"And the victor of this match is none other than Lord Ambrose Ravenshield!" proclaimed the herald, igniting a deafening roar of jubilation from the delighted crowd.
Gavriel couldn't help but chuckle, acknowledging, "Not bad at all."
Lucian wore a satisfied smile on his face, while Duke Oakenshield clenched his fist, his frustration apparent as he forcefully struck the armrest of his chair.
"I must say, this match proved to be truly entertaining. Well done," the king commended, his voice resounding with genuine appreciation. Ambrose gracefully bowed deeply before departing from the field.
As realization dawned on Ambrose, he couldn't help but wonder who Eveloria was about to duel with. Almost all the nobles had dueled each other at some point, so who could it be?
"Don't tell me..." he mumbled under his breath.
The atmosphere grew tense as the herald's voice cut through the air. "And now, onto the final match. Ladies and gentlemen, gather your attention for the ultimate showdown between Seraphina Crimsonblade and Eveloria Ravenshield," the herald's words resounded.
Upon hearing the announcement, Ambrose's heart sank. ' No... If it's Lady Seraphina, Eveloria doesn't stand a chance,' he thought anxiously. He made a move to return to the field, but his path was abruptly blocked by the guards.
"We apologize, but you are not allowed to pass, you are no longer a combatant, " they sternly informed Ambrose.
Both girls stood facing each other, their swords held upright at their waists, ready for the impending duel. Seraphina wore a sly smirk on her face as she carefully observed Eveloria.
"Allow me to offer you some advice, Lady Eveloria," Seraphina taunted, her voice dripping with condescension. "Save yourself the trouble and surrender now. That way, you won't have to meet your demise in the next five minutes." Her words carried a low, mocking tone, laced with an unmistakable hint of menace.
Eveloria, undeterred by Seraphina's arrogant words, responded calmly, holding her ground and meeting Seraphina's gaze. Her amber eyes burned with unwavering determination. "I shall not forfeit," she declared, her voice steady and resolute.
In response, Seraphina arched an eyebrow, visibly intrigued by Eveloria's defiance. However, her intrigue swiftly transformed into uncontrollable laughter, as if she had just heard the most absurd joke in the world. Her laughter filled the air, echoing through the surroundings.
"I must say, I've never witnessed such unfathomable determination before," Seraphina managed to utter between fits of giggles, her amusement evident. Even after she regained control over her laughter, a hint of mirth remained on her face.
"Very well then. You are hereby declare dead," proclaimed the authority.
"Begin!" The heralds bellowed, signaling the start of the intense battle.
With unwavering determination, she lunged towards Eveloria, her rapier poised to strike Eveloria's neck. "Victory shall be mine," she swore, steadily advancing.
Eveloria swiftly raised her sword, skillfully blocking Seraphina's attack. Their clash of blades continued, each strike narrowly avoided through swift parries. The dance of combat unfolded, a choreography where each move was meticulously calculated. They knew precisely when to attack and defend, their actions inextricably intertwined.
Yet, amidst the intense exchange, Seraphina's keen eye caught a peculiar sight. Eveloria's blade emitted a faint golden glow. It danced along the length of the weapon, casting an ethereal radiance.
"What sorcery is this? That isn't aura or am I hallucinating?" pondered Seraphina, momentarily distracted. Attempting to counter Eveloria's attack with a parry, she found herself deftly countered by a swift slash. The relentless exchange of blows between the two warriors persisted, neither yielding an inch.
'Regardless of what that was, I shall swiftly bring this match to its conclusion,' Seraphina contemplated with determination. Stepping back, she poised herself and drew her rapier, holding her blade parallel to the ground just above her head. In a breathtaking display of agility, Eveloria leaped and executed a graceful backflip, landing on her feet beside Seraphina. In the blink of an eye, Eveloria surged forward with remarkable speed, slashing Seraphina across her left shoulder with her sword.
Alistair's eyes widened in astonishment. The woman before him was a blur of motion, evading attacks with the grace of a seasoned warrior.
Ambrose let out a contented exhale and allowed a slight smile to grace his lips. 'She's doing exactly what I thought her,' he mused to himself, brimming with pride for Eveloria. He held hope in his heart that she would emerge victorious.
Briana furrowed her brows in disbelief at Eveloria's impressive skill. 'Who taught her such formidable techniques?' Her gaze shifted from Eveloria to Ambrose, catching sight of the smile playing on his face.
"Why does he wear that smile?" Briana pondered, her mind filled with curiosity and intrigue.
Ivan's face lit up with delight, his eyes gleaming like those of an excited child. He couldn't help but maintain his wide smile as he observed Eveloria gracefully maneuvering round the arena with her sword. "You've got this!" he whispered to himself, his voice filled with encouragement.
Agnes, on the other hand, stood there silently, her expression devoid of emotions, uttering a barely audible, "Impressive."
Seraphina gritted her teeth, feeling a sharp surge of pain coursing up her arm. A thin stream of crimson trickled from her wound. Frustration consumed her, and her face contorted with anger. 'How dare this nobody!' she seethed internally.
In one swift motion, Seraphina swung her rapier in a sweeping arc, causing Eveloria to lose her balance and skid across the ground. Just as Eveloria managed to regain her footing, she quickly raised her sword to block another strike from Seraphina, but the sheer force behind it sent her reeling to the right.
Eveloria's vision blurred with exhaustion, her chest throbbing with every breath. "Damn!" she cursed inwardly, clutching at her wounded chest.
"I'll ensure you pay," Seraphina snarled, her voice dripping with menace. Yet, Eveloria swiftly regained her footing. Seizing the moment when Seraphina's attention wavered, she lunged forward, her sword aimed low, targeting the vulnerable space beneath Seraphina's knees.
Swift as a striking viper, Seraphina reacted, parrying the blow. The force of the clash propelled her across the ground, skidding in its wake. Before Eveloria could strike anew, Seraphina regained her poise. Raising her weapon high, she brought it down in a deadly arc.
The sequence unfolded in a blur. Eveloria narrowly dodged the descending blade, evading with a last-second roll that propelled her back onto her feet. Echoing in the air was Seraphina's scornful scoff, filled with disbelief. "You believe flight can save you?"
Eveloria locked eyes with Seraphina, witnessing the fiery crimson rage burning within them. The tension hung heavy; Seraphina was poised to unleash her counterattack, her entire being resonating with an overwhelming, simmering power.
Seraphina moved with astonishing speed, leaving trails of vivid crimson energy in her wake, resembling streaks of light that left the entire arena in awe.
"She's already employing the Scarlet Flash Sword technique," Ambrose and Ivan thought, concern etching their expressions.
"Why isn't Lady Eveloria demonstrating her own sword technique?" Agnes wondered aloud.
Alistair murmured to himself, "Will Eveloria manage to evade this impending attack?"
Engrossed in the unfolding battle, Gavriel keenly observed the evolving situation.
Eveloria found herself nearly immobilized by exhaustion, her breaths coming in heavy, ragged gasps.
"I can't move," Eveloria realized, her gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching Seraphina. A trickle of sweat traced down her temple, her breathing growing increasingly labored.
In that crucial instant, the chilling truth dawned upon her—there was no way to elude the impending, lethal strike of Seraphina's rapier, nor could she thwart it with her own blade. Time itself seemed to slow, each moment dragging as if through molasses, while her eyelids grew increasingly burdensome.
Summoning her inner resolve, she steeled herself for the inevitable finishing blow, bracing for the impending rush of death's embrace. With grim determination, she shut her eyes, readying herself to endure the searing pain that would follow. Just then, a distant voice sliced through the impending darkness, calling out her name, "Eveloria!"
The clash of sword blades resounded, a tumultuous collision that reverberated throughout the arena, causing even the ground to quiver. A collective gasp swept through the crowd, every face marked by astonishment and disbelief.