As the sand and debris began to settle, a silhouette could be seen through the dust, The gryphon shrieked and started to dissolve, Ferdinand had used his lance and pierced the gryphon in half.
Elementals are the summonings of real beings from the world they take on the form of one or more elements, but if their shape is significantly altered, the spell is broken. Although elemental spells can be incredibly powerful and wreak havoc for days, they can be quickly neutralized if you know how to counter them.
As the dust finally settled, Ferdinand could be seen standing there with blood running down his right shoulder; it appears the grypon was able to pierce him with his talons before it was slain.
When the dust finally cleared, Ferdinand stood with blood trickling down his right shoulder, where the gryphon's talons had pierced him before it was vanquished. He had used his strongest attack from the Flowerwind stance, the Moonlit Sakura Slash, but it had taken a toll on him. He collapsed to his knees, clearly in pain but maintaining a calm demeanor as he assessed the situation.
Marsh was dumbfounded, that was his most powerful spell with which he intended to kill Ferdinand with, was brought down so quickly, He knew of Ferdinand's strength; once a top noble prospect and one of the youngest to reach the 4th rank peak at just sixteen, Ferdinand's banishment had caused many to look down on him, though the reasons for it remained unknown.
Furious, Marsh realized he had already expended half his mana on that spell, and it had only managed to inflict a minor wound on Ferdinand. He still needed to escape the glass trap that Ferdinand had set for him.
Ferdinand, despite his injury, raised his lance and then sat cross-legged, holding the lance vertically behind him with the butt resting on the ground and gripping the shaft near the center. This pose, known as Guardian's Serenity, was a meditation stance designed to help him recover mana quickly. Unbeknownst to almost everyone, his lance was a special artifact that allowed him to recover an astonishing amount of mana.
Marsh could tell what Ferdinand was doing and he was enraged, he began producing another whirlwind but this was stronger and fiercer, it was a cyclone, as the wind started to pick up it everyone in the arena could feel a prickling sensation as if it was cutting them.
That was exactly what the cyclone was doing; the speed plus the debris made it a very destructive spell, tearing apart at Marshes tomb but hurting him in the process, when Marsh was finally able to free himself there were hundreds of small cuts on himself.
Ferdinand was still recovering his mana paying no mind to Marsh that had just freed himself, he needed as much mana as posible, this infuriated Marsh even more.
The arena fell silent as the tension between the double blade wielder, Lieutenant Marsh, and the lance fighter, Ferdinand, reached its peak.
Marsh went on the attack and Ferdinand just before Marsh reached him he reacted and began defending himself, the two combatants faced each other, each sizing up the other's strength and weaknesses. The air was thick with anticipation, every spectator on edge wondering who would be the victor.
Marsh, with his dual short swords, moved swiftly, his blades glinting in the sunlight. He darted forward with the agility of a predator, aiming a series of rapid slashes at Ferdinand. Ferdinand, despite his injuries, wielded his lance with precision and grace, parrying Marsh's attacks and countering with powerful thrusts that kept Marsh at bay.
Their weapons clashed with a metallic ring, sparks flying with each collision. The two fighters were evenly matched, their skills evident in the fluidity and ferocity of their movements. Marsh's speed and dexterity contrasted sharply with Ferdinand's strength and reach, creating a dynamic and thrilling spectacle.
In a critical moment, Marsh managed to slip past Ferdinand's defenses. as Ferdinand slipped after thrusting his spear towards Marsh, with a swift, calculated move, he plunged one of his swords towards Ferdinand's already injured shoulder. Ferdinand twisted to avoid a fatal blow, but the blade still grazed his wound, sending sharp pain through his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to show any sign of weakness.
Seizing the opportunity, Ferdinand retaliated with a powerful sweep of his lance, forcing Marsh to leap back to avoid being struck. Ferdinand's eyes burned with determination. Despite the searing pain in his shoulder, he pressed on, his lance a blur of movement as he launched a series of aggressive attacks.
Marsh, caught off guard by the sudden intensity of Ferdinand's assault, struggled to keep up. With a swift and precise maneuver, Ferdinand managed to disarm Marsh, sending one of his swords flying across the arena. Before Marsh could react, Ferdinand struck with the butt of his lance, landing a solid blow to Marsh's abdomen. Marsh staggered back, winded and disoriented.
With a final, decisive strike, Ferdinand used his lance to sweep Marsh's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. He quickly pinned Marsh, his lance poised at Marsh's throat. Theo and the others cheered but were quickly silenced.
Marsh, unwilling to let Ferdinand regain his strength, used a tier 2 Windblade spell from the ground, forcing Ferdinand to stagger backward. Seizing the moment, Marsh sprang up and launched a relentless offensive, attacking with frenzied intensity. Ferdinand, exhausted and aware that prolonged combat would deplete his mana reserves completely, knew he had to act decisively.
Ferdinand was exhausted but if this kept dragging on he would fall from mana depletion. "I have to do it; it's my only chance," Ferdinand thought, steeling himself.
Five red rings appeared beneath Ferdinand, signaling his intent to cast the Fire Tornado, a powerful spell that required time to execute. Seeing this, Marsh smirked, confident he could interrupt the casting. He charged at Ferdinand, swords poised for attack. But Ferdinand's eyes opened and they were red, and flames burst from his mouth, creating a massive explosion that sent Marsh flying.
Marsh thought it was fire tornado and couldn't believe Ferdinand had yet another tier 5 spell. For the first time, Ferdinand smiled as flames danced from his mouth. He pressed his advantage, his lance now wreathed in fire. Each strike burned Marsh, who struggled to defend himself. Ferdinand then spewed fire directly at Marsh, forcing him to the ground. As Marsh fell, Ferdinand swung the butt of his lance into Marsh's chest, knocking the wind out of him.
With his lance at Marsh's throat, Ferdinand demanded, "Do you surrender?!"
Marsh, overpowered and recognizing his defeat, dropped his swords and hung his head in defeat. But before he could verbally surrender, Ferdinand suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and pain. The exertion from the fight and his injuries caught up with him. His vision blurred, and his legs buckled beneath him. He fell to his knees beside Marsh, the lance slipping from his grasp.
Realizing Ferdinand was incapacitated, Marsh, though injured and humiliated, saw a chance to claim victory. He raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Enough! The fight is over," the prince's voice boomed across the arena.
Marsh froze, his sword still raised. The prince's decree was absolute. Reluctantly, he lowered his weapon and stepped back. Ferdinand, though clearly the superior fighter, had reached his limit due to mana depletion and injury. The crowd watched in awe and concern as medics rushed to Ferdinand's side.
As Ferdinand was carried away, the audience murmured with respect for his prowess. Despite the prince declaring Marsh the victor, it was evident who the true champion was. Ferdinand's courage and skill had won the crowd's admiration, casting doubt on the fairness of the fight.
Ferdinand, though clearly the superior fighter, had reached his limit. His body was now suffering from mana depletion he had fought valiantly. The crowd watched in awe and concern as medics rushed to Ferdinand's side, attending to his wounds.
As Ferdinand was carried away, the crowd had been won over by Ferdinands superiority, while the prince declared Marsh the victor, it was clear to all who the true champion was. Ferdinand's courage and skill had won the respect of the audience, and the seeds of doubt about the fairness of his banishment were sown in their minds.
"Marsh dropped his weapons first, he surrendered! If Ferdinand hadn't given him the chance, he'd be dead!" Theo shouted, frantic and indignant at the injustice. Ferdinand's honor prevented him from killing unless necessary. If he hadn't offered Marsh the chance to surrender, he could have won outright before collapsing.
"Careful, Theodore. Highborns are prideful. Questioning their honor could get you imprisoned too," Prim cautioned.
Theo was undeterred. Ferdinand had clearly been hurt before the match, and despite the cheating, he had emerged victorious. He demanded answers.
Prince Argyle, observing Theo calmly, addressed the crowd. "To those who do not know, a surrender must be explicitly declared for all to hear. A dropped weapon alone does not signify surrender, as it stains the honor of the defeated."
Marsh, already humiliated, was enraged by Theo's outburst. He knew everyone could see he was about to surrender, and Theo's challenge only fueled his anger.
"Now, because the accused has lost in the Field of Judgment, his punishment is death. However, Garrison Leader Everette has suggested a different path. The accused may become an Oathkeeper, and I find this a fitting alternative. Once Ferdinand recovers from mana depletion, he shall serve as my Oathkeeper!" Prince Argyle proclaimed with a smile.
Everette's jaw dropped, and Theo and the others were equally astonished. 'What just happened?' they all wondered. Prince Argyle had harbored suspicions about Everette's accusations but had allowed the trial to proceed. Witnessing Ferdinand's strength and sharp mind, and having just witnessed Ferdinand beat one of his lieutenants much his senior with an evident injury prior to the match he understood how valuable Ferdinand was.
Before the match started Everettehad suggested to the prince and proposed the idea of making Ferdinand an Oathkeeper and though the Prince had his suspicions they were confirmed right then, The prince, however, saw through Everette's ploy and turned it to his advantage. Ferdinand, now under his command, would be an asset too valuable to waste.