Once the first semifinal showdown came to an end after producing another classic of this graduation tournament, the hype surrounding the 2nd semifinal showdown only increased the more.
Rex returned home that day under a lot more pressure than before.
Though he tried to downplay it, Rex in his secret time still marveled at his tournament run so far. At times, he was shocked by the outrageous speed at which he improved since he awakened mystic energy.
Rex still remembered a week and a few days ago when he still had no hopes of getting a good result in the graduation tournament, but here he was, in the semifinals. Everything felt surreal, the world was so random.
Now, he was about to go toe to toe against the 2nd overall best student of this batch of students, Morgana Jones.
If Rex said that he was not under pressure then he was lying. During this time when alone he could not do it, his 2 friends became his best companions.
Though they were already eliminated from the tournament, Ben and Cassandra were still his friends and wanted the very best for him.
Throughout the rest of the day, they accompanied him, made jokes, and encouraged him to enliven his mood. Trust Ben, he made sure to trash-talk Morgana so much that this warrior lady now looked like a clown before Rex.
Rex was grateful for his friend's help, he finally got back his motivation to train. He trained for the best parts of the day and went to the sloth bar at night.
Master Fixten didn't train with Rex today, he only sat him down and gave him advice, revealing some valuable hints to him before finally sending him away.
At this juncture, only Rex could control his fate.
…
Time moved like the wind; the D-day was here.
"We've come a long way from the first phase of the tournament all the way to the 2nd-day showdown of the tournament's semifinal".
"Today, we are sure to be treated to another battle classic".
"Just like yesterday, today will be a showdown between 2 teenage mystic monsters".
"Today, we'll be treated to a showdown between the best student of the Tessenjutsu department and wind elemental department and the best student of the sword battle domain department".
"Rex Vector is a prime example of what a dark horse is. Nobody expected him to make it this far, and we can't wait to see how far he goes".
"Give it up as we welcome the Wind Fairy and the Sword Vampire to the battle arena to fight for a place in the finals".
After getting his own fanbase among the spectators, Rex got this nickname, Sword Vampire due to his precise and ruthless sword battle style.
Clang!
Once the elevators touched down on the arena, both students came out from opposite sides as, like their predecessors, their eyes clashed.
A psychological battle through the eyes started between both students as they lost perception of time before the bell finally rang.
Gong!
Once the bell rang, like the wind, Morgana grabbed and brought out her pair of deadly Tessens while Rex unsheathed Berserker from its scabbard.
Shing!
Once Rex unsheathed Berserker, perhaps due to the pressure and all that was at stake in the semifinals, he entered such a concentrated state that he seemed to hear Berserker singing to him.
Rex entered his sword stance but he changed the position of his hand this time as he raised his sword to his ears like he was listening to a beautiful melody.
In this state, Rex's mystic energy flowed to his will.
Whoosh!
Morgana didn't care about such meticulous arrangements as she activated her movement technique before rushing toward her opponent with speed.
"Wind Skill: Floating Leaf!"
Morgana activated her signature skill from the onset, then without wasting any time, she bent her body backward like a boomerang before shifting forward as she threw her Tessens forward with all her might.
Boom!
The Tessens literally broke the sound barrier.
Rex could not keep up with the Tessens no matter how hard he tried, so he simply closed his eyes and listened to the guiding song that Berserker sang.
Shing!
Rex took a step before slashing his sword forward the next moment.
"Sword Skill: Boomerang Slash!"
With this massive sword slash, a much more gigantic sword energy followed and this sword energy went straight towards the trajectory of the flying Tessens.
Clang!!!
Rex literally felt his ears vibrating as the sound of sword energy and metal fans colliding reverberated, but he still managed to keep his concentration.
The sword energy came out on top after the confrontation as the pair of Tessens was deflected away, but Morgana was as attentive as an eagle.
"Advanced Wind Skill: Eagle Flight!"
Just like Turan, Morgana showed her genius by revealing her 2nd advanced skill in this tournament as this warrior lady took flight into the skies.
Mid-flight, Morgana motioned with her hands as her Tessens flew back towards her. Once she grabbed them, she briefly closed her eyes to garner concentration and when she opened them again, they glowed purple.
"Advanced Wind Skill: Tessen Wind Storm!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Once Morgana activated her 2nd advanced skill, she seemed to turn into a sky goddess as a wind storm of blades was unleashed toward Rex.
The sky was filled with so many wind blades that it seemed that Rex would be cut into pieces, but Rex never gave up.
Rex stood his ground, adapting his sword stance into a basic defensive stance as he removed every distraction from his mind. The only thing remaining in his sight now was the wind blades and his opponent.
"Sword Skill: Plutonian Slash!"
Rex activated his best sword skill, but not just once, not twice either, he kept on activating Plutonian Slashes while activating Berserker's mystic effect at the same time as dozens of sword energies were unleashed towards the sky.
The sound was like those of exploding dominoes as the dozens of sword energies collided against the wind blades released by Morgana.
Sword energy kept on canceling wind blades even as Morgana descended. A minute later, this warrior lady finally descended.
Boom!
Once she descended, melee combat began.
Clang! Clang!
While still channeling their mystic energy, Rex and Morgana began an epic melee mystic battle as the pair of Tessens and Berserker kept on colliding.
"Wind Skill: Storm Push!"
"Wind Skill: Air Cannon!"
"Tessen Skill: Tessen Barrage!"
"Wind Combination Skill: Tessen Storm!"
Morgana was unrestrained, and Rex showed her that he was relentless.
"Sword Skill: Needle Stab!"
"Sword Skill: Drilling Stab!"
"Sword Skill: Boomerang Slash!"
This was an epic showdown between 2 students who were the absolute best in their various battle domains. They ground so much for so many years that their basics were as solid as a rock, they fought without leaving any openings to exploit.
Morgana and Rex's battle was legendary!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Tessens and Sword collided in an epic showdown between these 2 students that went on for 7 minutes non-stop, they both already sustained a lot of injuries.
The more time went, the more Morgana's little advantage grew. As the only one of the 2 who had access to advanced skills so far, she dominated Rex in this aspect since advanced skills were so much more powerful than basic skills.
Anytime that she revealed one of her advanced skills, though it drained her mystic energy, Rex suffered a lot.
Rex survived till now only because of his strong will to not lose.
"I can't lose now!"
"At least not after getting this far, not after putting up such a good fight!"
Rex was reluctant to lose, he must not lose!
By now, the spectator stands were as silent as a graveyard as these glory hounds watched this clash of titans filled with emotions and talent gravely.
No one supported one student over the other anymore, Morgana and Rex impressed them. They would applaud both of them no matter who won.
Whoosh!
Rex sustained another injury to the cheek which destabilized him. Before he could recover, he received a kick to the face which made him stagger backward and Morgana ended the combo by activating her Tessen's mystic effect.
As the jet stream of air shot towards Rex, his eyes glowed aggressively in defiance of the reality, he was about to lose and he didn't want to lose.
There was nothing Rex could do again, Morgana finally cornered him and it left him frustrated as his stress levels rose to an astronomical level.
In this state, pushed by the pressure, Rex got close to and understood his sword in a way that he had never understood before.
He got close to something that felt like a bottleneck, Rex felt it about to tip over and break but at the last moment, it stalled, the force was not enough.
Rex almost deflated but he was distracted by something. All of a sudden, the same phenomenon that happened to him over a week ago when he fought against his first mystic beast happened again.
Rex's vision suddenly changed into a bloody red battlefield.
Unlike the last time, Rex's visit here was brief as he returned to reality the next moment but during the brief stay, he saw something that ingrained itself into his head. He saw something that his father taught him before.
This sight was what enabled Rex to tip over that little bottleneck. Rex suddenly channeled his mystic energy in a way that he had never done before.
Ptui!
Morgana's Tessen finally cut his neck but due to his fast reactions, the Tessen was not able to cut all the way through and this was Rex's chance.
Like that day, Rex's eyes were now bloody red as he glared at his opponent. Then he roared with all his might the next moment.
"Advanced Sword Skill: One Autumn Leaf- 1st Move!"
BOOM!
This time, not even the watching intermediate master was able to react on time. Rex's horrifying sword attack cut a shocked Morgana into 2 as blood flowed like rain, everybody was shocked!
As Rex glared agitatedly at his opponent's half bodies, a change suddenly happened as Morgana changed into water before pouring down on the arena.
While everyone failed to react, the Wandering Moon Queen did.
Morgana survived; everyone was relieved but it was the outcome of this legendary battle that would remain unforgettable for all their lives.
Rex Vector won!