Once the contestants for the first challenge match were decided, Gabe and Han stepped onto the arena floor.
One was the Military's Esper representative. The other was the strongest member of Fear Nova, secretly entered into the competition by Vought International.
Vought International had actually entered two Fear Nova members.
Hidden Stinger, ranked second in Fear Nova, had been eliminated early.
Hidden Stinger looked old because his power had the terrifying side effect of consuming his lifespan. Few would have guessed that the haggard man was only seventeen or eighteen.
Although Hidden Stinger and Han ranked second and first in Fear Nova, there was a considerable gap between their strength.
Shadow Stinger ranked second because second was as high as his strength could take him. Han ranked first because no one else in his league could beat him.
The distinction mattered.
In fact, Han was already in a class of his own compared with competitors his age.
He had extraordinary powers to rely on, but more importantly, he possessed insight far beyond his peers. As he honed his command of those powers, he improved by leaps and bounds, leaving his competitors far behind.
Han, his striking white hair framing a calm face, looked at the imposing War God Gabe before him. Water vapor gathered around his left hand and condensed into a translucent, needle-sharp icicle.
He gripped the icicle and thrust it at Gabe.
Gabe's face was stern and cold. He snapped, "Freeze!"
Gabe had displayed his extraordinary power several times in previous matches. Only by standing in the arena against him, however, could someone feel how terrifying it truly was.
Han's hurtling body stopped dead. Strain showed plainly on his face, but as he fought the command with all his might, he finally began to inch forward.
Gabe's power