CHAPTER 81 — The First Boom (Part 2)
Irregular stepped forward.
Echo waited.
For the first time since the match began, she didn't immediately attack.
She watched the creature carefully.
Irregular was enormous.
Its violet body towered over her, covered in glowing cores of different colors. Each one pulsed with a different kind of energy.
Echo tilted her head.
"Okay…"
She looked up at him.
"You're definitely bigger than I expected."
Irregular didn't answer.
One of the cores on his shoulder suddenly flashed red.
A burst of energy shot toward Echo.
She jumped.
The blast struck the ground.
BOOM!
Echo landed on one foot.
"Not bad."
Another core flashed.
This time, a blue beam shot across the arena.
Echo ducked.
The beam passed over her head and carved a glowing line across the far wall.
She looked back.
"…Okay. That's actually dangerous."
Irregular charged.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Echo's smile disappeared.
"Whoa."
The massive creature swung his fist.
She jumped backward.
The punch missed her by a few centimeters.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave across the arena.
Echo was thrown backward.
She flipped through the air and landed safely.
The audience erupted.
"He's fast!" the announcer shouted.
Echo looked at Irregular.
"You're not supposed to be this quick."
Irregular's green eyes narrowed.
A yellow core on his chest began to glow.
The space around Echo suddenly became heavy.
Her feet slammed against the ground.
"What—?"
She tried to move.
Her body felt like it weighed several times more.
Irregular raised his fist.
Echo's eyes widened.
"Oh, come on."
She snapped her fingers.
"BOOM!"
The explosion launched her upward.
The increased gravity disappeared as she escaped the field.
She landed on one of the arena's broken pillars.
Irregular looked up.
Echo smiled again.
"Okay."
She pointed at him.
"I've got an idea."
She disappeared.
Irregular turned.
Nothing.
A faint sound came from behind him.
"BOOM."
An explosion struck his back.
His massive body staggered forward.
Echo appeared above him.
Another explosion.
Then another.
Then another.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Irregular's different cores flickered.
One cracked.
The creature looked down at it.
Echo landed several meters away.
"Found the weak spot."
Irregular roared.
He slammed both fists into the ground.
The entire arena shook.
Pieces of stone rose into the air.
Echo jumped between them.
Irregular grabbed one of the floating rocks and threw it.
Echo dodged.
He threw another.
She dodged again.
A third.
A fourth.
She was laughing now.
"You're really trying to hit me with rocks?"
Irregular suddenly stopped.
Echo's smile faded.
"Wait…"
The stones weren't random.
They were positioned around her.
The yellow core on Irregular's chest flashed.
Gravity changed.
Every piece of stone shot toward Echo.
She crossed her arms.
"BOOM!"
A chain of explosions shattered the rocks.
Smoke filled the arena.
The audience erupted.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then Echo stepped out of the smoke.
She was breathing harder now.
She looked at Irregular.
"You're annoying."
Irregular charged again.
Echo prepared herself.
The two collided.
A giant fist.
An explosion.
A kick.
A shockwave.
Another explosion.
Irregular's strength was overwhelming.
But Echo was faster.
Much faster.
Every time Irregular came close to landing a decisive blow, she disappeared.
Every time Echo tried to attack his cores, he protected them.
The fight became a constant exchange.
Neither side could finish it.
Until Echo noticed something.
Irregular's movement was slowing down.
The creature's cores were flickering.
She understood.
"You're running out of energy."
Irregular stopped.
His chest rose and fell.
Echo smiled.
"That's it."
She vanished.
A flash.
She appeared behind him.
"BOOM."
The explosion struck directly against one of his damaged cores.
The core shattered.
Irregular stumbled.
Echo didn't hesitate.
She attacked again.
And again.
And again.
The final explosion sent the giant creature crashing across the arena.
CRAAAAASH!
The audience fell silent.
Irregular lay motionless.
One by one, the colored cores went dark.
Red.
Blue.
Yellow.
Green.
Purple.
Nothing.
Echo stood several meters away, breathing heavily.
She stared at the fallen creature.
"That was actually pretty close."
The commentator shouted:
"IRREGULAR HAS BEEN DEFEATED!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Rodrigue stared at the battlefield.
"…He lost."
Blanche didn't answer.
Yojuro's expression remained calm.
But his eyes narrowed.
"He's not done."
The creature began to shake.
A strange sound came from inside its body.
Bip.
Everyone went quiet.
Bip…
The violet armor-like body began to dissolve into green particles.
The massive arms disappeared.
The glowing cores vanished.
The round head broke apart into light.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
A brilliant green flash filled the arena.
When the light disappeared…
Zayn was standing there.
On one knee.
Breathing heavily.
His hand was still resting on Borealis.
The crowd reacted immediately.
Echo stared at him.
Then she laughed.
"You lost."
Zayn looked up.
"Yeah."
"That was fast."
"I noticed."
Echo walked closer.
"You had all those powers and still couldn't catch me."
Zayn looked at the ground.
She wasn't wrong.
He had thrown everything at her.
And she had dismantled him.
Echo crouched slightly.
"You okay?"
Zayn stood.
"Yeah."
"Good."
She smiled.
"Because I don't want the next round to be boring."
Zayn looked at her.
He didn't answer.
Echo turned away.
Then Rodrigue's voice came from the stands.
"ZAYN!"
Zayn glanced toward him.
Rodrigue had both hands around his mouth.
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?"
Zayn looked back at Echo.
Then at Borealis.
The arena had become strangely quiet.
Even Yojuro was watching him carefully.
Blanche crossed her arms.
"He can't keep changing forms forever."
Yojuro finally spoke.
"He doesn't need to."
Rodrigue looked at him.
"What?"
Yojuro's eyes remained fixed on Zayn.
"He's thinking."
Echo heard them.
She smiled.
"Take your time."
Zayn looked down at Borealis.
His fingers slowly closed around the device.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then…
He smiled.
Not arrogantly.
Not confidently.
Just a small smile.
"You're right."
Echo blinked.
"About what?"
Zayn looked directly at her.
"This isn't working."
Echo raised an eyebrow.
"Finally."
Zayn's thumb pressed against Borealis.
CLICK.
The dial rose.
The green holographic wheel appeared once again.
Dozens of faces spun around him.
Echo watched carefully.
"Another one?"
Zayn's finger moved across the hologram.
The faces continued spinning.
Faster.
Faster.
Then he stopped.
A single face remained in the center.
Aurora's voice sounded.
Selection confirmed.
Zayn lowered his arm.
His expression changed.
This time…
There was no hesitation.
He slammed Borealis into his palm.
CLACK!
Nothing happened.
Echo blinked.
"…Did it break?"
Zayn looked at the device.
"Wait."
A tiny green light appeared.
Bip.
Echo smiled.
"That's a pretty sad transformation."
Zayn suddenly looked up.
"Shut up."
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
The entire arena was swallowed by green light.
The ground trembled.
A violent wind exploded outward.
Echo raised her arms to protect her face.
"What the—?!"
The light expanded.
Then…
A massive silhouette emerged.
First came the feet.
Two enormous stone boots struck the arena floor.
BOOM.
Then thick legs formed above them, made from huge irregular slabs of gray rock.
Golden energy flowed through the cracks between the stones.
A massive torso emerged next.
Its body was not smooth.
It was composed of countless layers of stone, each one fitted together like natural armor.
Its shoulders were enormous.
Its arms were thick and heavy, with huge fists made from several interlocking boulders.
Golden energy burned around the knuckles.
The creature's neck rose from the rocky torso.
Then came its head.
A rough, rounded stone shape.
No mouth.
No nose.
No visible ears.
Only one enormous eye sat in the center of its face.
A perfectly white eye.
It glowed like a miniature sun.
The creature slowly raised its head.
The eye opened completely.
A golden light swept across the arena.
Echo froze.
The floating dust around her stopped moving for a moment.
The creature stood several meters taller than Zayn's previous form.
Every step made the ground tremble.
Golden energy leaked from the cracks in its stone body.
The arena screens struggled to display its full height.
The announcer was silent for several seconds.
Then his voice finally returned.
"Zayn…"
He swallowed.
"Has activated another Primal!"
Avalanche slowly clenched one enormous fist.
Stone fragments fell from his knuckles.
Echo stared at him.
"…Okay."
She took a step backward.
"I definitely didn't expect that."
Avalanche's single eye focused on her.
Echo immediately moved.
BOOM!
She disappeared.
Avalanche turned.
Too late.
Echo appeared behind him.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck his back.
Smoke covered his body.
Echo landed.
She waited.
Nothing.
The smoke cleared.
Avalanche hadn't moved.
Echo's smile disappeared.
"…Seriously?"
Avalanche turned around.
His enormous fist swung.
Echo ducked.
The fist passed over her head.
She felt the wind of the attack.
The ground behind her exploded.
She immediately jumped away.
"Okay!"
She accelerated.
She ran around him.
Avalanche turned slowly.
Echo appeared on his left.
Then his right.
Then behind him.
She attacked repeatedly.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions covered Avalanche.
But the stone creature continued moving forward.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
Echo frowned.
"You're really durable."
Avalanche raised his head.
His single eye began to glow brighter.
Echo noticed.
Her expression changed.
"Wait."
She stopped.
The golden light in the eye intensified.
A thin beam appeared.
Echo immediately moved.
The beam passed beside her.
The stone floor beneath it changed.
Gray rock spread across the surface.
The impact zone had been completely petrified.
Echo stared.
"…Oh."
She looked back at Avalanche.
"That would've been bad."
She didn't wait.
She rushed forward.
Avalanche swung.
Echo jumped over his arm.
She landed on his shoulder.
"Found you."
She placed her hand against the stone.
"BOOM!"
The explosion detonated at point-blank range.
Avalanche staggered.
Echo jumped away.
But the moment she landed…
The eye followed her.
She realized what was happening.
"You're tracking me."
Avalanche's eye locked onto her.
Echo ran.
The beam followed.
She jumped.
The beam followed.
She rolled.
The beam followed.
Everywhere it passed, the arena transformed into stone.
Echo's breathing became heavier.
"That's annoying!"
Avalanche raised his arm.
Echo saw the fist coming.
She jumped.
The fist missed.
But the shockwave caught her.
She was thrown sideways.
She recovered in midair.
"BOOM!"
An explosion propelled her forward.
She accelerated directly toward Avalanche.
His eye began charging again.
Echo smiled.
"Gotcha."
At the last second, she changed direction.
Avalanche fired.
The beam missed her.
She appeared beside his head.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck.
Avalanche's head cracked.
Echo landed.
She breathed heavily.
"You're strong…"
She looked up.
"But you're slow."
Avalanche's eye flickered.
Then…
A small piece of stone fell from his face.
He turned toward Echo.
She smiled.
"Come on."
She prepared another attack.
Avalanche stepped forward.
Echo rushed toward him.
Their attacks collided.
Her explosion struck his chest.
His fist stopped inches from her.
Echo jumped backward.
Then she saw it.
A small crack had appeared across Avalanche's chest.
She smiled.
"Found it."
She raised her hand.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck the crack.
Avalanche staggered.
Echo rushed forward.
Another explosion.
Then another.
The crack spread.
Avalanche fell to one knee.
The crowd erupted.
"Echo is turning it around!"
Rodrigue stood up.
"Zayn!"
Blanche watched anxiously.
"Come on…"
Yojuro remained silent.
Then he noticed something.
Avalanche's eye wasn't looking at Echo's body.
It was looking at her hand.
Yojuro's eyes narrowed.
"He figured it out."
Rodrigue looked at him.
"Figured what out?"
"Where she'll appear."
On the battlefield…
Echo disappeared.
She was preparing her strongest attack.
She appeared directly in front of Avalanche.
Her hand was already raised.
"BOOM!"
But Avalanche's eye was already waiting.
A golden beam fired.
Echo reacted instantly.
She moved her head aside.
The beam missed her face.
But not her hand.
A flash of golden light covered her fingers.
Echo landed.
She stared at her hand.
Her expression changed.
Stone was spreading slowly across her fingers.
She tried to move them.
Nothing.
"…Oh."
She looked at Avalanche.
"You got me."
The petrification stopped just above her wrist.
Echo's breathing became heavier.
She couldn't move that hand properly.
She tried to use it.
Nothing happened.
"That's bad."
Avalanche slowly approached.
Echo backed away.
For the first time since the beginning of the fight…
She looked genuinely worried.
"Okay."
She raised her other hand.
"One hand is enough."
She smiled.
But Zayn could see it.
She was tired.
He was too.
Avalanche's body was covered in cracks.
His eye flickered.
Echo took a breath.
"Last one."
She disappeared.
Avalanche waited.
Nothing.
Zayn listened.
A faint sound.
A shift in the air.
Echo appeared above him.
She raised her remaining hand.
"BOOM!"
Avalanche looked up.
The beam fired.
Echo twisted her body.
The explosion detonated beside Avalanche's head.
The creature staggered.
Echo landed behind him.
She prepared another attack.
But Avalanche turned faster than before.
His enormous fist stopped directly in front of her.
Echo froze.
She looked at the fist.
Then at the giant eye.
She understood.
If she moved…
The next beam would catch her.
Avalanche's eye began glowing.
Echo slowly raised her free hand.
"Okay…"
She exhaled.
"I surrender."
Silence.
The stadium went completely still.
The referee looked at her petrified hand.
Then at Avalanche.
He raised his arm.
"Match over!"
The arena exploded.
"WINNER—ZAYN!"
Avalanche stood motionless.
Then the golden light inside his eye faded.
The transformation began to collapse.
Bip.
A crack of green light appeared across his rocky body.
Bip…
The stone armor began dissolving.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
A brilliant green flash erupted.
Zayn returned to his human form and dropped to one knee.
He was exhausted.
Echo walked toward him.
She looked at her petrified hand.
Then at Zayn.
"You know…"
Zayn looked up.
"Yeah?"
She smiled.
"That was actually a good fight."
Zayn laughed quietly.
"Thanks."
Echo looked at the crater-covered arena.
"Next time, I'm winning."
Zayn stood with some difficulty.
"We'll see."
The crowd continued chanting his name.
And somewhere high above the arena…
Arthur watched in silence.
For the first time that day…
He smiled.
Oui. Je garde exactement la continuité de ta Part 1, et je vais faire d'Avalanche une forme complètement différente d'Irregular : énorme, rocheuse, très puissante, avec son œil capable de pétrifier. Echo reste rapide et dangereuse, mais elle commet une erreur en s'approchant trop près. La fin du combat sera claire.
CHAPTER 78 — The First Boom (Part 2)
Irregular stepped forward.
Echo waited.
For the first time since the match began, she didn't immediately attack.
She watched the creature carefully.
Irregular was enormous.
Its violet body towered over her, covered in glowing cores of different colors. Each one pulsed with a different kind of energy.
Echo tilted her head.
"Okay…"
She looked up at him.
"You're definitely bigger than I expected."
Irregular didn't answer.
One of the cores on his shoulder suddenly flashed red.
A burst of energy shot toward Echo.
She jumped.
The blast struck the ground.
BOOM!
Echo landed on one foot.
"Not bad."
Another core flashed.
This time, a blue beam shot across the arena.
Echo ducked.
The beam passed over her head and carved a glowing line across the far wall.
She looked back.
"…Okay. That's actually dangerous."
Irregular charged.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Echo's smile disappeared.
"Whoa."
The massive creature swung his fist.
She jumped backward.
The punch missed her by a few centimeters.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave across the arena.
Echo was thrown backward.
She flipped through the air and landed safely.
The audience erupted.
"He's fast!" the announcer shouted.
Echo looked at Irregular.
"You're not supposed to be this quick."
Irregular's green eyes narrowed.
A yellow core on his chest began to glow.
The space around Echo suddenly became heavy.
Her feet slammed against the ground.
"What—?"
She tried to move.
Her body felt like it weighed several times more.
Irregular raised his fist.
Echo's eyes widened.
"Oh, come on."
She snapped her fingers.
"BOOM!"
The explosion launched her upward.
The increased gravity disappeared as she escaped the field.
She landed on one of the arena's broken pillars.
Irregular looked up.
Echo smiled again.
"Okay."
She pointed at him.
"I've got an idea."
She disappeared.
Irregular turned.
Nothing.
A faint sound came from behind him.
"BOOM."
An explosion struck his back.
His massive body staggered forward.
Echo appeared above him.
Another explosion.
Then another.
Then another.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Irregular's different cores flickered.
One cracked.
The creature looked down at it.
Echo landed several meters away.
"Found the weak spot."
Irregular roared.
He slammed both fists into the ground.
The entire arena shook.
Pieces of stone rose into the air.
Echo jumped between them.
Irregular grabbed one of the floating rocks and threw it.
Echo dodged.
He threw another.
She dodged again.
A third.
A fourth.
She was laughing now.
"You're really trying to hit me with rocks?"
Irregular suddenly stopped.
Echo's smile faded.
"Wait…"
The stones weren't random.
They were positioned around her.
The yellow core on Irregular's chest flashed.
Gravity changed.
Every piece of stone shot toward Echo.
She crossed her arms.
"BOOM!"
A chain of explosions shattered the rocks.
Smoke filled the arena.
The audience erupted.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then Echo stepped out of the smoke.
She was breathing harder now.
She looked at Irregular.
"You're annoying."
Irregular charged again.
Echo prepared herself.
The two collided.
A giant fist.
An explosion.
A kick.
A shockwave.
Another explosion.
Irregular's strength was overwhelming.
But Echo was faster.
Much faster.
Every time Irregular came close to landing a decisive blow, she disappeared.
Every time Echo tried to attack his cores, he protected them.
The fight became a constant exchange.
Neither side could finish it.
Until Echo noticed something.
Irregular's movement was slowing down.
The creature's cores were flickering.
She understood.
"You're running out of energy."
Irregular stopped.
His chest rose and fell.
Echo smiled.
"That's it."
She vanished.
A flash.
She appeared behind him.
"BOOM."
The explosion struck directly against one of his damaged cores.
The core shattered.
Irregular stumbled.
Echo didn't hesitate.
She attacked again.
And again.
And again.
The final explosion sent the giant creature crashing across the arena.
CRAAAAASH!
The audience fell silent.
Irregular lay motionless.
One by one, the colored cores went dark.
Red.
Blue.
Yellow.
Green.
Purple.
Nothing.
Echo stood several meters away, breathing heavily.
She stared at the fallen creature.
"That was actually pretty close."
The commentator shouted:
"IRREGULAR HAS BEEN DEFEATED!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Rodrigue stared at the battlefield.
"…He lost."
Blanche didn't answer.
Yojuro's expression remained calm.
But his eyes narrowed.
"He's not done."
The creature began to shake.
A strange sound came from inside its body.
Bip.
Everyone went quiet.
Bip…
The violet armor-like body began to dissolve into green particles.
The massive arms disappeared.
The glowing cores vanished.
The round head broke apart into light.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
A brilliant green flash filled the arena.
When the light disappeared…
Zayn was standing there.
On one knee.
Breathing heavily.
His hand was still resting on Borealis.
The crowd reacted immediately.
Echo stared at him.
Then she laughed.
"You lost."
Zayn looked up.
"Yeah."
"That was fast."
"I noticed."
Echo walked closer.
"You had all those powers and still couldn't catch me."
Zayn looked at the ground.
She wasn't wrong.
He had thrown everything at her.
And she had dismantled him.
Echo crouched slightly.
"You okay?"
Zayn stood.
"Yeah."
"Good."
She smiled.
"Because I don't want the next round to be boring."
Zayn looked at her.
He didn't answer.
Echo turned away.
Then Rodrigue's voice came from the stands.
"ZAYN!"
Zayn glanced toward him.
Rodrigue had both hands around his mouth.
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?"
Zayn looked back at Echo.
Then at Borealis.
The arena had become strangely quiet.
Even Yojuro was watching him carefully.
Blanche crossed her arms.
"He can't keep changing forms forever."
Yojuro finally spoke.
"He doesn't need to."
Rodrigue looked at him.
"What?"
Yojuro's eyes remained fixed on Zayn.
"He's thinking."
Echo heard them.
She smiled.
"Take your time."
Zayn looked down at Borealis.
His fingers slowly closed around the device.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then…
He smiled.
Not arrogantly.
Not confidently.
Just a small smile.
"You're right."
Echo blinked.
"About what?"
Zayn looked directly at her.
"This isn't working."
Echo raised an eyebrow.
"Finally."
Zayn's thumb pressed against Borealis.
CLICK.
The dial rose.
The green holographic wheel appeared once again.
Dozens of faces spun around him.
Echo watched carefully.
"Another one?"
Zayn's finger moved across the hologram.
The faces continued spinning.
Faster.
Faster.
Then he stopped.
A single face remained in the center.
Aurora's voice sounded.
Selection confirmed.
Zayn lowered his arm.
His expression changed.
This time…
There was no hesitation.
He slammed Borealis into his palm.
CLACK!
Nothing happened.
Echo blinked.
"…Did it break?"
Zayn looked at the device.
"Wait."
A tiny green light appeared.
Bip.
Echo smiled.
"That's a pretty sad transformation."
Zayn suddenly looked up.
"Shut up."
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
The entire arena was swallowed by green light.
The ground trembled.
A violent wind exploded outward.
Echo raised her arms to protect her face.
"What the—?!"
The light expanded.
Then…
A massive silhouette emerged.
First came the feet.
Two enormous stone boots struck the arena floor.
BOOM.
Then thick legs formed above them, made from huge irregular slabs of gray rock.
Golden energy flowed through the cracks between the stones.
A massive torso emerged next.
Its body was not smooth.
It was composed of countless layers of stone, each one fitted together like natural armor.
Its shoulders were enormous.
Its arms were thick and heavy, with huge fists made from several interlocking boulders.
Golden energy burned around the knuckles.
The creature's neck rose from the rocky torso.
Then came its head.
A rough, rounded stone shape.
No mouth.
No nose.
No visible ears.
Only one enormous eye sat in the center of its face.
A perfectly white eye.
It glowed like a miniature sun.
The creature slowly raised its head.
The eye opened completely.
A golden light swept across the arena.
Echo froze.
The floating dust around her stopped moving for a moment.
The creature stood several meters taller than Zayn's previous form.
Every step made the ground tremble.
Golden energy leaked from the cracks in its stone body.
The arena screens struggled to display its full height.
The announcer was silent for several seconds.
Then his voice finally returned.
"Zayn…"
He swallowed.
"Has activated another Primal!"
Avalanche slowly clenched one enormous fist.
Stone fragments fell from his knuckles.
Echo stared at him.
"…Okay."
She took a step backward.
"I definitely didn't expect that."
Avalanche's single eye focused on her.
Echo immediately moved.
BOOM!
She disappeared.
Avalanche turned.
Too late.
Echo appeared behind him.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck his back.
Smoke covered his body.
Echo landed.
She waited.
Nothing.
The smoke cleared.
Avalanche hadn't moved.
Echo's smile disappeared.
"…Seriously?"
Avalanche turned around.
His enormous fist swung.
Echo ducked.
The fist passed over her head.
She felt the wind of the attack.
The ground behind her exploded.
She immediately jumped away.
"Okay!"
She accelerated.
She ran around him.
Avalanche turned slowly.
Echo appeared on his left.
Then his right.
Then behind him.
She attacked repeatedly.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Explosions covered Avalanche.
But the stone creature continued moving forward.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
Echo frowned.
"You're really durable."
Avalanche raised his head.
His single eye began to glow brighter.
Echo noticed.
Her expression changed.
"Wait."
She stopped.
The golden light in the eye intensified.
A thin beam appeared.
Echo immediately moved.
The beam passed beside her.
The stone floor beneath it changed.
Gray rock spread across the surface.
The impact zone had been completely petrified.
Echo stared.
"…Oh."
She looked back at Avalanche.
"That would've been bad."
She didn't wait.
She rushed forward.
Avalanche swung.
Echo jumped over his arm.
She landed on his shoulder.
"Found you."
She placed her hand against the stone.
"BOOM!"
The explosion detonated at point-blank range.
Avalanche staggered.
Echo jumped away.
But the moment she landed…
The eye followed her.
She realized what was happening.
"You're tracking me."
Avalanche's eye locked onto her.
Echo ran.
The beam followed.
She jumped.
The beam followed.
She rolled.
The beam followed.
Everywhere it passed, the arena transformed into stone.
Echo's breathing became heavier.
"That's annoying!"
Avalanche raised his arm.
Echo saw the fist coming.
She jumped.
The fist missed.
But the shockwave caught her.
She was thrown sideways.
She recovered in midair.
"BOOM!"
An explosion propelled her forward.
She accelerated directly toward Avalanche.
His eye began charging again.
Echo smiled.
"Gotcha."
At the last second, she changed direction.
Avalanche fired.
The beam missed her.
She appeared beside his head.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck.
Avalanche's head cracked.
Echo landed.
She breathed heavily.
"You're strong…"
She looked up.
"But you're slow."
Avalanche's eye flickered.
Then…
A small piece of stone fell from his face.
He turned toward Echo.
She smiled.
"Come on."
She prepared another attack.
Avalanche stepped forward.
Echo rushed toward him.
Their attacks collided.
Her explosion struck his chest.
His fist stopped inches from her.
Echo jumped backward.
Then she saw it.
A small crack had appeared across Avalanche's chest.
She smiled.
"Found it."
She raised her hand.
"BOOM!"
The explosion struck the crack.
Avalanche staggered.
Echo rushed forward.
Another explosion.
Then another.
The crack spread.
Avalanche fell to one knee.
The crowd erupted.
"Echo is turning it around!"
Rodrigue stood up.
"Zayn!"
Blanche watched anxiously.
"Come on…"
Yojuro remained silent.
Then he noticed something.
Avalanche's eye wasn't looking at Echo's body.
It was looking at her hand.
Yojuro's eyes narrowed.
"He figured it out."
Rodrigue looked at him.
"Figured what out?"
"Where she'll appear."
On the battlefield…
Echo disappeared.
She was preparing her strongest attack.
She appeared directly in front of Avalanche.
Her hand was already raised.
"BOOM!"
But Avalanche's eye was already waiting.
A golden beam fired.
Echo reacted instantly.
She moved her head aside.
The beam missed her face.
But not her hand.
A flash of golden light covered her fingers.
Echo landed.
She stared at her hand.
Her expression changed.
Stone was spreading slowly across her fingers.
She tried to move them.
Nothing.
"…Oh."
She looked at Avalanche.
"You got me."
The petrification stopped just above her wrist.
Echo's breathing became heavier.
She couldn't move that hand properly.
She tried to use it.
Nothing happened.
"That's bad."
Avalanche slowly approached.
Echo backed away.
For the first time since the beginning of the fight…
She looked genuinely worried.
"Okay."
She raised her other hand.
"One hand is enough."
She smiled.
But Zayn could see it.
She was tired.
He was too.
Avalanche's body was covered in cracks.
His eye flickered.
Echo took a breath.
"Last one."
She disappeared.
Avalanche waited.
Nothing.
Zayn listened.
A faint sound.
A shift in the air.
Echo appeared above him.
She raised her remaining hand.
"BOOM!"
Avalanche looked up.
The beam fired.
Echo twisted her body.
The explosion detonated beside Avalanche's head.
The creature staggered.
Echo landed behind him.
She prepared another attack.
But Avalanche turned faster than before.
His enormous fist stopped directly in front of her.
Echo froze.
She looked at the fist.
Then at the giant eye.
She understood.
If she moved…
The next beam would catch her.
Avalanche's eye began glowing.
Echo slowly raised her free hand.
"Okay…"
She exhaled.
"I surrender."
Silence.
The stadium went completely still.
The referee looked at her petrified hand.
Then at Avalanche.
He raised his arm.
"Match over!"
The arena exploded.
"WINNER—ZAYN!"
Avalanche stood motionless.
Then the golden light inside his eye faded.
The transformation began to collapse.
Bip.
A crack of green light appeared across his rocky body.
Bip…
The stone armor began dissolving.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
A brilliant green flash erupted.
Zayn returned to his human form and dropped to one knee.
He was exhausted.
Echo walked toward him.
She looked at her petrified hand.
Then at Zayn.
"You know…"
Zayn looked up.
"Yeah?"
She smiled.
"That was actually a good fight."
Zayn laughed quietly.
"Thanks."
Echo looked at the crater-covered arena.
"Next time, I'm winning."
Zayn stood with some difficulty.
"We'll see."
The crowd continued chanting his name.
And somewhere high above the arena…
Arthur watched in silence.
For the first time that day…
He smiled.