A little earlier, Ark was done dealing with small fry. He calmly walks into the glade, his gait unhurried and lax, but also refined and without waste.

He had expected to be attacked by someone at a point but everyone present backed off a considerable distance.

The reason was clear: Silvia emanated strong fighting spirits like never before. Even monsters would instictively try to avoid her.

"I guess this is it. Our rematch is finally here." But Ark was still nonchalant.

"A month has passed since my first defeat. Today I will even the score if you don't mind."

"Of course not. If you can beat me, then that's it. I won't complain or anything unmanly like that. But you know, that is only under the condition you can beat me." He flares with his own fighting spirit.

The surroundings disappeared into the background. Ark and Silvia only had eyes for each other. Gripping their swords, the world rumbled under their sheer power.

"Clarent Style: Fairy Waltz."

Graceful footwork reminiscing of a fairy dancing on wind. The distance shrinked with casual movements refined to high degree.

"Clarent Style: Eye of the Storm."

Embodying a storm, the ambient wind swirled around her, sparks of lightning flashes violently yet calmly.

Silvia accelerated further, slashing with all her might.

"Clarent Style Secret Technique: Sky Roar."

With the same serene tone as before, the girl who represented the wind harnessed the sky. And unlike before, the true power of the technique manifests. Azure glow covered her sword.

It is natural. Clarent is a ducal household that had existed since the founding of Arcadia. The highest rank of nobility was obviously given to the strongest vassal. And the techniques were passed to the descendents.

This is the unfair advantage of nobles.

"Well, the ability to use them depends on the capacity of the user, though." Muttering under his breath, Ark intercepts the sword with his own, matching Void Spirit to the minimum level.

A month ago, Silvia couldn't use that combo. Even if she did, it would have a severe recoil on her body and she would be rendered immobile.

An hour ago, Ark could only match this sort of attack by exhausting himself if magic isn't used. But then he would be critically injured.

Now however, both stood perfectly fine.

"You monster."

Ark had reacted in the optimal way, reading the trajectory and intentions without much of a glance. And he took what would have been an ultimate attack lightly.

"I could say the same thing. Did you seriously master both concurrent and constant activation? In just one month?"

"Oh? As expected, you noticed."

"Obviously."

Silvia not only managed to use multiple spirit arts at the same time, but also keep them activated for a prolonges periods. It is classed as one of the most difficult technique to achieve, even more so if it's a high class style like Silvia's. This state is called Origin Return.

The Iron-Sword is the lowest class style, so Ark had achieved full mastery of this technique, uniting all 12 forms into 1. That's why he knew. Uniting 3 of Clarent's most difficult techniques is not only outrageous, the consumed focus is no joke.

(And you called me a monster? Damn you talented hard-working bastard!)

"Well, I cheated a little though..." And with that knowing tone, she continued to an onslaught.

It was ridiculous. Every blow exchanged thundered with a fierce shokwave. One second resulted in a mininum of 5 blows. Speed and strength even elite knights would succumb to in a single attack were packed in countless strikes.

Silvia stroke unhesitantly as she danced. Her choice of spirit arts was an immaculate combination of power and speed. Her movements refined and sharp.

Ark was also doing well. He read the intent and reacted accordingly. A human's reaction speed is theoretically 0.3 seconds, 0.1 if trained. But in reality, the actual reaction rate is only after the attack is perceived. On the other hand, intent could vaguely form before the opponent even realized it, or if the opponent visualized ahead. Thus, Ark had gained a foresight with full clarity.

"It's... beyond reason."

"Such strength at that age. These two are surreal."

"Damn. I can't even follow with my eyes."

No one could hope to step in. Interevining in this battle of giants was impossible. Most struggled even to keep up with their eyes. They could only tell there were two monsters of equal grounds.

Nevertheless, between the two who fought frantically, it was clear: Ark is slowly getting pushed back.

It was inevitable. Silvia had a month to perfect and get used to this state, while Ark had no chance to properly train his newfound power. He struggled to manage his focus and couldn't draw his full potential yet.

Ark is talentless. He is no genius. If it was Silvia, she would've adapted mid battle, but it was impossible for Ark. Were it not a high speed battle, he would have the leeway to swear her in his mind. But he needed to remain calm.

Luckily, one thing remained the same. Silvia had yet to accumulate battle experience surpassing Ark. It was a clear edge he firmly grasped.

Nevertheless, talent tramples all effort.

The growth Ark was denied, that close to a cheat, was utilized by Silvia. Constant improvement in real time made her every motion sharper and faster. The genius is growing accustomed to Ark and is optimizing herself.

Furthermore, Silvia went beyond.

"Clarent Style: Heavenrend."

Faint silver shimmered as a fourth technique was added to Origin Return. That alone forced him to increase Phantom as well as the burden.

"I see. You let primordial wind circulate in your body to ease the burden from Origin Return."

"Guess I can't properly regulate it yet."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"No no, this is already impressive. So the primordial wind had this sort of application as well."

"Yeah, something like that."

Through this brief conversation, Ark had succeeded in analyzing Heavenrend's effect. It was bad. The worst. Such ill compatibility couldn't be achieved anymore.

Heavenrend send flying slashes that splits the atmosphere itself. In Origin Return, the body is wearing this technique making every movement to cause ripples and extend the range of attack. Worse still, since it is secondary effect, Silvia isn't focused on it and the intent reading is almost impossible.

Ark was now compeletly on the defensive. It even became visible to the knights and crowd who were watching. Moreover, each exchange now brought a new wound to his body, while Silvia remained unscathed.

(Should I turn to magic?)

Any more and he will collapse before going all out, then it will definitely end.

Origin Return. He was wary of that power, especially now that he lost his own along with the spirit. In order to reacquire it properly, he needed to create spirit arts of a significant caliber. But with the Void Spirit being uncharted territory, it may take months, years before he could challenge Origin Return.

In the end, there's no choice but giving up...

"Haaaa, I almost forgot."

Ark's speciality lies in two things: cheating and taking from others. Taking mana and use it to his advantage is what he does.

Then why not expand the range a little?

(But to do it precisely on the first try, I would have to rely on... enlightenment.)

"You are wide open!"

Silvia launched a straight thrust at the chest. She couldn't miss the opportunity presented in front of her.

The rapidly approaching sword caused Ark to tense. Every instinct and reflex told him to dodge or defend, that the blow would kill him. Instead, he savored the sensation of looming death to tap into greater realm of concentration.

It was at that moment, when the blade made contact with Ark's chest...

"Void Replica: Fairy Waltz."

At the face of death born enlightenment.

Void Spirit is inherently formless. When it manifested, it exerted force upon the world that could block magic. That force is normally a technique, but unlike normal techniques with access only to certain element, this one has access to all and everything. Truly a spirit equivalent to the supreme light and dark.

So theoretically, the spirit could mimick any style, but to unleash that power where the experience was lacking, an enlightenment was necessary.

The result is clear: void replica, the copying of techniques.

With this boost in speed, Ark evaded the attack and unleashed a swift counter. This time, he held the advantage.

"Void Replica: Heavenrend!"

Heavenrend countered by Heavenrend, the impossible to dodge damage was completely nullified, whereas Ark's sudden power increase managed to push Silvia back.

"H-how are you imitating my techniques?! That's impossible!"

"There is no such thing 'impossible'. You thinking otherwise shows the difference in experience between us."

The techniques of house Clarent are difficult to comprehend and learn. Even others with the access to wind element couldn't imitate these techniques. It's just tol profound.

But Ark had been through a lot. The experience etched onto Ark was enough to understand the essence of the techniques.

(A dancing fairy and slashing the atmosphere? I've seen these enough to get the concept. That much is no challenge.)

That's the main difference between Silvia, who held enormous talent, and Ark, who had no talent and could only compensate it with effort and experience. He had seen more, pushed to the limit more.

"What, no more surprises? Not another technique to stack up?"

"No, I'm done. This is as far as my swordsmanship goes. You won."

(And I surpassed her in a single day! Haha, I'm the best!)

And now, to the true battle.

The two finally unveiled their full power, no restrains. If the spectators were amazed before, their mind will blow.

"Ventus Potentia!"

Not Ark, but it was Silvia who activated this magic. Her azure-silver aura tinted light green.

"Sorry, but that one was too excellent for me too pass on."

"Nah, it's fine. I got lucky finding that particular magic. I can understand."

(You shitty copycat. I acquired it after almost dying, and you dare steal it?!)

You just did the same...

"Now is my turn. Quadra Elementum..."

Staggered, Ark stopped in place and looked over his opponents shoulder with fear and shock.

It might have been a mistake, a trick to make her look, but Silvia found herself looking as well.

It was no trick.

"GET BACK NOW!!!! QUADRA ELEMENTUM POTENTIA!!"

Ark dashed without moderating his strength. It was not a situation to hold back, not in the slightest.

Because a giant mass of dark elements gushed at then with incredible speed. It laid path of destruction as the orb advanced.

It was certain death.

Ark took it head on.

Four-colored energy meshed perfectly with the spirit, which skyrocketed by unrestrained Phantom.

It was the strongest he had ever been.

(But... it's not enough!)

As soon as he made contact with the darkness blast, intense pressure threatened to squash him like a bug.

He pushed and pushed and pushed, only to get pushed back.

"Silvia! Get everyone to safety... NOW!" he spit blood with every word.

The pain he endured in his hands was like acid, and it spread across his arms.

Ark needed everyone out. He remembered the spectator knights and wanted them out, for if he could escape this bomb.

"Ar...k......no...."

They didn't run.

It wasn't bravery, not even fear that made them stay.

It was a curse.

(Sylvia? No, don't tell me!? Aaaahhh!)

From the corner of his eye, the collapsed figure of Silvia was apparent. Her face smeared with black pattern, one belonging to a curse.

Ark could barely process the situation. The giant blast of darkness carried a powerful curse that drifted in the air. All the knights were helpless.

Even though Ark was struck the most, but his rapid decline in magic power is saving him.

Taking another step back, he almost stomped on Silvia. A single more step would mean she won't survive.

(Not good....my head's blank..... it's so painful.)

Is this the end?

There is nothing to be done. Asking a single person to stop this attack is pure madness. Ark had done his best, but it's alright to fail. It can't be helped...

(Fucking never! I won't ever die! Not like this!)

He roared, piercing the sky with all he's got.

"Void Replica: Rakshasa Gateway!"

A violet shade was added to the strom of colors. Exploding his entire mana reservse at once, the aura expanded with a flash of iridescent light.

It was then that a crimson light enveloped his body. The indication he was diqualified, is what he and everyone who watched this thought.

(EVEN MORE!!!)

Ark roared once more and pushed back with greater momentum.

The crimson light spread to Ark's magic power and filled him with bottomless rigor and power.

It took on the full brunt of the darkness mass, allowing Ark to advance to the inside.

Silverstar was swung with every ounce of will he could muster, the crimson aura coated it.

Panting heavily, all the colors disappeared as Ark stood at the heart of the destroyed attack. Purple particles drifted in the air.

"I...did...it......dammit."

"Oh, what a monster. Yes you did, but now we gotta kill real quick, 'kay?"

Of course, the ones behind the sinister attacks were the demons. They skillfully infiltrated the barrier and hid themselves, just to perform that single nigh unstoppable attack. Worse still, there were at least dozen demons.

"You got us good before, Ark. But our leader, the Immortal Dark Star, has decided to kill you, so you shall not survive."

"Don't forget the Sylphid and the other losers. We should kill everyone before the commanders arrive."

"Yeah, kill them all!"

The demons truimpiantly talked among themselves as if they already won.

Frankly, it was hard to say otherwise.

Silvia couldn't rid of this strong of a curse even with the primordial wind, and the knights are more useless right now.

But the one in the worst state was Ark himself.

Ark was half-dead. His body pale like a corpse, tainted black with festering curses and gushing red with his blood. The scenery blurred and ringing sound tormented and disoriented him.

His curse resistance wasn't enough, and even a kid could kill him now.

It has been a while since he got into such a desperate situation.

(This shitty luck.... I fucking hate it.)

But, he couldn't give up just yet. He believed he would be fine, all it took is just another act of heroism.

Ark willed himself to straighten his back and look as dignified as possible.

"Immortal Dark Star... was he the one to make that attack?"

"Hmph, of course! He is beyond the comprehension of puny humans."

"I see. So he's the loser who dropped a bomb only to escape while shitting his pants in fear."

"What did you just say!?"

"It's not an insult. That guy was smart. Unlike you, he avoided being killed by me. For now."

As if the current situation isn't dire, Ark declared the deaths of every demon present. It was almost natural for him.

The demon that took charge of talking snorted in contempt. "Foolish human. Do you truly believe a dead man could inflict as much as a scratch on us?"

"I believe all the demons I met so far were arrogant and chatty. Why the heck you speak so much? Is there no quiet demon out there?"

He was really tired of the demons talking bullshit all day long.

"Y-you!!"

"What? Another speech of how humans are puny and demons are great? Don't you get bored of that?"

After hearing from all the demons he met, and killed, it was just annoying at that point.

"You overconfident brat, I know what your plan is. You try to rattle us into talking and buying time for your precious commanders to arrive. Well, you failed. All demons... massacre them all!"

The demons smiled wickedly as they approached the powerless knights.

"Buying time for backup? That ain't my style. My style is.... overwhelming victory!"

Mustering what little strength remained, Ark snapped his fingers and chanted,

"Light of Annihilation."

And the demons were engulfed by the countless pillars of light.