“Reverse. Forward.” These simple two words were spoken in a calm voice, but when Alabasta heard them he felt truly threatened. He watched as the sparkling rune that gave off the fluctuations of time manipulation rushed forth toward his three balls of neon light.

The three balls of neon light spun harmoniously around each other as if they were dancing. They were super bright and many of the onlookers had to look away from them. Even though the specks of light were small they had condensed power within them that made them really destructive. The lights rushed forward to Tabet in an attempt to crush him. They spun faster and faster around each other and with each revolution they became faster and the dense energy around them became stronger.

This was the Starsun Dance. It was an attack that condensed the energy of the stars and sun into itself to create shocking pressure that was capable of crushing hills in the blink of an eye. It was an ability that was even stronger than the Meteor Star Shot. When more motes of light were added then the stronger it would become. It was said that the creator of this ability was capable of crushing an entire nation under this attack. It was an ability that was only passed down to the main bloodline of the Meteor Wolf Star Tribe.

This was an attack that even though it looked casual, required the full focus of its caster to implement. Alabasta was actually bedraggled after using this attack but on the surface he definitely didn’t show it. Three neon lights were his limit, if he could do more he would end up injuring his own body.

Normally when Alabasta cast this attack he would feel complete confidence in it. Even if he faced an Elder of his own tribe he wouldn’t feel the least bit frightened in taking them on with this attack. But when faced against Tabet’s sparkling rune, he felt despair, something that had never happened to him before when using this attack.

‘So what if he can use an Outer Element. It doesn’t matter in the face of my attack. It’s not like he is that experienced in using an Outer Element anyways.’ This is what Alabasta thought to console himself a bit. But even then it didn’t ease him in the slightest.

About halfway the sparkling rune was upon the Starsun Dance. The sparkling rune expanded out and surrounded the area the neon lights were in, in a kind of sparkling domain. Time was heavily warped within this domain and under the complete control of Tabet.

As with his words, the Starsun Dance slowed to a complete stop and then began to move in reverse. They technically didn’t change directions but was reversing time, as they moved back their power was lessening and they were going dimmer. However, this was a normal time attack that caused any attack to flow backwards in time as if it hadn’t been casted. Tabet on the other hand had something else in mind.

Also with his wishes the Starsun Dance started ‘moving forward’. They weren’t going back toward Tabet but instead was gaining the power that it had been gathering as if it were going forward in time to attack him. Normally this would be done by just changing the direction of the attack with the Outer Element of Space but Tabet was capable of doing this with time. Obviously, his skill with the Outer Element of Time was at a level that was incomprehensible by most. It could also be said that his skill was even greater than Priest Bambe’s.

The sparkling domain glittered brightly as it made the Starsun Dance change directions and head toward Alabasta. However, even after he did this he wasn’t done pressing his attack. Tabet waved his hand causing a silver and green rune to appear in the air in front of him and merge together. These were the Inner Elements of Light and Wood and they formed a green sun in the sky. The green sun shone green light on everything.

Tabet pointed at the spot that Alabasta was standing at and soon the green light that was radiating from the sun clustered around his position. All of a sudden, green branches showed up around Alabasta and trapped him within the location he was in. He didn’t have anywhere to retreat to.

Alabasta’s eyes went wide with disbelief. The level of skill and power Tabet was displaying was far beyond what he was used to. In fact, it was much more than what he could handle. He was so surprised that he nearly forgot to defend himself. “Humph.” He let out a loud roar then transformed into the shape of a two meter long wolf. The wolf had astral fur that looked like the image of the starry sky. His eyes were a bright neon as well as his claws.

As soon as he transformed into his original form neon light started to radiate off of him. It was a boundless neon light that covered over everything and radiated a shocking pressure throughout the arena. Alabasta looked on with savage eyes at the incoming attacks. “Hehe not enough.” Alabasta swiped his claws forward as a huge neon sun showed above him. The neon sun shot out devastating rays of light that came crashing down like shooting stars. “Starry Rain.”

Tabet looked calmly at the incoming rays of light and didn’t act to do anything. The Starsun Dance that was cast out slammed into the neon sun and made it trembled vigorously. The neon sun dimmed down and became slightly weaker. It was made with Alabasta’s full power so it was reasonable.

“HAHA! You don’t have the power to contend with me!” Alabasta screamed out. However, Tabet just simply looked at the neon sun hanging over Alabasta. The green sun over his own head showed brighter and soon silver rings appeared around it. The silver rings straightened out and shot out toward the neon sun and surrounded it. The silver rings were now around the neon sun. The silver rings emitted a soft green glow and silver branches shot out to encompass the neon sun. The branches stabbed into the neon sun and also trapped it so that no more rays of light could shoot out.

“Wha… What is this ability? It’s able to defend and attack in one? There had to be tremendous insights that went into coming up with this.” Alabasta was shocked upon seeing this green sun that Tabet unleashed. He watched as his own sun was shattered and utterly destroyed by the silver branches.

‘Humph. I guess my Eversun Woodlight ability can use a bit more work. My branches should’ve been able to move much faster than they had been.’ Tabet mused to himself. He paid no more attention to Alabasta as he turned his head toward Akata who was on the ground barely conscious.

Akata was laying on the ground and his senses were extremely fuzzy and unclear. He wasn’t able to watch any of the battle that Tabet and Alabasta were having. He was barely able to make out the pressure that the attacks they let out unleashed. When Tabet looked at him he was gasping for air and his mind was cloudy.

Tabet looked very depressed at the moment. He picked Akata up and immediately rushed to his palace to let Akata rest in peace. He didn’t even cast a glance back at Alabasta who was still trapped within the the branches of his Eversun Woodlight ability.

“Humph. Just going to leave me here? This isn’t over. You might have grown stronger in this bit of time and learned how to use an Outer Element but that doesn’t mean you’ll stay above me forever.” A savage gleam appeared within Alabasta’s eyes as he silently murmured to himself. He then laid down and started to meditate within the branches that trapped him.

Tabet didn’t hear any of this but even if he did, he wouldn’t pay it any attention at all and proceed along with what he was doing. In fact, he completely forgot about Alabasta at the moment.

Pina looked at all of this happen and shook her head. ‘Who would have thought that he would surpass us by this much. No wonder the Scarlet Tigers were cast out of the mainland. They had too much potential and could shake the power balance. They’re just like the Star Wolves but… it is clear that the Star Wolves are on a bit of a lower level. Runes are simply too powerful of a force compared to what beasts are given to use.’ With that she exited out of the arena and went to report back to her own tribe.

Gorgon was also nearby and watched the battle in secret. He didn’t speak any words but simply looked on and left. Although it was hard to notice, his aura had become a bit stronger and more refined.