The mont the rune flashed BEGIN, Kazel vanished.
Not moved — vanished.
Rhys’s eyes widened. Wind Step? No... faster.
A sharp whisper of air sliced past his cheek.
CLANG!
Rhys blocked instinctively as Kazel reappeared behind him, twin blades crossing down toward his shoulder.
"Good reflex," Kazel said, pushing harder.
Rhys slid back from the force, boots scraping the stone.
Skill — Mana Shield!
A thin blue aura wrapped around him, deflecting the second strike just enough to avoid a deep cut.
Kazel’s wolf-like grin widened. "You react well. This will be fun."
Wind spiraled around his legs.
Skill — Gale Dash!
He ca again, faster this ti. Blades whipping in clean arcs—
left, high, thrust, low sweep.
Rhys blocked the first three but stepped back from the sweep.
Skill — Swift Cut!
His blade flashed forward in a counter.
Kazel twisted aside, wind carrying him just out of range. "Sharp. But not enough."
He raised one blade as the air condensed.
Skill — Wind Fang!
A crescent of compressed wind shot forward.
Rhys sliced it apart with—
Skill — Vertical Slash!
The impact shook the arena floor.
Dust swirled. Wind clashed with darkness.
Puddle watched from the sidelines, tiny hands gripping Aria’s sleeve. "Master hit him! Hit him good!"
Aria whispered, eyes tense, "He’s fighting soone fast... too fast."
Sophia nodded. "Rhys must switch to mixed casting or he’ll fall behind."
Caria clenched her notebook. "He’s analyzing Kazel’s rhythm first. Let him adjust."
In the arena—
Kazel circled lightly, steps silent, wind swirling around him like a living creature.
"You’re calm," he said. "Most fighters panic after the first rush."
Rhys steadied his breath. "I’ve trained with people worse than you."
Kazel chuckled. "Good. Try not to die too fast then."
He disappeared again.
Wind Step!
Rhys didn’t look this ti—he felt the mana shift behind him.
He swung backward.
Whirlwind Slash!
A spinning arc of mana burst around him.
Kazel’s attack collided with it mid-air—
BOOM!
Wind and mana exploded outward, sending both fighters sliding apart.
Kazel landed, eyes gleaming. "You’re finally fighting seriously."
Rhys exhaled sharply. "Not yet."
He raised his free hand.
Skill — Magic Missile!
Three glowing projectiles shot forward.
Kazel cut the first. Dodged the second.
But the third curved mid-air—
BANG!
It struck his shoulder and pushed him back.
Kazel winced. "Tracking magic? Nice trick."
Rhys wasn’t done.
Skill — Fireball!
A burning sphere launched at him.
Kazel snapped his fingers. "Wind Wall."
A wall of swirling air dispersed the flas.
But Rhys rushed through the smoke, sword raised—
"Take this—!"
Skill — Water Blade!
A sharp crescent of water shot out point-blank.
Kazel’s eyes widened—he crossed his blades in defense.
CRASH!
Water and wind cracked against each other, sending shards of pressure across the arena.
The crowd roared—
"That’s the Magic Swordsman kid!"
"He’s using three elents at once?!"
"Nightfang is actually getting pushed!"
Puddle floated higher, cheering. "Master best! Master best!!"
Lyra watched quietly, eyes sharp. "He’s balancing swordplay and spells. This is good."
Sophia nodded. "But Kazel hasn’t shown his core skill yet."
Aria swallowed. "He has sothing stronger?"
Caria whispered, "Every wolf-blood duelist does..."
Back in the arena—
Kazel shook his arms, wind spiraling violently around him now.
"Not bad, Rhys. But you’re not the only one who can mix skills."
His mana erupted—wild, fast, sharp.
Wind gathered into a cyclone beneath his feet.
"Let show you..."
His fangs extended slightly. His pupils thinned.
The air turned cold.
Skill — Storm Predator Form!
The arena floor cracked as Kazel’s power surged.
He blurred forward, speed tripled.
Rhys barely brought his sword up in ti—
CLANG!!!
The impact sent him flying back several ters.
He skidded across the stone, boots sparking.
Kazel didn’t pause.
He appeared in front of Rhys mid-slide.
Twin blades flashing down—
Skill — Tempest Cross!
A cross-shaped burst of wind exploded toward Rhys.
He reacted instantly—
Mana Shield!!
The shield shattered.
The attack struck.
BOOM!
Dust blasted outward as Rhys crashed into the arena wall.
"RHYS!!" Aria shouted.
Puddle scread, "MASTER!!!!"
The crowd held its breath.
Smoke filled the air.
Kazel exhaled, lowering his blades. "It’s over."
But then—
A pulse of darkness flickered inside the smoke.
Slow. Heavy. Hungry.
Kazel froze. "...What?"
Sophia’s eyes widened. "Oh no."
Lyra whispered, "It woke up."
Caria whispered, "His sword..."
Puddle trembled. "Master... angry?"
The smoke cleared—
Rhys stood straight.
Blood on his lip.
Aura surging.
And Ruinous Darkness glowing with a deep, dangerous violet.
"Not... over."
He raised his blade.
"Round two."
Rhys stepped forward.
The arena floor vibrated under his boots.
Kazel’s instincts scread at him. His grip tightened on his twin blades.
"...That aura... it’s not normal darkness."
Rhys didn’t answer.
He simply moved.
And this ti — he was faster than Kazel.
CLASH!
Kazel blocked out of pure instinct, tal screeching as Ruinous Darkness slamd against his crossed blades.
The impact forced him back three whole steps.
"What—?!" Kazel hissed.
Rhys’s eyes had changed — sharper, colder, almost void-like.
A faint whisper echoed from his sword.
—feed—
Lyra’s expression hardened. "It’s drawing on his combat will..."
Aria swallowed. "So he’s stronger but... scarier?"
Puddle hugged herself. "Master... don’t go too far..."
In the arena—
Kazel steadied his footing and spun.
"Fine! Let’s see how long you can keep up!"
Skill — Storm Predator Dash!
He tore forward, wind exploding beneath him.
But Rhys moved with equal force—
Skill — Swift Cut: Darkness Flow!
The two blurred.
Their movents crashed together, sending gusts across the arena.
Kazel grinned despite himself. "So you can match this speed...!"
He twisted, blades swirling.
Skill — Twin Fang Cyclone!
A vortex of slicing wind spiraled outward.
Rhys stabbed forward through the storm—
Skill — Dark Pierce!
A concentrated line of purple mana shot through the cyclone.
CRACK!
The cyclone broke in half.
Kazel’s eyes widened. "You broke it—?!"
Rhys didn’t slow down.
He crashed a downward strike.
BOOM!
Kazel crossed his blades again — barely holding back the force.
His boots sank into the stone.
"That power... your sword is alive, isn’t it?!"
Rhys glared. "I don’t have ti to explain."
He swung again.
Outside the arena—
The crowd went wild.
"Rhys is overpowering him!!"
"Nightfang is on the defensive?!"
"That sword — what IS that weapon?!"
Sophia exhaled slowly. "He’s leaning into Ruinous Darkness. But... it’s still controlled."
Lyra shook her head slightly. "Barely. He must not let it dictate his moves."
Caria whispered, pen shaking, "If he loses control... the referee will interfere."
Aria muttered, "He won’t. Rhys isn’t that stupid."
Puddle... was praying.
"Master... please win safely..."
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