Adam and Zin didn’t exchange plans with each other, but they understood everything with just a glance.

’So you can only manage a few more attacks?’ Zin thought, narrowing his eyes. ’Yeah, that makes sense. He pushed his new Nexus to the limit of its power. Two or three more attacks, that’s his limit.’

Then, Zin glanced at his hand.

’Come to think of it, I’m in the same situation. I won’t be able to hear the blood of Queen Elisa flowing anymore, Adam has completely absorbed her blood, but at least I can still win!’

Sure, Zin had decided to fight with only one goal in mind: to hear Queen Elisa’s heartbeat. However, he had gone too far to give up now.

He wanted to win, for real. Such a strong desire had come over him for the first time, and what made his heart race was the fact that he didn’t know if he could pull it off.

Adam leaned forward before taking a step.

Whooooooosh!

In a rush of blood, Adam swept across the entire arena, ending up right in front of Zin.

Zin knew that after a few of Adam’s attacks, it would all be over, but he wasn’t going just to run away and dodge. He wouldn’t be satisfied with a victory like that.

’Take this!’ He clenched his jaw, aiming a fist at Adam’s ribs.

In a swift movement, Adam swung his right leg, knocking Zin’s wrist aside.

’Agh?’

At the same moment, the blood ring trembled as Adam attacked Zin’s face.

’NO!’ Zin screamed inwardly as he jerked his head to the left at the last moment.

Crack!

Adam’s palm slammed into his left earpiece.

At the same moment, the cross glowed brightly as a thick stream of blood, resembling a raging river, burst forth, flowing out of the ring as if through a portal.

The golden fragment of the left earpiece flew past Zin’s shocked eyes. A part of his weapon, his Hollow Mark, had just been destroyed.

The river of blood continued its path, destroying everything in its way, even the sturdy walls of the arena or the barrier.

Click!

Zin snapped his fingers as he stepped aside.

With a pale face, he touched his left ear, realizing that half of his headphones had been destroyed.

Now, it was much harder for him to control his sound.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Blood dripped onto the ground as all eyes turned to Adam. His attack had failed. He had achieved something, but not victory.

However, for an attack of such power, he had to pay a heavy price.

"Damn... Looks like it’ll all be over very soon." The woman bit her lip as she watched a trickle of blood flow from the corner of Adam’s mouth.

Her friend nodded. Her large amber eyes couldn’t tear themselves away from Adam.

"Two more attacks, maybe even just one if he uses all the strength he has."

Even though the fight was no longer as intense as before, the spectators’ eyes had never shone so brightly.

They saw Adam’s new abilities, that Zin’s strength was running out, and that this fight was nearing its logical conclusion.

As Adam prepared for his next attack and the spectators whispered and speculated, Zin’s mind was working at full capacity.

He realized he couldn’t let Adam attack first again.

’I just got lucky this time. If I had hesitated even for a split second, I would have lost my head, and Leerna wouldn’t have been able to save me!’ Zin exclaimed inwardly, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Sure, the judge was a Finger, a monster with immense power against which Adam and Zin were nothing.

However, their attacks were too fast. All Zin needed to do to sever Adam’s neck was a single, precise swing, since his weapon was sound, everything would happen instantly.

For Adam, this was true as well. Sure, the blood wasn’t as fast as sound, but Adam’s attacks had a slight delay.

First, his palm smashed Zin’s left earpiece, and only then did the river of blood burst forth in full force.

Tap.

Realizing he had to do something, Zin took off his broken headphones and clenched them tightly between his hands.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

He squeezed his headphones until they were the size of a tiny golden seed, resembling the apple seed that was his Hollow Mark.

Kaerno raised an eyebrow. Not only was he surprised, but even Es’aha was.

"What is he doing?" she muttered to herself. "I’ve never seen an attack like this..."

Tremble!

The golden seed trembled, releasing a sound wave.

Each successive wave grew more powerful, while the seed became covered in cracks.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Very soon, the entire arena was actively shaking from the spreading sound waves.

The spectators covered their ears, unable to bear it any longer, while Zin’s face remained calm.

With the next sound wave, his seed shattered as all the energy surged into his hand, transforming into a long, trembling sound blade, far more powerful than any Zin had created before.

Adam looked around before smiling faintly.

"Huh, all the sounds have disappeared..." His gaze turned to Zin’s sound blade. "Did you save everything for a single attack?"

"Just like you. Isn’t that right?"

Tremble.

Adam’s coat trembled as his left glove turned into a stream of blood, which filled the right one with power.

"Sure. Let’s end this right here and now."

The spectators held their breath as even Kaerno’s gaze grew sharper.

No one knew who would win.

Without hesitation, Zin raised his hand as Adam turned into a bloody blur.

In a heartbeat, Adam found himself right in front of his opponent, but Zin had been expecting this.

"This is the end, ADAM!" Zin exclaimed, unleashing the sound blade at Adam with all his might.

SLASH!

The arena was split in two in the blink of an eye, but Adam was able to keep moving forward because, unlike Zin, he had mustered the patience to step aside.

"Agh?"

Adam smiled.

"Did you expect a devastating attack from me? No, I came here for something else."

Tap.

Adam’s palm pressed firmly against Zin’s chest, feeling his heartbeat.

"I will keep my promise. I will give you a sound you have never heard before."

A glint flashed through Adam’s eyes as all his energy surged into his palm.

Shock clouded Leerna’s eyes as, in the next instant, she appeared to Adam’s right, reaching out her hand to stop him.

But, even though she was a Finger, everything had already been decided.

Adam smiled, without a thought for the consequences.

"I will give you the sound of your own death."

CLASP!

The sheer power of his Nexus and energy burst forth, creating a void in Zin’s chest, right where his heart should have been.