"Swift Strike."
The words rippled calmly through Elowen’s mouth as her hand touched Fiona’s stomach.
However, the simple looking touch was anything but simple. Fiona’s body caved in slightly from the impact, as her breath left her.
Like a ragdoll she was flown across the arena, hitting the hard stone and rolling on the ground.
She sohow managed to get up, though instantly coughed blood out of her mouth.
The arena fell quiet for a brief second.
Fiona staggered but forced herself upright. Her legs trembled, yet her grip tightened around her sword. Blood stained her lips, but her eyes were still sharp.
Though the attack was fatal, she had been through worse.
Across from her, Elowen stood untouched. Her long white hair flowed gently behind her, even though there was no wind.
Her crimson eyes looked calm, not a flicker of mock was there. She just stood there watching.
Fiona inhaled deeply.
Mana gathered around her blade, wrapping it in a bright blue glow. The aura thickened, humming faintly as she steadied her breathing.
"I’m not done," Fiona muttered.
Then, she dashed forward.
The stone beneath her feet cracked from the force of her movent. Her sword cut through the air in a fast horizontal slash aid at Elowen’s neck.
Elowen tilted her body slightly.
The blade missed.
Fiona did not stop. She spun on her heel and slashed again, this ti aiming from below, the mana around her sword flaring brighter.
Before the blade could land, Elowen’s hand wrapped in wind stopped it.
tal t hardened wind with a sharp screech.
Fiona pushed harder, slicing through half of the it.
However instantly vines erupted and t the blade, blocking it.
From the sharpness of her blade the vines snapped apart, but more rose imdiately, twisting around her sword and climbing toward her arm.
Fiona released a pulse of mana.
The vines on her hand were shredded.
She stepped forward aggressively, thrusting her blade straight toward Elowen’s chest. Elowen calmly raised her hand.
Wind gathered around her fingers again, then with a soft motion, she released it.
A sudden gust struck Fiona’s side, forcing her thrust off course. She stumbled half a step, but recovered quickly and swung again.
Elowen stepped backward. he wind carried her lightly, almost as if she were weightless. Fiona’s attacks grew faster.
Left. Right. Thrust. Spin.
Each strike was precise, powered by controlled mana. The blue aura around her sword sliced through any vine that dared approach.
The crowd began cheering louder. They loved this kind of fight where the grit and passion shows.
Elowen’s expression did not change. She placed her palm on the ground. The stone cracked again.
This ti, the vines did not rely rise.
They exploded outward.
Thick, green, thorn-covered tendrils surged from every direction, twisting and spiraling toward Fiona’s legs.
Fiona jumped back, slashing downward. Her blade carved through several vines, but one wrapped around her ankle.
Another coiled around her wrist.
Fiona gritted her teeth and poured more mana into her sword. The blade glowed brighter, and with a fierce spin she cut herself free.
She landed and imdiately charged again.
"Stand still dammit" she shouted.
Her sword descended in a powerful overhead strike. Elowen raised her arm. Abarrier of wind forming in front of her.
The blade hit the invisible wall.
For a second, both forces clashed. Fiona pushed with all her strength. Cracks ford in the air itself.
Then Elowen shifted her wrist. The wind redirected the force.
Fiona’s own montum carried her forward awkwardly. Before she could correct her balance, a vine shot from the ground and struck her ribs.
She was thrown sideways.
She rolled across the arena floor but quickly forced herself up again. More blood dripped from her mouth.
Elowen stepped forward calmly.
"Yield," she said softly.
Fiona shook her head.
"No."
She slamd her sword into the ground. Mana bursting outward in a wave.
The blue aura expanded violently, cutting through the surrounding vines and clearing a small space around her.
She pulled the blade free and rushed forward again. This ti, she didn’t aim for Elowen’s body.
She aid for her legs.
The strike was fast.
Elowen stepped back. But Fiona had anticipated that. She pivoted mid-swing and redirected her blade upward.
The crowd gasped. The sword coming dangerously close to Elowen’s shoulder. For the first ti, Elowen moved quickly.
Wind surged beneath her feet, launching her backward just enough to avoid the cut. Fiona pressed forward relentlessly.
Her sword flashed again and again, each strike stronger than the last.
Elowen finally extended both hands.
"Bloom."
The word echoed gently. All the vine fragnts scattered across the arena floor began to move.
They trembled, then they grew.
Thicker. Stronger. Sharper.
They surged upward from every direction, forming a cage of thorned green around Fiona. Fiona roared and spun her blade wildly, cutting through vines as they tightened around her.
The blue aura blazing intensely, shredding plant after plant. She broke through the cage and leapt toward Elowen one final ti.
Her sword aid straight at her heart. Elowen’s crimson eyes flickered faintly. Wind condensed tightly around her palm and she thrusted forward.
An invisible blast struck Fiona directly in the chest.
The impact was devastating.
Fiona was lifted off her feet and hurled across the arena.
She slamd into the barrier outside the ring hard.
The sword slipped from her hand as she collapsed onto one knee.
She tried to rise. Her legs trembling violently. A thin vine slid across the stone and lightly touched her shoulder.
"Yield."
The duel ended.
Silence held the arena for a heartbeat. Then the crowd exploded into cheers.
Elowen stood alone in the center of the ring.
The vines slowly retreated into the ground. The wind died down.
Her breathing was steady. Her expression unchanged. Without looking at the crowd, she turned and walked off the ring calmly.
The Golden Generation had shown its strength once again.
However this ti it seems that they were not the only one with grit and will to surpass.
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