Kyle did not give Zigi a second to recover as he chased him down, forcing him into a defensive stance with a rapid flurry of punches.
Kyle leapt high and aimed a kick at Zigi's head.
Ping!
"Don't push it, friend… Lightning Blue Arc," Zigi said through gritted teeth as he blocked the kick. Despite the force behind it, he managed to unleash his counterattack.
Boom!
A blue energy blade tore through the air toward Kyle, who was still midair. He barely dodged it by a hair, yet the attack wasn't aimed directly at him. It exploded a few centimeters away, forcefully propelling him straight toward Zigi.
Zigi took a deep breath, ignoring the pain, he steadied himself. His Shi'en surged, and a stormlike wind charged with lightning swirled around him. His saber trapped the roar of the storm, drawing in the lightning and concentrating it for a devastating strike.
But this time, Kyle knew better than to take it head on. The damage Zigi could inflict with that much lightning converted into raw impact was no joke. Kyle wasn't willing to be hit by that again.
"Heavenly.. "
Zigi couldn't finish. A pulse of silver white Shi'en burst from Kyle, everything in its path froze for a split second. Kyle regained his footing as the force pushing him vanished. Under his influence, the storm dispersed, along with Zigi's attack.
Having experienced Celestial Edict before, he understood the consequences of being caught in it, a price he was not willing to pay.
His eyes crackled with lightning, with a burst of Shi'en, a wave of lightning swept across the battlefield, turning everything in its path into dust.
But it couldn't touch Kyle, as it stopped inches away before fading. Random bolts of lightning aimed at him either dissipated or curved away as if unable to reach him.
"Truly a death zone," Kyle muttered.
_Gulp. He changed the surrounding air with his lightning. Good thing I used my field ability first, otherwise I'd be toast. In here, even breathing or slight movement of a muscle is a death sentence without a way to counter. Luckily I can hold it back… but I'll have to stop using Celestial Edict offensively, or I'll get fried.
Damn. For pure destruction, this field ability might be the strongest I've ever seen. Not even Mau's devil field ability is this destructive. And yet… it's incomplete as mine._
Kyle broke into a cold sweat as he studied the field. Within ten meters, the air itself crackled with lightning at the slightest disturbance. Even moving a muscle could mean death.
"You should be proud of yourself, pal. You're the second person in our generation to stand inside my Static Field and stay this calm," Zigi said, impressed. A few minutes ago he had believed Celestial Edict only affected people, but clearly he was wrong, Kyle was able to imposed his will on the environment itself to counter the Static Field.
"The first to do it was the man I came here to challenge today. He did it in a similar way. So I declare you a worthy opponent. Give me all you've got, I won't hold anything back either."
With a simple swing, his saber hummed, wrapped in lightning born from friction with the charged air.
_Great… now even a casual swing is a problem. I need to end this fast or it will be my lose._
They clashed again, trading blows, but Kyle was forced into defense. He did his best to dodged, but each time his focus slipped, so did his influence on the environment, sparks of lightning born from his own movement pierced his defense leaving small wounds, but deadly if they accumulated.
"I couldn't figure out why you were holding back before," Zigi said mid-fight. "But now I see, your body can't handle its own Shi'en."
Kyle was now bleeding from his eyes, ears and noise signs of his body reaching it limit. Zigi had never seen anything like it, a body rejecting its own will.
"Why don't you join my family? The Zolanis. With your talent you be welcomed with open arms and even receive a Divine Fragment, that would fix your problem."
"You talk too much… Tomb..!"
Kyle feinted a Tombstone Strike, then switched motion and drove a left hook under Zigi's right rib.
Zigi's expression twisted in pain as the blow struck his liver, but he recovered instantly. His saber flashed three times. Kyle hissed as the last slash carved deep across his chest, lightning searing his flesh.
_Another hit like that and I'm finished. This isn't a fight I can win by playing safe, if I delay any longer, my chance to pass this trial vanishes. I have to act like it._
Just as he feared, the damage was significantly boosted and that was from a casual strike.
A madman grin criped up on Kyle face as he ignored the pain, the sight sent chills down Zigi's spine. Kyle gave up on defence and Targeted Zigi directly with his celestial edict, Zigi who was already in attacking motion paused looking like a statue.
The instant Kyle gave up on defence he looked as though he was clocked by lightning, his clothes and flesh were churned every passing second which the lightening intensified.
"Pulser Breaker"
With grit teeth he matured gathering all his Shi'en in his right hand, it now shimmered with silver white energy, creating lightening from the friction with the changed air as it cut through towards Zigi's gut.
When it landed a burst of energy sent Zigi fly off the arena.
Kyle was left standing in his attack posture as the lightening slowly despated leaving behind a humanoid figure churned behold recognition, his churned clothe barely elled on.He looked as though he took a trip to hell and back.
He had passed out from the immense pain just now, then everything froze and a figure in white robes descended in front of Kyle with a simple touch to the forehead Kyle wounds healed, his clothes too were replaced from the churned ones.
"Congratulations you gave passed the trial young man."
"Thank. Elder?"
When Kyle regained conciseness he was surprised to see a tall figure with Bantus knots hair which was only slightly longer than his barely long facial hair.
"Elder Ellie's "
" What happened?" Kyle asked worried about the crowd that was frozen in place, it was as though time stopped for them.
"They will be alright" The elder said almost dismissively.
" You passed the trial so here is the promised reward." Two rectangular peaces of light floated side by side in his hand, looked like two different pieces of light but Kyle felt they couldn't be separated that is if light can be touched.
" So this is the Tier 1 Divine fragment?"
"With this you will set foot in the Divine path, this is a path billions start every generation but those who reach it peak can be counted with one hand and that is if they have a fortunate encounter just like you have had with the tower but if you have what it takes depends entirely on you"
With a simple hand gesture the flew towards Kyle.
" Before you touch it, tell me who are you?"
"... Kyle Makena"
"That not what I mean. What am asking is who do you think you are?"