He could see that Lily was preparing to unleash another battle art technique, but something deep within him sensed danger from this new skill.
An ominous premonition gripped him, much stronger than the one he had felt for the icy hydra, urging him to stop her at all costs. With no time to waste, he charged toward her at incredible speed.
However, as Rio closed the distance, he suddenly found himself unable to advance any further. It was as if an invisible barrier had formed between them, preventing him from reaching Lily and thwarting her impending attack. The force seemed to grow stronger, pushing him back and filling him with dread as the storm around Lily continued to intensify.
Eve's voice resounded in his mind, "Partner, you can't touch her while she's casting her battle art technique. You should use this time to prepare your own attack while hers is still in the early stages of formation."
Rio could sense the impending danger, and with no other choice, he halted his movement. He spread his arms wide, a radiant blue sphere taking shape in his palm.
He understood that if she unleashed her powerful battle art technique, he could suffer severe injuries, but he remained undeterred.
Unbeknownst to him, Lily's determination to win the battle at all costs, even if it meant defying her own mother and harming him, was driven by her desire not to disappoint her grandfather.
As the tension mounted, Rio resolved to face Lily's ferocity head-on. If she was determined to go all out, he would not hold back either.
The atmosphere buzzed with perceptible suspense as the duo readied themselves to release their ultimate attacks in a decisive showdown.
Time seemed to crawl as Rio's blue sphere remained small, while in front of Lily, an icy dragon began to take shape. The storm around her grew increasingly powerful, its biting chill reaching the audience as their clothes fluttered in the gusts of frigid air.
Sensing the potential danger, government officials quickly ordered the civilians to move further back in their seats and stand behind a designated line. A group of experts stepped forward, prepared to cast an additional protective layer to shield the spectators from the storm raging around Lily.
The authorities had predicted beforehand that such occurrences might happen and ensured that skilled experts were on hand to provide protection in case of unexpected developments during the battle.
As the protective barrier solidified around the stadium, shielding the spectators from the effects of Lily's raging storm, their eyes were drawn to Rio.
He stood calmly before her, his expression betraying no fear of what was to come. Though his face remained composed, he was clearly aware that this final clash would determine the victor of their battle, leaving no room for further confrontation.
While the storm continued to intensify, the icy dragon growing to a massive twenty-five meters in size, Rio's blue sphere remained small.
*Howl!!!*
The colossal dragon howled its icy breath a chilling harbinger of its intent to engulf him completely. Despite the imminent threat, Rio held his ground, preparing for the final moment that would soon be upon them.
As Lily and Rio prepared for their final confrontation, the disparity in their mana reserves became apparent.
While Lily possessed a staggering ten thousand mana at the red stage, Rio had only four thousand at the black stage, a feat made possible through the gift of the phantom he had acquired from the purple stage monarch beast.
Despite her seemingly vast supply of mana, Lily had consumed a significant portion of it casting numerous whirlpool tempests and employing her Hydra's Frozen Fury.
As she completed the summoning of the icy dragon, her posture sagged and her breathing seemed to be slowed, signaling the exhaustion that weighed heavily upon her. The depleted mana took a toll on her concealed face beneath the veil, with the once vibrant aura now diminished. Despite the veil obscuring her features, her weakened state was evident to those observing her.
By the time she appeared to have exhausted her mana, Rio had charged his [Overload Destroyer] with [Obliteration of Heaven] using thunder energy, consuming nearly eighty percent of his own mana reserves.
In the decisive moment before their attacks clashed, Lily's gaze met his sea-green eyes, and he was struck by the desperation he saw within them. It was as if she was driven by an unrelenting need to prove something to someone. Despite this revelation, the boy remained resolute, his own determination unwavering.
*Howl!!!*
As the colossal dragon bellowed its fearsome howl one more time, the spectators within the protective barrier trembled, feeling as though the icy beast's attack could claim their lives.
A shiver ran down their spines, a sensation shared by even the highest-ranking government officials present. The thick tension in the air left everyone holding their breath, anticipating the outcome of this climactic confrontation.
Whispers of concern spread among the higher officials as they debated whether they should intervene and save the boy from Lily's devastating attack. Yet, they knew the duo belonged to the same house and believed that she wouldn't take his life.
As Lily finally unleashed her icy dragon, sending it hurtling toward Rio, he also released his blue sphere in response.
His [Vanishing Strike] made the blue sphere seemingly disappear from his palm, only to reappear directly in the path of the massive icy dragon.
When the massive icy dragon traveled toward the boy, it felt as though the world was coming to an end. The ground trembled beneath the spectators' feet, and the air was filled with the sound of their terrified screams.
The civilians who had come to witness the battle were too frightened to watch as the colossal dragon was approaching Rio, its icy breath sending chills down everyone's spines.
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