Chapter 142 – Valor vs Drake: The Event of the Century
Drake crossed his arms and asked calmly:
— "So… where will our fight take place?"
Valor raised an eyebrow, confident:
— "You all know he can't even withstand the Annihilating Flames."
Valen sighed.
— "Even if he can't, I know you wouldn't use something that deadly on a comrade. You're not THAT bad."
Valor nodded, very serious:
— "Exactly. I am a handsome, classy, and understanding man."
Lya burst out laughing.
— "If you were really all that… there wouldn't even BE a fight. Drake would've already forgiven you."
Valor replied with exaggerated dignity:
— "Being classy doesn't mean letting frauds do whatever they want. Watch your tongue, assassin carried by her powers!"
Ryn timidly raised his hand:
— "I… I beg you, don't fight."
Valor placed a hand on Ryn's head:
— "See, even Ryn worries for YOU, Drake. Give up while you still can."
Elyon intervened, thoughtful:
— "I believe Valor will triumph. I don't see how mere super strength can beat a versatile mage."
Liora turned to her son, perplexed:
— "Elyon, my son… I don't know why you think that. Drake's strength isn't normal. It's… something else entirely."
Elyon, stubborn:
— "Normal or not, he's going to get wrecked."
Valor smirked:
— "See? Even Elyon is with me. Destiny speaks."
Drake raised his hand, irritated:
— "WHERE WILL THE FIGHT TAKE PLACE?"
Liora finally answered:
— "In the basement. I created a special dimension there for hunters ranked S and above. A gigantic arena, practically limitless.
And don't worry, the stands are protected by multidimensional barriers. No risk for the spectators."
Elyon whispered:
— "Perfect place to watch Valor get sma—"
Valor:
— "I heard EVERYTHING."
Liora continued:
— "The fight will take place at 6 p.m. Make your preparations, it will be an official event."
She snapped her fingers.
Instantly, the news appeared on every channel, in the streets, on giant screens:
⚔️ VALOR vs DRAKE ⚔️
"The Duel Nobody Expected But Everyone Wants to See"
---
Public Reactions
— "Did you see that?! It's been years since we had a fight between hunters!"
— "Yeah! Not since Valen vs Naël, the elite of hunters!"
— "But this time… MAGE versus MUSCLE. RANK S versus RANK SSS."
— "It's going to be LEGENDARY."
---
6 p.m. – The Dimensional Arena
The arena was packed to the brim. Banners everywhere:
"GO DRAKE!!"
"VALOR SUPREME!!"
It looked like a world championship final.
Drake arrived first. He greeted the crowd calmly:
— "Thank you for your support, it means a lot."
A wave of cheers erupted. He clenched his fist, ready.
Then suddenly—
The lights began to vibrate.
Valor made his entrance.
On a levitating throne.
Sitting, legs crossed, head resting on one hand like a bored diva.
The crowd went wild.
He rose slowly, as if gravity were just a suggestion.
— "Thank you, thank you! The GREAT Valor is delighted by your encouragement! Keep it coming, it fuels my beauty."
Then he leapt from the throne, teleported down, and his landing created a massive crater in the ground.
A cloud of dust. A tremor. A star's aura.
Lya frowned from the stands:
— "He loves showing off his strength too much."
Ryn sighed:
— "He'll never change…"
Valen crossed his arms:
— "It's crazy, this guy is convinced he's the main protagonist."
Zarion:
— "He acts like one, at least."
Drake cracked his shoulders.
Valor made his blue flames shine at his fingertips.
The crowd held its breath.
The fight was about to begin.
Chapter 143 – The Arena of Two Titans
Valor and Drake stood face to face at the center of the colossal arena.
The crowd was already shouting their names as the very air vibrated with tension.
Nova, the referee, raised an arm:
— The rules are simple. Whoever forfeits, or whoever cannot get back up, is considered the loser.
— The fight begins in 10 seconds.
Valor cracked his fingers. His hands instantly became covered in a translucent, almost divine ice.
Drake calmly drew his sword. It looked as if the metal swallowed the light.
Nova counted:
— 3… 2… 1…
— The fight begins!
Drake charged immediately, shattering the ground beneath his feet.
— Titan Strike!
Valor blocked with his frozen arm — but the ice cracked in a single blow and Valor was hurled like a projectile. He skidded, planted his hand on the ground to stop, and exhaled with a nervous smile.
— Oh, this guy really hits hard…
No time to breathe: Drake was already in front of him.
Valor snapped his fingers.
The ground burst.
Spikes of ice shot up to pierce Drake — but Drake destroyed them as if they were cardboard decorations.
— Tss… fine. Plan B.
A gigantic magic circle appeared before Valor.
— Focus, Mister Valor, he muttered to himself.
Then: BOOM — a wave of flames crashed down on Drake.
The blast engulfed the arena.
The crowd roared.
The heat made the barriers tremble.
When the smoke cleared, Drake was still there. Standing. Calm. His body smoking, but intact.
Valor grimaced.
— I'm your worst matchup, though…
You should know that, with a smile.
Drake placed his hand on the ground.
— Fissure Wave!
The terrain exploded beneath Valor, launching him into the air. Drake raised his sword and struck the air.
An invisible shockwave slammed into Valor, sending him flying.
Valor conjured a massive stone block to land on. Blood dripped from his mouth.
— If that's all… you'll never defeat me.
A green light enveloped his body. His wounds closed instantly.
— That's better. Round 2.
With a snap of his fingers, massive stone blocks surged from the ground and charged at Drake.
Drake spun his sword.
— Whirl!
He charged, slicing each block as if it were melted butter.
But then a barrage of invisible wind strikes hammered him, forcing him to retreat.
Valor pointed to the sky.
Huge clouds gathered, the air thick with electricity.
A divine lightning bolt descended into his hand.
Then Valor vanished.
He reappeared before Drake.
— Lightning Strike!!
BOOOOOM.
A titanic crash shook the arena.
But… the attack did not pierce Drake's ultra-resistant skin.
Drake grabbed Valor's hand with one arm, lifting him like a doll.
He drew back a fist —
— but a smile spread across Valor's face: a multidimensional barrier had stopped the blow.
— Heh heh. I'm cautious, my guy.
Then Valor's smile faded: the barriers were cracking… slowly… but surely.
Drake frowned.
— Breaking a multidimensional barrier… normally, only those who ignore the laws of the world can do that.
— Which means… my strength allows me to defy the laws.
The crowd froze.
Even Nova's eyes widened.
— So… Drake said…
— That's why the Commander covers for me so much.
Valor sighed, then used an energy repulsion to hurl Drake away.
— Brother, you talked too much.
He vanished.
Reappeared above Drake.
BOOM — a kick infused with energy smashed Drake into the ground.
Valor landed… hands in his pockets.
— Well, shall we continue?
Drake struck the air — each blow created an invisible slash racing toward Valor.
Valor dodged them casually, still with his hands in his pockets.
The crowd:
— WOOOOH!
— WHAT ARE THESE TWO MADMEN?!
Valor raised a hand.
— Here, a little gift from the chef.
Gigantic meteors appeared in the sky.
Drake prepared to leap and slice them.
But Valor altered the gravity around him.
Drake was crushed to the ground.
Valor landed on him and kicked him, pinning him even harder.
Then he snapped his fingers: massive chains erupted from the ground and coiled around Drake.
Valor leaned down, placed a hand on Drake's shoulder, and whispered:
— You're just unlucky, brother.
— You ran into me. The great Valor.
Drake screamed:
— ARE YOU CRAZY?! The meteors will crush us both! Get out!
Valor shrugged:
— Oh, you think so?
The meteor crashed down.
BOOOOOOOM
The impact swept across the arena.
The shockwave shattered even several layers of multidimensional barriers protecting the crowd.
The stands trembled.
Spectators screamed.
Lya shouted:
— HE'S SO STUPID!!!!
Nova shielded himself with three layers of barriers.
Ryn cried:
— They're going to die!! Valor is insane to do this!!!
But amid the dust, a silhouette floated.
Valor.
Unharmed.
Arms crossed, arrogant expression.
— Hey. I'm not suicidal, relax.
He had teleported his body just before the impact.
Chapter 144 – "Clash of the Titans"
After the impact of the meteors, sword slashes appeared, slicing the celestial blocks into pieces.
Drake stood tall, his body smoking, marked with a few damages… but still standing.
Valor, standing in the air with his hands in his pockets, sneered:
> — "You command respect, old man."
Then he opened a dimensional portal between himself and Drake, leapt through, and launched a punch filled with overwhelming energy.
Drake caught his fist barehanded.
The impact shook the entire arena.
Drake pulled Valor toward him and delivered a monstrous punch to his stomach.
Valor spat blood, his body folding, then Drake grabbed him by the arm and smashed him to the ground like a ragdoll.
Valor, bloodied, groaned:
> — "I let myself get caught…"
---
Suddenly, several magic circles appeared around them.
Valor smiled, his eyes glowing:
> — "Watch this, Drake."
A deluge of overpowering energy beams rained down on them.
The explosion made the air vibrate, pulverizing the surrounding buildings.
When the dust settled, Valor was unharmed thanks to his barriers.
Drake, his body smoking, was still standing.
Valor pushed him back with a surge of energy, then smiled, his bloodied face already regenerating:
> — "What did you think? That I'd just let you win?
I already told you I'm your worst matchup.
But it's surprising you survived my blasts."
Drake, impassive:
> — "Looks like you didn't listen when I told you my abilities.
Super strength. Super resistance."
Valor, curt:
> — "That won't change a thing."
---
Gravity around Drake intensified, crushing the air.
But Drake leapt despite the pressure, charged at Valor, and brought down his sword.
Valor jumped onto the tip of the blade, ran along it, and chained several kicks before smashing Drake's head into the ground, a predatory grin on his face.
Drake grabbed his leg:
> — "That's enough!"
He unleashed his aura with a roar, trying to slam Valor into the ground.
But Valor created a dimensional vortex on the ground and in the air, entering through the floor and emerging from the sky.
Drake kicked the vortex away, the explosion making space itself tremble.
Valor muttered it was unfair before distorting the wind into a rain of invisible strikes.
Drake blocked with his body, then struck the air, tearing it open, and pulled Valor toward him.
Valor accelerated, conjured a blade of ice reinforced with mana, and slashed Drake's arm in one stroke.
Drake forced himself to stop the bleeding through sheer concentration.
With his remaining arm, he charged at Valor and brought down his sword.
Valor parried, but his blade shattered.
A deep gash carved into his body.
He staggered back, regenerated with magic, and smiled:
> — "Not bad, old man."
---
Drake kicked into the void.
The shock struck Valor head-on, sending him flying.
He followed with a rain of punches into the air, each strike creating a destructive wave.
Valor materialized a block of ice, but it was pulverized by the barrage.
Valor teleported behind Drake.
Without turning, Drake delivered a backward kick, sending him spinning away.
Valor grinned, charged again.
Drake unleashed punches and kicks into the void, creating gusts.
Valor dodged, leapt, and managed to reach Drake for close combat.
Drake launched a kick.
Valor ducked, evaded, and countered with an uppercut.
Drake blocked without moving an inch.
He tried to grab Valor's arm, but Valor inverted the laws of gravity, rose upward, and charged at such speed that his body was engulfed in flames.
Drake, with his remaining arm, unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks.
Valor dodged, rushed forward, and declared:
> — "I'll finish you once and for all!"
But suddenly, a slash appeared across his body.
He looked down…
Drake had managed to land a sword strike, despite everything.
Chapter 146 — Illusions of Fraud
Valor was stunned to see a slash appear across his torso.
He immediately leapt back, chaining several rapid steps to put distance between himself and Drake.
Nova, acting as referee, exclaimed:
— I'm shocked that you, of all people, got caught so easily.
Valor glared at him as if Nova had just insulted his entire bloodline.
— Me? The great Valor? Getting caught "easily"? Stop joking. But I'd really like to know how this mosquito managed to touch me.
In the stands, the crowd was already exploding.
— Woooooo! That's what we want to see! — shouted a spectator.
— Valor got hit! Did I dream that? — shouted another.
Drake, calm as ever, replied:
— Actually, when I bombarded you with blows… I left an opening on purpose. I knew you'd try to strike me. And the moment you extended your arm… bam. I got you.
Valor's jaw dropped in shock.
— A tactic like that… that's disgraceful! How could I fall for something so pathetic??
— Don't worry, Drake answered, you haven't seen anything yet.
Valor raised an eyebrow.
— Oh yeah? Don't think you'll catch me again. You're way too mistaken about your luck, old man.
Drake charged forward.
Valor pointed his fingers like a kid playing with laser pistols.
— Pew. Pew. Pew.
Tiny air compressions fired like invisible bullets, slamming into Drake. The impacts struck his body, but Drake kept advancing as if someone were tossing peanuts at him.
And suddenly — *clack*.
Invisible chains wrapped around Drake, and silhouettes — copies of his comrades — appeared and pierced his body.
Drake's eyes widened.
— Impossible… I was charging straight at Valor… how—
But in reality…
Valor was calmly levitating in the air, seated as if on an invisible chair, legs crossed. Drake trembled as though his entire life was flashing before his eyes in 8K HDR.
Nova frowned.
— Valor… what did you just do to him?
From the stands, Lya sighed:
— I think he's trapped him in an illusion…
Ryn swallowed hard.
— How's he gonna get out of this…?
Elyon, brimming with confidence:
— Mom, see? I told you! Even with insane strength, he can't do anything against a versatile mage like Valor!
Meanwhile, inside the illusion…
The fellow hunters looked at Drake with a mix of disappointment and contempt.
Naël stepped forward:
— Against Antares, you were useless. An SSS should've done a hundred times better.
Lya spoke next:
— We counted on you, but you let us down.
Nova crossed his arms.
— Two ranks above us? Really?
Valor appeared behind them, smiling demonically (but stylishly).
— I always knew you were a fraud.
Ryn, eyes lowered, murmured timidly:
— I'm… a little disappointed…
Drake felt his heart sink.
A crushing weight pressed against his chest.
He knew.
He felt.
It was false. It couldn't be true… and yet… everything felt so real.
— How… how is this possible…? This isn't them… This isn't… real…
Back to reality.
Nova tightened his grip on his sword.
— Valor. Tell me right now what you're making him see. Or else…
Valor raised his hands, casual.
— Hey, relax, relax. I'm just showing him how useless he thinks he is to us. Nothing malicious, really.
Nova stared at him.
— Valor… you realize that makes you… a bad person?
Valor shrugged.
— Everyone fights with their own skills. And besides, I feel no hatred toward him. It's just… strategic.
From the stands, Valen exhaled.
— This isn't good for Drake…
Zarion nodded.
— Yeah, he's in deep trouble now.