Swordflower University, Combat Hall.
"Hey! Forget class—get to the combat hall now! The Orange Dancer herself is here!"
"Move it, people in the front! If you're not in the Swordsmanship Department, get out of here! This is our class!"
"This is the school's combat hall! If anyone should leave, it's you sword-fighting fanatics!"
The crowd in the combat hall grew thicker as word spread. Students were calling their friends over to witness the drama. After all, the love triangle between Felix, Sonia, and Celia was already a spectacle on its own. Throw in two celebrity figures like Lorien and Leoni for a guest appearance, and it was the kind of chaos no student wanted to miss—even if it meant skipping class.
The instructor in charge of the practical lesson simply stepped aside, adopting a "let them sort it out" attitude. After all, when it came to disputes between Sword Saint apprentices, it wasn't his place to interfere. So long as no one died, this was just another "legally sanctioned student interaction."
If the fight were between two equally matched students, the instructor might have worried they'd get carried away. But in this case, the power gap was so immense it could hardly be called a fight.
With a sharp shout, Sonia slashed her wooden sword. The blade cut through the air with a whistle, conjuring a shimmering curtain of faint violet sword energy that stood like a wall before her, aimed at intercepting Leoni.
"Not bad—your Wavesplitter Blade is coming along."
Leoni's critique was casual as she lightly tapped the barrier with the tip of her sword. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the energy curtain crumpled like a piece of cloth being wrung out and dissipated. She stepped forward, her sword swinging in a graceful arc.
Clang!
The impact reverberated through Sonia's arms, sending her stumbling back two steps. Her hands trembled so violently she almost dropped her sword.
Sweat trickled down her face, smudging her makeup. Her clothes clung to her in damp patches, and she panted heavily, unbothered by how unrefined she looked. Her entire focus was on Leoni, not daring to relax for even a second.
For the first time, Sonia truly understood what it meant to face a real Spellblade.
Felix was still a rookie like her, barely a few days into the Void Realm, unworthy of note. Professor Trozan was on an entirely different level and had never pushed Sonia hard during their sparring sessions, prioritizing instruction over challenge.
Her recent smooth sailing in the Void Realm had left Sonia feeling... inflated.
Being a Spellblade doesn't seem that hard, she had thought.
Her "humility" was nothing more than arrogance in disguise—a belief that her bright future was assured, making any present setbacks feel trivial.
But Leoni had torn that facade apart.
From the start of their duel, Leoni hadn't used any advanced spells or techniques, relying solely on the basic trio of sword spirits: Slash, Pierce, and Cut. The oppressive force Sonia felt didn't come from overwhelming energy or fancy miracles—it came from knowledge.
Leoni's every move, every decision, made it clear: Sonia was completely outmatched.
It was as if Leoni could see through her every action, had already prepared countless counters, and was merely waiting for Sonia to step into her trap.
The feeling was maddening—like a child trying to fight an adult, only for the adult to hold them at bay with a single hand on their forehead. No matter how much Sonia struggled, she couldn't even graze her opponent.
Sweat poured, her lungs burned, and her frustration grew.
"Come on, Sonia," Leoni said, her tone almost playful. She raised her wooden sword slightly. "Is that all you've got? Don't worry about hurting me."
Though the words seemed encouraging, their mocking edge stung more than outright insults.
Gritting her teeth, Sonia inhaled deeply. "In that case, Leoni, I'm going all out. Be careful!"
"I'm looking forward to it."
Sonia shifted into a low stance, her blade poised for a quick draw.
"Ah, an Iaido technique?" Leoni's eyebrows rose slightly, her interest piqued.
With a step forward, Sonia unleashed a sudden slash.
The air roared as a wave of sword energy surged across the arena. Sonia followed it with a spinning strike, closing the distance in an instant.
This was Sonia's self-created move—Wavesplitter Draw Slash!
"Impressive, but—"
Leoni's eyes gleamed as she intercepted the incoming blade. Her counterstrike was precise, poised to crush Sonia's attack—
—but at the last moment, Sonia shifted.
She abandoned her initial strike, her steps shifting into an unorthodox pattern. With a sudden dodge, she adjusted her stance, reforming her attack to strike from an unexpected angle.
It was a move taught to her by the Observer: Foresight Cut.
Clang!
Their wooden swords collided, the sound ringing like steel on steel. Leoni's eyes flickered, as if she were about to say something—but her expression suddenly shifted.
Ting, ting, ting, ting—
The sound of snapping wires echoed through the hall. Five gleaming threads of moonlight had wrapped around Leoni's torso, striking at her chest, waist, and thighs. Ripples shimmered across the faint scales of her protective enchantment.
"What kind of spell is that?"
"I can't tell—it's not from the Swordsmanship Branch. It's definitely from the Radiance Branch!"
"But how could Sonia, a newcomer, have such a powerful spell? Even Professor Trozan doesn't practice Radiance magic!"
"Did she get it from the Void Realm? But she's only been there for a few days!"
The crowd's murmurs grew louder as Leoni responded with an uncharacteristic burst of aggression, her swordplay suddenly fierce and relentless.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each blow from Leoni's sword felt like a hammer strike. Sonia's arms went numb, her grip on her sword weakening.
In the flurry of attacks, Sonia tried to use her Moonlight Threads or Foresight Cut to slow Leoni down, but Leoni dismantled her tactics effortlessly.
"Sonia," Leoni said calmly amid her assault, "I have to admit—I was annoyed just now."
Her strikes didn't pause as she continued. "When your light-based trap activated and triggered my protective enchantment, I felt humiliated. Imagine—me, a fully-realized Silver-tier Spellblade, forced to activate a defensive miracle against a novice like you. How embarrassing."
"If Professor Nidala finds out, I'll definitely get a scolding."
"But then I realized something: I had no right to be angry. You're the one who should be angry."
Leoni's tone softened. "You challenged me with all your courage, hoping for a proper duel. And I treated you like a child, patronizing you. For that, I apologize."
"That light-based spell woke me up. It reminded me that you're not like Felix—you're a true Spellblade."
Sonia gasped for breath, barely able to squeeze out words. "You're... too kind—"
"No, Sonia. As an apology, I owe you my utmost sincerity."
Leoni's voice turned cold and serious. "From this moment forward, I'll fight you with everything I've got."
"Watch closely, Sonia."
Leoni suddenly stepped back, her stance shifting. Before Sonia could process what was happening, Leoni vanished from her view.
An overwhelming sense of danger flooded Sonia's mind. Without thinking, she raised her sword to block—
Clang!
Turning, Sonia caught a glimpse of an orange blur.
Leoni's movements were too fast, her figure reduced to streaks of color.
Eyes rendered useless, Sonia could only rely on instinct to defend herself.
Clang!
From all sides, Leoni's voice echoed. "Not bad—but now, let's see how you handle the real thing."
The pressure Sonia felt was suffocating, like a fragile boat facing a towering tsunami.
As a golden sword light filled the hall, the crowd erupted in awe:
"Rhythmic Melody!"
"The true Orange Dancer has appeared!"
"She's already mastered Professor Nidala's signature miracle? She's so close to ascending to two-wing status!"
Sonia knew she couldn't last another round. Her rational mind screamed to concede. She had already achieved enough—facing Leoni this far had cemented her reputation.
But Sonia refused.
Her hands trembled, her body ached, but her spirit burned.
She gritted her teeth, rage and defiance boiling over.
Observer, is this what you wanted? To see me humiliated? Well, guess what—your mom doesn't serve you!
With tears brimming in her eyes, Sonia gripped her sword tighter, ready to face Leoni's final blow.