CHAPTER 273: FINAL STRIKE

"And finally, your movement and reflex score has been measured at 1,450—again, more than ten times higher than previous results." Corven exhaled slowly, letting the weight of the numbers settle as he read the final line of the report, the paper trembling slightly in his hands.

The room felt unusually silent, the faint hum of computers and low chatter fading into the background as the significance of the figures sank in.

The total score reached 4,666. By PTF standards, it was a figure that defied belief—a number so far beyond what anyone could imagine a human achieving that it left even the most seasoned researchers momentarily dumbstruck. Some leaned back in their chairs, silently recalculating, as if the numbers themselves might rearrange and normalize if they thought hard enough.

To put it in perspective, Cannibal—the Overlord capable of obliterating an elite STF squad in seconds—had a total power score of 1,200, of which 700 came solely from endurance. That meant even Cannibal, a being feared across every major conflict zone, barely reached a quarter of Adyr’s total.

The contrast was jarring, almost surreal, and sparked an undercurrent of whispered astonishment among the assembled scientists.

The most striking detail, noted by every researcher without exception, was that this score reflected deliberate restraint.

Adyr had not unleashed his full potential. If they had accounted for his most feared abilities—the dark smoke power that could suffocate and disorient entire squads, or the healing light that, in the recent livestream, had revived a comatose patient—the final tally could have easily doubled. The mere thought sent a quiet shiver through the room.

"Thank you all for your work. I hope this data will assist your research," Adyr said, his tone measured yet friendly, carrying a calm authority. His gaze swept over each researcher, steady, perceptive, and slightly amused by their obvious awe. He had absolute confidence that these brilliant minds—the current pinnacle of Earth’s scientific community—would use this knowledge wisely, though he could see the restrained excitement burning behind their eyes.

"It is we who should thank you, Mr. Adyr, for giving us this opportunity," one older researcher replied, bowing his head in sincere respect, his voice tremulous with a mixture of reverence and disbelief.

The others nodded in agreement, some leaning forward as if to catch every nuance of the young man’s presence. Their eyes reflected a mixture of admiration and curiosity, tempered with the barely suppressed thrill of standing in the presence of someone who had altered the limits of human potential.

For each of them, the pursuit of knowledge was life itself. Now, faced with a young man who had brought understanding from a world beyond their own, they felt nothing but awe and quiet excitement, tempered with the anticipation of what his presence might unlock.

They were scientists, but in that moment, they were also witnesses to a phenomenon that teetered on the edge of the extraordinary.

—

"Sis, are you alright?" Mirela called urgently as she flew over to the Titan Ape, whose massive body was covered in bloody scars, the top two arms bearing deep wounds that exposed even the white bone beneath.

Without hesitation, Mirela focused her energy. A potent healing Spark skill flared to life, radiating a subtle hum of power.

Her rainbow-colored eyes shimmered like molten light, reflecting the chaos around her. Her multicolored hair pulsed, flowing outward in a vivid green, shifting and extending like living ivy that wrapped around Liora’s colossal frame. The energy hummed, alive, as though the strands themselves were conduits of life, seeking to mend every tear in muscle and fur.

"I’m fine, thank you," Liora’s strained, animal-like voice rumbled, low and resonant, vibrating the air as her wounds began to knit under Mirela’s skill, aided by the gentle, pulsating grace of Grace’s healing light.

Beads of sweat ran down her face, but the crimson stains on her fur began fading as regenerative energy wove through her.

After a moment, her voice returned, steadier and more collected. "Go back. It’s not finished yet. I need one more strike to subdue it."

The Titan Ape rose slowly to her feet, her limbs trembling with exhaustion. Mirela’s hair retracted, leaving Liora’s form almost fully restored. Even the deep arm wounds that had exposed bone were now nearly closed, a coarse, protective layer of fur growing back over them, reinforcing the sheer physicality of her body.

Meanwhile, Collossith regenerated on its own; the bleeding on its head had already stopped. Its six smaller legs twitched as it straightened, vibrations rolling through the ground in heavy, measured pulses. Dust rose around it, the air thick with the tension of unspent power.

Normally, without Adyr’s Grace

ability, Liora would have already retreated, her body battered and broken, letting Collossith go with the taste of failure. But now, with her stamina and strength restored, she advanced with clear intent—to finish this, once and for all.

"This will be the final move. You will trouble my people no longer," she roared, a sound that tore through the battlefield like a storm, resonating in both ground and sky. The air vibrated with her fury and determination, carrying the weight of years spent defending her people.

Her massive arms swelled, muscles hardening, sinews visible beneath a metallic sheen crawling across her skin. Each movement seemed amplified, a perfect blend of animalistic strength and disciplined control, as she prepared the finishing blow.

"Do you want to take this one too?" Lucen asked, glancing at Adyr with concern, clearly referring to the shockwave that was about to erupt.

"Nah, I’m already drained, thank you." The pounding in his temples and the burning behind his eyes left him unwilling to strain his body further, especially knowing that attempting one more strike wouldn’t level up his [Sword Art of Existence] talent.

"Good. You’ve already done more than enough. Take it easy for now," Mirela said as she flew over, her hands massaging his shoulders.

Occasionally, her touch drifted elsewhere, deliberate yet subtle. Adyr allowed it, internally chuckling at her audacity while recognizing the Spark skill she was using to relax his muscles—and seeing just how effective it was.

Meanwhile, Collossith had fully regained its composure. The massive beast rose to its feet and, strangely, began to pull back, as if reconsidering its next move.

"Huh. I would never have imagined a Rank 4 Spark—especially Collossith—trying to run from Lady Liora," Lucen remarked, a rare note of amusement in his voice.

"You are not going anywhere," Liora snapped, propelling herself forward. Her four massive arms pinned the Rank 4 Spark in place as she readied the final strike. Two arms, swinging like colossal hammers, descended toward the creature’s head.

BOOM!

The impact tore the ground beneath her feet, deepening the crater and sending a devastating shockwave radiating outward. This time, Lucen stepped forward, meeting it with his sword, cutting through the shockwave with ease.

"Not enough," he murmured, his face showing the same faint trace of dissatisfaction as before.

At first, Adyr hadn’t understood exactly what Lucen’s words meant, but now, seeing that subtle expression, it became clear.

Lucen hadn’t planned to use a Spark skill at the start of his swing. He relied entirely on his raw muscle strength and the air pressure from his sword to cut through the shockwave. Only when he realized that wouldn’t be enough did he activate his Spark skill, boosting the strike’s force.