In one of the halls leading from the spectator stands to the battle podium, Azrael crossed paths with Luna.
The resounding cheers of the audience filled the air as an intense battle unfolded on the podium. Yet, within this corridor, the atmosphere was starkly different.
Luna stood there, her first match now behind her, but it hadn't gone as she'd hoped. Her head hung low, shoulders slumped under the weight of disappointment. Her clenched fists revealed the inner turmoil as she fought back tears that threatened to escape.
The burden of failure pressed heavily on her heart, making each breath a struggle.
Luna's eyes remained fixed on the floor, glistening with unshed tears that seemed to hold a universe of emotions.
Seeing Luna on the verge of tears, Azrael moved closer, extending a gentle hand, and gently patted her head, offering comfort. "Losses happen sometimes," he reassured her. "You're a smart girl, and you'll definitely win next time."
Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Luna's tears escaped, trickling down her cheeks.
Azrael's words felt gentle and kind, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of letting everyone down, most of all herself.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I thought I could win this time, but I failed."
In the course of life, there comes a time when you've given your utmost and put all you've got into it, but life says otherwise. Life is unfair and Azrael understands that feeling clearly.
Azrael's fingers cupped Luna's face gently, directing her gaze towards him as he tenderly wiped away her tears. "I know it hurts," he said in a soft, empathetic tone.
His expression softened as he continued, "Losing doesn't make you a failure," he said. "It's part of the journey, and it's what makes us come back stronger."
A faint, albeit fragile, smile graced Luna's lips. She felt a mixture of embarrassment and relief, with her vulnerability having been both exposed and welcomed.
Gradually, her tears ceased. Seeing that Azrael smiled, "Feel a bit better?"
Luna nodded, resolved to find her inner strength and embrace the lessons learned from her loss. Her eyes now held a renewed sense of determination.
"Then, let's go back," Azrael suggested, gently taking her hand. Luna followed him, and together, they walked away from the hallway, heading back to their seat.
–
–
–
The Battle Arena pulsed with electrifying energy as the next round of duels unfolded.
Azrael and Luna returned to their seats beside Theo.
Theo offered words of encouragement, his voice filled with optimism. "Don't give up, Luna. Next time, you'll definitely win," he reassured her, and Luna responded with a genuine, appreciative smile.
The ongoing battles persisted, each one contributing to the resonating symphony of determined clashes that enveloped the entire arena.
The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the audience remained engrossed in the riveting spectacle before them.
The Kim siblings, Hyunwoo and Yerin, had once again displayed their remarkable mastery of elemental magic, dispatching their opponents with an almost effortless grace. Their control over the elements was awe-inspiring, and the audience couldn't help but be captivated by their every move.
True to expectations, Thant Zin had dominated his match with his usual one-sided dominance, leaving spectators in no doubt about the exceptional of his combat skills. His every move was a testament to his martial arts mastery.
Theo, on the other hand, had encountered a more formidable challenge in his fight. Despite the difficulty he faced, he exhibited unwavering determination and ultimately emerged victorious. His hard-fought win earned him the respect of both the spectators and his fellow cadets.
Azrael, too, had emerged victorious in his fight, igniting a range of reactions among the crowd.
While some admired his skills, a growing undercurrent of resentment swirled through the spectators. It wasn't just his combat style that irritated them, but also his talents as a common tier.
In their eyes, watching Azrael toy with his opponents felt like an irksome unnecessary show of skill.
It was as if he enjoyed his victories, flaunting his abilities despite his common magical aptitude.
As the next match loomed, anticipatory murmurs swept through the audience.
Conversations buzzed with speculations and analyses regarding the upcoming showdown between Theo and Thant Zin.
"Thant Zin is undoubtedly a martial arts prodigy," commented a thoughtful cadet, a young Chinese guy with glasses, his analytical mind at work. "But Theo is a knight; he must have some tricks up his sleeve to defend against him."
Now, on the battle podium, Thant Zin and Theo stood face to face, a palpable tension filling the air, creating an atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Thant Zin wore the signature black academy battle suit without any additional armor. He didn't even carry a weapon, as his body was his instrument. His posture was relaxed, almost as if he didn't take the impending battle seriously.
Theo, on the other hand, is dressed in the black academy battle attire with silver armor on top of it. A massive two-handed sword rested confidently on his back, adding an air of gravity to his presence.
Before the battle officially commenced, a brief exchange unfolded between the two combatants.
Thant Zin expressed his eagerness to face Azrael, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You're friends with Azrael, right? Why don't you just surrender so I can fight him as soon as possible? Clearly, you can't win against me."
Theo's response was firm and resolute. He met Thant Zin's arrogance with a steely resolve. "If you want to fight Akki, you must win against me first."
In the spectator seats, Luna turned to Azrael, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. "Akki, do you think Theo can win against him?"
Azrael's gaze remained fixed on the battle podium as he assessed both combatants. "There's a chance," he replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But it won't be easy."
— Eye of The World
------------------------------------
Theo Tristian
Race: Human – Class: Knight
Title: None
Potentials: Arcane Knight
Health Point (HP): 450/450 (+50)
Mana Point (MP): 400/400
Stats:
Strength: 4 | Agility: 4 (⬆1) | Vitality: 4 (⬆1) | Intelligence: 4 (⬆1)
Skill: (4)
- Mana Aura (70%)
- Three Combo Slashing
- Intimidation Battle Cry
- Hard Strike
------------------------------------
"This kid is progressing quite rapidly," commented Jing Qiáng.
------------------------------------
Thant Zin
Race: Human – Class: Fighter
Title: None
Potentials: S-Rank Fighter
Health Point (HP): 500/500
Mana Point (MP): 300/300
Stats:
Strength: 4 | Agility: 3 | Vitality: 5 (⬆1) | Intelligence: 3
Skill: (3)
- Strengthening Body
- Amplified Power
- Mana Aura
------------------------------------
Azrael engaged in a conversation with Jing Qiáng. 'His vitality has already reached the human limit. How long until he breaks through?'
Jing Qiáng responded with insight, "When all his stats reach their limits, he will experience the breakthrough."
The concept of the 'Eye of the World' skill was revealing information. It displayed descriptions of items and the stats of other creatures, in this case, humans.
The 3 points represented average adult human stats, while 5 points indicated the human limit. Crossing that threshold would lead to a transformation that would enhance both the individual's body and their magical capabilities.
Back on the battle podium, the judge took center stage.
As usual, the judge provided a brief reminder of the rules. "The battle ends when only one remains standing on the podium. Falling or stepping out of the podium is considered defeat. If you can no longer continue, you may surrender. Do both of you understand?"
Theo responded with unwavering determination, "Understood." Thant Zin simply nodded in acknowledgment.
With the formalities concluded, both combatants assumed ready stances, their determination radiating through the charged atmosphere.
The judge, standing at the podium's center, raised his hand high, signaling the commencement of the battle. His voice echoed through the arena as he declared, "The battle begins!"
The clash erupted with explosive force.
Like a bullet train, Thant Zin dashed toward Theo, his movements blurring into a relentless onslaught of lightning-fast punches and kicks.
Theo, caught off guard by Thant Zin's astonishing speed and raw power, swiftly raised his sword, summoning his Mana Aura to fortify his defenses. Theo's blade became a barrier as he skillfully blocked and parried Thant Zin's ferocious strikes, each collision echoing with a metallic clang.
As the blows rained down upon him, Theo couldn't help but marvel at Thant Zin's incredible prowess.
'He's not just fast; he's unbelievably strong,' Theo acknowledged inwardly. He knew Thant Zin was fast and strong, but experiencing it firsthand was a different thing.
With a deep breath, Theo unleashed a powerful battle cry, channeling his inner strength.
— Intimidation Battle Cry
The deafening roar momentarily disrupted Thant Zin's rhythm, causing a split-second of hesitation. Theo seized this opening and swiftly initiated another skill, "Three Combo Slashing!"
Theo's sword slashed through the air, executing three connected arcs—a vertical slash followed by two diagonal strikes forming a menacing 'X.' The arcs of his blade whizzed dangerously close to Thant Zin.
However, Thant Zin displayed his extraordinary agility.
He bent backward with uncanny flexibility, sidestepping with grace, and effortlessly dodging the lethal arcs of Theo's blade.
The knight's strikes, formidable as they were, left nothing more than a small, superficial cut on Thant Zin's right arm.
Unfazed by the minor injury, Thant Zin pressed on with his relentless assault. "Let's see if you can handle this one." his movements became even more fluid and unpredictable as he mixed powerful punches with lightning-fast kicks and elusive elbow strikes.
Theo's armor began to display numerous dents, bearing the impact of Thant Zin's blows, while the young knight's body throbbed with pain, and some of his bones felt as though they might crack under the relentless assault.
The battle podium itself seemed to tremble and shake with each thunderous exchange, leaving the audience in awe of Thant Zin's unrivaled combat prowess
Drawing upon his knightly training, Theo planted his feet firmly, determined to withstand the relentless assault.
With unwavering resolve, he absorbed the impact of Thant Zin's next kick, and in a quick countermove, delivered a well-timed elbow strike directly to Thant Zin's chest. The impact created a brief gap between the two combatants, allowing them to reassess their strategies.
In the instructor viewing area, a consensus was rapidly forming among the instructors that Theo was facing an uphill battle he was unlikely to win. Thant Zin, in their eyes, operated on a completely different level than him.
"That kid, his fighting instinct is on another level," Hendra remarked, voicing what many instructors were thinking.
In the spectator seats, cadets exchanged their thoughts and observations as the battle unfolded.
"Thant Zin's martial arts speed and precision are simply leaving Theo with no room to counterattack," commented a young Chinese guy in glasses, his voice filled with analytical admiration.
"But that knight is holding on longer than any of Thant Zin's previous opponents," pointed out another cadet.
Theo's endurance didn't escape Luna's notice, and she turned to Azrael, a hint of worry in her voice as she inquired, "Akki, do you think Theo will lose?"
Azrael replied with a sigh, "Unfortunately."
As the battle raged on, Theo's tenacity stood out. He clung to his defensive stance longer than most cadets who had faced Thant Zin, capturing the audience's attention.
Some held onto the hope of witnessing a miraculous turnaround, while others resigned themselves to the inevitable conclusion: Theo couldn't hold on much longer.
After what felt like an eternity of torturous defense, Thant Zin eventually unleashed a devastating punch, a combination of his formidable skills—Strengthening Body, Amplified Power, and Mana Aura—aimed straight at Theo's chest
"Urgh!" Theo grimaced in agony as he felt his bones crack, a drop of blood escaping his lips.
Thant Zin wasted no time and followed up with a powerful kick to Theo's abdomen. The sheer force of the blows sent Theo hurtling backward, his body landing outside the boundaries of the battle podium.
The holographic screen above the battle podium declared Thant Zin as the indisputable victor.
Thant Zin emerged triumphant, his demeanor indifferent. "You're not bad," he remarked casually before turning his gaze toward the spectator's area, locking his eyes on Azrael's figure.
The exchange didn't go unnoticed by many cadets in the audience, and curious whispers filled the air. Azrael, however, remained unfazed by the attention, his focus unwaveringly fixed on his childhood friend, Theo.
Moments later, Theo walked back to his seat, his body fully revitalized, devoid of any bruises or signs of battle, as if he had never been in a fight.
Theo wore a small, gracious smile as he took his place next to Azrael and Luna. "Ah, it's so unfortunate. I couldn't win against him, couldn't even land a single attack," he admitted with a touch of resignation.
"Yeah, unfortunately, that's bound to happen," Azrael added, his tone tinged with sympathy. "He's just too monstrous."