Extra's Ascent

Aldrich observed Saldrich's technique, taking note of her seamless manipulation of mana into both offence and defence, a revelation began to take form in his head.

But first, what truly is mana?

Traditionally, it's considered the innate energy of every mystic, the core life force that grants them access to their Art and techniques. It defines their very essence. But strip away the assumptions, peel back the conventions, and ask instead, What if mana is just mana?

A raw, undefined phenomenon of this world. A mysterious force with no set explanation. If that's the case, then its true nature might not lie in definitions, but in potential.

That was the epiphany Aldrich Aldaman grasped.

As an Aldaman, he possessed the rare ability to perceive mana in its purest, unfiltered state, not as mystics imagined it, but as it truly is. That unique perception hinted that his talents extended beyond mere manipulation or enhancement. There was something more, a deeper frontier untouched by common mystics.

Saldrich's battle armour was a prime example of this potential, a construct forged from mana, transmuted from vaporous energy into dense, tangible mass. It served both as shield and sword, a masterpiece of conversion. The true secret, however, lay in the mechanism that made it possible: her three-leaf clover eye. A tool of absolute precision.

Aldrich knew, deep down, that he couldn't replicate the armour, not without achieving his three clover awakening.

But perhaps... just perhaps, he could extract one principle from its creation and apply it differently.

That was when it clicked.

He'd already done something similar before. He just hadn't realised it at the time.

One of his trump cards, Doom Piercer. A devastating mana technique born from condensing and sculpting mana into a solid spear of force. He had unknowingly employed the same idea behind Saldrich's armour, but through instinct rather than understanding.

If he could craft such a technique unconsciously, then surely he could replicate it consciously with intention and clarity.

And now... here he was.

Saldrich stared at the sight before her, a startling shift in Aldrich's posture. His right arm was pulled back, mimicking the stance of a bowman, though neither arrow nor bow was visible. Instead, only a glowing sphere of compressed mana rested within his clenched palm.

He was gathering energy, and she could see it happening in real time. But she didn't stop him.

Why?

Because she wanted to see where this would go. Despite the clear advantage her team held and her confidence in her battle armour, Saldrich's curiosity was greater than her caution. She wanted to know what kept Aldrich going, what he still believed in when surrender would've been easier. What gave him that glimmer of defiant hope?

So, she watched.

Aldrich pressed the gathered mana further, collapsing its volume into something infinitesimal. It condensed beyond visibility, refined to a point smaller than a grain of sand, microscopic, nearing atomic scale. It was no longer energy. It was a potential weaponised.

And then—

"Fly."

The word escaped his lips like a verdict.

In the blink of an eye, the mana projectile shot forth.

It sliced through the air, faster than sound, accelerating past logical limitations. It didn't just move, it ripped through space. It warped perception, creating a ripple in the air that felt like time itself staggered in its wake.

Saldrich attempted to intercept it, but the attack defied her senses. It erupted forward with explosive propulsion, tearing through every defensive brick structure with terrifying ease. Each wall it encountered was reduced to shrapnel in its relentless path forward.

"Aldrich, what wa—

She turned to look, he was gone.

Her eyes darted, scanning, searching for his presence.

"Don't tell me..."

He had moved. During her attempt to stop the projectile, Aldrich had slipped away, evading her attention. The attack, it seemed, had been a distraction all along, a deception to mislead her judgment.

Realisation hit her like a storm.

He had planned this from the start. His true objective had never been destruction, it had been scoring.

With no time to hesitate, Saldrich leapt across the brick platforms in pursuit, her form blurring with speed. But a creeping dread settled in as she followed. She wouldn't make it. Not in time.

Meanwhile, on the far end of the field, Fiona was locked in a dance of pressure and pursuit. She chased Valeria, Dickins, and Opius across the arena, preventing them from regrouping. Despite their evasive movements, something felt off.

They were oddly contained, circling within the penalty zone. It didn't strike her as important at first. She assumed they were simply avoiding her attacks.

After all, Aydin and Selina hadn't even bothered to assist her. The match seemed nearly decided, and Fiona, confident and unrelenting, was enough to handle the three.

Still, her instincts buzzed. Something was wrong.

Then it hit her.

A wave of danger, like a bolt of lightning down her spine.

Every hair on her body stood alert. Her head throbbed as pure instinct screamed at her to move. Now.

She turned, only too late.

The attack had breached the final barrier. The last brick wall had been pierced clean through, as if carved open by a divine scalpel. The projectile was heading for the goalpost, and Aldrich was right behind it.

No defence could match its velocity. No countermeasure could reroute its trajectory. It wasn't just fast, it was unstoppable.

Fiona knew better than to put herself in its path. That kind of power couldn't be blocked. It could only be witnessed.

Aldrich matched its momentum, sprinting just behind the arrow, moving like a blur. Not even sound could keep up with them.

Then Saldrich reappeared, leaping into view atop a high brick column. She didn't continue the chase. She didn't interfere.

She simply watched, her expression unreadable. Defeat or perhaps admiration glistened in her gaze.

A piercing whistle followed.

Then came the announcement:

[A Goal From The Right Team!]

[Due to Fulfilment of a Hidden Condition, Team Right's One Point Has Been Elevated to Four Points!]

Silence crashed across the stage.

The combatants on each side froze in place. Minds reeled as they struggled to comprehend the last moments of the match.

Aldrich stood motionless, chest rising, breath heavy.

The battlefield was still.

The impossible had just been done.