If successful, this could become a tool for Seth to assert control in the future, preventing Orion from acting without consequence.
Orion nodded at Seth's words before asking, "Am I allowed to use my gift?"
"Of course, you can," Seth responded. "Your gift is part of your strength, so you are allowed to use it."
Orion nodded in understanding once more. He grasped that this implied Seth was also permitted to use his gift during the test. Whether Seth would resort to using his gift against a 'so-called one-star warrior' was a doubt in Orion's mind.
Nevertheless, Orion didn't care. Despite the apparent disadvantage in Seth's physical prowess, if Seth intended to hold back to that of a one-star warrior, he planned to go all out and conclude the match within the first move.
As Orion assumed his battle stance, preparing for the initial move, Fifi positioned herself nearby to intervene if necessary.
Meanwhile, the surrounding warriors observed, eager to witness the prowess of the first person in the village to have ever awakened an incredible six-star potential.
They all anticipated that the outcome of this test would inevitably lead to Orion's defeat, hoping that it would be enough to temper his attitude and behaviour as a warrior.
Eager to conclude the test swiftly, Orion immediately activated the two Vylkr containers within his body, allowing innumerable strands of Vylkr energy to seep slowly into his being.
While others remained oblivious to the changes occurring within Orion's body, his strength, already at the level of a one-star warrior, instantly surged to that of a two-star warrior, akin to a volcano erupting and spreading energy throughout his entire body.
He then promptly activated his gift.
His lightning struck the ground with a resounding force, scorching the ashen landscape and the dead trees surrounding them.
"CRACKLLEE!!" "CRRACCKLLEE!!"
As the bright bluish tendrils of lightning spread around Orion's body, the warriors in proximity couldn't help but take a step back.
Although they knew they could handle Orion's lightning without much trouble, it wasn't worth the hassle.
They continued to watch with wide eyes, pondering...
Is he truly a one-star warrior?
Isn't this combat power a bit too much for a one-star warrior?
Even Fifi's eyes underwent a drastic change in expression as she witnessed the intensity of Orion's lightning.
'He's become stronger?' Fifi thought, her brows furrowing in confusion.
She knew she was the only one among them who had witnessed Orion use his gift to the limit before he became a full-fledged warrior.
Now that he had attained that status, even Fifi couldn't help but admit that this attacking power for a one-star warrior was just —
Unlike the rest, she maintained her position, allowing the Vylkr energy within her to surge around her body to protect herself from the chaotic lightning.
Seth, who was at the receiving end of this lightning, held a solemn gaze as he regarded Orion with increased seriousness.
Regardless of whether he regretted allowing the use of their gifts in this test, he still believed that there was no way Orion could win this test in three moves or less.
His stupidity and arrogance had led him to this failure.
Under Seth's solemn gaze, Orion immediately transformed his lightning into a fist. Just as he had done within the Prismerian young heir's banquet, Orion took a step forward and threw the lightning-forged fist forward.
The lightning-forged fist scorched the earth, causing the ground to fly forward. Cracks spread like spider webs, stretching out to up to eight meters. With a bright bluish light emanating from the lightning-forged fist, Seth, who was at its receiving end, instantly squinted his eyes.
He immediately used an amount of Vylkr energy equivalent to that of a one-star warrior to protect his body, raising his hands to block the lightning-forged fist.
Upon collision, Seth felt as though tiny, innumerable needles had suddenly pricked every pore of his body as the lightning rippled across him before slowly disappearing.
"First mov—" Seth, who was about to speak, immediately felt his words stuck in his throat as he widened his eyes.
Above him, Orion descended from the sky with a gigantic lightning-forged hammer, straight towards his face.
Although he had reacted just in time to block the attack once more, for Seth, who had suppressed the use of his Vylkr energy to that of a one-star Vylkr warrior, it was not enough.
Seth took a step backwards.
Seeing this, Orion whispered, "Second move," as he raised his hand before Seth could react. He immediately sent the second three-meter lightning-forged hammer that he had conjured along with the first, hurling towards Seth's upper body.
Seth, who had not yet recovered from the first and second strike, was taken by yet another surprise as Orion's gigantic bluish lightning-forged hammer, which seemed as though it had been naturally produced by a storm of clouds, clashed against his body once more.
"CRAACKKLL!! CRACCKLEE!!"
"Ah!" A short gasp of pain escaped Seth's mouth as he stumbled backwards, quickly regaining his footing and recomposing himself. With a darkened chest scorched by Orion's lightning, along with some parts of his arms and several other areas of his body, Seth took a breath as he looked at Orion, who was now standing close to him.
With an indifferent gaze, Seth opened his mouth to speak.
"...ou lost!" Orion interjected, completing his words for him as he shifted his gaze below Seth's feet.
Seth naturally felt his eyes shrink to the size of a needle as he slowly took a deep gulp before shifting his attention downwards.
He had crossed the line!
"Since I have won, I hope that Warrior Seth keeps to the agreement and promise that we have made," Orion said as he deactivated his gift alongside both of the Vylkr containers within his body.
"Let's leave now that everything is settled; we have wasted enough time here," he added.
Every second wasted here would naturally put Merida, Princess Crystalia, and the others' lives in danger, assuming nothing terrible had happened to them yet. As such, Orion didn't want to waste another second here.