The moment Sora unleashed [Thunderstorm], he felt its chaotic energy pulse in the air around him. With each passing second, the vortex of wind, water, and lightning intensified. He had the option to control it further, focusing on damaging specific areas, or to release his control and let it wreak havoc.
He chose to release it. He needed the chaos created by the spell more than its destructive power.
Taking a steadying breath, he summoned the element of fire, red and blue sparks flickered in his palms. Fire orbs appeared across the storm, igniting in mid-air. Evaporating the rain that poured from the dark clouds above, thick steam started rising to shroud the area in a dense mist.
Sora could perfectly see Richard’s figure through the haze with his [Mana Eyes]. Richard had taken flight, floating above the ground to gain a better vantage point. He scanned the misty dueling area, searching for any sign of Sora.
Without a sound, Sora activated [Lightning Movement], his body zig-zagging through the storm with blinding speed. He reappeared directly above Richard, electricity crackling along his frame. A new faint yellow glow around him, illuminating the area with an eerie light.
Sensing a presence, Richard’s gaze shot upward. His eyes widened as he saw the aura surrounding Sora and, for a moment, confusion flickered across his face. "Earth Element?" he blurted out, surprised by his fighting style. "How many elements does this guy control?"
Instinctively, he reached for his weapon, unsheathing it with a fluid, practiced motion. Sora caught the sight of the weapon and smiled. This was the first time Richard had drawn his weapon, and it felt like a small victory. .
Sora clenched his fists, focusing on transforming his mana. His entire arm pulsed with strength as he channeled it into his attack, summoning his new skill, [Earth’s Fury].
[Earth’s Fury]
Skill Description: Channel the strength of the Earth into your body or weapon, amplifying your strikes. This skill can be used for defense and offence.
With his body empowered by the earth element, Sora threw his punch with everything he had. The sheer force behind it made the air ripple, creating shockwaves that seemed to distort reality around his fist.
Richard moved to counter, swinging his weapon to intercept, but the force behind Sora’s punch was devastating. As their attacks connected, Richard’s eyes widened in disbelief. He felt the impact through his entire body, as if he’d slammed his weapon against a wall of steel. His weapon vibrated violently, almost slipping from his grip, and a sharp pain shot up his arm as he bled from his fingers.
Sora held his gaze, feeling the weight of Richard’s words. He had fought his hardest, but this victory wasn’t easy. He had trained to the point that his body was enough to fight average level 100 players. However, against the level 95 it wasn’t even enough to overwhelm him...
As expected, the elite players had aces up their sleeves.
Sora was taken aback by Richard’s honesty and sense of fair play. Despite being a powerful warrior, this guy had an almost old-fashioned sense of honor—something rare in these times. He respected it, even if it did catch him off guard.
Richard turned to him and said, "Summon the Company. There’s something they need to hear."
Sora immediately understood. He nodded and opened his Military Interface, selecting the [Military Summon] option. Instantly, from the way Kara, Jordan, and Richard glanced at the air and dismissed something, they must have received the notification as well.
Within a minute, the remaining members of the Company began to appear around them. As Sora scanned the crowd, he noticed they were quite an impressive force. Everyone stood at least at level 70, except for two players, each at level 69. The team leaders ranged between levels 80 and 90, with Jordan standing at an imposing level 91. This Company was impressive, though he couldn’t compare them to other companies.
Richard stepped forward, and the entire crowd fell silent. Though younger than many, his presence and charisma commanded respect. He looked around, his gaze holding each person before he finally spoke.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his tone firm. "Up until now, you’ve been under my orders, following my lead. And I thank each of you for your efforts in this war... even if some of you have been more of a hindrance than a help." His eyes flicked to a squad of five shaved young men standing in the back, looking rather guilty. They shivered under his gaze, while the rest of the crowd suppressed chuckles, struggling to keep straight faces.
Richard continued, "We have always been considered a group of troublemakers because of our lack of discipline and the overall weakness of our company. However, today marks a turning point. I’ve always said the strong lead the weak. And now, an opportunity has presented itself to follow that principle. As of today, your new Company leader is Ralph Eden."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many seemed taken aback, as if they hadn’t expected this. Some exchanged skeptical glances, while others appeared outright confused. ’Wasn’t there an agreement between them? Wasn’t this guy supposed to be weaker than Richard?’
Richard raised a hand, and silence quickly fell. "Yes, I know this is unexpected. But I’ve just lost a duel to Ralph in the [Rematch] he requested. He is now stronger than I am, and by our code, that makes him the rightful leader of the Company. I ask that you respect him, follow him, and look forward to what lies ahead under his leadership. "
The crowd stood stunned, processing Richard’s words. He looked at them, his expression unwavering. "His experience being insufficient, I’m counting on everyone to cooperate and help with what you can. I assure you, you will be happy to have him covering your back during the war. Such privilege, make sure you live up to it. Salute your new captain!"