The deafening cheer from earlier abruptly halted as the spectators held their breath, eagerly anticipating the upcoming battle with bated breath.
On one side is the Magic Tower genius magician who was rumored to be able to use up to level 5 magic by the age of 16 and was held as the future king of magic within the Empire.
The other is a genius who achieved a master's rank at a similar age to Kane. Renowned for his fierce battle technique and exceptional aura control, he earned the prestigious title of the Blade of the Blazing Tiger.
As the silent anticipation of the match lingered, the sound of the two geniuses' footsteps grew louder as they came closer to the stage.
Kane walked out wearing a robe with the magic tower symbol on the back, underneath the robe was the Celestial Academy uniform, and on his hand was a white grimoire.
Aaron with a shiny long sword that hung on his back he walked with confidence toward the stage where his opponent was, and he too wore the Celestial Academy uniform.
His family’s crest was imprinted on the handle of his long sword, Their family patriarch along with the 2 other pillars watches on with great expectation.
They stood across from one another, a flash of determination in their eyes as they showcased their unwavering prowess by releasing their energy, signaling the start of the showdown.
But they were held back by Principal Wuldor as he stood between them, his friendly smile and unbothered stance showed that he was unaffected by their energy.
“Congratulations, Aaron. You're halfway to your goal only to fail under my hand” Kane mocks Aaron, his words are filled with confident
Aaron unbothered by Kane's words smirks at his provocation, “Keep acting high and mighty like that, your defeat today will be remembered for centuries”
Professor Wuldor standing between the 2 heard everything and thought to himself, “They’ll never understand the definition of the phrase under the same roof”
And with a slight wave of Professor Wuldor’s hand, the battle commences…
The two went at each other with murderous intent. Aaron's long sword and Kane's magic meet one another causing an explosion, the smoke cleared quickly from the 2 relentlessly attacking one another.
Kane, a magician specializing in Ice Magic, stunned the onlookers as he conjured a sword made of ice, swiftly engaging Aaron, a master of close combat, in a thrilling duel.
Aaron was rather shocked by this unexpected development and was knocked back a few steps by Kane's frost attack. Uninjured but confused Aaron shouted at Kane with frustration, “Aaron you bastard, what the fuck are you doing? This isn’t a game… Fight me seriously!”
Aaron smiles as he waves his crudely made blade around like a toddler who found a new toy, “I’m just making a statement, I’m showing you that the very thing you’re so proud of achieving is nothing but a child play in my hand”
In the waiting room, K giggles at Kane’s words, “What will you do now, Aaron Blackthorn?”
A knowing hint flashes in his eye as watches the ensuing battle through the magical live broadcasting screen that was placed in the stadium waiting room as well as the center of the plaza
From behind gentle footsteps approach him, “You’re in a happy mood, Mr. Davis”
K recognized her voice and delightfully replied, “Ms. Rachel, I hope my victory won’t come between our friendship”
Rachel accompanied by her female bodyguard took a seat next to him, she watched the screen with curiosity, “Would you mind sharing your thoughts on the ongoing battle between the 2 geniuses?”
K answered leisurely, “At the moment, I too am at a crossroads of the mind”
Rachel without getting a clear answer from K turns to the screen and sees Aaron clutching his fist with great anger, no longer playing around Aaron gets into his battle stance.
Seeing the shift in the atmosphere surrounding them Kane knew that he couldn’t take Aaron lightly from now on and was ready for the incoming attack.
“His knight's honor had been insulted, and it seemed this battle would soon reach its conclusion," Rachel thought, narrating her thoughts to K. However, she received no response from him.
K simply smiles as he continues watching the battle. “Don’t you think that you should answer her question?” Davis within K's inner mind asked
K replied to him using his mind, “You didn’t think that she only came here to ask about our opinion, did you?”
Davis was perplexed, his curiosity got the better of him and he quickly said, “Yes? Isn’t that the case?”
K chuckled internally, “Oh you sweet summer child, you may be great with the business but you’re terrible in politics my friend”
Before Davis could defend himself, K continued, “Technically, she did come to inquire about that, but her primary objective was to gather more information about us. The disparity between the information she had about the past you and the present you didn’t match whatsoever. Therefore, she came today to gather any clues or ideas about you.”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
K wanted to continue but his attention was drawn to the screen and so too were Rachel and her bodyguard, Davis in K's inner mind saw a shocking scene as K stared at the screen.
While they were talking Aaron and Kane exchanged a few more blows, Aaron now released his Aura outward in a pulsing wave and gathered it around his body creating an armor made out of aura.Top of Form
Blackthorn swords technique first form: Piercing Flame*
A rush of aura gathered on his blade and with a stabbing motion the energy was released straight at Kane in a fiery blaze.
Ice magic: Ice wall*
Spikey Ice appeared from the ground creating a wall of thick layered Ice blocking the incoming strike from Aaron.
Ice Magic: Ice golem*
A giant golem formed out of ice emerged and rushed toward Aaron, it threw a right jab at him but its arm was sliced off. Unfazed by this the golem retaliated with a left punch, his punch made contact with Aaron's body and sent him back.
Aaron's armor absorbed most of the punch but because the golem made contact with Aaron's aura armor its body started to melt into a puddle of water
“Hot enough for ya?” Aaron gave Kane a wry smile
Kane saw his golem melt into a puddle of water and knew that he needed to end this battle quickly and for the first time open his grimoire
“You want me serious? Right” Kane's friendly demeanor turns serious as the space around them starts to change
Ice Magic: Ice King’s throne*
Ice covered the area trapping Aaron inside while separating them from the spectator. But with the help of the magic viewing screen, the spectator can look into the mysterious ice dome
“A Spatial world?” K was startled as he saw the dome. “NO this isn’t a soul realm manifestation. It is only a physical domain” K let out a relieving sigh as he continued to spectate the match
Davis unable to avoid it asked, “You’re not going to explain further?”
K jokingly said, “Is there a need to?”
Davis rolled his eye as he replied, “It's not often that I see you visibly startled by something”
Letting out a reluctant sigh K explained, “The reason I was startled was because I thought the kid was using a powerful magic called Soul Realm Manifestation. It's a rare and potent magic accessible only to those who have ascended or achieved enlightenment. This magic releases one's mana and soul, creating a space that separates the physical world and draws in everything corporeal.”
“This one is simply a spatial magic that creates a space in the physical world not a spiritual one so we’re fine… But Aaron he going to struggle a lot” K chuckled mischievously
Aaron standing in a luxurious hall made of ice like a king's throne room turns to see Kane sitting on a throne staring down at him. Aaron doesn’t think much and rushes at him.
Blackthorn sword technique second form: Setting sun*
Raising his longsword above his head and swinging it downward Aaron's blazed sword came down at Kane but it was stopped by multiple spears made of Ice.
Aaron saw 4 knights made of Ice standing around Kane's throne protecting him. They slice at Aaron but all their attack miss as Aaron uses his footwork technique to escape.
When Aaron got back a spike of ice came from the ground at his head, he jumped back avoiding the attack but when he did so many more came at him.
As Aaron backed away, he inadvertently stepped on a magic circle concealed on the ground, triggering an explosion. “Don’t forget,” Kane mockingly reminded Aaron, “you're not the only one who can play with fire.” Though his proficiency in other attributes might not match his mastery of ice, Kane's skills as a magician were not to be underestimated.
Dodging both traps on the ground and attacking from above Aaron's aura armor is slowly being chipped away, and soon his leg got caught in an ice spell that immobilized his movement
“Well, fun over,” Kane said, he snapped his finger, and hundreds of weapons that consisted of swords, spears, and axes… appeared above Aaron's head. It came down at Kane hard creating a mountain of weapons on top of Aaron
Silence*
A few seconds of silence went by, and when everyone thought that Aaron couldn’t fight anymore a scream burst out from beneath the pile of weapon
A fiery inferno burst upward melting the ice around him, Aaron who seemed to lose his mind from the sudden burst of aura and gripped his sword tightly
Blackthorn sword technique 6 form: Dragonic rush*
A dragon shape from the fiery aura around Aaron came and rushed at Kane, the intense heat from the dragon melted the Icy hallway as it passed by.
Kane using most of his mana creates a magic barrier around him, he turns to see Aaron smiling at him from behind the dragon
“A hail mary attempt of a losing man” K giggles at the screen
Aaron's attack was never intended for Kane in the first place but it was aimed at the throne behind him which is the source of energy that upholds the spatial magic. The fiery dragon shifted its body around Kane and went past him.
The dragon destroyed the throne and along with it the space around them. In a moment of surprise, Kane turns to see what had happened but as he does so Aaron's figure appears behind him.
With every inch of strength he had left, he poured it into this swing, Kane was caught off-guard and couldn’t react in time. He thought that Aaron using such a powerful attack earlier was enough to drain him and didn’t think he could continue
Magic Barrier*
A thin layer of barrier was cast but it shattered into pieces upon taking impact from Aaron's long sword
“Just a little bit more,” Aaron who was quickly losing consciousness thought, his hope light up when he saw the barrier break apart
Only for his body to fall limb on the ground, his body was at its limit. Unable to move nor speak he could only think, before he lost consciousness completely he could only think of one thing, “I was so close”
The last words Aaron could hear were, “The winner is Kane Esteria”
Letting out a disappointing sigh K shook his head in pity, “You’re so close but yet so far”
On stage Kane stood triumphantly next to the fallen Aaron, seeing his rival desperate attempt gone to vein he leaned down and spoke with sincerity, “My friend, you may have lost this battle but know this… Your effort had not been in vain, as I Kane Esteria will recognize you as who you are, a swordmaster”
And with that, Kane lifted Aaron gently and escorted him to the infirmary. His compassionate gesture towards a defeated opponent garnered him great respect from both the audience and the Empire Pillar.