My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 876: The Finals: Battles of the Rivals (part-2)

"He saved me because you said this battle was important to you," Fiona continued. "So if you intend to show him anything… it better not be cowardice."

Zion couldn't help but slowly turn toward the stands.

And there they were.

Azrael Garcia, seated in the center of the VIP box, arms folded but watching intently.

Beside him sat Orion, his expression unreadable. Selene leaned forward on the railing, brows tight, and her father, Gideon, stood behind her. Zion's mother, Leah, looked down with a slight smile, her eyes reflecting quiet pride.

And just beyond them, in a golden chair, the President of the country observed the match with a diplomatic smile.

Zion exhaled slowly.

He turned back to Fiona. A spark ignited in his eyes.

"I see," he murmured. "Then let's make it worthy."

A moment later, the platform trembled. Without another word, Fiona charged. "Frost Beam!"

A concentrated stream of absolute-zero energy fired from her palm, twisting with silvery-blue spirals of light. The temperature across the battlefield plummeted. Steam hissed from the metal ground. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Zion leapt sideways, barely dodging. Frost raced across his boots.

He dropped into a roll, then slammed his palm into the earth.

BOOM!

A pillar of gray light erupted from his body as he activated his base soul core, stopping short of releasing his Arcana Spirit. Instead, he used condensed Soul Energy to nullify the surrounding mist.

"Let's dance then," Zion muttered, sliding into a low stance.

Fiona was already moving again, appearing above him midair.

Her giant Titan Form followed, mirroring her every motion like a colossal shadow. The audience could barely keep up.

WHAM!

A downward strike from both her real fist and the Titan's palm cracked the floor, sending a wave of ice shards toward Zion. He blocked, skidding backward, but his boots dug in deep.

He rushed forward in the next instant.

Fiona met him head-on.

BAM!

Zion was struck square in the chest.

The crowd gasped as a thunderous crack rang out. Fiona's Titan Form—its arm coated in jagged frost—had landed a direct blow.

Zion's eyes widened as he felt the sheer weight behind the attack. His ribs screamed. The cold bit deep into his body.

And then, he was airborne.

CRACK!

His body crashed against the invisible barrier shielding the audience, the energy veil rippling violently from the force of impact. A hush fell over the stadium as the impact echoed like a warning bell.

Zion hovered for a heartbeat—body suspended, face dazed.

Then, his eyes flared open.

He flipped mid-air, aura reigniting, and blasted downward with a burst of soul energy.

FWOOSH—

He landed back on the arena floor with a heavy thud, knees bent, arms flared wide. Frost cracked beneath his feet.

The crowd erupted in cheers at the comeback.

The announcer's voice rang out over the speakers:

"Zion Garcia takes a direct hit—but he's still standing! What resolve! This is shaping up to be a final worthy of legends!"

Back on the field, Fiona remained quiet, her breath fogging the air in soft plumes. Her Titan Form stood behind her, unfazed, regal, and unmoving—for now.

Zion exhaled hard, clenching his fists.

"Alright…" he muttered under his breath. "You want me to go all out?"

He looked up, fire sparking in his irises. "Then fine. I'll defeat you—without a Titan form instead."

Fiona's eyes narrowed at his comment.

The very next instant, Zion moved.

He surged forward like a comet, blazing heat and freezing wind colliding in his body. His body spun, drawing his Arcana Spirit from his core.

The spear was jagged and double-tipped, one end flickering with white-hot flame, the other carved from glacial crystal. Fire and ice danced in harmony along its shaft—unstable, beautiful, deadly.

"He's summoned it! Zion Garcia's Arcana Spirit—Ignisfrysta—the legendary celestial-grade, the only soul weapon in the world with dual-nature of flame and frost!" the announcer cried.

Zion hurled it.

WHRRRRR!

The spear tore through the air toward Fiona at blurring speed.

She didn't flinch at bit.

Her Titan Form simply raised an arm and caught it.

CLANG!

The impact rattled the entire arena, but the spear didn't pierce. Instead, ice coiled around it, choking the flames, dulling the crystal tip.

Zion rushed after it, summoning it back to his hand mid-run.

He vanished—appeared above—and slammed the spear downward with a battle cry. "Oraaa…"

Fiona countered instantly.

BOOM!

Their clash sent waves of pressure in all directions. Ice and flame exploded. The crowd leaned forward, mesmerized by the sheer spectacle.

Zion didn't slow down. "Soul Skill: Twin Pulse Fang!"

He jabbed the spear twice—once with flame, once with frost. The attacks struck Fiona's arms, the second grazing her shoulder. Steam exploded from the clash.

But her Titan Form didn't budge at all.

"Soul Skill: Infernal Descent!" He flipped backward, hurled the spear high, and summoned a blazing ring of fire and hail to rain down.

Fiona closed her eyes. Then whispered: "Absolute Ice: Aurora Collapse."

A dome of radiant ice burst forth, engulfing the storm. Zion's flames were smothered. His frost redirected.

His own techniques… dissolved.

Hisssssss…

He landed back on the ground, panting and sweating.

Fiona stepped forward.

One step. The ice beneath her feet spread in spidering cracks. Her Titan Form followed behind her like a divine executioner.

Zion braced himself.

"You can't defeat me like this," Fiona said softly. "Your attacks are not enough to overcome my Absolute Ice. Only divinity can hurt me."

She raised her palm.

The air froze in place.

Zion felt it at once—his breath stuck in his throat, the moisture on his skin turning into frost. "I call it Cryo Domain."

The entire platform dimmed.

From the stands, even Orion stirred in his seat. "She's even going fighting back stronger than she fought me in that form…" Suddenly, Orion realized his own words and sat down and shut his eyes, taking a breath. "Amithabha…"

Meanwhile, on the battle platform, Zion took a shaky breath. Then fell to one knee. His spear trembled in his grip.

His techniques… were useless. And Fiona just kept walking forward.