Soon, both parties were ready to start the challenge.
Standing on one side was Jared, Lucy positioning herself before him with her lightning blade in her grip.
On the other side, Olsen waited, his bodyguard and strongest soldier Orlando being the one that stood at the front.
According to their agreement, Olsen decided he wanted to go first. If he were to make the first attack and win, that would most likely make Jared back down.
Jared was in no way threatened by that.
"So, are you ready? You seem a bit tense," asked Jared, whispering behind Lucy.
"I'm about to take an attack I know nothing about, of course I'm tense," Lucy replied.
"Don't worry about it. You're strong enough to take an attack from a five star, being a five star yourself."
"Are you sure?"
"50/50."
"Eh? 50 percent I survive, 50 percent I don't?" Lucy slightly tilted her head to have a good look at Jared's face.
"50/50." He shrugged his shoulders, leaving Lucy almost paralyzed with shock.
"Oi!!! Any time now!!! Idiot!" Olsen yelled from where he was, chugging down even more alcohol from the bottle while pointing aggressively.
"Right. Lucy, brace yourself."
Lucy hardened her gaze, ready to take whatever would be thrown at her.
Afraid, yes.
Backing down, not even in her dreams. She was going to take it all head on.
No backing down.
"Jared...this is suicide, don't make her do this..." Kiara warned, her voice was strained but she still managed to say a few words.
Looking to the side where she was, Jared simply smiled, and then completely ignored her warning.
"Okay, we are ready!"
Olsen smiled after hearing that response. He was definitely going to enjoy every last bit of it.
"Orlando, do it."
"As you wish."
Orlando stepped forward, his body suddenly carrying a dark glow, one born from the power he controlled.
As a Five star, manipulating mana was second nature to him. That was the only thing that set four stars and anyone lower apart from five stars.
The ability to manipulate mana.
Flames surged around his fist, the sparkles flying around, burning the ground in the process.
Clenching his fist, Orlando took a fighting stance, about to unleash his attack, an attack he could transfer to whoever he wished.
'I see. So his is the ability to manipulate flames, like Lucy's lightning. Interesting, and he wants to transfer it to Olsen? Makes me wonder how much further Six stars can go, more than one nature to manipulate?' Jared thought to himself while watching.
[Lucy is anxious, she wishes not to disappoint, but doesn't believe in her ability.]
As the notification appeared before Jared, he stared at it for a while, and then at Lucy.
Her black hair flowing from behind, dancing with bits of lightning and beauty.
The fear she had was not one that could easily be fixed, so he wasn't surprised.
Lucy took a fighting stance, her gaze hardening.
Folding his arms, Jared didn't consider having a second thought.
'If she feels frightened, then all the better. This will inspire her to do her best. I am not worried, simply because I do not buy fake products. My Lucy is most definitely the stronger one here.'
Gathering the flames to one hand, Orlando turned around and grabbed his master by the arm, transferring everything to him.
Now carrying the flames on one arm, Olsen smiled, aiming his fire-raging hand at Lucy.
"Don't die..." he said mockingly.
Suddenly, a huge ball of flames charged forward from his hand, speeding towards Lucy's body.
It was raging hot, definitely the type of attack that could rip a person's body from the inside out while also burning them to a crisp.
And yet, Lucy was going to defend herself against it.
She gripped her blade even tighter.
Her feet dug into the ground, arms enveloped with lightning.
As she focused on the fire, something in her mind convinced her she could cut through it.
A voice...
Jared?
Whatever it was, it made her move her body, even if it was for a split second, she wanted to believe this voice, believe that she wasn't that weak girl anymore.
"Ahhhh!" She gave out a cry.
And then...
Clash!
Her dancing lightning blade met with the growing fireball, slicing it into two, which caused a huge explosion on both sides of the area.
When the smoke cleared, the ground was left with a huge crater, with signs of fire still burning on the ground.
Lucy, on the other hand, was panting heavily, watching the destruction she had caused with just a simple slash of her blade.
Orlando and Olsen stood there shocked, jaws dropped at how a mere girl from Sikone was able to cut flames in two.
Kiara was no exception.
Jared wore a proud look on his face, though he had expected that she would use her lightning to make a shield. This works too.
[The god of trade is impressed.]
[The god of information is speechless.]
[The god of loyalty never doubted her potential.]
Turning around to look at Jared as if waiting for his praise, she stood there, like a dog wagging its tail.
"You did well, no need to look at me like that," Jared uttered.
Immediately, Lucy smiled, accepting his half-assed praise.
"No...no way! You che...you cheated somehow! Belch! No one can take on that attack head on like that. And how on earth is she using lightning anyway?!" Olsen yelled while pointing frantically.
"You haven't noticed? My girl is a Five star, which means, she's on equal... Nah, which means she's stronger than your five star. So you can expect that to happen as many times as she wants," Jared replied to Olsen.
His response made Lucy blush, her face lowered since she knew if she were to raise it, Jared would see her red face.
Kiara was still trying to grasp what she had just witnessed.
'When the hell did this brat get a five star? Did I miss something while I was away? Dammit, no need to panic, Orlando is still strong, he can take any attack this idiot throws.' Olsen, grunting over his loss, barely said a word to Jared right after.
"Now then, I believe it's time for my own attack. Please, try not to make me lose my focus, my aim is a bit uneven," Jared smiled, gesturing a gun with his finger.