Free Web NovelChapter 50: Chapter 50: A Duel of Prodigies (2)
Chapter 50: A Duel of Prodigies (2)
A hush settled over the training grounds.
Dust drifted lazily through the air, illuminated by the morning sunlight.
Andras remained on one knee.
A shallow cut marked his cheek, while several tears had appeared across his black training clothes. Thin streaks of blood ran down his left arm where one of Seraphina’s ice spears had grazed him.
Opposite him, Seraphina stood as calm as ever.
Dozens of azure magic circles slowly revolved behind her like celestial stars.
Not a single one showed signs of instability.
Her mana control was flawless.
The spectators exchanged uneasy glances.
"The Young Master..."
"...is losing."
"Lady Seraphina is incredible."
"I knew she was talented, but this..."
"...she’s overwhelming him."
Even Selene narrowed her crimson eyes.
She had expected Seraphina to hold the advantage because of her higher cultivation realm.
Still...
She hadn’t expected Andras to be pushed back this thoroughly.
Seraphina studied him quietly.
Her expression softened ever so slightly.
"I think this is enough."
Her voice carried no mockery.
Only sincerity.
"You’ve already proven your strength."
"There is no shame in stopping here."
"If we continue..."
"...one of us may be seriously injured."
Silence followed.
The soldiers instinctively looked toward Andras.
He slowly rose to his feet.
Using the back of his hand, he wiped the blood from his cheek.
Then...
He smiled.
A calm...
Almost amused smile.
"No."
Seraphina blinked.
"No?"
Andras rested his sword upon his shoulder.
"We finish what we started."
"If one of us gets injured..."
"We have healing potions."
"So there’s no reason to stop."
His violet eyes met hers.
"I’d rather lose after giving everything I have..."
"...than wonder what would’ve happened if I had held back."
For a brief moment...
Seraphina simply looked at him.
Then...
A small smile appeared.
"I understand."
She raised one hand once more.
"Then I’ll stop holding back as well."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Mana surged around her body.
The pressure radiating from the Celestial Codex became even greater than before.
Across the arena...
Andras quietly closed his eyes.
War Predator Physique.
A violent surge of mana exploded throughout his body.
His muscles tightened.
His bones emitted faint cracking sounds.
Every fiber of his body was reinforced.
A crimson aura mixed with deep black mana began to swirl around him.
The ground beneath his feet fractured.
Selene’s eyes widened.
"That aura..."
"What is this?"
Several soldiers instinctively stepped backward.
The pressure pouring from Andras had nearly doubled.
He slowly opened his eyes.
His violet pupils now carried a faint crimson glow.
A low pulse echoed from within his body.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His heartbeat accelerated.
Every sense sharpened.
Every muscle responded perfectly to his will.
Predator Release.
His physical abilities multiplied instantly.
Power flooded every movement.
His grip tightened around the sword.
Echo Resonance.
Activated.
The world slowed.
Echo Step.
Ready.
Resonant Sense.
Every fluctuation of mana became crystal clear.
He lowered his stance.
Then—
He vanished.
Boom!
The stone beneath his feet shattered.
Several soldiers gasped.
"So fast!"
"He disappeared!"
Even Seraphina’s sapphire eyes narrowed.
Fast.
Much faster than before.
Andras appeared directly before her.
His sword descended.
Black Thorn Sword Style.
First Thorn.
Clang!
Her mana barrier blocked the strike.
Before the barrier could fully stabilize—
Second Thorn.
A second slash struck the exact same point.
The barrier rippled violently.
Third Thorn.
Fourth Thorn.
Every strike landed upon precisely the same location.
The continuous impacts forced Seraphina to retreat several steps.
A sharp crack echoed across the arena.
Fine silver fractures spread through the mana barrier like spiderwebs.
The watching soldiers stared in disbelief.
"He..."
"...he damaged Lady Seraphina’s barrier!"
Seraphina’s expression became serious.
She extended both hands.
Mana exploded around her.
The fractured barrier dissolved.
Instead...
Hundreds of tiny mana blades materialized throughout the battlefield.
Each floated silently in the air.
Waiting.
With a gentle wave of her hand—
Every blade accelerated simultaneously.
They came from every direction.
Above.
Below.
Behind.
Ahead.
There was no safe path.
Andras inhaled slowly.
Resonance Pulse.
Invisible shockwaves burst outward.
The nearest mana blades shattered instantly.
He rushed through the opening.
Echo Step carried him forward in blurred flashes.
Black Thorn Sword Style flowed continuously.
His sword danced like a black serpent.
Every slash was faster than the last.
Every movement linked seamlessly into the next.
The battlefield became a blur of steel and magic.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Shockwaves echoed across the training grounds.
Neither side yielded.
Neither side slowed.
Yet...
Little by little...
The difference in cultivation began revealing itself.
Seraphina’s mana reserves seemed endless.
Every destroyed spell was immediately replaced by another.
Every opening Andras created disappeared almost instantly.
Her Celestial Codex continuously analyzed his movements.
His combinations became increasingly difficult to execute.
She was adapting.
Learning.
Countering.
Faster than any opponent he had ever faced.
Andras realized it immediately.
She’s reading my sword style...
Every exchange makes her harder to surprise.
A faint smile appeared on Seraphina’s lips.
A flicker of realization passed through Seraphina’s sapphire eyes.
"So that’s how your sword flows..."
Her smile deepened.
The next moment—
Three overlapping magic circles appeared beneath Andras’s feet.
His eyes widened.
Too late.
Brilliant pillars of azure light erupted upward.
The explosion swallowed him completely.
BOOM!!
The entire training ground shook.
A cloud of dust rose into the sky.
Silence followed.
Every spectator stared toward the center of the arena.
When the dust finally settled...
A lone figure remained standing.
Seraphina.
Her breathing was slightly heavier than before.
A few strands of silver-blonde hair had escaped their place.
Otherwise...
She remained unharmed.
Several meters away...
Andras stood with his sword planted firmly into the cracked ground.
His clothes were torn.
Fresh cuts covered his arms.
His breathing had finally become uneven.
For several seconds...
Neither of them moved.
Then Andras slowly smiled.
"...I concede."
The crimson aura surrounding him gradually faded.
[War Predator Physique Deactivated.]
The tension vanished from the arena.
Seraphina let out a quiet breath before smiling warmly.
"Thank you."
"That was the most enjoyable duel I’ve had in a long time."
Andras pulled his sword from the ground.
"So was mine."
Selene stepped onto the battlefield, a broad smile spreading across her face.
"Outstanding."
She looked first at Seraphina.
"Lady Seraphina, your reputation doesn’t do you justice."
Then she turned toward Andras.
"And you..."
Her smile widened.
"...you managed to force one of the Empire’s greatest young mages to fight seriously despite being an entire circle below her."
She folded her arms.
"You lost."
"...but you should be proud of that defeat."
The soldiers erupted into excited conversation.
"What a duel..."
"The Young Master actually pressured Lady Seraphina."
"She’s terrifying..."
"So is he."
As the excitement spread across the training grounds, Andras glanced once more at Seraphina.
He had lost.
Just as expected.
But his objective had never been victory.
