The duel began as Jaden and Artis both took their positions, both checking each other. Jaden moved carefully, circling Artis, not giving any openings as Artis opened his Gate allowing [Magician] to strengthen his body.
As they both moved in circles, no one initiating the attack, Artis looked around the arena and he saw a small crowd forming from the outside. Their murmurs reaching his ears, which caused him to distract a little.
'Great!' thought Artis, suppressing a sigh, 'An audience watching us. No pressure. I am used to this!'
Jaden's smirk grew wider as he noticed Artis's momentary distraction. "What's wrong, Professor?" he taunted, his voice low but sharp. "Stage fright?"
Artis couldn't help but retort, "Nah! Just thinking how the audience will react once I kick your ass."
For a split second, Jaden's smirk faltered, taken aback by that comeback as he couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha. You are different than you look, Professor!" he said, his stance tightening as some sort of dark light engulfed his body making his arms transparent, "Let's see if you can back up your words."
Artis's heart pounded as he almost lost his cool, 'What the hell is that? No don't lose your cool. Stick to the plan!'
Taking a deep breath, Artis took two steps forward, began running sideways, and used [Magician] to create a smokescreen covering the area around them as he sneaked around to land an uppercut straight to his chin.
But, as soon as he was about to connect, Jaden moved around as if he could see around all that smoke and grabbed Artis's punch mid-air surprising him.
Wham!
Jaden looked unfazed by that sudden attack as he moved his right leg to deliver a solid kick to Artis's side intent to make him fly. Realizing his intention, Artis raised his left leg to block the upcoming attack, the impact affecting his body as he winced from the recoil.
This didn't faze Artis as he quickly escaped from his grab and took the stance to launch a barrage of kicks towards Jaden. He aimed at his sides, and torso and even did an axe kick but Jaden was able to parry and block all of them as the smoke around them finally settled and Artis took a few steps back, his breath heavy as he continued to observe Jaden who looked unfazed during that whole interaction.
'Damn.' Artis thought, 'This guy is tougher than he looks. He is reading me like a book!'
Amused, Jaden said in a mocking tone, "Is that all you got?"
Artis clenched his fists, his mind racing as he replied in a stern tone, "Not at all! Just a warm-up. I haven't even begun showing you all my tricks!"
"Good. Then it would've been really disappointing after all that talk you gave back there."
As Artis took his stance back, he realized Close combat attacks were useless since he was tougher and stronger than him. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his Wand as the crowd looked at the battle in interest.
Artis twirled the wand in his hand, his face full of excitement and confidence as he pointed the wand towards Jaden who looked unimpressed.
"A wand huh? Didn't expect you to be flashy type, Professor!" remarked Jaden, his voice filled with amusement.
"Well, I prefer to call myself a Magician than a Professor. So expect some more lessons and flashy tricks from me!"
As they said that, low sparks started igniting from Artis's wand as he aimed it at Jaden releasing a streak of embers towards him.
Surprised, Jaden raised his arms to block the upcoming streak of ember as the tracksuit he wore blocked the flames. He looked irritated as he stepped up and started sprinting towards Artis.
Not losing his composure, Artis took a step back, grinning, as he ducked sliding down throwing another stream of embers towards Jaden thwarting his movement as he took the opportunity of this moment, and delivered a straight punch towards his guts sending him backwards.
"That's one hit for me!" declared Artis in a flashy manner as the crowd roared at the action.
Jaden stood up, clutching his guts and wincing in pain as he said, "Nice trick there...Magician! Have me impressed. " As soon as he said that, a white aura enveloped him, and all the damage he had taken vanished. He felt energetic. But this duel is just getting started!"
Both of them returned to their original stance with Jaden moving carefully as the energy around him started to shake violently. Artis narrowed his eyes, gripping his wand tightly as he silently murmured, "What is this now...Is this guy leveling up mid-battle?
That aura... It's like his Gate is evolving mid-battle. Is he absorbing my attacks to fuel himself?!"
Not giving a moment of rest, Artis charged ahead, ignoring his fatigue, and jumped up to deliver an axe kick right at his head.
Thud!
As if the smoke around Jaden had cleared, his eyes had his vigor returned to him as he raised his right arm to block that upcoming kick as his face was plastered with a confident smirk, "Thanks for agreeing to this duel Professor, because of you, I managed to level up a bit. Now as my thanks, I'll end this duel early."
Smack!
A loud resounding thud was heard all over the arena. Jaden, blocking the initial attack, clenched his left fist which was covered with a layer of pure white energy as it took form and punched Artis straight to his guts.
Mach Punch!
"Ack-" Artis felt the impact in his entire body as he went flying across the arena, his body contorted with pain struggling to stand up properly.
"Guess that's one point from me!" Jaden remarked.
Artis gritted his teeth, as his vision blurred, but he forced himself to stand up, 'Not yet! Don't fall down just yet!'
Holding his sides, with deep heavy breathing, Artis summoned his wand again, feeling the energy of his Gate depleting bit by bit.
'Damn it! I am running out of energy. Yeah, no more holding back...If I continue to draw out this battle, I'll lose!'
Artis waved his wand with clear conviction, as small raw, chaotic, and sharp electric sparks started emitting from it. Aiming the wand straight at him, and released a fast electric stream at him connecting with Jaden as it sent a sharp electric shock filling his entire body.
Shock Wave! A skill Artis uses to momentarily paralyze his opponents.
Taking full use of this opportunity, Artis dashed up ahead, and he covered his right fist with the same pure white energy that Jaden used to strike him at his abdomen region sending him flying.
Mach Punch!
Jaden was sent back flying as the shock from the earlier attack still left him dazed as he struggled to stand up properly.
"You are not the only one who knows this Skill, Archeologist! I can attack that way as well, and it looks like it's the second point for me!"
Jaden's body jerked violently, his smirk replaced by a grimace as the electric surge locked his muscles. His movements were sluggish, his steps faltering as the lingering sparks crackled over his skin.
Not giving him a moment of rest, Artis knew he was almost about to run out of energy so he charged up again to deliver a straight knee kick to his chin to end this duel.
Artis pushed forward, his wand hummed faintly, its power fading, but he tightened his grip, unwilling to relent. As Jaden's sluggish movements betrayed his paralysis, Artis saw his opening.
He leaped, his knee aimed directly for Jaden's chin. Time seemed to slow as the crowd's cheers faded into the background, all focus narrowing onto the two combatants. But before, the knee was about to connect, something in the arena changed.
Jaden's entire body was becoming translucent, as he sat on one knee with his head down, his entire body seemed to be disappearing as Artis's knee went through him, surprising him greatly as the crowd audibly gasped.
"What?" remarked Artis, shocked losing his composure a little.
As Artis landed on the ground, he looked back to see Jaden's body becoming translucent as if it seemed to be phasing between the real world and the astral world.
"Surprised, Profess- I mean, Surprised, Magician?" remarked Jaden as he completely stood up, "Honestly, I really didn't expect to use this skill on this duel at all. I take back all the words I said to you earlier, you are a Varhard material that can step up to a challenge!"
As Jaden praised him, his form shifted again and he in that very instant appeared in front of Artis and delivered a shocking punch to his guts sending a shiver to his spine as Artis was pushed back, his stomach crying from pain as he winced, tears forming a bit as his vision blurred.
"But, I will still win this duel, and it seems we tied. So, whoever scores the next point...wins that whistle!"