Chapter 399 - Duels (7)
From the moment he got the memories of his parallel self, Lucas understood one simple thing.
This world was not a fair place.
One could put everything they had into one thing, yet they might still never reach the heights that those who didn't even put half of the effort into the same thing.
It was not rewarding.
Not fair.
Justice didn't exist.
It was a place where only the strong ate the weak. If you were the winner, no matter what, your traces would remain.
No one would remember the losers.
That was what he realized.
'Hero Butcherer.'
Therefore, he didn't care if the person before him was bound to become a villain or not. People had reasons, and from his perspective, Vincent had the right to become one.
Even after learning what happened to his brother, the world still sided with Middleton's.
In the end, it was Vincent's family that perished in the confrontation.
Just like himself.
Just like himself, who lost his life trying to protect Ethan, the only person who could save everyone, to protect the world.
He fought bravely, without any selfishness, and perished in the end like a hero.
Yet, what happened afterward? Did his legacy remain?
That demon showed him. And the answer was clear.
A built statue in the middle of a street. A small place in a museum. In some books, writing history.
But, in those same books, every time, he was never remembered since the people on the front were not him.
Ethan, Julia, Victor, Sylvie, Irina…..The list went on since they were the final party that defeated the last threat.
But what about him?
No one.
The June 22nd was dedicated to him as the hero. Yet, what happened afterward?
In just five years, the whole month itself was declared for another group. A newly emerging group who had migrated from their hometown to the Human Domain.
Demi humans.
With their mitigation to society, the whole month of June was dedicated to the hardships they had encountered, as well as the discrimination that they faced.
To celebrate the rights that they painstakingly got from human society. Everyone
Or was what truly how it was?
Yet, eventually, nobody remembered those who made the peace possible in the end. Those who bravely fought.
Their names were forgotten.
The respect, the honor….It was no longer there.
That was then, Lucas himself realized. It was all pointless.
As long as you don't win. As long as people don't directly engrave themselves into the books of history, they will not be remembered. They would just live and then die. That was it.
Thus, he made a pledge to himself. This time, things wouldn't be the same.
SWOOSH!
Lucas felt the ground tremble as Vincent's axe descended with incredible force.
'Yeah, it seems I am not allowed to think for now.'
Even if he could beat Vincent easily, for the sake of the performance he wanted to show, he decided to cut his own thoughts off.
'Earth's Cry.'
He muttered the name of the attack.
He had seen this move before, and he knew exactly how to counter it. With a swift movement, Lucas shifted his stance and executed the [Sword of Middleton. 4th stage. Phantom Step,] a technique that allowed him to dodge the attack with a blur of motion.
It was something that was hardly achieved, something that not everyone could achieve. He was sure that Julia hadn't achieved the first stage yet.
'!'
Vincent's eyes were wide open at the blur of movements since he knew the essence of it.
The axe slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that rippled through the arena. Dust and debris flew into the air, momentarily obscuring the view. But Lucas was already moving, his sword gleaming as he unleashed [Sword of Middleton. 4th stage. Mirror Blades].
The blade seemed to multiply, creating afterimages that confused Vincent's senses.
Vincent roared in frustration, swinging his axe wildly in an attempt to hit one of the elusive images. Lucas used this opportunity to close the distance, his eyes locked on Vincent's exposed side. He launched [Blade's Impetus], a rapid thrust aimed at Vincent's ribs.
CLANG!
Vincent managed to bring his axe around just in time to block the attack, but the force of the collision sent him stumbling backward. Lucas pressed his advantage, transitioning seamlessly into [Whirlwind Slash]. His sword spun in a deadly arc, aiming to overwhelm Vincent with speed and precision.
CLANK! CLANK!
Vincent gritted his teeth and dug his heels into the ground, his muscles straining as he blocked each strike. His eyes blazed with anger and determination.
"Tsk."
He hated this to the core. The way Middleton's fought. They always tried to distract the enemy and focused on speed.
It was nauseating since he remembered the amount of sword strikes that was left on his brother's body.
"You think you can defeat me with those flashy moves?" he growled, summoning his mana and channeling it into his axe.
With a roar, Vincent unleashed the skill he had developed on his own. Maybe his family wasn't something as big as Middleton's, but that didn't mean his rank was a joke.
[Berserker's Wrath] – a powerful combination of swings that was imbued with raw energy. The axe cleaved through the air with terrifying speed, aimed directly at Lucas's head.
The crowd gasped and cheered, their excitement growing with each exchange. The duel had become a spectacle of skill and power, a testament to the prowess of both combatants.
Vincent's rage-fueled his movements as he swung his axe with relentless power. Each strike carried the force of his mana, making it almost impossible for anyone to withstand for long.
Of course, from the outside, it would look like Vincent was on the losing end since he used his berserk skill this early. But in fact, there was something that not many people knew about Vincent.
The reason why he was able to hunt such strong monsters, or how he attained his rank in the entrance exam.
The reason why he could go against a rank-5 or rank-6 boss while being two ranks lower than them.
It was because of his strongest skill, the trump card, that nobody would expect.
[Guillotine of Blood].
This skill. Once he stacked five strikes on his enemy, he would be able to control the enemy's bleeding. With the resonating bleeding, his strength would double.
And the conditions for the execution would appear.
Complete Execution.
He was determined to unleash this special skill and end the fight decisively.
Lucas, however, was calm and composed. He had seen Vincent's techniques before and knew exactly what he was planning.
Each strike aimed at him was carefully calculated to build up the [Hemorrhage] stacks required for Vincent's devastating finishing move.
In a way, Vincent's kit of abilities made him such a formidable opponent, even though his stats were lower than those of his enemies.
Since the [Berserker's Wrath] was a couple of buffed attacks that would easily amplify [Hemorrhage] to his opponent while also hiding his intentions more easily.
SWOOSH!
Vincent's first strike came crashing down, and Lucas sidestepped, allowing the blade to graze his arm. Blood trickled from the shallow cut, and the first stack of [Hemorrhage] was applied.
'One.'
The second strike was a sweeping horizontal slash. Lucas deflected it with his sword but allowed it to nick his side, adding a second stack.
'Two.'
Vincent's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He could feel the momentum shifting in his favor. His third strike was a diagonal slash that Lucas narrowly avoided, but not without earning another cut and a third stack.
'Three.'
Lucas was fully aware of what Vincent was doing. He was letting Vincent believe he was gaining the upper hand, all while conserving his own strength and waiting for the perfect moment to strike back.
The fourth strike came with even more ferocity. Vincent aimed for Lucas's legs, hoping to cripple him. Lucas let the blade scrape against his thigh, adding the fourth stack. The crowd gasped at the blood now staining Lucas's clothes, unaware of the strategy at play.
'Four.'
Vincent's confidence soared. He raised his axe high, ready to deliver the fifth and final strike needed to activate [Guillotine of Blood].
"Heh….It seems you are nothing after all."
His eyes were filled with the certainty of his imminent victory.
It was the same as the crowd.
"Lucas Middleton is losing?"
"Wasn't he pushing Vincent? How come the tables have turned?"
"It seems the Middletons are going to lose this time. What a pity. I am pretty sure Julia Middleton would win against him."
"Of course, Julia would win. Did you not see how she fought in the Blackthorn's Banquet?"
"Right, she was there at that time."
The opinion of the crowds changed, but one thing was clear. Everyone clearly thought that Lucas was losing and that he was being a disgrace.
SWOOSH!
However, contrary to what the logical conclusion was, those who knew Lucas and the real Middletons felt differently.
'Lucas. You have improved.'
Especially in the case of the white-haired man watching the fight.
'You even stepped into the Illusion Realm.'
Just as the axe descended, Lucas's body suddenly blurred. Vincent's axe cleaved through the air, hitting nothing but an afterimage. The Lucas he had been targeting shattered like glass, disappearing before his eyes.
SWOOSH!
"What?"
Vincent's eyes widened in shock. He barely had time to register what was happening before he felt a sharp pain in his legs.
SLASH! THUD!
Lucas's blade had already found its mark, slashing through Vincent's leg joints with precise strikes. Vincent cried out in pain as his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees.
Before Vincent could react, Lucas's blade was at his throat. The cold steel pressed against his skin, and he realized with a sinking feeling that he had been thoroughly outplayed. Lucas had seen through his intentions from the very beginning and had manipulated the fight to this moment.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as the once-mighty Vincent Hale knelt before Lucas Middleton, defeated. The duel had been a masterful display of strategy and skill, and Lucas's victory was undeniable.
"Yield."
Vincent, breathing heavily and with pain etched across his face, looked hatefully into Lucas' eyes.
But there was nothing he could do. Instead of acting like a crybaby, it was always better to accept the result like a man.
"I yield."
Chapter 400 - Duels (8)
As the words left Vincent's lips, the amphitheater erupted into a cacophony of surprised exclamations. The audience, who had been convinced of Lucas's impending defeat just moments ago, was now grappling with the sheer skill and strategy they had witnessed.
"Unbelievable!"
"Did you see that? He played him like a fiddle!"
"Lucas Middleton is a genius. That was a masterclass in swordsmanship."
The fact that Lucas had completely dominated the duel and won in a mere five minutes was a considerable achievement. Typically, duels between berserkers and speed types dragged on, each combatant exploiting their respective strengths. But this time, it was as if Lucas had been several steps ahead of Vincent from the start.
In the stands, the reactions were varied. The vassals and the allies of the Middleton family turned all their attention to the person whose opinion was most valuable.
The white-haired man, Lucas's father, nodded approvingly. "You've truly grown, Lucas. Stepping into the Illusion Realm… impressive."
Meanwhile, the Hale family members were left in shock and disappointment. Vincent's father, head of the Tasty Gods guild, clenched his fists, a mixture of anger and grudging respect on his face. "That boy… he's a formidable opponent."
In the crowd, students whispered among themselves, their respect for Lucas skyrocketing. Though not many people dared to say it, everyone who witnessed the twins fighting knew that Julia's talent at sword was incomparable.
"I never knew he was this good," one said, awe in his voice. "It's like he was reading Vincent's mind."
"Lucas wasn't just fighting; he was orchestrating the entire duel. Every move was calculated."
"Still….What was that last move? Even I felt my senses being deceived."
The students were talking amongst themselves, yet there was a certain group of people watching the fight.
In the stands, Lilia, Ethan, Irina, and Julia watched the scene unfold, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity.
Ethan, unable to contain his amazement, turned to his friends. "When did Lucas become this good?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine surprise.
Julia, still processing what she had just witnessed, shook her head slowly. "I honestly don't know," she admitted. "I knew he was training hard, but I had no idea he had reached this level." There was a hint of confusion in her voice as if she was struggling to reconcile this new image of her twin with the one she had known all her life.
Lilia, intrigued by the intricacies of the duel, looked to Julia for answers. "What was that last move?" she asked. "It seemed... complex. Like he was manipulating reality itself."
Julia sighed, a faint frown creasing her brow. "I wish I could tell you," she replied. "But I don't know. It feels like there's a rift between us now. A part of him that I don't understand." The realization left a strange aftertaste, a sense of unfamiliarity with her own twin.
Irina, who had been quietly analyzing the fight, spoke up. "I am not sure exactly what he did. But, from what I could see, he utilized a special Light spell, 「Refractive Array」," she explained. "It's a rare and advanced spell that allows the user to disturb the light that was reflected from the object itself and change the location that was perceived by the opponent.
Only a handful of people can master it, and it requires an extraordinary level of precision and control."
"Refractive Array? This…When did he learn that?" Julia asked herself. Something. Something was weird about this. From the start, she knew Lucas was smart, and he had already immersed himself in tactics.
If Julia was the brute force type, then Lucas would be the mindful type. He would plan things and think before acting. That was why she thought, as twins, they complemented each other.
But she had never seen Lucas studying magic before, let alone such an advanced Light magic. It was particularly hard to control the light particles since they contained higher raw energy than other particles.
But the thing that puzzled her was.
'This idea….I also had it.'
She had been trying to develop a new style for herself for a long time, trying to upgrade her combat style.
But rather than memorizing some random spells, she preferred testing things while 'feeling' them.
Lilia raised an eyebrow, "But how was he able to obstruct the other senses? Especially the mana sense? Considering that, even from here, we weren't able to sense anything, and that seems to be the case for higher-ranking Hunters watching the fight, either?" she asked.
Irina paused, considering Lilia's question. "I can't say for certain how he was able to obstruct the other senses, especially the mana sense," she admitted. "But if my observations are correct, it likely involves a combination of sword [Stripe]s and magic blocks. It's something highly complex and not easy to analyze in a short time."
Julia, still deep in thought, muttered to herself, "How did he manage to combine such techniques so seamlessly?"
Irina shrugged. "It's a rare skill, and it's possible he's been working on it in secret. Lucas has always been methodical and strategic, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's been honing this technique for a while."
Ethan, still processing the information, nodded slowly. "Lucas has always been a step ahead, but this... This is something else entirely."
Lilia crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. "It's impressive, no doubt. But it also means he's been keeping a lot to himself."
Julia's frown deepened. 'It just feels... strange. Like there's a part of him I don't know anymore.'
Something had been bothering her. It was a certainly foreign feeling that she felt for the first time.
She threw a quick look at the man sitting on the lounge.
'What does father think?'
The person she respected the most in the world. His opinion was certainly valuable, more than everyone else's.
'He is smiling….'
And she saw his smile.
At that moment, something inside her was stirred.
********
Irina, looking at Julia like that, somehow felt like she could understand Julia's thoughts and views. But at the same time, she thought to herself.
'This oddly feels familiar. Phantom's Land…..After that, whatever it is, things changed.'
Her partial memories, the things that she couldn't understand, made her feel like she must understand.
'Is he there?'
Suddenly, she felt the urge to talk to him. Since her match was tomorrow, she had some free time. Though, she would start stretching her senses not long after.
After his match yesterday, he suddenly disappeared, and she wasn't able to contact him even once.
She looked around the place, but she couldn't find any trace of him.
None at all.
Irina scanned the amphitheater, her eyes coated with mana as she activated her [Mana Observation].
Her gaze swept across the crowd, students and families alike, all still buzzing with excitement from the duel. Amidst the sea of mana signatures, one stood out.
'Here!'
It was a familiar trace, the distinct pattern of Astron's mana. Her eyes locked onto it immediately.
He was standing near the back, partially hidden by a pillar. His eyes were focused on the scene before him, specifically on the crowd. Irina could see the intensity in his gaze, as if he was discerning everything, taking in every detail.
But then, just as she was about to make her way towards him, Astron moved. He turned and started to leave, his movements swift and purposeful.
'Come on, where are you going?'
Irina's heart quickened as she hurried to follow him.
She pushed through the crowd, trying to keep his retreating figure in sight. But despite her best efforts, Astron's skillful evasion techniques made it difficult to track him. He weaved through the throngs of people with practiced ease, and soon, he disappeared from her view.
"Tsk. Just stay where you are, bastard."
Irina cursed under her breath, frustrated by how easily she had lost him. She continued to move through the crowd, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that Astron had effectively vanished.
"Sigh…."
At the end of the day, she missed him again.
*******
The sun was supposed to hang high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the bustling amphitheater. Yet, with winter already coming, the scene was shrouded by the clouds formed across the place.
The duels were in full swing, and the excitement in the air was palpable.
Students and spectators alike were engrossed in the spectacle, their cheers and gasps echoing through the arena.
In contrast to the jubilant crowd, Callum stood at the edge of the amphitheater, his expression a mix of weariness and annoyance. His disheveled hair and the dark bags under his eyes made it clear he had not rested well.
He scanned the crowd with a sharp, vigilant gaze, though he looked as if he would rather be anywhere else.
"I can't believe Eleanor called me in for this," he muttered under his breath. "As if I have nothing better to do than play babysitter."
A woman standing nearby, dressed in the same hunter's uniform, rolled her eyes and smirked.
"Oh, come on, Callum. You're exaggerating. It's not like you were doing anything critical. You were just catching up on sleep."
Callum shot her an irritated glance. "Amelia, do you have any idea how much work I've got piling up? Reports, training schedules, actual hunts. But no, I'm here, watching a bunch of kids spar."
These two were schoolmates as Eleanor, graduating at the same time. And both of them worked for the government.
Agents of Demonic Human Bureau.
Their faces were not clearly known to the world, yet they were both important Awakened. Though, those who knew them from the academy, could possibly recognize their faces.
Thus, they were still in their disguises.
Amelia chuckled softly. "Relax, Callum. It's not just about the duels. Eleanor thinks something's up. And if she's worried, we should be too."
Callum sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know, I know. It is the Eleanor we are talking about. There is no way she would call us for something random."
He said, slowly scratching his neck.
"But it's still a pain. We've got real threats out there, and we're stuck here babysitting."
Amelia's expression grew more serious. "Speaking of threats, have you noticed anything unusual?"
Callum shook his head, scanning the crowd again. "I did notice quite a lot of things," Callum said, looking across the arena.
"Really? Why did you-"
Before Amelia could even ask him, Callum replied.
"It was Eleanor's decision."
"What? Don't tell me." As Amelia's eyes widened, Callum nodded his head.
"Yes. She wants to catch the executive."
Eleanor was already looking far ahead from the start.
Chapter 401 - Duels (9)
The sun had already disappeared behind the clouds, some bits of snow falling down to the ground.
The amphitheater was packed with spectators eagerly awaiting the next highly anticipated duel. The energy in the air was electric, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.
"This is going to be a showdown for the ages," a scout whispered to his friend. "The Arkwright and Middleton families are both sword legends."
"Yeah, and after Lucas's performance earlier, everyone's expecting great things from Julia," his friend replied, leaning forward in anticipation.
The announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, calling for attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next duel features Julia Middleton, ranked 61, versus Damien Arkwright, ranked 21. Contestants, please step into the arena!"
The crowd erupted into applause as Julia Middleton stepped into the arena. She was a vision of grace and determination, her white hair flowing behind her and her blue eyes focused.
She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had trained tirelessly, her posture perfect and her movements precise. In her hand, she wielded a beautifully crafted sword, a symbol of the Middleton family's legacy.
But, inwardly, things were different.
'What is this feeling?'
For the first time in her life, Julia was feeling something that she had never felt.
Pressure.
It was as if an invisible pressure and sense of getting locked down in a prison had enveloped her.
She couldn't understand. For all of her life, she had never felt the need to bother over such things.
Sword, life, everything was easy. She trained and got results. That was it.
But what she had seen at Lucas' duel….She tried to do it on her own, but she wasn't able to.
As if she wasn't enough.
This feeling….
'This is the first time.'
And she didn't know how to deal with it. It was, somehow, disturbing.
'No. Focus.'
However, she couldn't afford to think about those things right now since she was here to fight.
Opposite her, Damien Arkwright entered the arena with an air of confidence and grace. His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and his striking features drew the admiration of many in the crowd.
Damien was renowned not only for his looks but also for his extraordinary achievements. At the age of 13, he had defeated a full-fledged hunter, a feat that had earned him widespread fame.
He was strong. Very strong. The reason why he was ranked 21 was not because he was lacking in combat.
It was just because he rather played in an unsportsmanlike manner. In the entrance exam, he tortured other people, stepped down on weak students, and trampled on their pride.
In a way, Damien was truly a villainous guy. Someone who liked tormenting others. With Middleton's intelligence, they knew what kind of person Damien was.
What kind of acts did he partake in? They were rather vile and hard to speak of.
Yet, not everyone in the world knew.
The Arkwright Family had a lot of influence in stopping it. And it was not like they were the only ones.
The corruption ran deep.
And that was partly the reason why she had chosen him. She was planning to choose Vincent, but Lucas chose him instead.
Lucas came to their friend's group, announcing that he would be challenging Vincent right before she could, and she couldn't refute it. It would be uncharacteristic of her, and it was not like she cared too much, either.
Therefore, her next choice was Damien.
Even though that guy was quite a strong opponent, and the result wouldn't be immediately evident, it was still worth taking the risk.
Since she wanted to erase the smile on his face, reveal his true nature, and finally trample on him like he did to others.
'Yes. That is all I need to do. I don't need anything else.'
As Damien looked into Julia's eyes, he smirked and asked, "Did you sleep well yesterday?"
Julia raised her head, her expression calm. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
Damien's smirk widened. "I couldn't sleep. I was too excited, thinking about trampling on an insolent girl who thinks she's on the same level as me."
Julia's eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained composed. This type of wording….She would normally be the one to make such jokes.
But somehow, today, she couldn't catch it, and this scratched her pride for some reason. It was, weirdly enough, irritating.
"We'll see who's left standing, you stupid fucker."
"Oh….Foul-mouthed as usual, are we."
"At least I am not filthy from the inside like you."
"Tu-tu-tu. Everyone who speaks about the beauty of the insides is, in general, the one who is ugly."
"Fitting for someone like you."
Damien chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. "You really believe you can match me? How amusing. I can't wait to wipe that confident look off your face."
Julia tightened her grip on her sword, her resolve hardening. She had faced many challenges before, but this was different.
"Oh my gosh, Damien is so handsome!"
"Did you see his golden hair? He looks like a prince!"
"And he's so strong! I heard he defeated a full-fledged hunter when he was just 13. Can you believe that?"
Julia's irritation grew with each word. These girls had no idea who Damien really was, the cruelty he hid behind that charming facade.
To them, he was a hero, a prince. But Julia knew the truth. She knew the darkness that lurked within him, the way he enjoyed tormenting others, and the vile acts he committed when no one was looking.
"He's going to win for sure. Julia doesn't stand a chance against him," one of the girls said with a giggle.
This was personal.
She was determined to prove herself and expose Damien for what he truly was.
The announcer's voice called out once more, signaling the start of the duel. "Are both contestants ready?"
Julia and Damien nodded, their eyes locked onto each other.
"Begin!"
Damien moved first, his sword slicing through the air with incredible speed and precision. His golden hair fluttered as he advanced with a series of swift, graceful strikes.
Julia met his attacks head-on, her own sword movements equally fluid and powerful.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of clashing swords echoed through the amphitheater, a symphony of metal and determination. Julia Middleton and Damien Arkwright were locked in a dance of steel and strategy, each movement precise and calculated.
Damien's sword glinted in the dim light as he launched a series of complex, fluid strikes, his movements almost hypnotic.
The Arkwright Sword Style was like a dance, each swing designed to confuse and mislead his opponent. He moved with the grace of a ballerina, his attacks unpredictable and difficult to read.
"Haha….You seem to be having a hard time ."
That was the essence of the Arkwright Family's sword. The two families, Middleton and the Arkwright, were like a dipole.
Suppose one was suited for the raw strength. They fought like beasts, dealing with simple but efficient movements. This sword style. It was perfect for dealing with monsters.
The other one was suited for the illusions. That was why Julia was shaken by how Lucas used such a movement.
Since that style had contradicted their own family's style.
Since the Middleton family perfectly specialized in dealing with monsters, Arkwrights specialized in fighting against humanoid opponents with minds.
Of course, that was of the essence. From some point on, every swordsman had their own interpretation of the world and their own sword.
From the start, this fight was in a disadvantageous situation for her.
Julia, however, was not easily swayed.
"Tsk."
Her movements were sharp and aggressive, a stark contrast to Damien's elegance.
Since there was a reason why she confidently challenged Damien. A specialty that differed her from any normal human.
A specialty that she had noticed when she was a child.
Her motor capabilities and neurotic system were faster than others. When others would react, she could send for different signals from the same motor neuron.
In a way, the frequency with which her body worked was bigger than others. And this gave her an innate advantage in life.
Her innate motor capabilities allowed her to react with lightning speed, her body a blur of motion.
「Sword of Middleton. Harmony.」
Even though the technique meant to be calm, she rather wielded her sword with the ferocity of a beast, each strike a testament to her raw strength and refined skill.
This was her own implementation.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their swords met in a series of rapid collisions, sparks flying with each impact. Julia's attacks were relentless, her speed and power forcing Damien to stay on the defensive. She pushed forward with a series of powerful slashes, her blade a whirlwind of lethal intent.
「Arkwright's Grace.」
Damien countered with a graceful pirouette, his sword slicing through the air in a wide arc.
He aimed to disorient Julia, using the fluidity of his movements to mask his true intentions. But Julia's enhanced reflexes allowed her to see through his feints, her instincts guiding her blade to intercept his strikes.
"You think you can confuse me with your dance?" Julia taunted, her voice steady despite the exertion.
Damien smirked, his golden hair shimmering as he twisted away from her blade. "We'll see how long you can keep up, little girl."
Julia's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. She knew she had to maintain her focus, to not let Damien's provocations distract her. She lunged forward with a burst of speed, her blade aiming for his midsection.
Damien sidestepped, his movements fluid and elegant, but Julia was relentless. She pressed her advantage, her attacks coming faster and harder. Her sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, forcing Damien to stay on his toes.
"Here, I thought you would be showing something, like your twin."
Suddenly, she heard Damien mumble something.
❰But, I guess I expected too much from you.❱
Before Julia could react, the world around her began to change. Her vision blurred, and the sounds of the crowd faded away. It was as if she had been transported to another realm. Countless mirrors materialized around her, each reflecting a distorted image of her opponent. The reflections multiplied, creating an endless maze of Damien's sneering visage.
❰Welcome to the Realm of Dreams.❱
Damien's voice echoed, coming from every direction. The disorienting effect was immediate. Julia spun around, trying to locate the real Damien, but it was impossible.
Each reflection moved in perfect synchronization, creating an overwhelming sense of confusion.
❰Not a pathetic display like that guy's, but a real illusion blade.❱
Chapter 402 - Duels (10)
❰Not a pathetic display like that guy's, but a real illusion blade.❱
In the world of Hunters, everything was possible. This was the first thing a parent taught them.
There could be some restrictions made by the world, but eventually, to know about those restrictions, one needs to have information.
That information was hard to come by. Especially the more one climbed over the ranks.
The stronger a Hunter was, the harder it became to get a hold of information over them. Those who know about that information would either die or reveal their own strengths.
This was the first thing that Julia and Lucas were taught. They both were made aware of the importance of this fact.
The disorienting effect of the illusions was immediate.
Julia spun around, doing her best to try to locate the real Damien, but it was impossible.
Each reflection moved in perfect synchronization, creating an overwhelming sense of confusion.
She tightened her grip on her sword, her breathing steady despite the disorienting illusion. "You think this will stop me?" she shouted, her voice defiant.
In a way, this was her own way of strengthening her own mentality. Someone's words didn't need to be directed to others.
–THUMP!
But her bravado was met with silence, the only sound being her own heartbeat thundering in her ears.
–SWOOSH!
Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in her leg. She gasped, glancing down to see a thin line of blood seeping through her pants. The cut was shallow but precise, a testament to Damien's skill. He had struck without her even seeing him move.
"Did you feel that?" Damien's voice taunted from all around her. "In this realm, you won't see or hear me coming. Every step you take could be your last."
Julia gritted her teeth, the pain sharpening her focus. She had to stay calm and think strategically.
❰Something about you was always different, wasn't it? You always had a fast response. Is it related to your body? ❱
Damien continued, his voice coming from all sides. He was smart. It was evident that he figured it out.
Well, that was natural. There were two times when they had faced each other before.
First, when they were 12 years old.
Sword Parade.
A tournament that she had won, beating Damien and Lucas.
At that time, she remembered how easy it was to beat Damien. Even Lucas was stronger than them.
But in the second one, when they were 13 years old.
The winner was Damien.
And that was the last time he had attended the Sword Parade. After that, he has continued to move forward with better achievements.
❰I hadn't forgotten about that loss.❱
Her enhanced reflexes were her greatest asset, but they were useless if she couldn't see her opponent.
It was evident that this move was solely created against people like her.
❰How is it? Do you like it?❱
Damien continued to taunt, his voice dripping with condescension.
Another cut, this time on her side. She winced, trying to block the attack, but her sword met only empty air again. She was getting frustrated, her anger bubbling beneath the surface.
"Damien!" she shouted, her voice filled with defiance and frustration. "You think these tricks will save you?"
❰At the end of the day, the Middleton family is only suited for the beasts. Beasts against beasts is certainly a fitting arrangement.❱
The words hit her like a physical blow. She had heard similar taunts before, people mocking her demeanor and her fierce attitude. But this was different. It was personal.
❰Realm of Dreams❱ was indeed a perfect move against her, but she wasn't going to give up. Not now.
Suddenly, a searing pain ripped through her chest. Damien's blade had cut through her clothing, leaving a shallow but humiliating mark. The cold air stung against her bare skin, the cut a stark reminder of her vulnerability.
The crowd gasped, their shock palpable. Julia's vision blurred with rage, her mind flashing back to all the times she had been mocked as a beast. The memories of being treated as less than human, of being seen as nothing more than a wild animal, flooded her senses.
She hated it. She hated every bit of it.
A deep, primal roar echoed in her mind, awakening a trait she rarely acknowledged.
Her lineage, her bloodline, it was coursing through her blood. But at the same time, something differed her from others.
The weird trait she had always been something of a mystery,
But in moments like this, she felt it coursing through her veins.
[White Tiger*] – a trait that had appeared on her status window. Different from her family members, it was a weird trait that she had alongside her family's traits.
It heightened her senses, increased her strength, and gave her a ferocity that was unmatched. But it also brought with it a wildness of her own thoughts.
A double-edged blade.
She hated this trait more than anything else when she was a child since she acted differently. It came with a lot of need for care. She needed to quench her thirst for fighting randomly.
She felt the urge to fight and push herself, and it came at any time.
❰T-t-t-t-t-….You are really growling like a beast, aren't you?❱
As she was getting pushed by him and heard his words, Julia suddenly remembered something. While her wounds hurt, the pain in her chest made her remember a certain memory.
A memory of a time when a certain white-haired woman had cut the same place, and she spoke to her.
"Little sister. No matter what, you must never hate yourself. Only by accepting your own self can you move forward."
Those words came from the traitor, the person her family exiled. But she still remembered the smile she gave her. At that time, she didn't understand it, but now, as she felt her own emotions, Julia realized what she had meant back then.
'As if you knew I would come into this.'
As she realized, she thought about things differently. Why must she be like others? If this is how she was meant to be, why refuse it?
Seeing it like that, she realized the restrictions she was putting on herself.
What were senses? What did those mean? Did her trait [White Tiger*] only amplify her five senses, or was there something else?
Then she realized how narrow-minded she was.
This world contained more information than one's eyes, ears, nose, skin, or tongue could sense.
Mana imprints.
Intents.
Thoughts.
Concepts.
Aura.
Everything was included in this world. In such a place where these types of things existed, how narrowminded would it be if she only copied how a normal animal could feel the world?
If things were that simple, how could those monsters from dungeons be this threatening against all these hunters?
Wasn't there a reason why the Middleton Family was better at dealing with monsters and not the Arkwrights?
'Right. I was not even using it to the full extent.'
Taking a deep breath, Julia closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel the power of the [White Tiger] fully.
She let go of her fear and embraced the wildness within her. She felt her senses expand, not just heightening her sight and hearing but also giving her an intuitive understanding of her surroundings.
It was as if she was connected to nature, to the world itself.
She could feel the vibrations in the ground, the shifts in the air, and the faintest hints of movement. Her mind was clear, her focus sharp.
Those things, which were mere illusions, felt like they couldn't disturb her senses.
She felt like a sphere was being formed around her. A sphere with a radius of five meters. And right at the surface of that sphere, she suddenly 'felt' something.
A presence.
'Here.'
She could sense it.
SWOOSH!
Damien moved to strike again, confident in his victory. But this time, Julia was ready. She sensed his approach and felt the minute changes in the air around her. She sidestepped his attack with fluid grace, her movements precise and calculated.
"You think you can mock me? Treat me like a beast?" Julia's voice was calm, but it held an edge of something fierce and untamed. "I'll show you the strength of a true Middleton."
Julia's newfound awareness of her surroundings gave her a brief advantage, allowing her to sidestep Damien's attack with fluid grace. She felt every shift in the air, every vibration in the ground, and knew exactly where her opponent was.
But as the moments passed, she realized that relying solely on her [White Tiger] trait made her feel no different from a beast, a creature reacting to its environment.
She was more than that. She was a swordsman. She resonated with the sword and held it as an extension of herself.
A swordsman is what she was.
CLANK!
Damien recovered quickly from his missed strike, his eyes narrowing as he realized Julia had adapted to his illusions. He swung his blade again, but Julia was ready, parrying the blow with a precision that left him momentarily off balance.
But she needed more. Just sensing her opponent wasn't enough. She needed to incorporate her heightened senses into her swordsmanship to create something uniquely her own.
As Damien pressed his attack, Julia's mind raced. She thought about her family's techniques, the principles behind them, and how she could merge them with her own abilities. She let go of the idea of copying others and instead focused on creating something new, something that belonged to her alone.
Damien's blade came at her again, and Julia met it with her own, their swords clashing with a resounding clang. But this time, she didn't just react; she anticipated. She could feel the intent behind his strikes and sense the rhythm of his movements. It was as if she was reading his mind through the connection of their swords.
Julia closed her eyes, drawing on the energy within her, letting it flow through her body and into her blade. She envisioned her technique, a synthesis of the Middleton Family's raw power and her own refined precision.
"Damien," she called out, her voice steady and confident. "You're about to witness something new."
Damien sneered, not understanding the shift in her demeanor. "Empty words won't save you, Middleton."
Julia smiled, a fierce determination lighting up her eyes. She took a deep breath, centering herself, and then she moved.
Her sword flashed in the dim light, moving faster than before, guided by an innate understanding of her surroundings and her opponent. She called upon the essence of the [White Tiger], but not just as a wild beast. She fused it with her swordsman's discipline, creating a harmony between instinct and skill.
「Sword of Middleton: Tiger's Resonance」
The technique was a blend of raw power and precise control; each strike was imbued with the ferocity of a tiger and the precision of a master swordsman. Julia's movements were fluid yet powerful, her blade cutting through the air with a grace that was both beautiful and deadly.
Damien's eyes widened as he struggled to keep up. Each time he thought he had a read on her attack, Julia's blade was already moving to the next position, guided by her heightened senses and her newfound technique.
"You can't keep up, can you?" Julia taunted, her confidence growing with each successful strike.
Damien's expression shifted, a smile creeping onto his lips despite the pressure he was under. "You're really strong, Middleton. A worthy opponent indeed. But it seems you've failed to measure your limits."
As he spoke, Julia's heart suddenly throbbed inside her chest, a sharp pain radiating through her body. She gasped, her confident demeanor faltering as she fell to one knee, struggling to fight against the pain.
Damien stepped back, his smile widening as he saw her distress. "You may be able to see everything and sense everything, but at the end of the day, a beast can never achieve more than what its body permits. This is what differentiates a beast from a human."
After all, she had forgotten one thing. Her body was not like a strong monster's. It was a human body, and it had limitations.
His words stung, but there was a certain glint in Damien's eyes, a flicker of fear masked by his taunts. He felt threatened by Julia's prowess, recognizing her potential despite his harsh words.
Julia gritted her teeth, her hand clutching her chest as she fought to stay upright. The pain was excruciating, but she refused to give in. She wouldn't let Damien's words break her spirit.
"You… don't understand…," she panted, her voice strained. "I'm not… just a beast…."
Damien's smile faltered slightly as he saw the determination still burning in her eyes. He knew he had underestimated her resilience, and it made him uneasy.
"You can't win if your body fails you, Middleton," he sneered, but there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice. "Yield. At least while you can stand."
However, reality was often disappointing like this and there was nothing Julia could do about it.
"….."
Yet she didn't yield, only to fall unconscious.
THUD!
At that exact moment, she failed to realize it, but there was one thing that changed inside her.
Her trait [White Tiger] had evolved into another one.
-----------------------
[Báihǔ] – Legendary Grade.
-----------------------
Chapter 403 - Duels (11)
As Julia collapsed to the ground, the amphitheater fell into a stunned silence. The spectators, who had been on the edge of their seats throughout the duel, now looked at the arena with wide eyes and open mouths. They had witnessed countless duels at Arcadia Hunter Academy, but this one was different. The level of skill and intensity displayed by both combatants was extraordinary.
The murmurs started slowly, then grew louder as the crowd processed what they had just seen. "Did you see that? Damien Arkwright's swordsmanship is on another level!"
"Yeah, the way he used the 「Realm of Dreams」... It's incredible. At this age, other heirs couldn't even deploy that, let alone in the middle of a fight."
"And his tactics, so precise. Every move had a purpose."
But amidst the admiration for Damien's prowess, there was a palpable respect for Julia's performance. Those who knew about the 「Realm of Dreams」 understood its terrifying nature. It was a technique designed to disrupt the senses of the opponent, making them vulnerable and disoriented. Many who faced it for the first time never survived.
"Julia Middleton... She held her own against the 「Realm of Dreams」," a seasoned scout remarked, his voice filled with awe. "Do you know how rare that is? Most people can't even fight back once they're caught in it."
Another scout nodded in agreement. "And she didn't just hold her own. She almost won. Her technique, her resilience... It was extraordinary."
"She adapted so quickly. It's like she has an innate understanding of her surroundings that goes beyond normal senses."
"She's not just relying on her family's techniques. She's developing something unique, something powerful."
In the stands, Ethan watched Julia with a mixture of happiness and concern.
He knew how hard she had trained, how much she had pushed herself. Her performance today had been nothing short of remarkable. She had faced one of the most challenging techniques and had nearly emerged victorious.
"Julia, you were amazing," he whispered, his eyes filled with admiration. "You'll get there. I know you will."
Though he couldn't spend too much time here. Since it would be his match soon.
Damien Arkwright stood in the arena, breathing heavily but triumphant. He glanced at Julia's unconscious form, a flicker of respect in his eyes. Despite his taunts and cruelty, he couldn't deny the strength and skill she had shown.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, breaking the silence, "the winner of this duel is Damien Arkwright!"
The crowd erupted into applause, but there was a different tone to it. It wasn't just admiration for Damien's victory; it was also recognition of the incredible fight both combatants had delivered. Julia's ability to stand against the 「Realm of Dreams」 and her nearly victorious performance had left a lasting impression on everyone present.
As medics rushed to tend to Julia, Damien walked off the arena, his confidence unshaken.
At least that was how it looked, yet something was different.
'That bitch….She almost got me.'
The fact that a mere beast dared to bare his fangs at him. The fact that he almost lost.
He felt anger. He refused to acknowledge it. As the superior one from the start, how could he let a mere beast almost bite him?
It was unacceptable.
'At least no one was here to witness.'
He thought inwardly, yet a subtle smile crept on his lips. How would it feel if he were to break such a beast?
"I will look forward to the time when you crawl under my feet." He mumbled. "Julia Middleton."
With a crazed expression on his face.
*******
As the arena was cleared and Julia was taken to the infirmary, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the next and final duel of the day. The atmosphere was electric, charged with excitement and curiosity.
This was the duel everyone had been waiting for: Ethan Hartley, the rising star with an impressive lineage, versus Kellan Stormrider, a higher-ranked student who had controversially chosen to challenge someone significantly lower in rank.
The amphitheater was filled to capacity, with students, faculty, and spectators eager to witness the showdown. Whispers and murmurs filled the air as people discussed the upcoming fight.
"I can't believe Kellan challenged Ethan. What was he thinking?"
"Yeah, it's a cowardly move. He's ranked 456, and Ethan is 970. It's not a fair match."
"Well, I've heard Ethan has been showing incredible progress lately. Maybe Kellan sees him as a real threat."
As the crowd settled, the announcer's voice boomed through the amphitheater. "Ladies and gentlemen, for our final duel of the day, we have Kellan Stormrider, ranked 456, versus Ethan Hartley, ranked 970. Contestants, please step into the arena!"
The crowd erupted into applause as Ethan Hartley stepped into the arena. His presence commanded immediate attention. His wavy blue hair and piercing hazel eyes, combined with his calm demeanor, made him a figure of intrigue and admiration. He held his spear confidently, a weapon that had become a symbol of his determination and skill.
Opposite him, Kellan Stormrider entered the arena, his expression stern and focused. He was a tall, muscular figure with dark hair and a determined gaze. Despite the frowns and murmurs from the audience, he maintained his composure, ready to face Ethan.
"Look at them. They're both so composed," a student whispered to her friend.
"Yeah, but Kellan's got the rank advantage. Ethan's going to have to pull something extraordinary to win this."
They both knew the fight between Ethan and Samuel. After all, Ethan was already a hot topic, and many people were observing his prowess.
The announcer's voice called out again, signaling the start of the duel. "Are both contestants ready?"
Ethan and Kellan nodded, their eyes locked onto each other. The tension was palpable.
"Begin!"
As the announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, the tension reached its peak. The crowd fell silent, their eyes glued to the two combatants.
Kellan Stormrider moved first, his greatsword glinting in the light as he charged forward. His muscles rippled with power, his attribute [Shock] adding a visible aura of energy around his weapon. With each step, the ground seemed to tremble slightly, a testament to his strength.
Ethan, however, remained calm. His spear crackled with lightning psions, the energy dancing along its length. He waited, his eyes focused and unflinching as Kellan closed the distance.
With a mighty swing, Kellan brought his greatsword down in a powerful arc, aiming to crush Ethan with sheer force. The air around the blade shimmered with the shockwave it generated, creating a wave of pressure that surged toward Ethan.
'He is fast!'
Ethan reacted swiftly, his lightning-imbued spear meeting Kellan's greatsword in a clash of elemental forces. Even though Ethan trusted his speed and strength, Kelland had surpassed him in that regard.
If his lightning attribute wasn't increasing the speed of his motor reflexes and the strength of his muscles, he would be having a hard time even at the start.
CLANK!
Sparks flew as the weapons collided, the shockwave from Kellan's attack dispersing into the ground with a resounding boom. The crowd gasped, the sheer power of the impact reverberating through the arena.
Ethan spun his spear, deflecting Kellan's follow-up strikes with precise, fluid movements.
Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but Ethan's agility and lightning-enhanced reflexes kept him one step ahead.
–Thunder Step
Ethan invoked his skill, his body flickering with speed as he sidestepped a particularly heavy blow from Kellan's greatsword. In an instant, he was behind his opponent, his spear crackling with energy.
Kellan, however, was no novice. He twisted his body with surprising speed, bringing his greatsword around in a wide arc. The blade caught Ethan's spear just in time, and the shockwave from the impact sent a tremor through the arena floor.
Ethan grinned, his eyes alight with the thrill of the duel.
"I still don't understand why you had chosen me as your opponent, but thank you for the opportunity."
Even the fact that Ethan was chosen by someone of a higher rank didn't bother him too much. No, rather, it strangely made him proud.
"Don't get carried away."
Kellan responded. It was quite irritating seeing Ethan deflecting his attacks like that.
'This guy is way above his rank.'
It was evident that his duel wasn't meant to be easy. But, well, he had no choice either.
"We will see about that."
Raising his spear high, Ethan called upon the storm. Dark clouds began to gather overhead, lightning crackling within them. The air buzzed with energy as he channeled his power into his weapon.
「Spear of Hartley: Exotic Form, Thunder God's Wrath!」
A massive bolt of lightning struck Ethan's spear, infusing it with an intense, crackling energy. The ground beneath him charred from the sheer power, and Ethan stood amidst the electric storm, his spear a beacon of thunderous might.
Kellan's eyes narrowed, but he stood his ground.
'It is the same move. Calling Thunder and Lightning.'
Channeling his own attribute, he surged with power, the shockwaves around him intensifying. His greatsword hummed with energy, ready to meet Ethan's assault.
「Seismic Shocks.」
With a burst of speed, Ethan closed the distance, his spear thrusting forward with the force of a lightning strike. Kellan met the attack head-on, his greatsword clashing against the spear in a blinding explosion of light and energy.
BOOM!
The shockwave from the collision rippled through the arena, sending dust and debris flying. The crowd shielded their eyes, the sheer force of the impact leaving them in awe.
Ethan pressed the attack, his movements a blur of lightning-fast strikes. His spear danced with electric energy, each thrust aimed at overwhelming Kellan's defenses. Kellan countered with powerful swings of his greatsword, the shockwaves from his attacks creating ripples in the air.
"This…."
'I need to use it.'
Kellan's expression hardened, and he decided it was time to employ a special technique he had honed over the years.
With a sudden shift, he slammed his greatsword into the ground, sending a series of shockwaves rippling through the arena floor. But these were no ordinary shockwaves; they were aimed to disrupt Ethan's equilibrium by targeting his inner ear, the primary organ responsible for balance.
Not many people were aware of this fact, and he had come to the realization of this while training on his own.
Shockwaves, especially the ones that were specifically manipulated, were rather rare to be seen, making people not aware of their aftereffects.
And Ethan was one of those.
「Shockwave Disruptor.」
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Ethan staggered, his balance momentarily thrown off by the disorienting effect of the shockwaves. Kellan didn't waste a second. He pressed his advantage, launching a relentless barrage of attacks. Each swing of his greatsword sent another disorienting shockwave, keeping Ethan off-balance.
Ethan gritted his teeth, feeling the ground beneath him tremble with each shockwave. His vision blurred slightly, and his footing became unstable. He tried to counterattack, but Kellan's precise use of shockwaves disrupted his movements.
"Not so easy, is it?"
Ethan's mind raced. He needed to find a way to regain his balance and counter Kellan's relentless assault. With each shockwave, he felt his control slipping further away. He knew he had to act quickly.
「Spear of Hartley. Thunder crash」
Summoning all his focus, Ethan channeled the power of his lightning psions into his legs, grounding himself with a surge of energy.
It was an offensive ability, but he decided to use it to strengthen his footing.
CRACKLE!
The lightning crackled around him, creating a stabilizing force field that counteracted the disruptive shockwaves.
"Nice trick," Ethan muttered, a determined smile on his face. "But it won't be enough."
After all, he found his footing once again.
With newfound stability, Ethan launched himself into the air, using his lightning attribute to propel him higher. As he descended, he channeled the full power of the storm into his spear, aiming for a decisive strike.
CRACKLE! BOOM!
The spear came down with a thunderous roar, a massive bolt of lightning accompanying the attack.
Kellan braced himself, his greatsword raised to meet the incoming blow. The impact was monumental, the ground beneath them shattering from the sheer force.
CRASH!
And as if a volcano erupted, the ground was broken into shambles. There stood two figures.
One Ethan. Kneeling on the ground.
And the other one, Kellan, with his sword piercing the ground. He stood like a proud knight, looking down on his opponent.
"Yield."
Nobody saw what was happening, but in a second, suddenly, Ethan was on the ground.
Chapter 404 - Duels (12)
The crowd was abuzz with murmurs of confusion and disbelief. The abrupt end to the duel had left many spectators wondering what had transpired in that final, decisive moment. Ethan Hartley, the rising star, was on his knees, while Kellan Stormrider stood tall and proud, his greatsword piercing the ground.
"Yield," Kellan's voice echoed through the amphitheater, firm and commanding.
The crowd erupted into applause, but there was an undercurrent of confusion. Many had not fully understood what had happened in those final moments.
Kaya Hartley, seated in the VIP section with her daughter Jane, observed the scene with a critical eye. She had seen what many had missed.
"Mother, what happened? How did Brother Ethan lose so suddenly?" Jane asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Kaya leaned closer to her daughter, her voice calm and measured. "When Ethan utilized his Thunder-infused spear to strike Kellan, Kellan met the attack head-on with his greatsword. But he didn't just block the strike; he created a special type of shockwave field."
Jane's eyes widened in realization. "A shockwave field?"
Kaya nodded. "Yes. Most shockwaves are designed to push away or disrupt. However, Kellan reversed the propagation of the shockwave. Instead of pushing Ethan's spear away, it pulled it in. The force of the shockwave acted like a vacuum, drawing the spear toward the greatsword."
Jane's brow furrowed as she tried to visualize the mechanics. "So, when Kellan stabbed the ground with his greatsword..."
"The ground absorbed the shock from the attack," Kaya continued. "Especially for lightning, it acted as a grounding effect, nullifying all the energy at once. Kellan used the ground to dissipate the energy of Ethan's attack, rendering it harmless."
"And Brother Ethan?" Jane asked, her eyes focused on her mother.
"Ethan had directed his energy to ground himself, but when the energy was nullified so abruptly, he was momentarily left unbalanced," Kaya explained. "That's why he ended up kneeling. It was a brilliant and unconventional use of shockwaves and the environment."
Jane's expression shifted from confusion to admiration. "That's incredible. Kellan must have trained extensively to perfect that technique."
Kaya nodded, her eyes still on the arena. "Indeed. Kellan's mastery of shockwaves and his strategic use of the environment were impressive. As you can see, many talented individuals are at this academy."
They were talking as if the fight was over. And, in fact, it was supposed to be. Since it was evident that Ethan wouldn't be able to recover from this position, the energy he had spent and his posture were evidence that he had lost.
"So, you won't yield."
Kellan spoke suddenly. After all, no response was coming from Ethan, which meant the fight was yet to be over.
The crowd gasped at the spirit Ethan was showcasing, but in fact, the reason why Ethan wasn't talking was not because he refused to acknowledge that he lost. It was because his voice wasn't being transmitted to the outside. Kellan was interfering with the transmission of Ethan's voice, using his shockwaves to interrupt the sound waves at a perfect counter-propagation.
Kellan shook his head as if he didn't want what he was about to do. Inside, he was torn between his honor and the blackmail that forced his hand. He had to beat and humiliate Ethan to fulfill his end of a sinister deal.
'Sorry for doing this. But I have no other choice.'
With a grim expression, Kellan coated his fists with shockwaves, enhancing their power.
SWOOSH! THUD!
He stepped forward and, with a swift motion, punched Ethan in the face. The force of the blow, amplified by the shockwaves, sent Ethan sprawling across the ground.
The crowd erupted in shocked exclamations, many unable to comprehend the sudden and brutal escalation. Ethan lay on the ground, struggling to rise, but Kellan was relentless. He approached Ethan, his fists still crackling with energy.
"Yield!" Kellan demanded, but again, Ethan's voice couldn't be heard. He had already tried to yield, but Kellan's interference had silenced him.
Kellan's expression hardened further. He raised his fist and brought it down on Ethan again, the shockwaves creating a nauseating thud as they connected with Ethan's body. The brutal assault continued, each punch more forceful than the last.
"Yield!" Kellan repeated, his voice growing more desperate. He didn't want to continue, but the pressure on him was immense. He was being forced to go beyond his limits, his integrity being tested to the brink.
Ethan's body shook with each blow, but his spirit remained unbroken. He tried to muster his energy, but Kellan's relentless assault was taking its toll. The crowd's cheers had turned to horrified murmurs, the spectacle no longer one of admiration but of horror.
Jane's eyes filled with tears as she watched her cousin endure the brutal beating. "Mother, why is this happening? Why won't he stop?"
Kaya's expression was grim. She knew something was terribly wrong. "This…..There is more to this than it meets the eye."
She focused on Ethan, and then she saw his lips moving.
'He is speaking?'
Then everything fell into its place.
'This kid! He is intentionally not letting him speak.'
Since shockwaves could also be used to nullify the sounds.
'You dare! To my nephew!'
Instantly, a weird pressure started being emitted from her. People all around her started having trouble breathing, let alone seeing anything.
It was as if death had descended on them. And that was normal.
Since they were facing the aura of Kaya Hartley, Three-digits-hunter, firsthand.
But then, suddenly, her eyes captured something.
'This….Hahaha….that is right. This is Ethan.'
The fact that something inside Ethan was changing.
'Haha….'
In an instant, she retracted her aura, letting other people breathe since there was no need for her to do anything else.
On the arena, as the beating continued, Ethan's resolve began to waver. He was reaching his limit, his vision blurring from the pain and fatigue. He knew he had to do something, anything, to end this.
'Why is this happening?'
Ethan thought, his mind a storm of confusion and pain.
'I was just having an honorable duel, fighting while putting everything on the line. Why is this happening to me?'
His thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance of pain and disbelief.
'Why am I being subjected to this? I just wanted to show my cool side to others, to shine like a hero. I wanted to be an inspiration to others. And now, why is this guy suddenly beating me?'
Each blow from Kellan felt like a hammer on his spirit.
'Why am I forced to feel this pain? What made this guy think he had the right to do this? Who gave this guy the right? Who does he think he is?'
And then, amidst the chaos and confusion, a new feeling began to emerge within Ethan. It started as a small spark, a flicker of something primal and fierce.
It was a feeling of indignation, of righteous anger.
'No…' Ethan's thoughts began to coalesce around this new feeling. 'No one has the right to do this to me. No one can take away my honor, my dignity. I won't let them.'
'It was the same at that time with Jane. The same with Emily. If not for that masked guy suddenly coming to help us, I would not be there. If not for the fact that those seniors decided to let me go, I would not be there. For all this time, I benefited from being Hartley. For all this time, I was known for being a Hartley, not for being Ethan.'
The spark grew into a flame, and the flame into an inferno.
'For just how long are you going to let yourself be stepped upon, Ethan? What do you think would he think if he were to see you?'
He asked himself.
'Pathetic.'
Then, as if to answer, a cold voice echoed in his head. A cold voice that didn't belong to the figure that he had always seen in his dreams but to the young boy with cold purple eyes.
Yet the effect was clear.
'That is right.'
'For my justice, I will stand up.'
Though battered and bruised, Ethan's body began to radiate a new kind of energy. It was not just the power of his lightning psions but something deeper, something born of his unyielding spirit.
'I am Ethan Hartley!' he thought fiercely. 'I am a hero, and I won't let this end here. I won't be defeated like this!'
With a sudden burst of strength, Ethan pushed himself off the ground, his eyes blazing with a newfound resolve.
–CRACKLE!
His body crackled with lightning, but this time, it was different. It was as if the very essence of the storm had merged with his spirit.
–Trait, [??????' Might] is active.
–The world responds to your will.
–Thunder bows down in front of your presence.
A bunch of voices echoed inside his head, but Ethan wasn't in the condition to listen to them.
Kellan, who had been preparing for another punch, paused in shock. "What the…?"
Ethan's voice, now clear and powerful, rang out. "I don't know who made you do this. But for whatever reason you have, I will not let myself be stepped upon once again."
The crowd gasped as Ethan's aura flared, a tempest of lightning and fury. He stood tall, his spear glowing with an intensity that matched his resolve.
Kellan hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. But he couldn't back down now. He had to see this through.
"You should have yielded," Kellan muttered, his fists still crackling with shockwaves.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "I will never yield to someone who fights without honor."
Ethan raised his spear high, his eyes now turning a vertical, glowing yellow. Thunder flashed within them as he stepped forward with purpose and power.
He mumbled, his voice resonating with the energy of the storm.
"By the will of my call, father of all,
Hear my cry through the storm's enthrall.
With the power of thunder in hand,
I summon the heavens to strike this land."
RUMBLE!
The moment he finished his words, the sky rumbled ominously. Dark clouds swirled above, and a silhouette of a giant figure began to form within them. The crowd watched in awe and fear, their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them.
Ethan named the strike with a powerful voice that echoed across the arena, "Sunderer of Aesir."
–SWOOSH!
With an explosive burst of energy, Ethan leaped into the sky, seeming to defy gravity.
–RUMBLE!
His spear was held firmly in one hand, and he ascended with the grace and ferocity of a storm. As he reached the peak of his leap, the silhouette of the giant in the sky mirrored his movements.
Descending rapidly, Ethan aimed his spear directly at Kellan. The giant's spear in the sky followed suit, creating a breathtaking visual of an immense power converging upon a single point.
"Come!"
Kellan, bracing himself, raised his greatsword to meet the strike.
CRACKLE! BOOM!
The two spears—Ethan's and the giant's—met with Kellan's greatsword in a cataclysmic explosion of light and sound.
The impact created a shockwave that rippled through the arena, sending debris flying and forcing the spectators to shield their eyes from the blinding brilliance.
The ground beneath them shattered, creating a massive crater at the point of impact. The sheer force of the collision sent tremors through the entire structure of the amphitheater, shaking it to its core.
When the dust settled, the crowd was silent, holding their breath to see the outcome. In the center of the crater stood Ethan, his spear still crackling with residual lightning.
However, before him stood someone that no one had ever expected.
It was a bulky man with a slightly wrinkled face.
"Headmaster?"