*BOOOOOM!*
The crowd collectively held its breath as the stage erupted in a burst of fire and debris. Flames raged for a moment before subsiding, and the instructors swiftly shielded the audience from the flying rubble. Silence enveloped the arena as everyone strained to see the aftermath.
*huff huff*
As the dust settled, Riku emerged, standing shakily with the aid of his staff, now cracked and blackened. His defensive robes were charred, sweat dripped from his brow, and his breathing was labored, but he was still upright. Across from him, Takumi stood firm, seemingly unscathed physically, though his strained expression betrayed the toll of spirit summoning on his body.
"I'm impressed you're still standing," Takumi admitted, a rare note of genuine respect in his voice.
"And I'm impressed you're still trying to buy time to recover mana," Riku retorted, his tone sharp.
Takumi chuckled lightly, unbothered by the accusation. "Then let's finish this here and now, shall we?"
Riku nodded, his grip tightening on his damaged staff. "No need to drag it out."
Takumi's lips curled into a wide grin. He could easily buy time and gather more mana to overwhelm Riku, but where's the fun in doing that.
Flames swirled around him, gathering at his feet and concentrating on his longsword. He crouched into a running stance, the fire intensifying. Across the stage, Riku began fortifying his defenses, calling upon whatever mana reserves he could muster.
With a burst of speed, Takumi charged forward, flames erupting in his wake. Riku, desperate to counter, summoned earth projectiles to intercept the onslaught and planted his staff in front of him, channeling his last bit of strength.
*Bang!*
The clash sent a shockwave rippling through the arena as both contenders were thrown backward. Takumi skidded across the stage, managing to halt himself after 20 meters before collapsing to one knee, his body trembling from exhaustion. Riku, less fortunate, tumbled for over 35 meters before finally coming to a stop, unconscious.
Both spirits disintegrated into golden particles, disappearing into the ether as the announcer's voice boomed.
"The spar is over.
Winner Kazuma Takumi."
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, the intensity of the battle leaving them on the edge of their seats. Unlike most matches, this one had demonstrated the exceptional tenacity and combat prowess of the Duke heirs, even without having their own mana to rely upon.
------------------
In the VIP section, Kagayaki Akiko turned to Kazuma Hirosaki, her voice steady. "Was it wise to let them use Spirit Magic so openly?"
Hirosaki shrugged nonchalantly. "Takumi doesn't care about rules. He wanted to enjoy the fight to its fullest. If he'd used only his physical strength, he would've overwhelmed Riku too easily." He knew how much of a battle maniac his son was the best.
Yamada Kiyoshi frowned, his displeasure evident. "Perhaps he should have done just that. Spirit Magic is a crucial advantage against demons. Its secrecy has been carefully maintained for a reason." He also didn't like how his son was put down here, even more so when he knew it to be true.
Kazehana Yuriko leaned back with a mischievous grin. "What's done is done. At least the crowd loved the show." She was definitely enjoying the situation here.
Yamikage Shouhei, his expression cold, motioned to a subordinate. "I'll ensure Spirit Magic isn't used in the next matches." The subordinate bowed and vanished to deliver the instructions.
------------------
After a 15-minute break
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final match of the first round is between Mizuno Haruka and Kazehana Airi! Please welcome the contenders to the stage!"
Haruka arrived gracefully, riding a river of water that submerged into the ground as she stepped onto the stage. Airi followed, flying onto the stage encased in swirling torrents of wind that radiated controlled ferocity, her mastery evident.
The instructor placed mana crystals before them, draining their mana reserves. "Will you be using weapons or artifacts?"
""None,"" they both answered simultaneously.
After a brief inspection, the instructor stepped back. "Three… two… one… Start!"
Airi smirked. "Copying my style now, Haruka?"
Haruka's expression was calm. "I don't know what you're talking about."
'Tsk' Airi clicked her tongue, annoyed by her rival's composure. Without further delay, both took their battle stances.
[Tempest Centum First Form: Whispers of the Breeze]
Airi's Martial Arts Wind Elemental Technique unleashes a relentless barrage of over 100 wind slashes, each one growing sharper and more precise with every strike.
[Tidal Harmony: Dance of Flowing Waves]
Haruka's Martial Arts Water Elemental Technique consisted of 20 fluid, versatile movements, effortlessly transitioning between offense and defense depending the situation by reversing the flow of water.
The Duke Families were one of the few families that taught Martial Art Techniques to all the direct descendants, after all, they were one of the main forces fighting against demons, whose natural bodies were strong enough to take most spells head on and sustain little to to injuries.
'This match might be more interesting than the previous one for me.' Kazuki thought as he observed their stance and body movements in conjunction to the movement of the surrounding ambient mana.