Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 93: Max Luminaris vs Grim Van Ambrose Part 3

The golden light of Max’s "Radiant Dawn: Final Illumination" bathed the arena in an almost blinding glow as he advanced toward Grim. freёnovelkiss.com

Grim remained on one knee, Echo’s tip embedded in the arena floor. Sweat trickled down his face, his breathing ragged. Mana exhaustion had pushed him to his absolute limits. His muscles trembled with the effort of simply remaining upright.

The crowd had fallen silent, an entire arena holding its breath. In the imperial box, even the Empress leaned forward slightly.

"Yield," Max demanded again, his voice carrying across the hushed arena. "You’ve fought well, but it’s over."

Grim’s gaze remained fixed on the ground.

For a moment, he considered it. Yielding would be the rational choice. He was spent, his reserves nearly depleted. Max was injured from the Seven Sword Strike, but still standing, still capable.

But then his eyes caught sight of Julius Luminaris in the stands, watching with unconcealed satisfaction.

The rage that Grim had carefully contained for twelve years, suddenly burned white-hot.

"I told you," Grim said, his voice barely audible at first, then strengthening. "I do not yield."

In a ladt ditch effoert, he pulled Echo from the arena floor and used it as a crutch to push himself upright. His legs threatened to buckle, but somehow he managed to stand, swaying slightly as he faced Max.

Max’s expression flickered between admiration and contempt. "Your stubbornness will only make your defeat more painful."

"Perhaps," Grim acknowledged. "But not for me."

Max frowned, the glow around his rapier intensifying. The Final Illumination technique was gathering strength, golden light condensing around the blade until its edges seemed to blur.

In the imperial box, Archmage Marcus’s eyes narrowed. "He’s channeling too much mana into that technique. An unnecessary risk."

"Why risk it?" Chancellor Levenhart asked. "Lord Ambrose can barely stand."

"Pride," the Empress replied softly. "And perhaps fear. The Luminaris heir needs not just to win, but to dominate."

Max raised his rapier, the golden light now so intense that it cast harsh shadows across his face. "This ends now!" he declared, lunging forward with blinding speed.

Max’s rapier flashed forward, trailing golden light like a comet. It struck Echo’s blade with such force that the impact echoed throughout the arena. For a heartbeat, time seemed to stop.

Then something impossible happened.

The golden light of Max’s technique didn’t overwhelm Grim’s defense, it disappeared. Like water poured into sand, the energy simply vanished upon contact with Echo’s edge. Max’s eyes widened in shock as his mana was absorbed completely, leaving his rapier just an ordinary blade.

"Celestial Mist: Absorption." Echo now glowed bright blue.

The momentum of his attack still carried him forward. In the next moment, grim mustered what stregth he had left to attack. It wasn’t fast, but it was precise. Echo’s edge sliced across Max’s extended arm, opening a thin but deep cut from wrist to elbow.

Max cried out, stumbling past Grim and nearly losing his balance. He turned, clutching his bleeding arm.

"What... how did you...?"

Grim straightened, something having c

Max recovered his composure quickly, switching his rapier to his left hand. Though not his dominant side. "A clever trick," he acknowledged. "But I don’t need fancy techniques to finish this."

He charged again, this time more cautiously.

Grim parried the first thrust. Each time their blades touched, Max winced slightly, as if the contact itself was draining him.

"He’s using my own energy against me," Max realized aloud, backing away. "Every contact feeds him."

"Not him," Grim corrected. "Echo. It’s... hungry."

The crowd murmured uneasily. There was something unsettling about the way Grim moved now.

Julius Luminaris stood in the noble section, his face tight with concern. "Max," he called out. "Finish this now!"

Max nodded grimly. He backed away, creating distance, then suddenly rushed forward.

Grim pivoted, allowing the blade to pass inches from his side. As Max’s momentum carried him forward, Echo descended in a simple overhead strike.

"Celestial Mist: Serenity’s Fall."

Blue light erupted along the blade’s edge as it cut downward, striking Max across his back from shoulder to hip.

Max staggered, then collapsed to his knees, blood staining his white uniform from two significant wounds. His rapier clattered to the arena floor.

"No," he gasped. "I can continue."

He reached for his fallen rapier, his hand trembling with the effort. In that moment, Grim stood over him, Echo’s tip hovering inches from Max’s throat.

"Can you?" Grim asked quietly.

Their eyes met, and something passed between them.

Max’s hand stilled. After a long moment, he lowered his eyes. "I yield," he said, the words barely audible.

The official’s voice rang out: "Victory to Lord Grimwald Van Ambrose!"

In the noble section, Julius Luminaris’s face had gone pale. The defeat of his son, combined with the fall of House Draykar, represented a stunning reversal of fortune. His gaze met Grim’s across the arena, understanding dawning in his eyes. This had been no lucky victory.

Grim stood motionless in the center of the arena as healers rushed to attend to Max. Now that the match was over, he vision began to darken.

[Well fought,] the voice in his mind finally spoke, sounding weaker than before. [But at great cost to both of us.]

"Worth it," Grim murmured, watching as Max was carried from the arena.

He managed to remain standing long enough to acknowledge the Empress with a formal bow. Then, as he turned to leave, his legs finally gave out. He would have collapsed entirely if not for Chen Xing, who appeared at his side as if from nowhere, supporting him with a firm grip.

"I’ve got you, little brother," Chen Xing said quietly. "You’ve done enough for today."

Together they left the arena, Grim leaning heavily on his friend.

In the shadows of the competitors’ exit, Huangyan waited, her amber eyes evaluating Grim’s condition. "You’ll need at least three days to recover," she observed. "Possibly more."

"The final match is in two days," Chen Xing noted.

Grim managed a thin smile despite his exhaustion. "Time enough," he said. "The look on Julius’s face was priceless."