Sora was stunned as soon as he realized that this was really happening.
He knew about Rice already, since he was always aiming to be soone capable of defeating him... It was not to prove that Vale had selected the wrong disciple, but it was to make his master proud!
Furthermore, Rice had started to beco famous... He was the one whose aura already dominated sparring matches, the rumored disciple of Shane after all.
His heart pounded, but Chad’s words left no room for hesitation.
"You have to win," Chad repeated.
"If you succeed, I will grant you a high-grade draconic artifact. A weapon forged with dragon scales and dragon’s breath, sothing worthy of your aura. If you fail, it is not the end. You will train harder, longer, until you rise again. But no rewards for defeat."
Sora clenched his fists, and his Draconic Aura slipped faintly around him. The promise of such an artifact was overwhelming, but more than that was the weight of Chad’s command. He bowed his head...
"I will do my best, Master," he said firmly. "I will not waste the blood and essence you gave ."
Chad smiled as he knew that he had selected a great student.
"Good. Rember, you will slowly beco a Half-Dragon Arcanist and will be above the rest. Just prove yourself deserving of these changes."
***
Elsewhere in the academy, Rice sat across from Denise in a quiet chamber. The scrolls she had given him months ago lay open on the table, their diagrams etched into his mory.
At this point, Rice’s frail body still ached from training when he was called by Denise. Still, his eyes were filled with determination.
After hearing that he had to fight against Rice, he didn’t feel nervous at all.
Denise studied him for a long mont before speaking.
"You have done well, Rice. Vale entrusted with these materials, and you have not disappointed. Your instincts are as sharp as ever... As a matter of fact, sharper than most warriors twice your age. But as you know, instinct alone will not win against Chad’s student."
Rice’s jaw tightened. "Sora."
Although most of his classmates didn’t know, he knew that Sora was being trained by a Dragon Immortal!
After all, even if it’s impossible for Sora to imdiately show signs of Draconic Powers, it would still help hasten his training results.
Sora must be approaching the level of a First-Class Arcanist if he has been strengthened by Dragon’s Blood and Essence!
"Yes," Denise said. "We can’t underestimate him since he carries dragon blood. His aura is not ordinary. But you are not ordinary either. Vale sees potential in you. Do not think of yourself as weaker. Think of yourself as precise. Every strike must count. Every movent must matter and if you fight without being ntally overwheld, you can win."
Rice nodded slowly as he clenched his fist.
"I’ve been underestimated all my life. This ti, I’ll show them my strength."
Denise’s lips curved faintly.
"Good. Rember, you are not alone. You obtained Vale’s blessing. Fight as if it’s already the Competition..."
It didn’t take that long before the day of the duel arrived.
The academy’s great arena was filled with students, professors, and even normal Arcanists who wanted to watch so duels between students.
Still, before Sora and Rice’s match, another bout was underway.
Two fourth-year students of the Dark Arts, Necromancy Major, faced each other in one of the stages, and it was attracting a lot of attention.
Apparently, they just both finished casting curses and dispelling spells against each other’s debuff Spells.
Then, they summoned undead creatures and it beca explosive! From Skeleton Knights to Mummies to Wraiths, and Zombies!
However, they were equally matched! They even used Corpse Explosion at the sa ti, damaging themselves.
As they were both weakened, one raised his staff, summoning a Skeleton Mage.
The creature rose from the ground, bones clattering... Then, its empty sockets glowed with blue fire. It lifted its skeletal hands and started casting spells of frost and shadow.
The other necromancer was also low in Dark Energy... Still, his aura showed that he was not giving up!
With his little bit of Dark Energy, he summoned five ghouls! They were twisted creatures with rotting flesh and claws dripping with venom. They charged forward, hoping that the Mage would be slow enough so they could cross the distance.
The Skeleton Mage stood its ground, chanting using ancient magic language...
Soon, bolts of dark energy shot from its hands, striking the ghouls one by one!
The arena shook as the clash unfolded... The ghouls were tearing at bone while the mage would blast them apart with spells!
For a mont, it seed the ghouls’ numbers would overwhelm.
But the Skeleton Mage’s defense and firepower were unmatched. It froze two ghouls in place, shattered another with a blast of shadow fire, and finally unleashed a wave of bone shards that pierced the last two.
It was an impressive battle. The crowd couldn’t help but celebrate as the lone Skeleton Mage stood victorious against the five ghouls!
However, the winner was already decided, and soon, it started fading back into dust. The necromancer who summoned it bowed to thank the audience, but his opponent collapsed to his knees in defeat.
"Good fight! Let’s try again next ti!"
Soon, the elental Arts students who were part of the Battle Arena Committee rushed forward and started repairing the stage.
Flas were extinguished, cracks sealed, and soon, the stage was restored to pristine condition.
Then, another student who was also an Arbiter and part of the Committee called the next scheduled battle.
"Next match: Rice of Combat Arts versus Sora of Combat Arts!"
The crowd cheered, though many of them had no idea who they were.
They were just happy to see another fight and broadened their horizon. However, as soon as the two appeared, they were finally recognized.
It was because they were wearing the first-year uniform and realized that they were part of the national team!
They knew that the Competition would only accept students 15 years old and below, and the academy decided to send freshn students who were only 12 or 13 years old. Since the competition was getting closer, more and more first-year students were coming here to test their skills...
"Are they going to participate in the competition?"
"Probably... They both looked impressive."
"Yes... I think Rice has been accepted by Vale as his disciple."
"As for Sora, he must be a training partner."
"They look small... Is it really all right to send 12-year-old Arcanists? The other Academies will definitely send those 15... or maybe even those about to turn 16 in a few days or so."
"That’s fine... It’s the Academy’s way to send a ssage to the rest of the Arcane Academies around the world... Immortal Vale was definitely telling them that they just need freshn to take over the world."
"Hahaha! I like that!"
Soon, Sora stepped into the arena, his heart pounding, but his steps remained steady.
He couldn’t even hear the audience at this point.
Still, his Draconic Aura leaked for a bit...
After taking a deep breath, however, he rembered Chad’s words, the promise of the artifact, the command to win.
He would not lose here because he was nervous!
"I will win!"
Across from him, Rice entered calmly as well.
His frail fra seed out of place in the vast arena, but his eyes remained focused.
Both of them carried no weapon, only their aura and techniques ingrained in their bones.
The two faced each other and soon, silence fell over the crowd.
The Arbiter then confird that the two were ready...
Still, he reiterated the rules of the duel to ensure that no one gets heavily injured... After they nodded, the Arbiter raised his hand. "Begin!"
The mont he finished speaking, Aura flared instantly.
Sora’s Draconic Aura blazed around him...
His presence was overwhelming, pressing down on the arena like a storm.
Rice’s aura was different... It felt sharp and controlled.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, both of them shifted into Iron Guard Form!
It was the Foundational Spell and Technique of the Combat Arts within the Academy!
Both of their stance were firm. However, while Sora’s focus was to extend his Aura, Rice intended to redirect the weight of Sora’s Aura!
Rice knew that if they fought head-on, he would lose easily against soone with a physique blessed by the Dragon. It was simply unfair since even if he also obtained a Body Tempering Technique and strengthened his body, Dragon’s blood was simply too effective.
Sora knew this, so as soon as he had gotten used to Rice’s Combat Aura, he charged first with his fist, filled with his Draconic Aura!
This was to test how Rice would et his attack!
As expected, Rice didn’t block and stepped aside with Swift Step, striking back with Spirit Strike aid at Sora’s ribs.
Bam!
The blow landed, and it was accurate. However, Sora’s aura absorbed the impact completely, leaving him unhard!
The crowd gasped while Sora grinned faintly. "Not bad."
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