Chapter 170: Part of the Team
Cara stood motionless for several long moments, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm as she caught her breath from their intense battle. The air around her still shimmered with residual energy from the powers she had unleashed, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere that made everything seem slightly unreal. With a graceful gesture, she dismissed her sword, the radiant blade dissolving into motes of pure light that danced around her fingers before fading into nothingness.
The brilliant aura that had transformed her into something resembling a divine warrior began to coalesce and slowly disperse, the luminous energy drawing inward like a reverse explosion of light. Layer by layer, the celestial radiance peeled away from her form, revealing the girl beneath the goddess-like power. The process was mesmerizing to watch—streams of golden light flowing across her skin like liquid starlight before evaporating into the afternoon air.
When the last traces of her enhanced state finally faded away, all that stood before Arthur was Cara herself—no longer the terrifying avatar of light and power, but simply the academy student he had admired from afar for so long. Yet somehow, even in her normal state, she was still no less outstanding to look at than she had been moments ago. If anything, the contrast between her ordinary appearance and the incredible power she had just displayed made her seem even more remarkable.
Arthur, meanwhile, was a stark contrast to her composed recovery. His shadow-enhanced form had long since dissipated, leaving him looking thoroughly human and thoroughly exhausted. Sweat had soaked through his pants, creating dark patches across the fabric that spoke to the intensity of their prolonged battle. His chest heaved with each labored breath, his body still struggling to process the adrenaline and exertion of facing an opponent so far beyond his capabilities.
But more than the physical exhaustion, Arthur was still reeling from the psychological impact of what had just transpired. His mind kept replaying those final moments when Cara had revealed her true speed and strength, the casual way she had dismantled every strategy and technique he had thrown at her. The memory of her blade stopping just inches from his neck served as a constant reminder of just how completely outmatched he had been.
There was an undercurrent of frustration flowing through him like a bitter river, threatening to overwhelm his other emotions. ’After everything I’ve done till now, I’m still so weak, so feeble,’ the thought echoed in his mind with painful clarity. All his training, all his preparation, all the confidence he had built up through his previous battles—none of it had mattered when faced with someone operating on Cara’s level.
But even as the frustration tried to take hold, another emotion was forcing its way through the disappointment and wounded pride. As he looked at Cara now, standing there with her hair still slightly disheveled from their fight and that familiar composed expression back on her face, Arthur realized that he no longer saw what he had seen before.
Where once he had seen an untouchable figure—someone to admire from a distance but never dare to approach as an equal—now he saw something entirely different. He saw a goal, something concrete to chase after. The vast gap between their abilities no longer seemed like an insurmountable chasm but rather like a mountain to be climbed, a challenge to be conquered through dedication and perseverance.
The realization hit him like a lightning bolt, cutting through his exhaustion and frustration with crystalline clarity. Suddenly, his labored panting stopped, his breathing evening out as a new sense of purpose filled his chest. A grin slowly spread across his face, starting small but growing wider until it dominated his entire expression.