All five thousand spectators held their breath. Silence reigned throughout the arena. For a while, no one moved.
Clannad and Althea stared at each other, each holding their weapon ready to attack.
Silence.
And then…
Ding.
The sound of the signal to start the match echoed throughout the arena. Before the sound disappeared, Clannad moved.
The ice beneath his feet shattered as he ran towards Althea. Within a blink he reached her.
Using the momentum of his fast movement, he swung his sword upward.
Bang.
Midway through its swing, Althea lowered her spear, equally rapidly and fluidly. The collision of their weapons was powerful. It even created shockwaves.
Neither of the two stopped. They knew it was barely the beginning.
From the stands, Hex noticed a thin layer of ice on Althea's spear. It shattered with a wave but it proved that Clannad wielded the ice element.
Although Althea's attack also infused the thunder aspect, it wasn't the same. She needed her spear to enhance thunder while Clannad seemed capable of wielding ice with and without his sword.
'There has to be something more to it. He hasn't reached Knighthood yet but he can wield a Knight's powers.'
The clash between Clannad and Althea intensified. Both were quick and strong.
Clannad used his sword perfectly in sync with his movement. Each turn increased the momentum of his sword.
Althea managed to block his attack but the ice element was difficult to stop. Each time she stopped his sword, ice shards of words burst out from its edge.
To defend against the ice shards, she had to disrupt her own momentum, making it hard for her to build a proper counterattack.
'If she doesn't break his flow and starts counter-attacking, the match will be over soon,' Hex thought as his grip on the armrests tightened.
Althea was experienced enough to realize that too. She dodged an attack aimed at her side by rolling sideways. While rolling she quickly looked around.
'There is about five meters left behind me.' She estimated the distance between her and the edge of the platform.
Clannad, having missed, pivoted and aimed down. Right then, Althea leaned back and used her arms to kick with both feet.
Her kick pushed Clannad back. It was less than a meter but enough for Althea to use her spear and vaulted back. The momentum of the spear helped her reach the edge of the platform.
'Excellent. Don't stop. Attack immediately.' Hex cheered inwardly as he thought of ways to start the counterattack.
He was too invested in the match. One reason was because he was close to Althea but the other was to observe Clannad's strength.
In case Althea was defeated, he needed a proper strategy to beat four opponents who more than likely would gang up against him.
Althea did just as Hex hoped she would do. As soon as she reached the edge of the platform, she changed her stance.
She gripped her spear and kicked off. Her body was radiating strength as she struck her spear forward. Her movement was similar to a hawk gliding in the air.
Roar.
A thunderous roar erupted, causing shockwinds to blast out. The blast hit Clannad square in the chest, throwing him back.
Althea didn't stop. The thunderous roar wasn't even her main attack. It was just an effect of the attack itself.
The spear headed straight for Clannad's throat. It was fast and furious like a dragon descending the heavens.
Seeing the spear coming his way, Clannad opened his mouth and roared. His roar was not less menacing than Althea's. The ground beneath his feet shattered.
The roar caused the air in front of him to freeze. The tip of Althea's spear stuck within it, barely a few millimeters away from Clannad's throat.
Clannad didn't let his chance go. He struck his sword, aiming for Althea's abdomen. The sword hit and wounded her but she did a somersault and kicked against the frozen space between them.
Her immense strength and agility helped her shatter the frozen air and free her spear.
The fight had escalated to another level. The spectators were stunned by the display of power they were witnessing. Could Squires really be this strong?
This was perhaps the greatest match they had witnessed in their lives. Funny enough, it was also the match with the most silence.
Hex saw the blood stain on Althea's abdomen increase in size. He couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Clannad seemed to be bleeding as well. Blood trickled down the corners of his mouth.
But the thing that attracted the most attention was the changes in Clannad's appearance. He seemed to have become a bit taller and there was a faint outline of scales on his hand, throat, and forehead. He looked more like a beast now.
Neither Clannad nor Althea held back. As soon as she landed, Althea struck again.
Dragon Tail!
Hex recognized her spear technique. It was her strongest technique, merging her agility, strength, and element in one.
The spear was a blur. It reached Clannad as if by teleportation. Blood spurted from his sides but it didn't make him stop.
He swung his sword at the same time. Althea, who wanted to retreat, discovered too late that her opponent had frozen her feet.
Althea didn't panic. She lowered her body and used the spear's handle to clash against the sword.
She managed to block the sword but Clannad had already let his sword go.
"Got you!"
He jumped and punched her. Her frozen feet and lowered body stance didn't allow her to dodge the punch. The only thing she managed to do was move her body sideways.
Crack.
In the silent arena, the sound of ribs being broken was loud and clear.
Blood flew out Althea's mouth. But Clannad wasn't done.
With a bestial growl, he hit again. And again. He punched and kicked. Althea used her arms to defend herself as much as she could. But Clannad was relentless.
Blood splattered all over the place. But just as Hex wanted to interfere, he felt a powerful fluctuation coming from Althea.
Clannad noticed it too. He wished to retreat…but it was late.
Roar.
Althea let out a thunderous roar, louder than ever before. Even the air trembled. The ice around her feet shattered.
The roar blasted Clannad away. Power surged from her body as Althea stood up. But she wasn't standing on her feet. No, she was hovering in the air.
The wind blew around her. The ground trembled. Her spear floated up, into her hand.
'It's over,' Hex thought, feeling happy for her. He understood what had happened.
"Stop!" A stern voice echoed throughout the arena. Conrad appeared and held his bleeding grandson.
"Lass, congrats on breaking through but as a Knight, you are disqualified to participate further in this tournament."
The crowd erupted in murmurs and discussion. Only now did they understand what transpired in the last moment. Althea had ascended to the rank of Knights.
Althea seemed displeased with her breakthrough. To her, it meant that she needed the power of a Knight to defeat Clannad.
"There is nothing you can do about it now," Hex said as he walked toward her. "Let's return to the castle."
He held her hand toward her, which she grabbed, albeit with some reluctance.
"You got lucky," Clannad shouted from behind his grandfather. "If your girl had been a second late, you would have needed both hands to carry her corpse out."
Althea nearly broke her hand free from Hex's but he held on. With a smile on his face, he beckoned her to follow him.
"I told you Clannad. I don't mind being lucky. I just hope I am lucky enough to bash that face of yours in."
With the abrupt ending of the fifth match, the top five were determined.