Chapter 634: Kaleb's Rival

Alice Zenovia and Oliver Zeus watched the battle with great interest.

"Kaleb's control of Frozen Nova is a lot more delicate than it used to be. He must be training several hours every day to reach this level of control in such a short time," Oliver Zeus praised Kaleb Zenovia when the battle began.

The creation of Legacy Arts by altering existing techniques was difficult, but it was not impossible. However, it was something most Descendants wouldn't do as Lesser Lifeforms because it was considered a waste of time. Descendants with powerful Soultraits couldn't tap into their Soultrait's full potential, after all.

Despite that, Kaleb created the Nova Armor.

His first Legacy Arts was a great success. Combined with the Ice Bullet Soul Technique that used Kaleb's 7-Star Frozen Nova as fuel, Kaleb gained a big advantage over most Descendants.

"That's amazing!" Oliver exclaimed as Kaleb conjured the Frozen Nova Replica. Of course, as a Lesser Lifeform, Kaleb was unable to draw out the full potential of Frozen Nova. Nonetheless, the Frozen Nova Replica was extremely powerful. Everyone could tell that.

"This should be strong enough to kill Lords at the 3rd Tier. Magnificent!" Oliver mumbled, but Alice Zenovia could only sigh deeply, "If it hits the targets, yes. If not, it's just a waste of energy."

Michael disappeared as Alice's words resounded. The Frozen Nova Replica crushed the arena, freezing the arena tiles before shattering them with great force. However, the initial target wasn't struck. The attack never reached Michael.

Michael appeared behind Kaleb and tapped his forehead lightly. A series of cobweb-like cracks spread across the Nova Armor, which shattered into smithereens right before Kaleb collapsed to the ground.

Oliver stared blankly at the scenery in front of him. It had already been quite the shocker that Michael could jump through space earlier, but the last attack was different. The spatial fluctuations were too faint in his last jump. Even Oliver Zeus and Alice Zenovia had to stay focused to sense the traces of Michael's Space-type Soultrait.

Alice was just as surprised as Oliver Zeus. However, she was more baffled about Michael exploiting Kaleb's weaknesses so easily. They hadn't seen each other fighting for quite a while, and it was not like Kaleb exposed his weak spots in the earlier brawl either.

Kaleb was too confident in the Nova Armor, yet Michael crushed it easily. The Frozen Nova Replica was powerful, but it drained too much energy. It left Kaleb vulnerable to a wide variety of attacks. Michael exploited that fact as well. He evaded the Frozen Nova, rendering the attack useless, and crushed Kaleb easily.

Kaleb regained consciousness mere seconds after he collapsed. Michael helped him up and used Insert to replenish Kaleb's used-up energy reserves a little bit.

"You got a few new Soultraits..." Kaleb mumbled both to complain and because he was envious.

"My Ice-type Soultrait is now a Multi-Element Soultrait. That's how I managed to conjure fireballs," Michael said lightly, lifting his hand.

He conjured a small icicle above his thumb, a small flame above his index finger, a gust of wind above his middle finger, and so forth.

There was no need to reveal that he had access to all elements and that he could control all elements once he studied the remaining elements a little bit more.

"So you used a single Soultrait to defeat me?" Kaleb asked, clenching his fists tightly.

That was even worse than he expected.

It was one thing to lose against Michael when he gave his all, and a completely different thing to lose miserably against someone who wasn't even trying his best to win.

Of course, Michael was at a higher Tier at this moment, but Kaleb was also fully aware of Michael's past.

'In one year, he turned into one of mankind's most important Awakened. He continues to grow rapidly, whereas I—....'

Kaleb was growing much faster than most Awakened. Even Lincoln, Zeke, and other Descendants weren't as fast as Kaleb. Most of them wouldn't be able to defeat Kaleb when they were as old as him.

Kaleb was still not 19 years old, yet he was about to advance to Tier-3 with his perfectly refined Body, Mind, and Soul. His progress was rapid, and everyone was certain that his ascension to a Higher Lifeform would turn him into an existence strong enough to fight against Peak Tier-4 powerhouses right away. Maybe, if his mastery of Frozen Nova increased a little bit more, Kaleb would be able to defeat Tier-5 powerhouses while still being at the Lower ranks of Tier-4.

Kaleb's only problem was that he chose Michael as his rival. At first, everyone frowned upon Kaleb for picking someone like Michael as his rival. That changed. Now... Now, Kaleb felt like everyone was frowning upon him for considering Michael as his rival.

"I used multiple Soultraits to defeat you," Michael answered Kaleb's question, interrupting the young Zenovia's thoughts.

He used Whispering Energy to add, ["They're my new creation. A Multi-Element Soultrait and a Space-type Soultrait. How do you like them? Were you surprised?"]

Michael didn't even think of underestimating Kaleb. He didn't know that Kaleb had been harboring weird thoughts, wondering if Michael would consider him too weak. However, there was no ridicule in his voice. Michael wasn't trying to humiliate him by only using his new Soultraits. He showed him his biggest mistakes.

"Why did you use your Soul Energy and the Soul Power within Frozen Nova to unleash such a large-scale attack knowing that I could jump through space?" Michael asked rather than waiting for Kaleb to answer his questions.

"Huh? Well..." Kaleb tilted his head and smiled wryly, "Usually you have to be able to see the location you want to teleport to instant teleport. I blocked your view with the ice walls and the Frozen Nova Replica certain that you wouldn't be able to ignore that restriction easily. But you managed to do that." Michael nodded. That made sense. But it was a bit foolish.

"I don't have that kind of restriction," Michael revealed, "Even if I had such a restriction, your walls or the Frozen Nova Replica wouldn't have obstructed my vision."

He pointed at his golden eyes. They began to glow brightly as Michael channeled a trace of energy into them.

Kaleb groaned, "Ah, right. I forgot..."

Michael didn't reveal a lot about his Soultraits, but Kaleb was one of the few people who knew more than others. He knew that Michael could see origin energy through objects. That means he was likely to be able to see the arena surface and everything around him with great precision even if he was confined in an ice prison.

Using an ordinary Space-type Soultrait would be possible. There was no need to have a special Soultrait like Michael to evade the Frozen Nova.

"I shouldn't waste my entire energy if I don't know every little detail about my opponent. Or, I will have to seal the space around my enemy when I unleash Frozen Nova Replica," Kaleb murmured as he and Michael returned to the others.

The arena was repaired swiftly. Two staff members with Soultraits that allowed them to terraform their surroundings made some quick moves and finished the task within a few minutes.

Michael watched them for a few seconds before his attention pulled back to the others.

"You gained even more Soultraits?" Zeke asked before the others could question Michael.

Michael smiled but he didn't answer. He turned to Alice instead.

"I procured a few useful Soultraits, but I cannot be bothered to start another Soultrait Auction right away," He mentioned nonchalantly.

A small list with some names - Soultrait names - surfaced in his hand, and a small smile blossomed.

"Take a look at it and tell me if you or Kaleb like some of them. I can put them aside for you," Michael noticed that the others stared blankly at his words, so he carefully added, "Of course, that includes you guys as well."

"I cannot throw the Soultrait Symbols at you guys because everyone else would throw a fit if I give you Soultrait Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades as a present, but I can give you guys a nice discount."

Oliver Zeus stared at Michael, but he ignored the professor.

Lincoln and Zeke threw a short glance at the list and pressed their lips together before their attention pulled toward Michael once again.

"I'm more curious about your strength than the list of Soultrait Symbols. Kaleb plundered big time with his last move, so we couldn't figure out how much stronger you've grown. Spar with us!" Lincoln challenged Michael, who acknowledged lightly.

"Of course."

"I'll go first!" Zeke announced before Lincoln could jump into the arena.

Lincoln raised an eyebrow seeing how proactive his childhood friend was, but he gestured to Zeke to move ahead.

"I want you to go all out," Zeke said in a serious tone.

"Are you sure?" Michael asked, merely to receive a curt nod from Zeke.

The young Descendant from the Lavita household transitioned into a combat stance and prepared for the battle.

"3...2...1...Go!"

Someone started the battle without wasting any time. Zeke discharged his Eye of Illusion with his family's Inheritance Technique at full power.

However, before Michael could be caught in the Illusion, Michael used a Soul Tear to amplify Spirit Eyes right before adding several layers of Enhancement on the Spirit Eyes Soultrait Symbol. Michael added a trace of Soul Energy as well to unleash Spiritual Domination in its strongest form and overwhelm Zeke's Eye of Illusion in one go.

Zeke's eyes widened, blood gushed out of his nose and eyes and he staggered. He fell to the ground, knocked out on the spot.

"What in the seven hells are they feeding you?!?"