The training grounds were deathly quiet as Riku stepped forward, the cold winter air biting at his skin. His breath fogged in the frigid morning as he faced Marcus, one of the seasoned warriors standing before the cadets. Marcus, a tall and imposing figure, stood confidently with his sword resting easily in his hand, his posture relaxed but ready.

The wind picked up, whistling through the bare trees that lined the field, creating an almost eerie backdrop to the coming duel. Riku felt his heart hammering in his chest, but his grip on his sword was steady. He knew what was at stake—this wasn't just another spar. It was the test that would determine his future.

Marcus locked eyes with Riku, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he moved. The sound of his boots crunching against the frozen ground was the only warning before he suddenly launched forward with breathtaking speed.

Clang!

Riku barely had time to raise his sword, the steel ringing out as it clashed against Marcus' powerful strike. The force of the blow reverberated up Riku's arm, nearly knocking him off balance. He gritted his teeth, pushing back against Marcus' strength.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Marcus didn't stop. His sword was a blur, each swing faster than the last. Riku blocked again and again, the sharp sound of metal on metal echoing across the training grounds. His arms ached under the relentless barrage of strikes, but he held his ground, focusing on maintaining his defense.

The other cadets watched in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the fight. Marcus moved with the precision of a master swordsman, his strikes clean and efficient. He gave no openings, no weaknesses for Riku to exploit. Every time Riku thought he saw a chance to counter, Marcus would shift his stance, closing off any possible attack.

"He's toying with him," whispered one of the cadets, eyes glued to the fight.

Marcus pressed forward, forcing Riku to step back. His blade came down again, and again, each swing sending a shudder through Riku's sword. Marcus' footwork was impeccable, his movements fluid and precise, while Riku struggled to find a rhythm. The cold air filled with the constant clash of steel, the sound sharp and piercing in the winter silence.

Clang!

Riku's arm began to tremble as he blocked another heavy blow, sweat beading on his forehead despite the freezing temperature. His mind raced. - There's no opening! He's too fast! He couldn't keep this up forever. He needed to do something, and fast.

That's when he made his decision.

Taking a deep breath, Riku closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, feeling the energy welling up inside him. When he opened them again, his body was surrounded by a faint, shimmering blue light—the second level of Aura. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough.

The other cadets gasped, murmuring among themselves. "The second level of Aura? Already?"

Marcus paused, momentarily surprised. The faint glow surrounding Riku was a sign of significant progress, especially for someone so young. He hadn't expected this. His lips curved into a slight smile. - Let's see what you've got.

Riku felt the Aura surging through him, amplifying his speed and strength. He exhaled slowly, then launched himself forward, sword raised.

Swish!

This time, it was Riku's turn to attack. His sword cut through the air, faster than before, aimed straight for Marcus' side. Marcus blocked, but the force of Riku's strike pushed him back a step. The seasoned warrior raised an eyebrow, impressed.

Clang! Clang!

Their swords met again, the sound sharper and more intense now. Riku's movements were faster, his strikes more powerful, but Marcus was still a wall. Each of Riku's blows was met with a swift counter, Marcus' sword a blur of silver as he parried each attack.

Clang!

The sound rang out as Riku's sword struck again, sending sparks flying as it met Marcus' blade. The cadets watched in stunned silence. Riku was holding his own. Not just surviving—he was fighting.

Riku pushed harder, his sword a flash of blue as it moved through the air, each strike aimed with deadly precision. Marcus was forced to retreat, his smile growing. - He's got talent.

For a moment, it seemed like Riku might break through. But Marcus wasn't done. With a swift move, he deflected Riku's blade, stepping to the side and twisting his sword to disarm him. Riku reacted just in time, twisting his body to avoid the trap, but the momentary slip gave Marcus the opening he needed.

In a blur of motion, Marcus spun, knocking Riku's sword aside and stepping back, his own blade pointed at Riku's chest.

"That's enough," Marcus said, his voice calm but filled with respect. "I've seen enough."

Riku, panting heavily, lowered his sword. His Aura flickered and then faded as he took a step back, the adrenaline slowly leaving his body. His arms ached, and his muscles screamed in protest, but there was a small, proud smile on his face.

"You've done well," Marcus said, sheathing his sword. "For a cadet, you've shown impressive skill. I'll call this a draw."

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A murmur spread through the crowd of cadets. "A draw? With Marcus?" The disbelief was evident on their faces. They had never expected Riku to last so long, let alone tie with a warrior of Marcus' caliber.

The tension that had gripped the air began to loosen as the cadets let out relieved sighs. Confidence spread through them—if Riku could hold his own, maybe they had a chance too.

But their hope was short-lived.

The next two cadets, eager to prove themselves after witnessing Riku's success, stepped forward one after the other. But Marcus made quick work of them. His sword flashed in the air, and within moments, each duel was over. The sharp clangs of steel were brief, followed by the soft thud of cadets hitting the ground, defeated. Marcus was merciless, dispatching them with ease.

The cadets' newfound confidence crumbled. The reality of their situation hit them hard. They weren't Riku. They weren't ready.

As the third cadet limped back to the group, defeated and shaken, Tora stepped forward again.

"Balko," he called, his voice cutting through the cold air.

Balko, tall and broad-shouldered, stepped forward, his eyes filled with determination. He stared at Jurge, the massive, intimidating warrior who had yet to fight. Jurge's muscular frame and cold gaze made it clear—this would be a battle like no other.

The cadets held their breath as Balko drew his spear, the next clash looming. The fight was far from over.

The air was thick with tension as Balko stepped forward, his broad shoulders tense but steady. His grip on his spear was firm, the polished wood glinting in the cold sunlight. Across from him stood Jurge, a warrior of immense stature and reputation, his sword resting easily in his hand. Jurge's expression remained unreadable, but his piercing gaze told Balko that this wouldn't be an easy fight.

Unlike Riku, whose strategy had focused on defense, Balko had a different approach in mind. Without hesitation, he called upon his Aura. A faint, bluish light enveloped his hands, not as fully formed as Riku's body-wide aura but concentrated where he needed it most. The Aura crackled with energy, wrapping his fingers and palms, empowering his grip on the spear.

The moment the Aura ignited, Balko sprang into action.

Swish!

The sound of the spear slicing through the air was sharp and clear as he lunged toward Jurge, wasting no time. His strikes were direct and powerful, the tip of his spear aimed for Jurge's midsection. Jurge, however, was quick to respond, bringing up his sword with a clean, swift motion to parry.

Clang!

The metallic sound of the weapons colliding reverberated through the training grounds, startling the cadets watching. Balko's speed was impressive, and the force behind his attack pushed Jurge back slightly. But Jurge didn't falter. He moved with a calm, controlled grace, his sword meeting each strike of Balko's spear with precision.

Balko narrowed his eyes, thinking quickly. - I need to break his defense. He recalled the duel from their second year when Riku had faced Isaki. Isaki had used a combination of sword strikes and Aura-infused punches to overpower his opponent, seamlessly switching between blade and fist. Balko, a keen observer of battles, had memorized every detail of that fight.

Drawing inspiration from Isaki's strategy, Balko shifted his stance, channeling more of his Aura into his hands. His knuckles glowed with the blue light as he swung his spear in wide arcs, forcing Jurge to block with his sword. Then, in a split-second move, Balko pulled back his spear and aimed a punch at Jurge's chest, the Aura crackling as it surged into his fist.

Thud!

Jurge barely managed to sidestep the punch, his eyes narrowing in mild surprise. The punch grazed his shoulder, but it wasn't enough to throw him off balance. Balko gritted his teeth, realizing how quick Jurge was despite his size.

Isaki, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smirk. - So the guy does have brains after all, he thought, impressed. Balko had a reputation for being a brute, all muscle and raw power. But in this fight, he was showing a sharp tactical mind, adapting on the fly and drawing from past experiences. Even Jenia and Riku, who had been skeptical of Balko's abilities, were now watching with wide eyes. Balko wasn't just throwing wild strikes—he was calculating each move, learning from every clash.

The battle raged on.

Clang! Swish! Clang!

Balko's spear moved like a blur, spinning and thrusting as he tried to keep Jurge on the defensive. Jurge, however, remained composed, his sword dancing in response to each of Balko's aggressive strikes. Every time Balko tried to land a punch with his Aura-infused fist, Jurge would dodge or deflect, never letting the attack connect with enough force to cause real damage.

Jurge's eyes gleamed with respect. - This kid's good.

But Balko wasn't done yet. He surged forward, this time feinting with his spear before throwing another punch, his Aura surging with more power than before. Jurge reacted quickly, dodging the punch by mere inches. But the force of the swing made it clear—Balko wasn't holding back.

Suddenly, Jurge made a decision. In one swift motion, he hurled his sword toward Balko.

Whistle!

The sword sliced through the air with a deadly whistle, and Balko's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected such a reckless move. Instinctively, he brought up his spear to block.

Clang!

The sword collided with the shaft of the spear, the impact sending a shockwave up Balko's arms. The force of the throw was immense, but Balko held his ground, his feet digging into the dirt beneath him as he pushed back against the blow. His arms trembled, but he managed to deflect the sword, sending it clattering to the ground a few feet away.

But it was too late.

In the split second that Balko had focused on the sword, Jurge had already closed the distance. Before Balko could react, Jurge was upon him, his massive frame looming over the cadet.

Thud!

Jurge's fist, enveloped in a faint Aura, connected with Balko's stomach in a brutal, controlled punch. The impact drove the air from Balko's lungs, and for a moment, everything seemed to blur. The world around him slowed, and he felt his knees buckle as the force of the blow sent him staggering back.

Balko gasped, trying to catch his breath as the pain shot through his body. But even as he stumbled, he kept his grip tight on the spear, refusing to fall.

Jurge, standing tall, withdrew his fist, admiration gleaming in his eyes. "You've got guts," he said, his voice low but filled with respect. "Not many can withstand that."

The cadets watching were silent, their eyes wide with shock. Balko had put up an incredible fight, surprising everyone—including his opponent. Even though he'd lost the exchange, his strength and resilience had left a lasting impression.

Jurge extended a hand to help Balko up. "You've earned my respect," he said simply.

Balko, still panting, accepted the hand and rose to his feet. His body ached from the impact, but there was a small, satisfied grin on his face. He knew he hadn't won, but the respect in Jurge's eyes was worth more than any victory.

As the two warriors stepped back from each other, the training grounds erupted in murmurs. The cadets were in awe of what they had witnessed, and many were rethinking their assumptions about Balko. Even Isaki, still smirking, had to admit to himself: - He's smarter than he looks.

The battle had been fierce, but it wasn't over. More cadets were waiting their turn, and the next fight loomed large.

But for now, the echoes of steel and the crackling of Aura still hung in the air—a reminder of the power and skill that had been on display.

The fight between Balko and Jurge was just one of many, but it was clear: the real challenges were only beginning.