Chapter 234: Lucy's Spectacular Strength
This isn\'t the same Lucy... Varyn thought, his heart hammering in his chest. He wasn\'t fighting for admiration anymore. Now, he was fighting for his life.
Panic began to creep into his mind as the reality of the situation settled in. Desperation surged through him, and without hesitation, he activated his most trusted technique: the Iron Tempest Blade.
"Let\'s see how you handle this!" Varyn shouted, trying to mask his fear with bravado.
His sword became enveloped in swirling iron winds, a powerful tempest of energy crackling around the blade. With a battle cry, he lunged at Lucy, pouring all his strength into the attack, his eyes wide with a mixture of hope and desperation.
Lucy, however, barely flinched. Her expression remained calm, cold, and completely unbothered by the oncoming attack. With a swift motion, she raised her arm, and in an instant, her smooth, human hand transformed into a monstrous, blazing claw.
Varyn\'s heart skipped a beat as he saw both of Lucy\'s arms morph into the terrifying Volcanic Dragon Claws—thick, scaly appendages burning with molten power. The heat radiating from them warped the air, creating shimmering waves around her.
With a smooth, effortless motion, Lucy parried his attack. The force of Varyn\'s Iron Tempest was deflected with deadly precision, the gusts of wind dispersing harmlessly as they collided with the burning claws.
"Is that all?" Lucy\'s voice was low, almost mocking, her eyes narrowing as she watched Varyn stumble back in shock.
Varyn\'s eyes widened, disbelief and terror flooding through him as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. His strongest technique had been brushed aside as if it were nothing.
What... what is this?! His thoughts raced wildly, his mind unable to accept the truth before him. She\'s... she\'s a monster!
"You\'re hesitating, Varyn," Lucy said, her tone cold and cutting. She took a slow step forward, her claws crackling with volcanic energy. "That\'s a fatal mistake."
Varyn\'s mouth went dry. "This... this isn\'t the same Lucy from before..." His voice was barely above a whisper, his confidence evaporating under the oppressive heat of her power.
Lucy smirked, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "You thought you knew me? You thought this was a game?" Her voice was smooth, almost playful, but there was a razor-sharp edge to it. "I\'ve changed. I\'ve evolved."
Varyn tightened his grip on his sword, trying to regain his composure. "Damn it... No! I won\'t lose to you!" He shouted, trying to rally his spirit, though even he could hear the tremor in his voice.
With renewed determination, Varyn gritted his teeth and activated his Steel Whirlwind Guard. His sword moved in a blur, creating rapid, circular motions, forming a swirling barrier of wind and steel around him.
The air howled as the tempestuous shield took shape, encasing him in a spinning vortex of defensive power.
"This should hold her off," Varyn muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with both desperation and hope. He poured every ounce of his strength into maintaining the barrier, convinced that it would buy him the time he needed.
But it wasn\'t enough.
Lucy watched, unbothered, her fiery eyes gleaming with disdain. With a casual flick of her Volcanic Dragon Claws, she brought down a burning strike.
The force of her attack ripped through the air, and the first blow hit the shield with an ear-splitting crack. Varyn\'s guard wavered, the winds around him faltering for just a moment—but that was all she needed.
Before he could even process the impact, Lucy\'s second strike came down with terrifying speed. Her claws, blazing with volcanic energy, sliced through the whirling shield of steel as if it were made of paper.
The sound of metal shattering echoed through the arena, and the gusting winds were instantly silenced.
Varyn stumbled backward, his breath caught in his throat, eyes wide with shock. His strongest defense, destroyed in seconds.
"No..." he whispered, barely able to believe what had just happened. His heart pounded against his chest, terror sinking its claws deep into him.
Lucy stepped closer, her movements slow, deliberate—predatory. The glow of her claws reflected in her eyes, and a smirk curled on her lips. "Is that really the best you can do?" she asked, her voice cold and mocking. The amusement in her tone was palpable, laced with contempt. "Pathetic."
Varyn\'s hands shook as he gripped his sword tighter, sweat now pouring down his face. He tried to take a deep breath, but the heat radiating from her burning claws made the air feel thick and suffocating.
"She\'s a monster," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, more to himself than anyone else. The crowd around them watched in tense silence, their murmurs hushed by the crushing force of Lucy\'s overwhelming presence.
Lucy raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "What\'s wrong, Varyn?" she taunted, her voice soft, yet dripping with venom. "You were so eager to prove yourself before. Where\'s that confidence now?"
Her words cut deep, stoking the fires of frustration and fear within him. Varyn cursed under his breath, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead, his mind scrambling for a way out. "Damn it..." he whispered again, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew there was only one option left.
Raising his sword slowly, he took a deep, shaky breath. "It seems... I have no choice," he muttered through gritted teeth. His voice was low, filled with reluctant determination. He looked at Lucy, his expression hardening. "I\'ll need to use my ultimate skill."
The crowd collectively held its breath, the tension in the arena thickening as they sensed the shift in the battle. Eyes locked on Varyn, waiting to see if he had any chance left to turn the tide.
Lucy, however, looked utterly unimpressed. She tilted her head slightly, her smirk never faltering. "Oh?" she said, her tone dripping with mock curiosity. "Your ultimate skill, is it? Let\'s see if it\'s any better than that sad little defense of yours."
Varyn glared at her, trying to steady his breathing as he prepared to unleash everything he had left. His muscles tensed, his sword trembling in his hands.
But deep down, he knew... he was running out of time.