Eddy felt Nathaniel approaching at an exceptional speed, so intense that the very air around him seemed to ripple and fold, creating shockwaves that radiated outward. The sound of displaced air was almost deafening, a sharp tearing noise that reverberated through the training arena. Nathaniel used the air as a springboard, propelling himself forward with a force that would have crushed any ordinary opponent. Eddy's eyes widened in amazement. This technique required a mastery over natural energy far beyond Nathaniel's magical abilities, yet the boy executed it with an unparalleled nonchalance, as if it were nothing more than a casual step forward.
Eddy braced himself as Nathaniel's fist shot toward him. He instinctively raised his hand to intercept the blow, but a surge of Xenos energy radiating from Nathaniel's arm made him hesitate. The aura was thick, malevolent, and alive, wrapping around the young boy's hand like a coiling serpent. Eddy immediately understood the danger: if he blocked the punch directly, even a small fraction of that Xenos could injure him internally. He chose to dodge instead, moving with the precision and calm of a veteran warrior.
The punch missed its mark, plunging into the empty space behind Eddy. Yet its force was immense, tearing the very fabric of space within a 30-meter radius. Fissures snaked outward, fracturing the surrounding environment, while explosions erupted in a continuous sequence. Debris and fragments of the training ground flew like missiles, yet Nathaniel barely seemed to notice. The aura surrounding him was almost sentient, reaching toward Eddy, probing, attempting to corrupt and overwhelm his own energy.
Eddy reacted with remarkable speed. He delivered a perfectly calculated kick to Nathaniel's stomach, sending the boy flying tens of kilometers away. Dust and shockwaves rippled across the landscape, yet Eddy remained alert, scanning the horizon for the next attack.
Nathaniel tried to regain control, but the Xenos within him had seized dominance. His gaze turned cold and demonic, a look that made Eddy's heart skip a beat. Behind him, a black silhouette with ten wings and glowing red eyes manifested, an aura of pure menace that radiated from Nathaniel like a dark sun. The air seemed to grow heavier, charged with destructive potential. Eddy's mind raced—he thought he recognized the form, but before he could confirm, Nathaniel vanished from his line of sight, only to reappear instantly behind him.
Eddy's voice caught in his throat. "Since when has he mastered teleportation?" he muttered, caught off guard. The sudden reappearance exposed him to a direct blow. Nathaniel struck, but this time, he used only magic. His fist shimmered, infused with the four elements—water, fire, earth, and air—each one swirling around his arm like a storm contained in a human limb.
The impact was extraordinary. Eddy was propelled forward at exponential speed, carried by a combination of the force of the blow and the elemental winds surrounding him. Waves of wind battered his body, sharp enough to cut through ordinary flesh. But Eddy's training and his naturally resistant body allowed him to withstand the elemental assault. Despite this, the winds continued to push him forward relentlessly.
As he moved, Eddy realized he was trapped inside an enormous bubble of water, heated to 500°C and pressurized to several hundred bars. The water was in a supercritical state, with properties unlike anything in normal liquid form. Eddy felt the searing heat and crushing pressure, knowing that human tissues would normally vaporize almost instantly under these conditions. Yet, he endured.
Fire mingled with the water, further increasing the temperature and intensifying the pressure. The combination was lethal, a perfect storm designed to annihilate. The earth element solidified parts of Eddy's body into a stone-like form, attempting to provide protection. He was nearly immobilized, yet his resistant body allowed him to survive the assault that would have instantly killed any ordinary being.
The surrounding environment paid the price of Nathaniel's power. Mountains crumbled, forests were shredded, and the very air seemed to vibrate with raw energy. Eddy was propelled forward, crashing into a mountain with a thunderous impact, yet the momentum from the elemental wind and water bubble carried him through it in an instant, leaving a gaping crater in his wake.
Inside the bubble, Eddy concentrated, calling upon his Ether to analyze the techniques Nathaniel had used in the punch. Streams of information flowed toward him, complex patterns of elemental manipulation and Xenos integration. With immense focus, he deconstructed each layer, dismantling the assault as if undoing the very laws of physics. The destructive energy around him dissipated in fragmented sparks, leaving Nathaniel momentarily stunned.
Nathaniel's eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought his assault sufficient to overwhelm Eddy, yet the man remained unbroken, unshaken, a fortress of resistance. Despite Nathaniel's fearsome display of power, Eddy's calm analysis proved why he was far more than a normal opponent.
For a moment, Nathaniel hesitated, his breathing heavy, energy surging uncontrollably around him. The black aura pulsed like a living entity, thrumming with Xenos power. Eddy's gaze was unflinching, studying the young boy, calculating his limits, and preparing for the next inevitable strike.
The tension was palpable, almost suffocating. Each moment stretched, the air charged with anticipation, the aura around Nathaniel radiating destruction, death, and chaotic potential, while Eddy, unflinching, stood ready to endure and counter the next strike.
He charged again, making a long, powerful jump toward Eddy, launching waves of Xenos energy in rapid succession. Each energy ball was deadly, capable of completely annihilating matter, creating zones of pure lethal energy that vaporized anything in its path. Eddy dodged, analyzing every movement, trying desperately to use his Ether to access Nathaniel's mind, to disrupt the berserk state and restore control. But it was futile. Nathaniel had reached a level where his Ether was completely inaccessible; no manipulation, no insight, nothing could reach him.
The battlefield was consumed by the Xenos energy. The air itself seemed to burn, twisting and warping under the raw destructive force. Nathaniel then materialized a lance of pure Xenos. It vanished into thin air before reappearing directly before Eddy, ignoring the natural resistance of his body. It struck him with devastating force, piercing deep, tearing through organs, and leaving trails of black energy in its wake.
Yet, Eddy's body regenerated instantly. Cells repaired, organs reconstructed, and his form restored perfectly. Breathing steadily, he rose, smiling faintly, his eyes reflecting pride, astonishment, and calm authority. "You're strong, kid," he said, his voice steady despite the carnage surrounding them. "No one has ever managed to hurt me this badly… You're truly worthy of being the son of *****. But the game… is over."
Eddy combined all his Ether and magic, focusing it into his pupils. A manifestation of cosmic law flowed from him, grasping Nathaniel's body. He spoke a single phrase:
"Deactivate. Withdraw. Seal."
Immediately, Nathaniel's berserk Xenos was deactivated. The power was withdrawn, leaving only a trace in his soul, just enough to preserve potential. His body collapsed, unconscious, free from the overwhelming destructive energy that had taken hold. Eddy knelt beside him, observing his steady breathing and faint pulse.
The environment was devastated—mountains shattered, craters gaping, fissures radiating outward. Residual Xenos energy still lingered, whispering in the wind. Eddy, completely naked due to the sheer intensity of the battle, gazed down at Nathaniel, a mixture of awe, pride, and tenderness on his face.
"That's a great catch," he murmured softly. "I have no doubt your parents can be proud of you, kid. Sleep well… you'll need it. Your destiny… it won't be easy."
Above them, faint cosmic energy shimmered, acknowledging the feat. Nathaniel's journey had only begun, yet this battle marked the first step toward shaping him into a force capable of influencing the destiny of worlds.