On the stage, the duel raged on, neither boy willing to yield.
Even after feeling so exhausted to the point that their auras were dissipating, their eyes burned with determination.
However, both boys suddenly heard their ntors’ voices in their minds.
Chad’s voice reached Sora first. "Listen, boy. If you win this, I’ll give you a draconic gauntlet. Tempered scales, forged for fists like yours. Show you deserve it, but if you lose, the gauntlet will be given to Rice."
Of course, Sora knew that he couldn’t lose now!
Sora’s heart pounded harder. His master’s words ignited a fire in his chest. ’A gauntlet... forged from dragon scales? I can’t lose now!’
At the sa ti, Denise’s calm voice entered Rice’s mind.
"Rice, if you win, I’ll give you a runic pendant with Temporal Power. It stabilizes aura flow, prevents overexertion. For your body, it could an survival in the real competition. Prove yourself worthy... However, Sora might get this item if you lose instead."
Rice’s eyes sharpened. ’A pendant from a Ti Manipulator... Master Denise believes in . I cannot fail!’
Both boys, already at their limits, pushed forward with renewed spirit! Their eyes locked, neither willing to yield, their breaths ragged but their wills unbroken.
Bam!
Their fists and palms collided again, aura suddenly surging as if they had just been drugged. However, they were simply ignited by sheer determination.
The two continued to class as their aura scattered across the stage, and the air even started trembling under the pressure of their clash.
The crowd roared as the duel reached its peak! They were obviously loving this kind of battle!
Sora’s Dragon’s Drive t Rice’s Piercing Echo.
Boom!
The explosion of aura shook the arena, dust rising, the floor even started cracking deeper...
For a mont, silence fell. Every spectator holding their breath, waiting to see who would stand victorious.
Then, both boys moved back as their knees buckled, sweat dripping from their brows, their bodies trembling from exhaustion.
And at the sa ti, they collapsed to the ground, with their auras flickering out like dying flas.
A draw.
Thud! Thud!
The crowd erupted, so cheering wildly, others gasping in shock, unable to believe that neither had triumphed. To them, it was not just a fight, it was a legend born before their eyes.
The crowd erupted in chaos.
"What?! They both fell!"
"It’s a tie!"
"No way... I thought Sora had it!"
"Rice redirected everything! He almost won!"
"They’re monsters! First‑years shouldn’t be this strong!"
***
High above, Chad and Denise exchanged stunned looks. For a mont, neither spoke. Then Chad burst into laughter... It was truly unexpected!
"Well, Denise, looks like neither of us won the bet. A draw ans no pendant, no gauntlet to be given..."
Denise chuckled softly, shaking her head. "True... but look at them. They fought as if their lives depended on it. They earned more than just applause. Even if the wager is void, I think I’ll still hand the pendant. He deserves it."
Chad grinned. "Fine... I’ll give the gauntlet for a gift anyway. Call it a reward for their determination. The bet was fun, but the point was to push them beyond their limits."
Indeed, he planned to actually give gifts not just to his student but also to the three participants of the combat arts, it ans that Tracy would also receive a gauntlet from him.
Denise nodded. "Exactly..."
The two laughed together, their voices carrying faintly over the roar of the crowd.
***
From the sidelines, Tracy had been watching the entire duel. Her fists clenched at her sides, her heart pounding.
She had known Rice was strong, and she had suspected Sora’s training under Chad gave him an edge. But seeing them fight like this, seeing their ntors cheering them on, made her chest tighten.
’I don’t have teachers like that...’
She had been designated to join the team, yes. She had received resources, tonics, and training materials. But she didn’t have Chad’s brutal sparring or Denise’s careful guidance. She didn’t have Immortals whispering encouragent into her mind.
For a mont, doubt gnawed at her. Could she really stand beside them in the competition? Could she win against either of them?
But then, she exhaled slowly, she still rembered how Vale’s Avatar acknowledged her skills.
’Right... I may not have their teachers, but I have my own strength. I’ve trained my stamina, my endurance. I learned the new Combat Spell that Immortal Vale recomnded. I can maintain my Combat Aura longer than either of them. If the competition drags on, if the battle becos a test of duration, I will win.’
Her jaw tightened. ’I will not be overshadowed. I will prove myself too.’
The crowd’s cheers echoed around her, but Tracy’s gaze remained fixed on her teammates, lying unconscious on the stage. She felt pressure, but also determination to win alongside these two incredible fellow students.
***
As the matter was settled, Vale’s Avatar turned to Chad and Denise.
"They did well. Both of them. This duel was not about victory, but about growth. And they have grown really well"
Chad nodded. "They’ll be ready for the competition."
Denise smiled faintly. "Yes. Even Tracy, watching from the side, has learned sothing today."
Vale’s Avatar’s gaze sharpened. "Good. Because soon, they will need more than just strength."
"Anyway... Chad, Denise... there will be a eting soon. With the other Immortals. It is very important."
Chad raised a brow. "A eting? What’s the matter?"
Vale’s Avatar’s voice lowered...
"It’s related to the mission I gave to the Ti Manipulators."
Denise’s eyes widened slightly. "The Ti Manipulators... you an, they found sothing?"
Vale’s Avatar nodded. "Yes. The mission I entrusted to them finally gave a good result. This could change everything... We must gather, discuss, and prepare..."
Chad’s expression grew serious, and he nodded.
"Then we’ll be there. Tell us when."
Denise inclined her head. "We’ll be ready."
Vale’s Avatar looked once more at the arena, where Rice and Sora lay unconscious, before turning to the two...
"In a few days... They were still assessing this new realm. However, the initial tests show that this realm is lower than our current one."
Chad gravely nodded as he heard this. It seed that their turn to invade another realm was starting soon...
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