Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner-Chapter 255: Pain is pain

The referee moved to the center of the platform. "Competitors, approach."

Noah and Elio stepped forward. Up close, Noah could see the unusual gleam in Elio's mismatched eyes—an eager, almost hungry anticipation.

"Semi-final rules are in effect," the referee stated. "Match continues until knockout, surrender, or referee stoppage. Lethal force is prohibited. Begin on my mark."

Elio's lips curved into a smile. "Been looking forward to this, Eclipse. Heard you're tough." He rolled his shoulders, a strangely fluid motion. "Good. I need something that won't break too easily."

Noah said nothing, his silence more unnerving than any response.

The referee looked between them, sensing the tension. "Three. Two. One. BEGIN!"

The containment field hummed to life around the platform, and Elio immediately dropped into a stance that seemed designed to invite attack—open, almost vulnerable.

'Baiting me,' Noah recognized. 'His ability requires him to take damage first.' he'd done his homework. Not to mention, Elio was a popular name in this competition.

Normally, Noah would circle, analyze, find the optimal approach. But something had shifted in him over the past forty-eight hours. Patience felt like luxury he couldn't afford.

Noah closed the distance with explosive speed, white chi energy flaring around his limbs as he augmented his already enhanced physique. He launched a testing jab—not his full strength, but enough to gauge reaction.

Elio didn't dodge. The punch connected cleanly with his jaw, snapping his head to the side.

Rather than showing pain, Elio's grin widened. A visible ripple of energy coursed through his body from the impact point.

"Thanks for that," he purred, and before Noah could retreat, Elio's counter-punch rocketed forward with unnatural acceleration.

The blow caught Noah in the sternum with twice the force he'd delivered.

[-23 HP]

Noah's HP: [677/700]

Noah skidded backward, eyes narrowing. The blow had been significantly stronger than his own—amplified by Elio's ability.

'Reactive Torque. He stores impact energy and redirects it.'

He'd barely completed the thought when Elio rushed forward, that same eager smile on his face. "Don't hold back on my account!"

Noah blocked the next flurry of strikes, each one carrying more force than should be possible from Elio's frame. Even blocking was costing him.

[-8 HP]

[-12 HP]

HP: [651/700]

In the stands, Sophie leaned forward, fingers digging into her knees. "He's not fighting right," she muttered. "Noah's letting anger drive him."

In the competitors area, Lila watched with equal intensity, her usual composure fractured. "He's going to get himself hurt."

At the vip area, Elise and Marcus Rowe observed with clinical interest. "Fascinating approach," Marcus commented mildly, as if discussing a mildly interesting science experiment rather than an Academy tournament.

Elise sipped her drink. "The boy is fighting emotionally. Sloppy."

Back in the ring, Noah switched tactics. If every hit he landed would be turned against him, he needed to be more selective. He channeled chi energy into his legs, increasing his mobility as he circled Elio.

"Running already?" Elio taunted, rotating to keep Noah in his sights. "And here I thought Academy Twelve's Zombie Boy was supposed to be fearless."

Noah's jaw tightened at the nickname. Under normal circumstances, words wouldn't affect him. But these weren't normal circumstances.

'Remember the objective. End this quickly. Find Kelvin.'

He feinted left, then exploded right, launching into a combination that targeted Elio's joints rather than power centers—strikes designed to disable, not damage.

Elio blocked the first two hits but took the third on his shoulder. The impact clearly registered, but instead of wincing, his eyes gleamed brighter.

"Yes," he breathed, and the word carried disturbing satisfaction. "More."

The energy from Noah's strike visibly cycled through Elio's body, and he channeled it into a spinning kick that caught Noah in the ribs.

[-27 HP]

Noah's HP: [580/700]

"What's Vaan's deal?" Commander Owen asked, leaning toward another instructor. "That's not normal pain response."

"Pain Sync," the instructor replied. "Converts damage received into power output. Kid's a natural counter-puncher."

"And the creepy smile?"

"That's just Elio. He genuinely enjoys the sensation. Calls it 'Grin Trigger'—the more pain he's in, the calmer and more focused he becomes. Most fighters lose control when hurt. Vaan gains it."

Owen frowned. "Bad matchup for Eclipse."

In the ring, Noah reset his stance, analyzing. Each exchange was feeding Elio's power. Conventional attacks weren't working.

'Need to disrupt his system. Break the pattern.'

Noah circled again, this time channeling chi to his hands. They glowed with subtle white energy, enough to enhance his strikes beyond normal physical capacity.

When he struck again, he aimed not for Elio's body but for the floor directly in front of him. The platform cracked under the enhanced blow, creating momentary instability under Elio's feet.

The Academy Nine fighter's eyes widened in surprise as his footing shifted. Noah capitalized immediately, driving forward with a palm strike to Elio's chest that disrupted his breathing rhythm.

Elio staggered back, still grinning despite the momentary disadvantage. "Creative," he gasped. "But pain is pain, no matter how you deliver it."