That morning, Rex and Turan went very early to the academy.
They not only wanted to familiarize themselves with the massive newly built battle arena that would be used for the finals, but they also wanted to finish their last preparations in the academy where it would all go down.
As they trained, the time rapidly ticked away like it was being fast-forwarded and in no time, spectators started trooping into the academy grounds.
The final battle was scheduled to start around 9:00 am, and now, it was only 20 minutes to the time as the anticipation reached a peak.
15 minutes to the time, Principal Dominic Barry of Obedin Mystic Academy summoned the 2 contesting students to his office.
Once they stood before him, he addressed them. This time, Principal Dominic had an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.
"The graduation tournament is not a tournament to breed enmities, rather, it is a tournament to develop bonds between ourselves and to build our unity".
"As you go out there into the arena, remember one thing, you are not each other's enemies, what the both of you are is called competitors".
"The graduation tournament is meant for the both of you to push each other into becoming better mystic warriors of Obedin City".
"Always remember that the enemies are the mystic beasts, not Rex, not Turan".
"Compete with a good spirit and motivation and you'll cherish this moment all your life. Go out there and fight to your heart's content".
"Go and make the academy proud".
"Go and make history!"
…
"Rex Vector!" "Sword Vampire!"
"Turan Elliot!" "Lightning Lord!"
10 minutes before 9:00 am, the massive spectator grounds that were built for this new battle arena were filled up. The spectators went wild as the 2 competing students in the finals finally entered their specific elevators.
The commentator now had the perfect stage to express his impeccable poetic skills in the finals.
"And here we are, about to witness the clash of titans!"
"2 students who are already recognized as legends of Obedin Mystic Academy are about to climb this iconic battle arena to fight the battle of the year".
"Their run in the graduation tournament till now is nothing short of legendary, Rex and Turan had both produced some of the best moments so far".
"Rex Vector, a Darkhorse who no one expected to make it up to the quarterfinals has re-written his fate. Now known as a genius and the Sword Vampire, he is about to take that last step to hegemony".
"His opponent, Turan Elliot, the favorite to win this year's tournament did not disappoint. After having a blistering tournament run so far, he made it to the final and now has to go against the Darkhorse called the Sword Vampire".
"No amount of poetic words can describe this showdown; this is a clash between a Sword Vampire and a Lightning Lord!"
"Savor this moment because they rarely ever come about even in lifetimes".
"Give it up as we welcome…"
Before he got to this point, the spectators' blood was already boiling hot and by the time he started the last sentence, they exploded as they didn't let him finish before the arena was taken by a storm of cheers and applause.
Turan and Rex's elevators moved at the same time as the commentator introduced them as it quickly came close before touching down on the arena.
Clang!
Once the elevator opened up, the 2 students competing to be the champion of this year's graduation tournament finally came out from opposite sides.
The cheers and applause from the spectators exploded even louder.
Rex donned a red combat vest which struck a sharp contrast with the black combat vest that his opponent, Turan wore.
Unlike almost all the previous battles, Turan and Rex's eyes did not clash immediately to start a battle of the mind. Both students closed their eyes and remained motionless amid all the noise to condition their minds for this showdown.
The pressure was strong, the disturbance was much, and for them to fight at their best today, they needed to be in their best state psychologically.
They didn't have all the time in the world to condition their mental state before the battle though as the bell to start the battle finally rang.
Once the bell rang, Rex and Turan's eyes snapped open at the same time.
Shing!
Shing!
Both of them unsheathed their swords from their scabbards at almost the same time and speed as their eyes finally clashed for the first time, the both of their eyes burned with a fiery ambition and determination to win.
"Movement Technique: Drizzling Rain Steps!"
"Movement Technique: Steps of the Nightingale!"
Neither Rex nor Turan took his time, their blood was already boiling hot, and slowing things down would only affect their rhythm at this point.
Once they activated their movement techniques, they disappeared.
Whoosh!
Rex and Turan ran straight toward each other as their eyes seemed to burn holes through each other's skin. Mid-sprint, they attacked.
"Sword Skill: Boomerang Slash!"
"Lightning Sword Skill: Lightning Slash!"
Rex's sword attack was followed by an extremely sharp golden sword energy, while Turan's sword attack was followed by a silvery-blue corona of lightning.
Bam!
Once both ranged attacks collided, heterogenous mystic energy dissipated in every direction as both attacks ground hard at each other before canceling out.
This ranged attack was the only one, Rex and Turan were too fast as in the small-time frame when both attacks hit, they closed the distance to each other.
"Sword Skill: Plutonian Slash!"
"Sword Skill: Emerald Lightning Slash!"
Their eyes briefly glowed intensely as their respective swords slashed towards each other with full power, Berserker and the Triple Kill Sword were about to have their first official clash.
BOOM!
Once the attack hit, it was like a nuclear bomb just went off as the powerful shockwave momentarily pushed both Rex and Turan backward.
Both of them felt their hands vibrating but only for a moment as they quickly stabilized themselves before lunging at each other again.
Rex and Turan were not just any students, they were both geniuses of the sword battle domain, being 1st and 2nd ranked respectively in this battle discipline.
Their sword basics and instincts for basic mystic warriors were as thorough as a baby's smooth palm, melee combat was their forte.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Once they lunged back at each other, both of them began a fierce melee battle. Their body movement and leg movement flowed with the movement of their swords as everything aligned to be as smooth as flowing water.
As Turan released his wide powerful sword blows, Rex countered by releasing precise sword strikes that dripped with lethal danger.
This melee battle was what enabled the both of them to settle down into this final battle, it allowed them to get a complete grip over their nerves back.
For 3 minutes straight, this melee battle continued with neither of them getting injured as it enabled Rex and Turan to find their perfect rhythm back.
For now, their battle seemed to be a draw but it was just starting. After finding their rhythm back, Rex and Turan finally decided to take it a step further.
"Sword Technique: Dance of the 10,000 Drizzling Swords!"
"Sword Technique: Aurora Swordplay!"
Bam! Bam!
Once Rex and Turan both activated their mastered sword techniques, the sword battle took on another dimension as a lot of intricacies suddenly seemed to have been added to each move that they made.
They both seemed a lot more clinical and ruthless as their swords launched at each other for the kill.
Whereas Turan seemed to turn into a master swordsman who learned and mastered 10,000 different sword techniques with lots of variations, Rex seemed to turn into a master of one which was speed.
The Aurora Swordplay emphasized speed above everything else. This was where Rex's advantage started being shown, Rex was superior here.
Seeing the advantage of his opponent was all that was needed to trigger Turan further as he took the battle more than 2 stages ahead at once.
"Advanced Lightning Skill: Lightning Bolt!"
"Advanced Sword Skill: Triple Slashes of Death!"
The contest of advanced skills finally began!
Turan used the exact same advanced skill combo that he used in the semifinals to overwhelm John, leaving only some details behind but a prepared Rex was able to react on time to counter this deadly move.
Rex's eyes glowed golden as with both hands, he grabbed his sword before sending a mystic energy-filled Plutonian Slash upwards to counter the lightning attack while he rapidly turned before activating his own advanced skill.
The Plutonian Slash was not able to counter the Lightning Bolt completely, only stalling it slightly but that was all that Rex needed to make his ultimate move.
"Advanced Sword Skill: One Autumn Leaf- 1st Move!"
Rex's advanced sword skill collided with Turan's sword skill in an epic clash that canceled out the remaining energy of the lightning bolt.
Boom!
The explosive sound lasted only a second before the ringing sound of a sword blade reverberated the next moment. Having fought the shockwave, Rex dived in and went for the kill immediately after he countered his opponent's move.
"Advanced Lightning Skill: Lightning Chain!"
Turan was not close to giving up though as he rolled backward before pointing his Triple Kill Sword to the skies to summon a chain of lightning attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Rex was bombarded by the lightning chain that eliminated John Naga, but his fate was not the same as his counterpart, he would not lose this way.
There was no use holding back anymore, Rex exploded.
"Advanced Sword Skill: One Autumn Leaf- 2nd Move!"
Whoosh!