"Ah right." She retracts her molten hand.
To everyone's surprise, Mina gives me time to recover and walks to the other end of the field.
"Madam Mina has shown mercy and walked away! The skill she uses should consume massive mana yet she shows no signs of fatigue. Is she toying with Sir Loi? What exactly is the height of her power?! Nonetheless, there is one certain thing to acknowledge, both warriors have surpassed the limits of an academy cadet."
Beneath the moonlight and darkness, a festival of fire dances on the battlefield.
I collect myself and stand up. Mina seems carefree without signs of fatigue. To be honest, it would be wise to surrender now but let's see this to the end.
With our weapons in hand, the second round begins. we exchange clashes with explosions here and there. My power is drastically lower than before. Still, I wait for the right moment to parry.
*BOOM!*
Flames burst in a sweeping arc when I ward off her blade as far as possible. Her arm is wide open and so is mine. However, I let go of my sword and immediately close the distance and grapple her head with my arms, my elbows on her shoulder and hand cupping behind her head.
!!!
In that instance, light and dark static emerges from my knees.
Mina widens her eyes "Huh-"
My knee forcefully slams into Mina's torso.
*BOOOOOOOMM!!*
The impact gives birth to a resonating shockwave with contrasting hues of luminous light and ominous darkness, blasting the fire apart.
...
Her left hand stands between my knee and her abdomen yet the damage penetrated her defence. Her molten hand sizzles against my skin.
"Ack...Hehe..." Her smile grows wider. I can see blood between her teeth.
Tch. I used most of my remaining strength in that.
I lower my leg and go for another strike and another.
*BAM!* *BAM!*
"Ngh..."
Both her arm blocks my attack, abandoning her sword. She grabs my waist, lowers her head and pushes me away. As I stumble back, she leaps in and thrusts a jab at my face.
I throw my guard up.
*BOOM!*
W-What is this strength? Each punch is enough to send me a few feet back. She continues the onslaught of strikes, throwing different hooks, jabs, and punches.
As Mina executes a punch, I adeptly weave and counter uppercut. She absorbs the blow but retaliates, planting her feet into my thigh, kindling an intense pulsating heat. I grimace in response feeling the pain shoot up my body.
Shit!
I lose my footing and Mina rapidly dashes behind me, wrapping her arm around my neck and her legs around my hip.
"This is payback." She whispers.
"MMMMGGGGHHH!!!"
The tighten sprouts suffocating pressure constricting my breath and movement. In addition, her fiery arm burns its mark on my neck.
Damn it, this fucking girl!!!
I dig my nails into her arm. The luminous and shadowy aura envelops my hand, crackling static of power.
"ARRGHH!!" My body steps back and somersaults, tossing the girl behind.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Her strength loosens and I quickly jump away.
"Huff huff huff..." I can't feel my legs.
"Amazing!" Mina gets up and spits a patch of blood. She wipes her mouth to a grin.
What kind of existence is she? Her martial arts are polished; It's better than mine.
I pick up my sword when she retrieves hers. My weary body quivering from exhaustion. "Huff haah huff huff..."
What can I do...
I can't feel my legs and am in a worse state with burns all over my body.
I...
"Use your aura." A familiar voice rings in my head.
?!
Who was that?
I've never heard that voice before yet it feels personal and close to my heart.
"You have the capability, not the stimulus." the voice says again.
Use my aura to move...?
...
"Cadet Loi closed his eyes? Is this a sign of surrender?" The MC says.
Mina shoots into alert, narrowing her eyes as her intuition detects danger. She leaps forward, wielding her sword in a swift swing.
*BOOM!!*
An intense aura breaches the atmosphere, rupturing the flame battlefield. The shockwave ejects Mina and her flames away. A pair of wings shoot out to spring my body into the air, leaving behind remnants of mana and dust.
"Is my eyes deceiving me?!! Aura Manifestation?!" The MC exclaims.
My aura and blood congregate around my chest, forming a pulp of red essence pulsating in phase with my heart. Unaware in the moment, I failed to notice the transformation of my iris, which had taken on a crimson hue.
Fueled by chaos and adrenaline, my dark attribute has prime control over my aura, emitting a murderous facade from my wings. My sword, absorbing my aura, takes on a dark red appearance.
My newfound flight zooms across the arena, surpassing Mina's agility.
Mina holds up her guard as my blade zaps to her. Surprisingly enough, the gap of strength closes as I completely overpower her, pushing her back with every strike. When she attempts to counterattack, I split into twenty afterimage entities from every single direction.
All twenty slash Mina with cruelty, decimating her coat.
I fly to the sky, expecting to see Mina heavily injured.
!!
"Ha...haha...fuck," I mumble.
Aside from little cuts, her outer jacket absorbed all the damage and she blocked all major attacks.
She throws away the jacket and mumbles something to herself. Soon, part of her hair ignites into flames as the rest transforms to a rosy red hue. Her aura erupts with a soul-burning blaze, conjuring divine wings of fiery unfurling behind her in a dazzling display.
"ANOTHER MANIFESTATION?!!!!!!" The MC screams at the top of his lungs.
She hurtles towards me at incredible velocity, colliding a series of crushing impacts as our blades clash while our wings gracefully soar. Flame flickers at every second in the air, dancing fireworks as Mina skillfully brandishes her techniques.
I don't understand! I've tried everything I can and she is still overpowering me! She truly deserves the "protagonist" role.
One final hit throws some distance between the both of us.
Mina is getting breathless. Good to see she isn't a fucking god.
Raising her sword high, she channels volatile flame energy, coalescing at the blade's tip and expanding into the majestic form of a fiery Phoenix. One glance at it sends fear coursing through my veins.
What...?!
"Let's end this!" She says.
"Wait-"
The ethereal creature dives towards me with blazing beauty, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake as it decimates everything in its path.
At that instance, my brain overclocks into overload, attempting to think of a way out. Nothing. It's my defeat. But...I still want to win.
I am finally in control of my destiny...
"Water forms river. River forms ocean. Everything flows in the direction of nature. But a man's will reigns over heaven and earth." words of enlightenment ring in my head. It's that voice again.
...!
*BA-DUM!*
Time seems to slow its pace. Such simple sentences yet profound enough to daze me. Unsure how to explain it but I instinctively understand.
The sword is my body. An irreplaceable limb. To yield is a certain defeat and the sword will break...
I raise my sword.
To adopt an unwavering will, even in the face of insurmountable defeat, can break the gods themselves.
Mina instantly recognises the scent of death. Confused by her intuition, she looks at my blade. A mysterious tranquil of black and white surrounds my sword.
One vertical slash is all it took.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!*
A mighty cut so potent, it cleaves through the air with rippling shockwaves, parting the Phoenix and the sea of flames that stretches across the entire arena. The aftermath explodes several hurricanes, buckles out the landscape of the battlefield, and slashes a hole in the barrier. Roate barely arrived in time to absorb the hit, saving the spectators.
A deep cut wedges across Mina's torso. Despite the gushing blood, a satisfied smile slides on her face.
"Splendid...Loi..." She mumbles and falls to the ground.
My vision blurs as I roughly make out Mina's state.
Oh...no...I didn't...mean to go this...far.
My wing dissipates and I collapse to the ground, not able to move a single muscle.
When my slumber approaches, I realise the identity of the mysterious voice. It is Morja Esbavien.
-----------
Congratulations!
You have achieved the first level of sword intent.
-----------
----------- [https://img.wattpad.com/39a056941cdfd3310952574d11ff7544cc39c3c9/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f457a3442324a66475a6f666c35513d3d2d313430373833373839362e313761333863306136363035336139373639373235343339353431362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
[https://img.wattpad.com/8891685e2d0e0b5657cc7a938221883ca91807ce/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a32614642325f6d4139426c47413d3d2d313430373833373839362e313761333863346261393465386633303931303835313234323734362e6a7067]