Seventeen and Jason walked over to Training Hall 12. The academy has over 15 training halls scattered across the whole campus and most of them are used by students in preparation for the Grand Battle Festival.
So they went to Training Hall 12 which is behind the Headmaster's office and the only one currently free. He hopes their duel doesn't inconvenience Zephyrus.
On the other hand. It will be entertaining to keep the Cardinal on his toes.
(You are truly evil.)
'Hehe.'
Like every Training Hall of the academy, the one they are in is specially built. Beneath the soft blue paint, the walls are made of tough magia crystals that absorb the magia produced during battles between students.
They are so effective it's said they can absorb the magia released by a Captain before breaking.
(I wonder whether the walls would hold?)
'Maybe. I have a feeling this duel will be intense.', Seventeen replied in his mind as he examined the walls for any signs of damage. Satisfied, he looked at Jason, "You ready?"
He nodded with a grin, "I've been waiting for this for a long time, instructor Seventeen."
"I see you're enthusiastic.", Seventeen smiled and held out his hand. Nyx materialized from his glove and the black blade glinted under the lights of the training room.
"How about we use our weapons for this duel? There is no one else here."
"Gladly.", Jason nodded his head. Suddenly the temperature dropped as darkness pooled at his feet. Seventeen could feel the dense and sinister Darkness magia permeating the air.
'This is interesting.', he thought.
(Darkness and Light are said to be stronger than the other attributes. Both of them can affect the surroundings of the warlock. Truly fascinating.)
The darkness pooling at Jason's feet was like smoke, without form but dense and blacker than Nyx.
Something rose out of the roiling darkness, releasing a huge amount of magia. It was a longsword with a black blade with silver at the edges and runes etched into the metal, a crescent-shaped guard, and a dark red ruby embedded in the hilt.
Seventeen could feel a sinister and powerful presence from the sword. He gulped, the sword felt like a trapped entity that wants to be freed. He had read about this sword and its history is darker than the blade itself.
"The legendary black sword of the Kains. Lilith."
As if responding to the name, the runes on the blade glowed silver and the ruby pulsed like a beating heart. It was as if the sword itself was alive.
"Looks like she likes you.", Jason remarked, "Many called her a cursed sword but to me, she is one of the most beautiful things I have ever laid my eyes upon.", he ran his finger along the silver edge. He then took a stance, tendrils of darkness enveloping the blade.
"Let's get started. Shall we?"
He shot forwards at Seventeen and jabbed. The instructor swiftly moved aside. Jason shifted his foot and swung at him.
Seventeen blocked the strike with Nyx and jumped back as a shockwave ripped the air. He ignited his sword, golden red flames licking the black blade of Nyx.
He swung upwards, and a huge wave of Pheonix Flames rushed towards Jason who calmly gripped his sword and infused his attribute into it.
Just as the flames reached him, he also swung upward and a wave of black flames clashed with Seventeen's attack.
The explosion of magia almost blew Jason away but he held his ground. He saw movement in the smoke and reacted just in time as Nyx emerged from the smoke but without its wielder.
Seventeen had thrown his sword at the opponent. He quickly deflected it back the way it came and heard the sword hit the ground.
Suddenly, Jason saw his opponent come at him from the left, covered in flames. 'The Pheonix Cloak.', he thought and slashed at Seventeen in that short time, making sure he won't be able to react.
Black flames of darkness hit the surprised Seventeen but to Jason's shock, the instructor just smiled and dissipated into flames as he was hit by the wave of darkness.
He spotted a sudden movement behind him. He realized what Seventeen had done.
{Fire Code: Burning Clone}, using this code, the instructor had created a doppelganger that looked like him using the Pheonix Cloak to distract Jason. First the thrown sword and then the clone.
Now the real Seventeen will strike him from behind. Jason had heard about Nyx, how the single-blade sword can inflict intense pain with just a small cut. He won't be able to dodge this attack.
Unless.
Jason concentrated his attribute on his back and it unfurled into four appendages of darkness that lashed out at Seventeen.
{Darkness Code: Black Arms}
Seventeen just frowned and deflected them before jumping to the side.
But Jason wasn't done.
The young man appeared above him, his black appendages forming a cross with him in the center, his sword covered in darkness and poised to strike.
'Kain Style Third Form: Star fall'
Seventeen quickly moved away before Jason plunged Lilith into the floor and an explosion of Darkness erupted from the sword, rocking the hall.
{Space Code: Teleport}
Seventeen quickly vanished from the range of the explosion and appeared above his student before the smoke cleared. His eyes glowed as he used magia vision and found Jason.
He subtly used the Air attribute to launch himself toward his opponent, sword ready to strike from behind.
He was about 5 meters away when he noticed the black appendages on Jason's back come together and formed what looked like a flower bud. Darkness converged at the tip and formed a small marble-like black sphere.
Seventeen's eyes widened as the sphere quickly grew into the size of a tennis ball. He quickly teleported away just as Jason released his code.
{Darkness Code: Obsidian Beam}
A powerful black beam tore through the air and pierced the ceiling, shattering the magia crystals. Before it could pierce through the roof of the training hall, the black beam dissipated into wisps of darkness.
Seventeen appeared a good distance from Jason. It was a close call and a testament to the power of Darkness.
Light and Darkness are in a different league than the other primary elements. One peculiar fact is that these two attributes can mimic the properties of the primary attributes.
It is said that they have the destructive power of Fire, the versatility of Air, the speed of Lightning, the rigidity of Earth, and the smooth flow of Water.
"Now I see why the ice queen is always having a hard time against you.", he remarked.
Jason smiled, his black appendages idly swaying behind him, "I've always wondered why it was instructor Ruth who came whenever I challenged for a duel instead of you."
"Now I know. You are the only person in the academy that made me use Obsidian Beam. I didn't even use it in my duels with Aaron."
"I am aware that you have multiple attributes.", he said. Seventeen arched his eyebrows, "That is an interesting observation."
"My attribute allows me to determine the nature of the attributes of my opponent and I can feel more than two from you. Fire, Air, Space. These are just the beginning.", Jason tilted his head, grinning.
Seventeen closed his eyes and sighed, "I see It's no use hiding from you. Well then."
He opened his eyes and the air became heavy. Tendrils of darkness rose from Seventeen as his purple eyes glowed with power.
The air shook and the walls of the hall started to crack under the immense presence. Darkness surrounded Seventeen before converging on his back, forming two massive black wings that decreased the temperature as they shifted.
Jason gulped. There is only one thing that came to mind when he saw this spectacle.
An angel of death.
A bead of sweat fell down his back and he felt chills. His heart started beating faster, not with fear but with excitement at seeing something this majestic. Lilith started glowing and humming. He can feel the vibrations in his hand and he gripped the sword tightly.
He knows that Lilith is hungry for battle. He is completely aware of the dark and tragic origin of the sword that had been passed by generations in his family.
According to legend, Lilith was the sister of the now Fallen Lord, Stephen Kain, Jason's ancestor. Considered one of the strongest warlocks in her time and her race, she was called the left hand of the mythical queen of demons with her brother being the right hand.
Lilith loved to battle, unlike her calm and diplomatic brother but the loyalty she had for her queen was second only to Stephen.
So it was she who took the responsibility to hunt down Stephen, her own brother who became a Fallen and betrayed the Demon Queen.
It was said that their battle shook the land. But despite her overwhelming power, Lilith died at her brother's hands. By the time he realized what he had done, it was too late.
In his grief for his sister and hatred at his own existence, Stephen unknowingly trapped Lilith's spirit into her sword, creating a powerful weapon at the same time.
Stephen Kain vowed to never forget his grave sins and exiled himself to Ethereos after giving his sister's sword to his child.
The sword remained in the Kain family for generations, bearing witness to every tragedy that came upon them, as if it was karma for the actions of their ancestor.
Lilith was called a cursed sword and was hidden away in a secret room underneath the mansion of the Kains.
It remained there for hundreds of years until a young Jason, the last living Kain found it when he visited the ruins of the mansion.
Considering Lilith's personality, Jason is not surprised that the spirit of the demon inside the sword had stirred from her deep slumber upon sensing the magia spoiling out of his instructor.
"Thank you, instructor Seventeen.", he whispered with a smile.
Seventeen felt the power inside the sword his student held changing. 'Looks like you have competition.', he thought, gripping Nyx.
"Let's get serious. Shall we?", he raised his sword, excitement is written all over his face.
Jason grinned and unleashed his power. Both presences clashed and shook Training Hall 12 to its foundations. The walls further cracked under the immense pressure of magia.
"Gladly."