a single blow, Ace did not press the attack, but stood quietly, waiting. After a long moment, he exhaled, evidently exhausted by his own attack. “Looks like this is my victory tonight.”

The metal giant finally reached the end of the strait, one foot poised to step onto the opposite shore, where a brightly lit city stood not far away.

It seemed nothing could now stop the behemoth from entering the Hokkaido Branch.

Wendy bit her lip till it nearly bled. This was her city—her home, the place her ancestors had guarded for generations. Yet now, she could do nothing.

Dragging herself across the sand toward her weapon, Wendy saw Miyuki and Dita sprawled nearby, their fates uncertain. “As long as I draw breath, I won’t let you do as you please,” she whispered, finally grasping the sword that had seen her through countless battles. Unsteadily, she stood.

“I’m not finished yet.” Both hands gripped her blade, the single-hand rapier now requiring her full strength.

“What a pity…” A flicker of emotion crossed Ace’s eyes as he stepped forward, raising his sword. “I will grant a warrior the highest respect.” He slowly turned the blade toward Wendy, poised to strike.

“Hey, big guy, you’ve got the wrong opponent!” A distant shout rang out, making Ace pause, his blade halting mid-swing.