Nova inhaled once, letting the armor settle across his frame. The crimson veins pulsed lightly under the plates, reacting to the rising mana on the battlefield.
Across from him, Skyfang and Fenrath steadied themselves. Lightning crackled across their fur, arcs snapping along their claws as they lowered into a hunting stance.
A low growl rolled across the arena, as they attacked.
Skyfang dashed forward, claws dragging a trail of golden electricity as it slashed straight for Nova's helmet.
KZZZTT—!
The claws scraped across the black armor, sparks spraying— but the armor didn't even dent. Not a single scratch.
Skyfang froze for half a second, shocked—
and Nova used that moment.
He shifted his weight, armor plates sliding smoothly, and drove his fist upward.
THUD—!
The punch connected under Skyfang's jaw, sending the massive wolf twisting midair before crashing into the ground in a burst of sparks.
Fenrath was already behind him, fangs wide and lightning building in its throat.
Nova didn't even look back.
He dropped low, spinning sharply. His leg swept out in a crimson arc— the Ven-Drive armor amplifying the movement with a surge of power.
CRACK!
Fenrath was swept clean off its feet, rolling across the stone with a pained howl.
But the wolves weren't done.
Skyfang lunged again—faster this time, lightning coiling around its legs. Fenrath joined from the opposite angle, forcing a two-pronged assault.
Electricity surged. Two predators moving as one.
Nova raised his forearms just in time—
ZRRRAK—!!
Skyfang's lightning-coated claws raked across his armor again. Fenrath's fangs clamped down on his side with a loud CHOMP, lightning bursting through its jaw.
The attacks landed cleanly… but Nova didn't budge.
Fenrath's eyes widened. Skyfang's claws trembled.
The armor wasn't just strong. It nullified the force, dispersing the lightning harmlessly across its surface.
"That tickles," Nova muttered.
Skyfang flinched and Fenrath tried to retreat—
But Nova moved first.
He shot forward in a burst of red lightning, slamming his elbow into Skyfang's ribs.
KRAK—!
The wolf tumbled across the floor, sparks scattering as it skidded to a stop.
Fenrath charged again, refusing to give up.
Its instincts screamed to bite, to tear, to overwhelm.
Nova's eyes narrowed behind the armor.
A quick sidestep, a twist of his hip and a clean, brutal punch coated in red lightning smashed into Fenrath's shoulder.
BOOOOM!
The alpha wolf crashed down, its front leg buckling instantly. Electricity flickered erratically across its fur. This time, it couldn't stand right away—its entire left side twitched violently.
The arena fell silent.
"…He injured the alpha."
"Heavily. Look at that leg—it's done."
Arden's face drained of color. For the first time, the confidence in his eyes collapsed completely.
He stepped back without meaning to, teeth clenched.
"This… this was supposed to be my trump card against the other heirs… But you pushed me to this, Ashbourne… Now face the true strength of House Thorne!"
Arden shook himself out of shock and threw his hand toward his grimoire.
"Beast Magic: Soul Merge!"
A violent surge of mana erupted from the pages.
Both wolves froze—
then dissolved into streaks of white lightning that shot straight into Arden's chest.
FWOOOOOSH—!!
The ground trembled as a pillar of golden light enveloped him. His silhouette twisted, expanded, reshaped—
When the brightness faded, he no longer looked human.
White fur covered his arms and shoulders.
His muscles bulged with beastlike strength.
Claws protruded from his hands like polished blades. His eyes glowed molten gold—Fenrath's eyes. Wolfish ears poked through his hair. Lightning crawled across his skin like natural tattoos.
The crowd gasped loudly.
"Did he… merge with them?!"
"He looks like a walking thunder beast!"
"That's the Beastman State of House Thorne!"
Even the captains reacted:
Rill leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"W-Woah! He looks like someone straight out of a fantasy painting!"
Jack grinned sharply. "Now THAT I wanna cut."
Up in the royal box, King Augustus jumped to his feet the moment he saw Arden's beastman form.
"YES! Excellent! This is what I wanted to see!" He smiled in excitement. "That, spell, is the peak magic form of House Thorne! Merging with their own tamed beasts and becoming beasts themselves!"
King Augustus continued loudly, voice overflowing with pride.
"By combining their beasts' strength with their own, they amplify their physical and magical power by at least three times! A true signature of the Thorne bloodline!"
Meanwhile, Julius simply watched quietly beside him, hands folded behind his back.
His eyes glowed just a little.
"…A dangerous spell. Impressive, but very costly. He would loose his sanity if he isn't careful enough."
Meanwhile, Princess Sarphina narrowed her eyes a little but soon returned to indifferent expression.
-----
Arden closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again—those molten, wolflike eyes— he vanished.
A split-second later— BOOOOM—!!
A shockwave blasted out from Nova's position. Arden's fist had slammed into Nova's crossed forearms, the force tearing cracks through the stone beneath their feet.
Nova slid back several meters, boots grinding across the ground, but Arden didn't give him even a moment to stabilize.
He was already there with another punch and another shockwave.
CRASH—!!
Nova blocked the hit, but Arden was already mid-combo.
A hook to the ribs—blocked.
A downward hammer—deflected.
A spinning claw swipe grazed Nova's pauldron, scattering sparks.
Nova countered with a precise straight punch toward Arden's sternum—
Arden twisted aside, lightning flaring around him, and drove a knee into Nova's abdomen.
THUD—!!
Nova slid back, but planted his foot and surged forward to meet Arden's next strike head-on.
Their fists collided. A brutal wave of force blasted outward.
Arden seized Nova's wrist, pulling him forward into a heavy elbow strike— Nova dipped his head, the elbow grazing his helmet, and answered with a savage punch to Arden's ribs.
WHAM—!!
Arden grunted but immediately retaliated, claws swinging in an X-shaped slash.
Nova crossed his arms— KRRRSH—!!
The blow drove him back, boots dragging across stone.
Arden charged low, shoulder angled to ram straight into Nova's torso— Nova vaulted over him, palms pressing into Arden's back as he flipped and landed cleanly.
Arden spun, slicing through the air. Nova leaned aside and retaliated with a rising hook.
CRACK—!!
Arden staggered— But he refused to fall.
He lunged like a wolf, shoulder slamming into Nova's chest— BOOM—!!
Nova skidded back ten meters, boots grinding against the floor. Arden blurred again—
A right punch—blocked.
An uppercut—dodged.
Claws toward Nova's throat— Nova seized Arden's wrist, shoved it aside, and rammed his knee into Arden's stomach.
Arden snarled, lightning bursting across his body.
They clashed again, wild and ferocious. Their movements blurred. Punches, kicks, swipes, counters—all instinct, all raw skill.
Arden launched a wild left hook— Nova slipped aside and drove an elbow into Arden's jaw.
THUD—!!
Arden's head snapped to the side. He caught Nova's arm and sent lightning coursing through his claws.
Nova ripped his arm free and slammed a palm strike into Arden's chest.
WHAM—!!
Arden slid back, claws digging into the ground to stop himself. The floor cracked beneath his feet.
He launched again.
They collided— BOOOOM—!!
Shockwaves tore through the arena. Stone cracked. Dust exploded upward.
Arden ducked beneath Nova's punch, driving both fists upward. The double uppercut lifted Nova slightly.
Arden grabbed Nova's waist, twisting—
Attempted to slam him—
Nova planted a foot on Arden's thigh and flipped midair, landing lightly.
Arden spun with a slash—
Nova blocked, ducked, and drilled two rapid punches into Arden's ribs.
THUMP—THUMP—!!
Arden snarled and swiped backhanded. The claws grazed Nova's helmet, sending sparks flying.
Nova's counter-knee struck Arden's thigh—
CRACK—!!
Arden staggered back—
The first time since transforming.
Nova advanced— Arden vanished.
He reappeared behind Nova, kicking between his shoulders— BOOOOM—!!
Nova shot forward like a launched projectile, smashing through a stone pillar and splitting it in half.
Debris rained down—
Nova burst through the smoke, red lightning streaking behind him.
He slammed a shoulder charge into Arden—BAM—!!
Arden stumbled, growling, and unleashed a brutal overhead double-claw strike.
Nova raised his arms—CRACK—!!
The shockwave blasted into the spectator stands.
Asta screamed:
"HEY—!! ONLY SHOCKWAVES ARE COMING OUT!! I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!!"
Yuno gripped the railing hard.
"…Even I can barely follow."
The arena trembled as Arden unleashed a frenzied string of attacks.
Arden suddenly seized Nova's arm, twisting it sharply. Before Nova could fully react, Arden brought his elbow down in a brutal strike aimed at Nova's helmet.
Nova slipped out of the hold just in time, pivoting around Arden's body with smooth precision.
In one fluid motion, he slipped behind Arden and wrapped his arm around the beastman's neck, locking him into a tight chokehold.
Arden responded instantly.
He snapped his head backward with full force— his skull smashing into Nova's face.
CRACK—!!
The impact echoed across the arena. Arden broke free immediately, dropping low and sweeping Nova's legs out from under him.
Nova hit the ground hard but rolled away in one clean motion—just as Arden's stomp came down and shattered the stone where his head had been a second earlier.
Nova didn't waste the opening. He reached out, grabbed Arden's ankle, and yanked with full force.
Arden stumbled forward, losing balance for a moment.
Nova sprang back to his feet in the same instant and drove a heavy punch across Arden's jaw.
CRACK—!!
Arden's head snapped sideways from the blow.
Nova pressed the advantage.
A palm strike slammed into Arden's chest.
An elbow drove into his ribcage.
A sharp kick hammered into Arden's knee.
THUD—THUD—WHACK—!!
Arden's leg dipped under the pressure—almost collapsing—
But he roared through the damage, lightning erupting across his entire body as he forced his muscles to hold.
He pushed forward, claws spreading wide, intent on overwhelming Nova with sheer force.
Nova braced.
The two collided again, the shock from their clash rippling through the entire arena. The barriers shook, dust spiraled upward, and light flashed wildly as two monsters—one armored, one transformed—fought without spells, without hesitation, without breath.
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CHAPTER:- [139 - AFTERMATH] IS AVAILABLE ON MY P@TREON