Today was a day of excitement and anticipation—it was finally the day of the one-on-one duel competition. Hundreds of students flooded the enormous battle arena, their chatter and cheers echoing throughout the colossal structure. This arena was far larger than the academy's training grounds, boasting ample space for spectators and a vast battlefield that could accommodate even the most intense matches.
At the center of the arena's uppermost section, luxurious seats were arranged for VIPs. Lilith sat in one of the most prominent positions, her commanding aura drawing attention from the surrounding professors and esteemed guests from the royal palace. Their presence added a weight of importance to the event, making it clear that this wasn't just an ordinary competition.
Despite the lively atmosphere, a flicker of concern crossed Lilith's otherwise composed expression. She glanced at her schedule, then at the arena below, her thoughts momentarily drifting.
"The day of the competition has arrived, but there's still no sign of Esdeath," she thought, her brows furrowing slightly. "If she doesn't return today, it will cause more trouble than we need."
As Lilith pondered, the excitement in the arena grew. Teams that had previously worked together were now split, each student fighting for their own glory. Among the competitors were well-known names that had become the talk of the academy: Ethan, Violet, Kaelith, Claus Clandestine, Corin, Princess Ravenna, and Sylvania.
The competition's rules were straightforward—winners would advance to the next round, climbing the ranks until they reached the semi-finals and, eventually, the grand final. Losers, however, would be immediately eliminated. The stakes were high, and every duel would be a test of strength, strategy, and determination.
At the center of the arena, a confident second-year girl stood tall, holding a microphone-like device that amplified her voice across the space. Her energetic tone cut through the buzz of the crowd, demanding everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to begin the duel competition!" she announced, her voice carrying an electrifying enthusiasm. "Our first match will feature... "Claus Clandestine" and "Emma Atherton!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the two contestants stepped onto the battlefield from opposite sides. All eyes turned to them, analyzing their every move and expression.
Claus, with her striking golden hair and piercing green eyes, walked onto the battlefield with the confidence of someone born for the spotlight. She exuded a quiet strength, her every step radiating poise and control.
On the opposite side stood Emma Atherton, Corin's ex-girlfriend, whose playful smirk betrayed her mischievous nature.
She had a very big chest...cough...cough...i mean very big heart, Though her personality could be described as "naughty," her skill in battle was not to be underestimated. Emma had a curvy figure, but more importantly, she was serious right now, She knew she can't afford to take Claus lightly.
Both fighters were striking in their own way, but their combat styles couldn't have been more different. Claus had an affinity with lightning, known for its speed and destructive power. On the other hand, Emma's strength lay in her earth affinity—sturdy, unyielding, and resourceful.
Despite Emma's confidence, the crowd murmured with speculation.
"No doubt Claus has the advantage. Earth is weak against lightning," someone whispered.
"Still, Emma's no pushover," another added.
The referee, the second year girl, stepped forward. Her voice rang out clearly across the arena.
"Start!"
The duel had begun.
Claus stood still, her long sword strapped to her waist, but she made no move to unsheathe it. Her sharp eyes tracked Emma's every move, her expression calm and calculating.
Emma didn't waste any time. Her face grew serious as she knelt to the ground, placing her palm firmly on the dirt.
"I'll use my trump card right from the start," she muttered. "Mini Stronghold!"
A large magic circle glowed beneath her, intricate and brimming with energy. The ground rumbled as dirt and stone rose up, forming a massive castle-like structure around Emma. The stronghold was impressive, its thick walls standing tall and impenetrable.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Isn't that the Mini Stronghold formation? An earth-type spell ormation that's both defensive and offensive!" someone exclaimed.
"It's not just any spell. It uses a dirt modifier, dirt collector essence stone as core, and complex magic formulas to keep itself stable. It's rare to see someone pull it off so smoothly. Emma must've trained hard for this," another added in admiration.
Inside the stronghold, Emma's voice echoed.
"Let's see how long you can keep dodging, Claus!"
Magic circles appeared in the air around the fortress, and sharp stone spikes shot out with incredible speed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The spikes flew toward Claus, aiming to pin her down. But Claus didn't panic. With practiced ease, she dashed in an arc, her movements graceful and swift as she dodged each spike. Her golden hair trailed behind her like a streak of light, her green eyes focused and alert.
The spikes kept coming. As soon as one wave ended, another began. Claus snorted in frustration but didn't lose her composure.
"She's not holding back," Claus muttered under her breath. She stopped momentarily, her gaze locked on the towering stronghold.
Some in the crowd wondered why Claus wasn't attacking.
"Why doesn't she just destroy the stronghold?" someone asked.
"She can't," another explained. "That formation is designed to recover using dirt and stones from the ground. As long as Emma has mana, it'll keep repairing itself."
Claus knew this too well. Destroying the stronghold wasn't the solution. No matter how much damage she inflicted, the fortress would rebuild itself as long as it had access to the earth.
"It's a battle of endurance," Claus thought, her lips curling into a smirk. "She's betting I'll run out of stamina before she runs out of mana. Clever move, but…"
Claus smirked confidently as she whispered, "Lightning Charge."
In an instant, her shoes glowed bright yellow, crackling with flickers of lightning. Energy surged through her legs, and her speed increased dramatically. She became a blur, her movements too fast for the average eye to follow.
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
"She's too fast!" someone exclaimed.
"I can't even follow her with my eyes!" another added.
In the distant Vanara Tribe, Esdeath had used the same essence stone to mimic this technique. However, Esdeath lacked an affinity for lightning, and while the results were impressive, they were nothing compared to what Claus was now displaying. The raw synergy between her lightning affinity and the essence stone amplified the ability far better than when esdeath used it.
Claus dashed around the stronghold, leaving streaks of yellow light in her wake. She moved in a perfect circle, running around the fortress nine times. Each step left crackling sparks on the ground, forming a glowing arc that seemed to trap the stronghold in an electrified ring.
Inside, Emma felt the ground tremble under her feet. Panic spread across her face as she realized Claus was preparing for a devastating attack.
Claus's smirk grew wider as she abruptly shifted her path. Instead of circling, she drew a sharp arc and charged directly at the stronghold. Her golden hair trailed behind her like a streak of sunlight, and her green eyes gleamed with confidence.
"This is the end!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the arena.
Emma's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't expected Claus to attack head-on like this. Desperation flooded her as she raised her hands and focused her mana, commanding the stronghold to form an additional protective layer in front of Claus's attack.
"Come on, come on!" Emma muttered, sweat dripping from her forehead. The walls of dirt and stone began to rise, but the process was slow—too slow.
Claus was too fast.
Before the additional layer could form, Claus leaped high into the air. Her left leg extended forward, every muscle in her body taut with power.
"Lightning Crash!" she roared.
BOOM!
The moment her foot made contact with the stronghold, an explosion of lightning erupted. Sparks flew everywhere, and a deafening crack echoed across the arena. A massive hole appeared in the stronghold, debris flying in all directions.
The crowd gasped in awe as Emma's figure was revealed, her defenses shattered. Her face was pale, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.
But Claus wasn't done.
Without losing momentum, she darted into the stronghold through the hole she had just created. Her speed remained unstoppable, and in one fluid motion, she delivered a devastating kick to Emma's abdomen.
BAM!
The force of the kick sent Emma flying. Her body crashed through the other side of the stronghold, breaking through its weakened walls like paper. She soared through the air before slamming into the lower walls of the arena with a loud thud.
The impact left cracks in the arena wall, and Emma's limp body slid to the ground. She lay motionless, completely unconscious.
The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps of disbelief.
"Duel ended, Claus clandestine wins", Refree announced.
Claus smiled before turning back to get out of the arena.
While ethan, Sylvania, Violet also saw the whole battle from the audience's side, They all had bitter expression.
-----------
"Next, Kaelith Maranthia and Valen Vandris!" the referee announced with a clear, loud voice.
For a moment, the entire arena fell silent.
The crowd: "....."
Lilith: "....."
Everyone, from the spectators to the dignitaries seated in the luxurious VIP section, had the same thought: What kind of ridiculous bad luck was this?
It was like sending a newborn rabbit into a den of lions.
Kaelith Maranthia, known for her overwhelming strength and near-invincible aura, was paired against Valen Vandris, a boy with all the confidence of a puppy challenging a dragon. There was no hope. Absolutely none.
---
Fifteen Minutes Later
"Ahhhhhhh!" Valen let out a desperate roar, his twin daggers gleaming under the arena lights as he launched himself at Kaelith with everything he had left. His face was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving from exertion.
The crowd watched in tense silence as his daggers slashed down towards Kaelith's motionless figure.
CLANG!
Instead of cutting into her, the daggers shattered into countless pieces upon contact, scattering to the ground like broken glass.
Kaelith stood still, her silver hair shimmering under the sunlight, her face blank and unimpressed. She hadn't moved a single muscle since the duel began, and it was clear she had no intention of doing so.
Valen stumbled back, staring at his broken weapons in disbelief. His eyes twitched as he looked up at Kaelith. She didn't even flinch. She hadn't dodged. She hadn't raised a hand. "She didn't even care."
The audience couldn't suppress their laughter any longer.
"This is too cruel!" one student chuckled.
"She didn't even try to defend herself. Poor Valen!" another snickered.
Valen's face turned red with frustration. He clenched his fists, his whole body trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. He had tried everything. Magic attacks, essence stones, physical techniques—nothing had worked. He even attempted to kick her out of sheer desperation earlier, but that only resulted in him hurting his own leg.
Now he sat on the ground, utterly defeated, tears streaming down his cheeks as he cried out, "No! I don't acknowledge this! This is CLEAR cheating! Why?! Why did my opponent have to be this... this monster?!"
His sobbing grew louder, his voice cracking in frustration. "It's unfair! Sob... Sob... This is bullying!"
His tear-streaked face, combined with his pitiful cries, only made the scene more comical. The crowd erupted into laughter, and even some of the professors in the VIP section struggled to keep a straight face.
Valen's theatrics continued as he pounded his fists on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum. "I hate this! I quit! Sob... Sob..."
The referee, who had been leaning lazily against a pillar, finally straightened up and stretched. "Duel ended," she announced in a monotone voice, clearly unimpressed. "Winner: Kaelith Maranthia."
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