The arena was buzzing with noise.
Thousands of eyes stared down from the audience seats awaiting the duel to start.
Yet Aziel felt nothing.
Lucien stood opposite him on the dueling platform, calmly holding his spear in his hand.
He looked confident. The picture of composure.
Aziel’s eyes were calm but his grip around the hilt of his katana tightened.
Don’t think. Just move.
He knew Lucien was stronger than him.
Much stronger.
But he wasn’t going to give up.
The duel tir hit zero.
The sound of the announcer echoed.
"Begin."
Aziel moved first.
His mana surged, fire bursting from his feet as he accelerated forward like a missile.
He closed the gap in a second, his katana slicing forward in a clean horizontal arc.
Lucien didn’t try to dodge.
He just calmly raised his spear, lightning crackling around it.
Their weapons t mid-air—Aziel’s slash rebounded with a loud clang.
Sparks flew.
Aziel pivoted on his heel, twisting his body midair and swinging again — vertical this ti.
Lucien just sidestepped casually, as if he was evading a breeze.
His whole body was covered in lightning enhancing his speed and reflexes to the utmost.
"Too slow," Lucien muttered.
A bolt of lightning erupted from his fingertips at point-blank.
Aziel barely had ti to bring up his blade.
BOOM!
The impact sent him flying backward, before he managed to regain his balance and flip back onto his feet.
His breathing was rough.
"Shit," Aziel cursed.
Lucien was even stronger than he anticipated.
Lucien remained unmoving as if he didn’t care.
His fingers crackled with lightning arcs but he didn’t pursue Aziel.
"Is that all you got?" Lucien taunted Aziel with a smirk.
Aziel gritted his teeth.
He rushed again — feinting low, then slashing upward.
His katana was covered in flas.
The heat distorted the air.
But it had no effect.
Lucien simply raised a hand.
A do of lightning ford around him.
Aziel’s blade hit the barrier — and bounced off.
No entry.
Lucien hadn’t wasted his ti either. Ever since he returned from the ancient ruins, he had dedicated all his ti to purely training.
He hadn’t broken through to the next rank.
But his application of his elent had reached a completely new level.
Lucien’s eyes turned cold and clinical.
Then he moved.
In the blink of an eye, he passed through his own barrier.
Aziel barely had ti to process before a lightning-coated palm slamd into his ribs.
CRACK!
Lucien didn’t use his spear anymore.
He had long put it back.
Midway through battle, he had judged Aziel unworthy to even use his weapon.
Aziel’s vision turned white for a mont.
His body scread in pain as he was lifted off the ground and flung across the platform.
He crashed into the barrier covering the edge of the arena.
The audience cheered even more loudly.
Aziel coughed. He could taste blood in his mouth.
His limbs trembled.
Get up.
His body refused.
Get the hell up.
He forced himself to his feet, swaying slightly.
He couldn’t use Emberheart.
The condition wasn’t t.
It only activated when he had soone to protect.
Lucien walked forward slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Do you get it now?" Lucien said calmly.
"You’re just a loudmouth fla user riding on borrowed hype."
Aziel didn’t answer. His lips curled into a bloody grin.
He raised his blade again.
"Talk less," he growled. "Fight more."
Lucien exhaled. "Very well."
He vanished.
Aziel turned too late.
WHAM!
A lightning-enhanced knee slamd into his back.
Aziel gasped as the wind knocked out of him.
Before he hit the ground, Lucien raised both hands.
A lightning circle ford above him.
Aziel had half a second to react.
He channeled his mana inward — fla burst out from his limbs in defense.
Too slow.
The bolt hit.
KA-BOOOOOOOM!
Blinding white light engulfed the arena.
The crowd collectively recoiled, shielding their eyes.
Aziel crashed down hard, smoke rising from his body.
His katana had been blown from his hand by the impact.
He had barely managed to defend himself at the very last mont.
Still, the damage wasn’t small.
His body felt heavy.
Lucien stared down at him, voice cold.
"Give up? Or should I keep going?"
Aziel’s fingers twitched.
The duel would only stop it he was unconscious or he gave up.
But he had no intention to give up.
He forced his body up.
Onto one knee.
The crowd didn’t cheer anymore.
They watched in silence.
So were horrified.
So were awestruck.
And so were concerned.
Aziel could even imagine Cecilia calling him dummy.
Lucien tilted his head. "Why?"
Aziel didn’t answer.
Not because he was trying to be dramatic.
He simply didn’t know.
Why was he still standing?
Why was he trying so damn hard?
When he first entered the academy, he wasn’t like this.
Back then, just one solid punch would’ve been enough to make him quit.
He didn’t care about rankings, glory, or proving anything.
So what changed?
The answer ca uninvited.
Alden.
That reckless bastard.
He rembered the first ti he saw him — back during the entrance exam.
Alden was fighting Zephyr. Outmatched. Outranked.
Aziel watched from the sidelines, scoffing.
What an idiot, he’d thought.
But Alden didn’t give up. Didn’t retreat. Didn’t lose.
He fought like the world was watching — even when no one cared.
That stuck with Aziel more than he liked to admit.
And sowhere along the line...
He decided to be friends with that idiot.
But he didn’t realize that, piece by piece, that sa idiocy was being rubbed off on him.
Now here he was.
Battered.
But still standing.
Because if Alden could fight until his bones broke...
Then Aziel could take a few more hits too.
If that made him an idiot?
Then so be it.
Aziel spat blood onto the floor. "Because soone has to punch you in that smug face."
He raised his fist, no weapon now, only raw fire coating around his knuckles.
Lucien’s lips twitched.
"So, you want the hard way out."
And he charged.
___
Author’s Note:
Hey guys,
The Inter-Academy Arc is about to begin soon. Expect rival schools, fresh challenges and new characters ready to shake things up.
If you’ve got any suggestions—plot twists, character matchups, academy ideas or even specific scenarios you want to see—drop them in the comnts.
I’m always open to ideas that can make the arc more exciting.
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