Chapter 188: The Moment He Took It
Each time he pushed, she adjusted faster.
And as he tried to catch her off guard, she read him better.
That small edge he had at the start... It was fading.
"...You’re slowing down," Lyra said, her voice light, almost teasing as she parried another strike.
Arthur smirked.
"Am I?"
As he spun into another kick, but she caught it this time.. firmly.
She didn’t step back.
No slip.
Nothing.
That confirmed it.
Yeah... she’s caught up.
Behind them, Torren crossed his arms again.
"...That’s it."
Selene nodded slowly.
"She’s adapted."
From their view, it was obvious.
Arthur wasn’t breaking through anymore. Nox wasn’t getting close enough. Althea was keeping up, but even her timing wasn’t enough to tip things over.
The fight had stabilized.
And that meant one thing.
They were losing.
But..
Ryn didn’t look away.
Not once.
His eyes stayed locked on Arthur.
"...Not yet."
Selene glanced at him.
"You still think.."
"He’s waiting," Ryn cut in quietly.
Within the marked zone, Arthur rolled his shoulder once
Then stepped in again.
Same rhythm, same pressure, same attacks.
But inside.. He was watching.
Waiting.
She thinks she’s got it now.
As Lyra deflected another punch, she spoke again.
"You’re running out of ideas."
Arthur chuckled.
"You talk too much."
She smiled.
"And you’re predictable."
Arthur didn’t answer.
He let that one sit.
Because that was exactly what he wanted her to think.
Behind him..
"Still nothing..." Nox muttered, circling again, trying to find a way in.
Althea’s eyes moved constantly, shifting between Arthur and Lyra as she waited.
Arthur trusted them.
That was enough.
Just stay ready... I’ll open it.
He stepped in again.
Another punch... blocked.
Another kick... blocked.
As he pushed harder, faster, the pattern didn’t change.
Same flow.
Same pressure.
And Lyra matched it easily now.
Her mana layer stayed steady. Her stance didn’t move. Her confidence was clear.
"...If this is all you’ve got," she said, almost bored now, "then you.. "
Arthur’s eyes sharpened.
Now.
He stepped in one more time.
Same angle. Same motion. Same speed.
Lyra didn’t even think twice.
She blocked.
Just like every other time.
But this time...
Arthur’s Intent Skin shifted.
Not just for defense.
But a different kind of impact as it carried something through.
His Manifest Intent followed the strike.. tight, focused, and direct.
THUMM.
The impact landed.
And although not for the first time.. Lyra felt the difference that came with this attack.
It wasn’t about the force, but the disruption.
Her mana layer flickered.
Just for a moment.
A tiny break in flow.
Her brows twitched.
"...That again?"
Arthur grinned.
"You said I needed more."
She scoffed lightly.
"That’s not enough—"
"I know.
And then.. He pushed.
Harder.
The next strike came immediately.
No pause.
This time, his Intent Skin carried more, and his Manifest Intent pressed deeper.. trying to slip through, trying to shake her control.
BOOM.
Lyra’s mana layer reacted.
It held..
But not as smoothly or as perfectly as before.
That tiny crack widened just a bit.
Not enough to break.
But enough to matter.
Her eyes narrowed.
"...You’re targeting disrupting my mana."
Arthur didn’t deny it.
"Feels like the right move."
She smirked.
"Then do it properly."
Arthur’s smile widened.
"Gladly."
And then... The air changed.
Not dramatically or loudly.
But enough.
Ryn felt it first.
"...There it is."
Selene frowned.
"What?"
Torren squinted.
"...Something shifted about it."
Inside the boundary, Arthur activated his skill.
Just for a moment.
Sovereign’s Domain.
It didn’t burst outward or try to overwhelm.
It settled.
Quiet. Heavy. And controlled.
But the difference was clear.
Lyra felt it instantly.
Her smile faded... just a little.
"...So you’ve been holding back."
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"Not holding back. Just waiting."
And then he moved.
Faster and sharper and more precise.
His next strike landed.. BOOM.
It wasn’t louder, but deeper.
His mana didn’t just hit her body.
It pressed against her own mana. Against the layer she relied on.
And this time.. It slipped into it.
For a fraction of a second her control broke.
Just a flicker.
But that flicker was everything.
Arthur’s voice cut through the moment.
"Now!"
Nox froze for half a second.
"...Wait—"
Then she moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
Althea reacted instantly.
As a buff landed.. speed, right on time as Nox shot forward.
No hesitation now. Not in front of the opening Arthur had patiently created
SHH!
Lyra moved to respond..
But her mana layer hadn’t fully stabilized yet.
That tiny delay...
That tiny imperfection... Slowed her.
Just enough as Althea’s second move followed.
The binding spell.
Already prepared and released at the exact moment.
FWIP.
It wrapped around Lyra.
It wasn’t that strong or lasting.
But it didn’t need to be.
It held just for a blink.
A heartbeat.
A fraction of a second.
But in a fight like this.. That was everything.
Lyra’s eyes sharpened.
She broke it instantly.
But...
It had already worked.
Nox was there.
Right in front of her.
Her hand shot out, focused.
No fear this time.
"I’ve got it!"
Lyra tried to react..
But her grip, just for a moment, wasn’t perfect.
Nox struck.
SMACK.
The core slipped..
Out of Lyra’s hand.
And for a moment..
Everything slowed.
Everyone saw it.
The small glowing core rising into the air.
Free.
Unheld.
For the first time since the fight began.
Selene’s eyes widened.
"...No way."
Torren leaned forward.
"They actually..."
Ryn didn’t speak.
He just watched Arthur like he already knew what he expected from him.
Arthur was already moving.
He didn’t rush or panic.
As he stepped forward, calm and confident, it felt like the outcome had already been decided.
His eyes locked onto the core as his hand lifted slightly.
Vector Sovereignty Activated.
The pull was subtle and precise as the core shifted mid-air.
And then, its path changed.
It didn’t fall back down.. Instead it began moving towards him.
Arthur smirked.
"That’s mine."
As the core dropped into his hand.
Clean and perfect.
And in that moment..
Everything seemed to pause.