A mana storm was brewing at ground zero as two Rankers fought.
The battle between Arthur and Saisha, both towering Grandmasters, had raged on for an extended duration and showed no signs of waning.
Grandmasters harnessed nature's very essence through their acquired Elemental Attainments. They possessed the remarkable ability to harness ambient mana, allowing them to engage in prolonged combat without draining their personal mana reserves. When Grandmasters dueled, the conflict could endure for hours provided they did not go overboard with their attacks.
Arthur and Saisha, astute and cautious Rankers, had mutually recognized the futility of landing a decisive blow upon the other.
Arthur boasted a superior set of potent Elemental Attainments, fortified by his exceptional offensive and defensive artifacts. Saisha, on the other hand, wielded a repertoire of spells that seamlessly complemented his distinctive combat style. Furthermore, Saisha held a higher A-Rank status, solidifying his position in the Solid State Mana Core stage, a tier above Arthur's Vapor Stage Mana Core stage.
Ordinarily, the gap between the Vapor and Solid stages in the A-Rank hierarchy would offer Saisha a pronounced advantage, often resulting in decisive victories. These breakthroughs in the A-Rank realm were exceptionally challenging, but they bestowed Rankers with overwhelming power and finesse over their Elemental Attainments.
Yet, as the Grandmasters ventured deeper into their respective Ranking journeys, their unique Individualities would play a pivotal role in unleashing their powers. Saisha recognized that despite his elevated Ranking Status, Arthur's individuality compensated for any potential shortcomings. Arthur's dual roles as the Duke of Edinburgh and a formidable combatant were remarkable. Furthermore, Arthur's possession of superior equipment further tilted the scales against Saisha.
Arthur and Saisha harbored no true intent to kill each other. As Grandmasters, they understood the near-impossibility of ending a fellow Grandmaster's life without an overwhelming disparity in their Individualities.
Both Grandmasters recognized the myriad complications that could arise during their duel. This was especially true as they weren't merely dueling as individual Rankers but as representatives of their respective kingdoms.
Arthur's sudden assault on the Layos army base had a single purpose – to eliminate Adam. Saisha's role was to defend his territory in response to Arthur's aggression. Even with the Layos army base obliterated by Arthur's destructive attacks, Saisha couldn't simply yield to Arthur and retreat from his position. Doing so would invite criticism from his own kingdom, as it would appear he abandoned his post.
Saisha understood the grave repercussions that would ensue if he attempted to eliminate Arthur, not just for himself but for Layos kingdom as a whole. After all, Arthur held the prestigious position of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Saisha couldn't help but wonder what had provoked Arthur to act so audaciously, launching a direct assault on the Layos army base he was tasked with protecting. So his best option was to let Arthur reveal his cards so that he could take preventive actions.
Conversely, Arthur was well aware that allowing Saisha to live might be the more prudent choice. This way, he could potentially unleash the wrath of the Anfang Alliance upon Saisha when the ties between him and the Half-Blood Bastian were exposed. After all, he had already arranged for things to unfold in that way even before coming to the army base.
Such an event would inevitably force Layos kingdom to sever its connections with Saisha, creating an internal division within their forces. Ultimately, this internal rift would greatly benefit Edinburgh in the long run. Whether Saisha survived the joint prosecution of Layos kingdom and the Alliance or met his demise at their hands, the Kingdom of Edinburgh would undoubtedly reap the rewards, whichever way the pendulum swung.
The intricate calculations within this scenario led to a standoff. Breaking such a stalemate would require them to undertake risks that outweigh the potential rewards, even if they succeeded in eliminating their foes – a highly uncertain outcome.
Nysa had informed Arthur that Adam was killed by her, which should have prompted a cautious retreat. Meanwhile, Saisha had suffered numerous casualties due to Arthur's surprise assaults and aggressive posture.
Many of Saisha's Rankers had either fled or fallen to enemy Rankers from Edinburgh. Only a handful of witnesses remained in the vicinity, bearing witness to the ongoing battle between two Grandmaster Rankers.
While most Rankers from both sides watched the battle between the two Grandmasters with a sense of curiosity, anticipating a chance to deepen their own Elemental Attainments, there was one observer with an entirely different and cunning agenda.
Despite the chaos and tension, Eren managed to maintain an air of calm as he leisurely smoked his Sativa Stick, observing the battle as if he were a spectator at an entertaining event he'd purchased tickets for.
The butcher silently contemplated the opportune timing. He sensed that both Arthur and Saisha had grown relatively fatigued amid the surge of mana and the shockwaves of their relentless attacks.
"Arthur was too aggressive so he is wearing down, and Saisha is growing restless. It seems they would decide to retreat any time now," Eren mused, exhaling a lungful of smoke into the air. He made up his mind to set his plan in motion before either Grandmaster decided to step back from their stance.
"My friend, it's about time."
With a decisive nod, Eren contacted a particular Ranker through his communication channel, giving the green light for their intervention in the battle. It was time, he thought, to start casting nets into these troubled waters.
In an instant, a series of space-element runes flared to life from a distance, materializing their users on the battlefield as if from thin air. These enigmatic arrivals were none other than the half-bloods affiliated with House Fenris, a powerful faction hailing from the Last-Blood Bastian. Taking charge of this group was none other than Sirius Fenris, who had swiftly responded to Eren's earlier signal.
Without wasting a heartbeat, Sirius sprang into action as soon as he arrived. He issued a concise command to his clan members, instructing them to target both Edinburgh and Layos Rankers. Simultaneously, he approached the two Grandmaster Rankers with a sudden, almost bewildering attack on Arthur.
All of these maneuvers unfolded within the blink of an eye, leaving Arthur, Saisha, and the surrounding Rankers in a state of perplexity, struggling to comprehend the appearance of this unanticipated third party.
Swoosh. Zoom. Boom.
