Anthony decided to wait for now and signaled to the girls to stay put and watch. Meanwhile, Edward wielded his huge double-edged axe, preparing for the confrontation. The rival boy carrying a spear advanced towards him, and the clash of weapons produced sparks that splattered around. The ground cracked beneath their feet, and suddenly a huge mana ball surged from under the spear-wielding boy.
Edward reacted quickly and put his axe in defensive mode, but the resulting impact was brutal. A deafening roar echoed in the air, and Anthony could see Edward staggering back, a mouthful of blood escaping his lips. It was clear that Edward was exhausted, and even from a distance, Anthony could distinguish some still-open wounds from which blood was oozing.
