"Next! Roy!" the elder called out.
Roy stepped onto the dueling platform with steady composure, hand gripping the hilt of his sword. His cold, determined gaze reflected a battle-ready spirit. The murmurs of the crowd seemed to fade into the background as he focused entirely on his opponent. Standing before him was an inner disciple wielding a sword, his aura surging with spiritual energy so intense that faint cracks appeared on the platform floor, a testament to his remarkable power.
"Are you ready? I won't hold back!" the inner disciple said coldly before disappearing in a flash. He reappeared almost instantly, his blade slashing downward with a sharp arc of energy.
Roy, unflinching, drew his blade, a burst of lightning enveloping him in an instant. A crisp crackle of thunder echoed as he met the attack head-on. Clang! The clash of their weapons reverberated, and the sheer force of their collision forced some of the nearby spectators to take a few steps back.
The inner disciple smirked upon seeing his initial attack fail. "Not bad," he remarked. With a swift turn of his wrist, his blade moved in rapid succession, each strike faster and more cunning than the last.
Relying on his wealth of combat experience, Roy countered each blow with precision. His movements were calm and deliberate, every strike of his sword perfectly timed to parry the onslaught. Yet, the power disparity between them began to show. The opponent's relentless attacks grew heavier and more oppressive, pushing Roy further back.
"Thunderous Sword Intent!" Roy muttered, his voice sharp as he channeled his spiritual energy. Lightning coursed through his blade, intensifying its glow. With a sudden burst of energy, he unleashed a blinding arc of lightning-charged sword energy aimed directly at the opponent's barrage.
Boom! The deafening crack of thunder resonated as the blast scattered, stirring up a gust of wind on the platform. The inner disciple staggered back several steps, his expression now serious. "Impressive," he admitted, "You managed to push me back with sword energy alone. But at only level 26, your spiritual reserves are far too shallow to keep up!"
Without hesitation, the inner disciple launched another attack. His blade transformed into a flurry of light, enveloping Roy in a storm of strikes that seemed to leave no room for escape.
Roy gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp and focused. Drawing a deep breath, he forced more lightning energy into his defense, reducing the overwhelming pressure. Despite his weaker spiritual strength, his swordsmanship was precise, targeting every minor flaw in his opponent's offense and delivering unexpected counterattacks.
Swish! A strike from the opponent's blade grazed Roy's shoulder, leaving a shallow wound. Roy remained undeterred. Using the momentum, he stepped back and twisted his body, delivering a reverse slash that cut through the air and narrowly missed the inner disciple's shoulder, forcing him to dodge.
The elder watched the intense exchange with a smile, stroking his beard. "This boy is quite something. The level difference is obvious, but his battle instincts and pure swordsmanship are truly remarkable."
In the distance, Sheila furrowed her brow slightly, her expression still cold and unreadable. Her brother, standing beside her, chuckled. "He's doing better than I expected, but against such a large gap in strength, he doesn't stand a chance."
Meanwhile, Alice, standing among the crowd, clenched her fists tightly, muttering under her breath, "Come on, Roy! You've got this! You're my chosen teammate, after all!" Summoning her courage, she shouted loudly, "Roy! Take him down!"
The inner disciple's blade energy raged like a storm, each strike carrying overwhelming force that seemed to tear through the air on the dueling platform. Roy gripped his sword firmly, lightning coiling around him as thunderous cracks echoed continuously. His figure moved like a nimble fish amidst the storm of strikes, narrowly avoiding vital blows with each movement, countering with precise bursts of sword energy.
"You're still standing—impressive," the inner disciple sneered, his eyes flashing coldly. "But this is your limit!" His spiritual energy surged explosively, and his blade's momentum crashed down like a mountain flood, pressing Roy into a dangerous corner.
Despite the mounting pressure, Roy remained calm, his gaze now burning with fierce battle intent. The fusion of lightning and sword energy around him grew denser as he steadied his footing on the platform. Clang! Clang! Clang! The metallic echoes of their clashes rang out in quick succession. Roy's swordplay began to shift, transitioning from pure defense to a balanced offense, every strike carrying the power of thunder, seemingly intent on tearing through the onslaught.
The spectators watched in stunned silence.
"My god! Isn't he only level 26? How is he holding his own against a level 38 inner disciple?" "Unbelievable! This is a four-star academy! Even if that disciple isn't a core member of the inner circle, he's still from the inner circle! How is this possible?"
Alice stood at the edge of the crowd, her face flushed with excitement, her fists tightly clenched. She kept shouting, "Roy! Go! Beat him up!"
Roy caught Alice's voice amidst the chaos, and a faint smile appeared on his lips as his fighting spirit soared to its peak. He tightened his grip on his sword, the lightning and sword energy merging seamlessly. Each swing of his blade sent out arcs of thunderous sword energy, streaking toward his opponent like ferocious dragons.
The inner disciple staggered back a few steps, shock flickering across his face. With a roar, he unleashed all his spiritual energy, his blade emitting a sweeping arc of light that cut toward Roy.
"I refuse to believe it! A mere level 26 fighter can stand against me?!"
Roy offered no response. Stepping forward, he transformed into a streak of lightning, surging toward his opponent. His blade cleaved through the air in a dazzling arc, radiating a sharp and unyielding intent.
"That's sword intent!" The elder slammed his chair and stood up abruptly, his voice brimming with astonishment.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd, all eyes fixed on the radiant arc of sword energy on the platform.
"That's sword intent! He awakened sword intent!" "Impossible! He's only 17 years old and at level 26!"
Alice's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with awe. "Wow! Roy is amazing! He even awakened sword intent! I don't even have the faintest grasp of intent yet!"
Watching from afar, Sheila and her brother were also drawn to the unfolding spectacle. Sheila's brother rubbed his chin and smiled slightly. "Interesting. Awakened sword intent at 17? That's exceptional talent."
Sheila remained indifferent but narrowed her gaze slightly, muttering, "It's just rudimentary sword intent—still far from true mastery."
The surge of sword intent from Roy caused the inner disciple's assault to falter momentarily. His blade energy struck again, but the sword energy wrapped in Roy's intent dissipated it effortlessly, forcing the inner disciple onto the defensive. His expression darkened as he growled, "Sword intent or not, I'll break through it today!"
He poured every ounce of his spiritual energy into his blade, its brilliance blinding as a powerful aura bore down on Roy. Yet Roy advanced instead of retreating, his sword intent growing sharper with every step. Each swing of his blade carried the full might of a thunderstorm, clashing head-on with the disciple's blade energy.
The two fighters exchanged blow after blow, each collision unleashing intense spiritual shockwaves. The atmosphere on the platform turned wild and oppressive, the air itself seeming to be torn apart. Though the battle raged on, the audience was already in awe, utterly captivated by the high-intensity duel unfolding before them.
The duel raged on, the platform engulfed by violent sword energy and flashing blade arcs. The turbulent spiritual power in the air seemed to thicken, making it hard for onlookers to breathe. Roy's gaze burned with growing intensity, his breath quickened, but he showed no signs of retreat. Every swing of his sword was infused with his full strength, thunder roaring alongside his sword intent, relentlessly crashing against the inner disciple.
"Hahaha! Come on!" Roy roared, his eyes alight with a crazed fighting spirit. He abandoned all defense, his attacks surging forward like tidal waves, forcing the inner disciple to retreat again and again.
The inner disciple gritted his teeth, his face twisted with anger and frustration. As a member of the inner circle, he had never imagined being pushed to such an extent by a much lower-level opponent. "Impossible! I'm a level 38 warrior!" he bellowed, burning his life essence to amplify his spiritual energy. His blade radiated a crushing pressure as its power soared.
"If you want to risk it all, I'll grant your wish!" he shouted, transforming into a blur of motion. His blade gleamed like lightning, hurtling toward Roy's chest with lethal intent.
Roy felt the imminent danger but showed no fear. His battle fervor only grew hotter as he smirked. "Just what I wanted!" He stomped on the ground, lightning wrapping around his blade as his entire body surged forward like a raging storm to meet his opponent.
The clash of their weapons erupted in deafening thunder and dazzling light. Roy's sword intent continued to grow sharper, the lightning energy roaring like a furious dragon. In a stunning turn, he managed to momentarily suppress the inner disciple's overwhelming blade force.
"This guy's insane!" one spectator whispered, their voice trembling as the crowd collectively held their breath, transfixed by Roy's relentless assault.
Alice's eyes were wide with awe and worry as she murmured, "Roy is amazing! But he's pushing himself way too hard!"
From afar, Sheila observed coolly, her tone detached. "He's nearing his limit."
Her brother raised an eyebrow. "What? Roy's going to lose?"
Sheila nodded, her voice calm but tinged with faint pity. "Even though he's awakened sword intent, he's only at level 26. His body is at its breaking point. If he keeps pushing, he'll destroy himself."
Roy's body swayed, his legs trembling under the strain. Sweat dripped from his face as his vision blurred. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, but he refused to give in. "This... this is exactly what I want!" he growled, clenching his teeth. With a fierce shout, he gathered the last of his strength into his blade.
"Thunderclap—Skybreaker Slash!"
Leaping into the air, Roy's sword erupted in brilliant lightning. A concentrated blast of sword energy, imbued with his full power and intent, tore through the air toward his opponent.
The inner disciple's face paled as he frantically raised his blade in defense. The sword energy struck with explosive force, driving him back several steps. His body trembled as if struck by lightning, and his complexion turned ashen.
Roy landed unsteadily on the platform, his body finally giving out. His knees buckled, and he collapsed unconscious.
The arena fell into a heavy silence.
The elder sighed, stepping onto the platform and placing a hand on the inner disciple's shoulder. "That's enough. You may leave and rest." Turning to the crowd, his voice grew stern yet carried a trace of satisfaction. "Roy's combat instincts and willpower are something every one of you should strive for. Though he has fallen, his performance was honorable. I hereby announce that Roy is qualified to join Celestara Academy!"
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, their gazes on Roy filled with admiration and respect.
Alice rushed to the stage, tugging at the elder's sleeve. "Elder, what about Roy? Will he be okay?"
The elder smiled kindly. "He's merely drained of spiritual energy. A few days of rest will suffice. I'll take him to the treatment room. You may come along, as his friend."
Alice nodded vigorously, her face set with determination. "Yes! I'll make sure he's well taken care of!"
From a distance, Sheila watched silently. Her cool gaze lingered before she murmured, "Sword intent... It's rare, but it's only rudimentary. Whether he can advance further is anyone's guess."
Her brother chuckled, his tone teasing. "Perhaps one day, he'll make you see him in a new light."
Sheila didn't reply. She turned and walked away, her slender figure disappearing into the distance, leaving behind an air of aloof indifference.