LVII

Selena Fair had fought her share of battles. As an unofficial hunter, she had worn many hats—bodyguard, thief, spy. Her skills were razor-sharp, honed by years of grueling experience. Yet, despite her prowess, she knew her place in the hierarchy of power. Among the titans capable of reshaping battlefields, she was but a shadow of what she might have been.

President Bob was one of those titans, a juggernaut whose power dwarfed even the Association’s elite hunters. Leora’s refined grace and Reynard’s burning ambition might place them near that realm, but they hadn’t yet crossed its threshold.

And Dummy? Selena didn’t need Reynard’s warnings to recognize the truth. This man—or whatever he was—belonged to that realm. Not everyone could casually shrug off a shotgun blast or regenerate a head.

Dummy smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. “So, are we gonna stare at each other all day, or are we gonna throw hands?”

Selena’s eyes narrowed, her hand brushing against the activation switch of her invisibility cloak. In an instant, she vanished.

But Dummy moved before she could reposition. He closed the gap with unnatural precision, his fist stopping mere inches from her face.

Her cloak flickered, revealing her stunned expression.

Dummy chuckled, his smirk widening. “Oh, did I forget to mention? Your little tricks don’t work on me.”

Selena’s mind raced. Dummy’s ability to nullify wasn’t limited to gifts. It extended to artifacts, to aura itself—anything with energy seemed to fall under his domain.

Sliding back to avoid his next strike, she reached for another tool in her arsenal. Fine, she thought grimly, if tricks won’t work, let’s see how you handle the unexpected.

But Dummy was relentless. He stayed in her space, moving like a predator stalking its prey. His jab came like a bullet, slicing through the air with pinpoint accuracy. Selena twisted, dodging just in time.

The air snapped behind her as his fist missed by a hair.

Dummy surged forward again, this time aiming a straight punch at her core. Selena sidestepped, but his knee followed, rising with devastating speed.

She barely managed to block, crossing her arms over her midsection.

The impact was brutal. Pain exploded through her body, and she staggered, her arms trembling from the force. Dummy’s strikes weren’t just strong—they were precise, calculated to exploit weaknesses.

Her mind raced, piecing together the enigma before her. Dummy’s movements weren’t just physical. The Tower’s mechanics—designed to save participants from fatal injuries—didn’t seem to apply to him. Death, for most, was an inconvenience here. For Dummy, it was a tool he wielded with terrifying efficiency.

How does his ability interact with the Tower? Selena wondered.

Her first strategy—a relentless barrage—had failed spectacularly. She couldn’t afford to waste more energy without understanding the rules he played by. Or else, this ‘Dummy’ might just kill her with his ability if he decided she was worth it.

I doubt that. This guy is here for Reynard.

Dummy shifted, his stance fluid. He moved with unnatural control, and then—he disappeared.

Selena’s instincts screamed. She raised her arms just in time.

Thud!

A sharp kick slammed into her left arm, sending a jarring shock through her body. The blow had been aimed at her temple. If she hadn’t blocked, the fight might have ended then and there.

He’s testing me, she realized, her arms aching. Dummy’s attacks weren’t just powerful—they were surgical, each strike probing her limits, waiting for her to falter.

Selena gritted her teeth. Then I’ll give him something to calculate.

But her situation worsened.

Dummy blurred forward, his fists glowing faintly with aura. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more ferocious than the last. Selena retreated instinctively, trying to use her footwork to create an afterimage—a tactic she’d perfected over years of training.

But her body didn’t respond as it should. Exhaustion slowed her movements, leaving her exposed.

She raised her battered arms, summoning her last line of defense.

Her wristwatch whirred faintly, releasing one of her sealed tools. A compact, high-density energy shield unfolded just in time to intercept Dummy’s onslaught.

His aura-infused fists hammered against the barrier with relentless force. Each strike sent shockwaves through Selena’s arms, her shoulders aching from the strain.

The shield held, but only barely. Selena’s thoughts churned as she braced against the relentless assault. She needed a plan—something that would level the playing field, if only for a moment.

Dummy smirked, his voice cutting through the din of their battle. “A shield, huh? Let’s see how long it lasts.” And with that, he redoubled his attack, the air crackling with the force of his blows.

Energy-based artifacts capable of drawing power directly from another person’s aura were rare, but not unheard of. Selena Fair had placed her hopes on the shield, betting that its advanced design would buy her time to adapt. But Dummy had proven himself to be more than it could handle.

It wasn’t just the raw power of his blows—though those were formidable. No, there was something else, something far more insidious. Selena’s movements felt sluggish, her limbs heavier with each passing second. Dummy wasn’t using super speed; she could tell that much. Instead, it was as if she were slowing down.

Reynard’s earlier warning echoed in her mind: “Dummy has a weakness attribute.”

Selena clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together in frustration. It wasn’t mere exhaustion she was feeling. Dummy’s aura was a weapon in itself, distorting her senses and draining her strength. Every strike, every step, seemed to sap her will to fight, as though she were losing control of her own body.

Dummy smirked, his voice a low, mocking drawl. “You must be thinking… ‘This is bad. I didn’t finish him off fast enough, and now he’s gaining the upper hand.’”

The words hit too close to home, and Selena’s jaw tightened. She adjusted her stance, gripping what little remained of her broken shield.

No. This isn’t over.

She locked eyes with Dummy, her glare sharp and defiant. If this was an illusion—a trick of his aura—then she needed to remember that. But even as she told herself it wasn’t real, the pain in her trembling limbs and the exhaustion weighing her down felt all too genuine.

Dummy lunged forward, his axe-kick descending like a guillotine. Selena rolled to the side just in time, the crushing blow landing inches away. The impact sent shockwaves through the platform, carving a crater into the arena floor.

Her shield clattered to the ground beside her, bent and sparking—a useless heap of metal.

Time was her enemy.

Selena forced herself to her feet, her breaths shallow and labored. Dummy’s abilities weren’t just disorienting her; they were eroding her very will to fight. The Tower’s safety mechanisms, designed to protect combatants from fatal injuries, felt like a distant reassurance—one she couldn’t afford to trust.

More than that, the stakes weren’t just her own survival. If Dummy won, Reynard would be next, and Selena had no doubt the Elsewhere Cult would turn that match into an assassination attempt. Losing here meant condemning Reynard to a fight he might not survive.

Her fists clenched at the thought. The Association wouldn’t help. Reynard’s warnings about their indifference were fresh in her mind. In this arena, power ruled, and the weak were left to fend for themselves.

Dummy chuckled, his aura flaring around him in a menacing glow. “You’re slipping, Fair. What’s the matter? Feeling the weight yet?”

Selena stepped back, pulling out a pair of shrunken uzis hidden in her belt. With a thought, she enlarged them. Without hesitation, she unleashed a hail of bullets, the rapid gunfire lighting up the arena in flashes of muzzle flare.

Dummy didn’t flinch. He moved through the storm with eerie grace, dodging the projectiles with fluid, almost lazy movements. Then, as if to mock her efforts, he began deflecting the bullets with his brass knuckles, each deflection sharp and deliberate.

“Surely, you can do better than that,” Dummy said, his smirk widening.

Selena’s frustration boiled over. Nothing was working. Dummy was always a step ahead, his overwhelming strength and control rendering her every move futile. The gap between them felt like a chasm she couldn’t cross.

But even as the odds stacked higher against her, Selena refused to give in. Her mind raced, searching for a way to shift the momentum.

Dummy stepped forward, his aura rippling with unchecked power. “You’re out of tricks, Fair. Face it—you’ve already lost.”

Selena narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening on the uzis. “Not yet.”

She adjusted her stance, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Dummy was relentless, but he wasn’t invincible. Somewhere in his aura, in his attacks, there was a pattern—something she could exploit.

Her gaze darted to the sparking remnants of her shield. Energy-based artifacts… fueled by aura…

Her thoughts clicked into place. If Dummy’s aura was suppressing hers, then maybe she could turn that suppression against him.

Dummy lunged, his brass knuckles glowing as he closed the distance. Selena waited, her muscles coiled, and then—she dove toward the wreckage of her shield.

Grabbing the sparking core, she redirected its damaged energy toward Dummy in a desperate gamble.

The explosion of light and sound rocked the arena, and Dummy stumbled back, his aura flickering for the first time.

Selena grinned through her exhaustion, determination burning in her eyes.

“Gotcha.”

Selena Fair wasn’t one to waste an opening. She tightened her grip on her uzis, unleashing a torrent of bullets that roared across the arena. Dummy’s response was swift and unnerving. He stomped the ground, releasing a thick cloud of dust that blanketed the battlefield.

Selena’s instincts screamed at her. Dummy wasn’t just powerful—he was versatile. The way he moved, the way his aura manipulated the environment… it wasn’t normal. Partial aura manifestation of multiple kinds wasn’t unheard of, but Dummy’s mastery sent chills down her spine.

The Seven States of Aura, in their plainest forms, were already enough to make someone superhuman. With dedication and an affinity for certain types, an individual could hone an ability into something truly formidable. But what Dummy was doing—using multiple aura types simultaneously and seamlessly—was a feat most considered impossible.

To confirm her suspicions, Selena imbued her Seeker Aura to her eyes, a risky move given her current state. The faint glow in her eyes revealed the unique patterns in Dummy’s aura, solidifying her theory.

Her hand darted to her hair, pulling free a hairclip. It shimmered as it expanded and reformed into a sleek hoverboard. Without hesitation, Selena leapt onto it, the board humming to life beneath her feet. She soared upward, narrowly avoiding a chunk of rock hurtling toward her. The rock was imbued with Caster Aura, its distinctive pattern unmistakable.

Caster Aura… Selena’s stomach twisted. Rare, second only to Reader Aura, and devastatingly effective. If that rock had connected, Dummy’s aura manipulation would have worsened her condition, further degrading her speed and reflexes.

The dust cloud below exploded as Dummy launched himself upward. His brass knuckles glowed with Maker Aura, while his limbs radiated the raw energy of Fighter Aura. Selena cursed under her breath. Even in the air, where she thought she’d have the advantage, Dummy closed the gap effortlessly.

Her hoverboard sputtered unexpectedly, its power draining as if it had been sapped by Dummy’s aura from a distance. She felt gravity’s pull, her trajectory sending her straight into Dummy’s path. His glowing brass knuckles arced toward her with deadly precision.

Selena reacted instinctively, unloading another barrage of bullets. Dummy didn’t flinch. He tanked the hail of fire and landed a crushing blow to Selena’s head. Her vision blurred as her head snapped to the side, but her fingers moved with practiced precision.

Her left ear bled as she untransformed the magnet-like earring she wore. In an instant, the small accessory expanded into a massive cube over three meters wide. It slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, pinning Dummy beneath its weight.

Selena stumbled, her ears ringing, but a grim smile tugged at her lips. “Worth it,” she muttered, wiping the blood from her cheek.

The magnet, a Maker Artifact, had cost her a fortune. But as Dummy struggled beneath it, his brass knuckles stuck to the metal, Selena saw her investment pay off. She unshrunk her uzis, unleashing another hail of bullets at her immobilized opponent.

Dummy’s voice rang out, calm and mocking. “Naughty-naughty.”

The massive magnet began to crumble, breaking apart as Dummy flickered in and out of sight. His body shimmered with the telltale glow of Trickster Aura. In a flash, he reappeared, mere inches from Selena’s face.

Her breath hitched as she finally understood the truth. Dummy’s left eye gleamed with the sharp focus of Seeker Aura, while his right eye radiated the eerie glow of Reader Aura. All this time, she’d relied on her invisibility cloak to keep her concealed. But now, it was clear—Dummy had seen her every move.

Dummy’s smirk widened, his voice dripping with menace. “Clench your teeth, bitch.”

Selena barely had time to react before Dummy’s fist came hurtling toward her.

SLAM~!

The arena buzzed with the energy of the crowd, their cheers and jeers blending into a cacophony that Selena barely registered. Her focus was locked on Dummy, who stood before her with an air of smug confidence. His nullification ability, Reynard’s life, her own survival—everything hinged on this moment.

Selena sailed through the air in ashameful arc, fumbled, recovered, and made a run for it.

The problem wasn’t just Dummy’s strength. It was his mastery. Every movement, every strike, was precise, deliberate, and devastating. He was a predator, and Selena felt like cornered prey.

Her grip on her uzis tightened as she circled him, mind racing through possibilities. Reynard’s warning echoed in her thoughts: Dummy’s ability works by distorting probabilities, erasing auras, and bypassing protections.

That was the crux of the problem. Even if she could overpower him, the Tower’s protections would revive or heal him unless she struck at the exact moment his nullification ability was active. It was a razor-thin window of opportunity, and missing it wasn’t an option.

Dummy blurred into motion, a streak of raw energy trailing behind his knife-hand strike. Selena moved instinctively, summoning a shimmering blade from its shrunken state just in time to intercept the blow. Sparks erupted as her sword clashed against his aura-coated fists, the impact reverberating through her arms.

Her mind worked furiously as they exchanged blows. The arcs of energy weren’t some supernatural power, she realized—they were pure aura techniques, honed to a level of mastery she’d never encountered before.

So that’s how it is…

Aura techniques were the pinnacle of control, the product of years of dedication and refinement. They weren’t flashy or overwhelming; they were deliberate, precise, and deadly. Most fighters relied on raw power or a single signature ability, but Dummy was different. He had elevated technique to an art form, wielding it with a finesse that made him almost untouchable.

Selena gritted her teeth as the clash continued, each strike from Dummy pushing her closer to her limit. Her arms ached, her movements slowing as the relentless barrage wore her down. It wasn’t just physical exhaustion—Dummy’s aura seemed to sap her strength, her resolve, even her ability to think clearly.

If I can’t match his technique, I’ll have to outthink him.

She tightened her grip on her blade, channeling her dwindling energy into a desperate counterattack. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, the arena lighting up with each clash. But Dummy’s technique was relentless, and Selena was running out of options.

Her sword shattered with a sharp clang, the fragments scattering across the arena floor. Selena staggered back, her arms trembling from the force of Dummy’s blows. Panic surged as she realized her ability had been sealed—her weapons refused to respond, leaving her defenseless.

Dummy smirked, his aura flaring ominously as he advanced. Selena raised her battered arms in a desperate attempt to block, but his next strike crashed through her guard like a battering ram. The force sent her flying, the wind rushing past her as she hurtled toward the edge of the arena.

Strong hands caught her mid-flight, steadying her just before she could crash to the ground. Selena blinked, disoriented, as Reynard’s familiar face came into view.

Bob’s voice rang out, cutting through the din of the crowd. “Out of bounds! Victory goes to Dummy!”

Selena’s lips curled into a bitter snarl. “Fuck,” she muttered, her voice hoarse.

She tried to shrug off Reynard’s grip, but his hands remained firm. “You’ve done enough,” he said, his tone calm but resolute.

A warm, golden glow enveloped her as the Tower’s restoration magic began to heal her injuries. The pain in her arms faded, her breath steadied, but the sting of defeat lingered.

Selena glared at Reynard, yanking herself free with renewed vigor. “I don’t need your consolation,” she snapped, her voice sharp but tinged with exhaustion. “If you die, I don’t know how I’ll face Leora, so you better not die.”

Reynard’s expression softened, his eyes steady. “Believe me,” he said, his voice firm. “You’ve done enough. I understand now.”

Selena frowned, confusion flickering across her face.

Reynard met her gaze, his tone unwavering. “I needed to see his abilities firsthand, and you’ve pushed him far enough for me to understand how they work. The gaps in my knowledge have been filled. I can handle him.”

For the first time, Selena saw something in Reynard’s eyes that gave her pause—not just confidence, but certainty.

~057