The moment Sora unleashed [Thuorm], he felt its chaotiergy pulse in the air around him. With each passing sed, the vortex of wind, water, and lightning intensified. He had the option to trol it further, fog on damaging specific areas, or to release his trol a wreak havoc.

  He chose to release it. He he chaos created by the spell more than its destructive power.

  Taking a steadying breath, he summohe element of fire, red and blue sparks flickered in his palms. Fire orbs appeared across the storm, igniting in mid-air. Evaporating the rain that poured from the dark clouds above, thick steam started rising to shroud the area in a dense mist.

  Sora could perfectly see Richard’s figure through the haze with his [Mana Eyes]. Richard had taken flight, floating above the ground to gain a better vantage point. He sed the misty dueling area, searg for any sign of Sora.

  Without a sound, Sora activated [Lightning Movement], his body zig-zagging through the storm with blinding speed. He reappeared directly above Richard, electricity crag along his frame. A new faint yellow glow around him, illuminating the area with an eerie light.

  Sensing a presence, Richard’s gaze shot upward. His eyes widened as he saw the aura surrounding Sora and, for a moment, fusion flickered across his face. “Earth Element?” he blurted out, surprised by his fighting style. “How many elements does this guy trol?”

  Instinctively, he reached for his on, uhing it with a fluid, practiced motion. Sora caught the sight of the on and smiled. This was the first time Richard had drawn his on, and it felt like a small victory. .

  Sora ched his fists, fog on transf his mana. His entire arm pulsed with strength as he eled it into his attack, summoning his new skill, [Earth's Fury].

  [Earth's Fury]

  Skill Description: el the strength of the Earth into your body or on, amplifying your strikes. This skill be used for defense and offence.

  With his body empowered by the earth element, Sora threw his punch with everything he had. The sheer force behind it made the air ripple, creating shockwaves that seemed to distort reality around his fist.

  Richard moved to ter, swinging his on to intercept, but the force behind Sora’s punch was devastating. As their attacks ected, Richard’s eyes widened in disbelief. He felt the impact through his entire body, as if he’d smmed his on against a wall of steel. His on vibrated violently, almost slipping from his grip, and a sharp pain shot up his arm as he bled from his fingers.

  Sora’s punded violently on Richard’s chest, the impact sending him flying downward like a ragdoll. He crashed through the mist, plummeting towards the ground at aremely fast speed..

  Richard hit the earth like a onball, a crater beh him as the shockwaves spread outward. Dust and debris flew into the air, dissipating part of the fog.

  Sora was standing in the sky through his trol over water, creating two water disks he could stand on. He had other ways to achieve a simir result, but he liked this way the most. With yellow aura still crag around him, he watched Richard lying on his back, momentarily motionless. He took a deep breath, the unusual thrill of the fight burning like fire within him. 'This is a new feeling... I never knew I would love fighting to this extent'. He was surprised by the fire within him..

  Slowly, Richard pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily, his face etched with pain and blood blurring his vision. "You've reached this level in a few days ..." he told Sora, with sho his face.

  Richard murmured under his breath, “I’ll have to try harder now… This guy is a monster, f me to ge forms when he’s only level 70.” As the words left his mouth, his body began to shift and swell, muscles bulging, and a palpable aura of power radiated from him. He was activating multiple buffs, and something stronger...

  Sora’s eyes narrowed as he watched the transformation unfold. Is this a transformation skill? He wondered, notig Richard's injuries healing, repced by newfound vitality and strength. In a few seds, Richard seemed stronger, faster, and the pressure radiating from him was immense. Sora could feel some sort of suppression weighing on him, trying to limit his strength.

  Their fight resumed with renewed iy. Sora moved with speed, his [Lightning Movement] making him a blur, but even as he struck, Richard’s transformed body took the blows with ease. Sora summoned his [Wind Bdes], sending them hurtling toward Richard, only for them to gnce off his skin harmlessly. He ched his fists, fog his energy into [Earth’s Fury] and throwing a powerful punch. Richard staggered back, his feet dragging against the air, but he barely seemed fazed.

  'I 't hurt him anymore through elements' Sora thought, frustration building up. 'I'll try to exhaust him with my body strength then...'

  They cshed again and again, each exge growing more violent. Sora’s strikes were relentless, but Richard’s form seemed imperable, his movements heavier and stronger with each passing sed. Richard was gaining ground, getting closer and closer to victory, injuring his oppo heavily.

  Five grueling minutes of relentless battle passed, with one fighter bruised and battered, and the other seemingly all powerful each strike eg in the skies like thunder. But as they locked eyes, Sora noticed a subtle shift in Richard’s expression—a faint flicker of fatigue.

  Richard’s form began to waver, his body defting, shrinking back to its inal size. His chest heaved, his breaths bored. “You… I’ve lost,” he admitted, a look of disbelief on his face.

  He g Sora, who stood firm, his expression unreadable. “You’ve somehow surpassed me,” Richard said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what kind of talent, skills, or opportunity let you grow like this… but it’s beyond what I’ve seen. You even survive my Juggernaut form” He let out a bitter chuckle, then nodded, a look of admiration in his eyes. “Now, in terms of power at least, you truly deserve the captain position, Ralph.”

  Sora held his gaze, feeling the weight of Richard’s words. He had fought his hardest, but this victory wasn't easy. He had traio the point that his body was enough to fight average level 100 pyers. However, against the level 95 it wasn't even enough to overwhelm him...

  As expected, the elite pyers had aces up their sleeves.

  Sora was taken aback by Richard’s hoy and sense of fair py. Despite being a powerful warrior, this guy had an almost old-fashioned sense of honor—something rare iimes. He respected it, even if it did catch him off guard.

  Richard turo him and said, "Summon the pany. There’s something they o hear."

  Sora immediately uood. He nodded and opened his Military Interface, seleg the [Military Summon] option. Instantly, from the way Kara, Jordan, and Richard g the air and dismissed something, they must have received the notification as well.

  Within a mihe remaining members of the pany began to appear around them. As Sora sed the crowd, he noticed they were quite an impressive force. Everyoood at least at level 70, except for two pyers, each at level 69. The team leaders ranged between levels 80 and 90, with Jordan standing at an imposing level 91. This pany was impressive, though he couldn’t pare them to other panies.

  Richard stepped forward, and the entire crowd fell silent. Though youhan many, his presend charisma anded respect. He looked around, his gaze holding each person before he finally spoke.

  "Thank you all for ing," he began, his tone firm. "Up until now, you’ve been under my orders, following my lead. And I thank each of you for your efforts in this war… even if some of you have been more of a hindrahan a help." His eyes flicked to a squad of five shaved youanding in the back, looking rather guilty. They shivered under his gaze, while the rest of the crowd suppressed chuckles, struggling to keep straight faces.

  Richard tinued, "We have always been sidered a group of troublemakers because of our ck of discipline and the overall weakness of our pany. However, today marks a turning point. I’ve always said the strohe weak. And noportunity has preseself to follorinciple. As of today, your new pany leader is Ralph Eden."

  A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many seemed taken aback, as if they hadn’t expected this. Some exged skeptical gnces, while others appeared ht fused. 'Wasn’t there an agreemeween them? Wasn’t this guy supposed to be weaker than Richard?'

  Richard raised a hand, and silence quickly fell. “Yes, I know this is ued. But I’ve just lost a duel to Ralph in the [Rematch] he requested. He is now strohan I am, and by our code, that makes him the rightful leader of the pany. I ask that you respect him, follow him, and look forward to what lies ahead under his leadership. "

  The crowd stood stunned, processing Richard’s words. He looked at them, his expression unwavering. “His experience being insuffit, I'm ting on everyoo cooperate and help with what you . I assure you, you will be happy to have him c your back during the war. Such privilege, make sure you live up to it. Salute your netain !”