"...Ark."

Saying his name at the declaration of Silvia, he felt he could lose his mind any second now.

(What are you playing so tough? She will one hit K.O. you? Damn, I seriously can't defeat her fair and square.)

His mind was in turmoil, barely holding his fear inside. He emitted faint pressure to make it seem as though he is stronger than appeared, but that's just adding to his concern.

If it was judged he would be okay even if she bombarded him with high grade magic, no corpse would remain!

Luckily, as Silvia reduced the distance, it was not close to her full speed. Ark reacted with a sword draw stance, ready to slash at any time.

A concept of analyzing the opponent before revealing your own power is greatly implemented when it comes to fighting humans.

Silvia had no need for that as she could instantly crush any enemy within seconds. Doing so now means she recognized Ark as an opponent.

"Clarent Style: Gale Drop!"

"Iron-Sword Style: Diagonal Unsheath!"

In response for the falling blade, Ark performed an iai slash diagonally to divert the attack.

While [Claret Style] was used by those from the house of Claret such as Silvia, Ark's own style wasn't as special.

[Iron-Sword Style] is the style every knight textbook held, the beginner's most elementary swordplay. Declaring yourself as Iron-Sword user is the same as saying you aren't good enough for a proper and more advanced swordplay.

And yet, as the two techniques were exchange, it was Ark who dominated.

"A Sword Spirit?"

Swordplay that has reached a certain stage will develop a spirit. It let the user show greater strength and speed, as well as sharpening the sword. There is the illusion of the heart, the intentions of the creator, displayed as a visual effect.

For example, Gale Drop that also had a sword spirit showed as though a gale descends upon the enemy.

Ark had none. But moving at speed impossible for humans without magic, that was the only conjecture she could reach.

Not only did he produce a sword spirit, but it was one superior to her own? Silvia was astonished at the fact that the Clarent Style failed to an inferior style.

No wonder she was amazed. The man in front of her showed great determination and resolve as he delved so deep into the sword path. He was an honorable knight who remained true to the sword.

"What can I say? I only know this way of fighting, so I practiced a lot."

(I can even use sneak attacks, no need to yell the name of my technique like a fool, keke.)

Thinking the thoughts no honorable knight would ever have, Ark yet again proved his personality is trash to the very core.

In his defense though, his efforts are undeniable. Pouring years filled with blood and sweat, Ark worked arduously to reach this level. It was a desperate effort where he trained far more than it's even healthy to, because Ark is hopelessly average with hopelessly high ambitions.

But then again, the used sword style was incredibly weak. Ark would've needed talent if he wanted to develop that style to this degree, a talent he didn't have. What he did have was his skill: Phantom. 'Spirit' and 'intent' were closely related, enabling Ark to artificially enhance his swordplay.

As they continued their clash, Ark kept dominating the battle. By flexibly applying his basic techniques in the ideal way, he pushed Silvia further into a corner.

Swords clashed and metalic sound resounded. Both contenders enjoyed the pure swordfight as they savored the opponent's move and swung with their all.

The smile on their faces was obvious to all the spectators in the arena.

(Please, please don't get serious! I beg you! I can't handle being killed like that!)

Or was it?

Ark was sweating bullets in his mind. He knew too well Silvia merely wants to compete in swordplay to prove she is better in that regard. Once that's settled, she'd abandon her current fighting style and level up the game.

It should be clear, that Ark is only superior because his swordsmanship is easier to display. Being so straightfoward, it takes less time to execute a technique compared to Silvia. He had only minute advantage in output, after all, nothing significant.

And as the last exchange in technique occures, the moment he feared came.

"I admit, Ark. You are better swordsman." Silvia smiles as she admits defeat.

"Thank you, huhu. It is such a compliment coming from someone like you."

(Nonono! Stop! You bastard!!!)

"But I am not a swordswoman, you know?"

"No, you are not."

Silvia is something far more terrifying.

Strong whirlwind spiral around her, and a horrible pressure can't possibly belong to a student knight assailed Ark. It felt as though a cyclone was generated.

"You're a swordmage, right?"

"Correct~!"

Someone who has reached a competent degree of proficiency at both swordplay and magic. But 'competent' is an understatement for Silvia. She just might be one of the best in the entire Arcadia Kingdom.

"Ark is strong, so you won't die even if I go overboard a little. Whirlwind Fang ×10."

Instantaneous multicast of intermediate magic. 10 fangs of strongly compressed wind poured down on Ark, who maintained a calm demeanor but were agitated inside.

(Spare me! You really wanna kill me!?)

Well, even though he is agitated, scared and furious, he doesn't show any sign of dodging.

"Anti-whirlwind fang!"

Just before penetrating Ark, all the fangs disappeared without a trace.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Lightning Arrow! Tempest Claw! Wind Blast!" Ignoring the vast amount of magic pour being consumed, Silvia kept insta-multicasting intermediate magics.

Her mana pool is already enormous enough to compete in the world stage, so Silvia could disregard the consumed mana with ease.

Only that her spells continued to fail her.

"Anti-lightning arrow! Anti-tempest claw! Anti-wind blast!"

Moments before hitting him, anti magic was deployed and eliminated all the attacks.

Anti magic. It's a magic that uses mana of the same frequency to completely cancel the targeted magic, but with far less mana consumed.

It was difficult to execute as one needed to accurately grasp the location of the usually moveing spell or else the alternative is using large amount of mana to catch it. Not to mention, each spell had different mana distribution depending on the user's mana control and other completely random factors. One need keen detection to strike the correct spot.

"T-to think you mastered such difficult technique."

"It isn't so hard if you know the trick."

(Hahaha, this is the result of spying on you and understanding your attack pattern and mana control level!)

Although there is nothing to brag of spying on the opponent, Ark did learn her attack pattern relatively quick.

Silvia relies on intermediate magic most of the time because she can instantly cast it, unlike advanced magic, and the output is far greater than beginner magic. In addition, the continuous use of spells helped Ark understanding that Silvia had nigh flawless control over intermediate rank.

By getting a glimse of her magic power and favored spells, Ark eliminated his long range disadventage.

Now for the worst part.

"Okay, then I guess it's time for the main event. From now on, I will go full power."

Rather than shooting out spells, Silvia strengthened the whirlwind around her. The beautiful silver hair fluttered elegantly, and the lavender eyes shone with dangerous light.

No chant was needed for the next part. Silver light completely enveloped Silvia. Casually swinging her sword, a gust of powerful wind blew the stage.

"So you finally use it, huh? The primordial wind."

Ark knew of this power, but seeing it in person was even more formidable than he could have ever imagined.

Silvia's class was Wind Avatar, the one who represent the wind element itself. Her skill, the Primordial Wind utilized the strongest wind power in the world.

(Ah, I am done. Out of trick. Nothing I can do here would help even a little to get even remotely close to her. As expected of a genius prodigy, I am outclassed.)

Even if he uses magic to empower himself, it won't let him even reach her shadow.

And yet, despite being outclassed with power beyond his dream, Ark only smiled.

"What are you hiding behind that smile? Show me so we can start the real battle!" With absolute certainty the fight isn't over, Silvia showed excitement.

The first time she could battle with her full power against someone her age, no wonder such happiness was born in her heart.

And indeed, it wasn't over just yet.

Because up until now, Ark had only used 'tricks'.

Meaning, he didn't cheat.

The meaning of 'cheating' for Ark is... far more extreme than normal!

"Quadra Elementum Potentia!"

With these words, tremendous amount of magic power surge throughout his body, strengthening him with four-colored light.

(It took me four whole days, but I managed to get the spell ready... now I just need to finish this.)

"You are quadra mage!? There are only two in the entire kingdom. They are that rare!"

Not exactly.

Strictly speaking, Ark had no attribute. He could still learn magic, and it was even easier than someone learning magic outside their attribute, but it wasn't just that that Ark used.

This wasn't a spell, but a ceremony. He performed a ceremonial dance to draw magic power and element from the surrounding, doing it for four days to increase the effectiveness.

And using a special trick, the world only now recognized the dance and allowed the ritual magic to take place. It was holding the intents of the mind, a crucial component, using Phantom, and releasing it now.

Then the ritual devoured magic and elements from the atmosphere and gave it to Ark, which he instantly converted into a four elemental strengthening magic.

"Sorry, I have come today with clear intentions to win!"

Declaring as such, Ark charged with speed beyond his talentless self was ever meant to go.

"Same for me! I won't be losing just yet!"

Thus the real battle has begun.

Hundreds of blows were exchange with any passing second. The ring started cracking below their feet and the referee was forced to flee away from the fight as the barrier magic deployed was reinforced.

"Ah, the talents of today is really something. Don't you think so too, Elizabeth?"

The one who leisurely reinforced the barrier, commander of the Peregrine Knight Order, Sirius, asked the petite woman next to him, who's also reinforcing the barrier without breaking a sweat.

Elizabeth, commander of the Solitary Wolves, didn't share the sentiments of her collegue. Despite finding a quadra mage, she even seemed dissatisfied.

"That guy, Ark?, he is cheating."

"Hmm? How so?"

Sirius was completely clueless to any kind of cheating. If even a commander was fooled, then Ark is a really capable schemer.

"He used a ritual magic prepared in advance to absorb mana from the surroundings. In actuallity, his magic power is only average."

Silver and four-colored light collided, scattering inside the barrier and completely blocking off sight. However, the spectators were thrilled as the rumble of the sword clashes were transmitted.

"Still, to control that much magic is no easy task. And even display a sword spirit stronger than before."

"I myself don't mind. But you know the other commanders. Once they know he cheated, even going to jail would be considered light."

The majority of commanders in Arcadia valued the knight's code greatly. To break that code in a tournament dedicated to find fresh blood for the orders, there is no way Ark would be forgiven.

"Well, I promise not to tell if you don't. A knight like him would be good in protecting fortresses from monsters."

Instead of disvalue Ark for his cheating, Sirius chooses to see the best of it. If such was considered cheating, it didn't really matter as so long as the preparations are done, Ark would be that powerful. He was well aware that handling this level of mana seemingly effortlessly is no easy feat.

A proper and correct evaluation. However, it was too late for that.

"Fool, the commanders came to watch the Sylphid. Even if some didn't notice, they will be notified by those who did."

"Eh? How many came?"

"All of them."

The Sylphid is a promising knight every commander would show interest in her. Some even instructed her as a child.

"...The boy is dead."

"Seems so."

And yet, despite being discovered for his cheating, Ark was completelty immersed in his battle and noticed nothing.

(It's painful.)

The excessive strengthening was too much to bear for long, and if the battle is prolonged any further, he'd indubitably lose.

God, he hate losing.

Oh well, at the current state, only one trick is left. If he stack it with the current condition, his body has the slight probability of shattering into pieces. However, a man have got to do what a man needs to do.

"Sylphid, I vowed to myself that I will defeat you. Overwhelm you. Let me show you how I shall do so."

(I need to settle this in a single strike. One strike far stronger than she can handle)

"Hmph, challenge accepted."

The two stood only slightly away. Readying their weapons in hand, it was clear for both that this is the final clash. The winner is decided here.

The audience spoke no words as the tension creation by two swordmages peaked.

"Clarent Style Secret Technique: Sky Roar!"

As if the skies themselves lent their power, animating the blade. Dreadful wind roared as the sword approached Ark.

However, he showed no reaction of stopping amid his own technique to evade, even when it's clear the secret technique was too powerful and fast.

Sword spirit. If it lived on the swordsman's sword path, it could do many things like the effect of Silvia's secret technique.

But Ark knows that a sword is originally only meant to cut.

So pours the only thing he hasn't used up. His only power. The Phantom fills his blade with the absolute intent to cut his foe. Abandoning the process leaving only the result.

No need for anything else.

Just...

Cut!

"Gulp"

And so it cut Silvia, together with her technique and even the sword snaps in half.

"I-it's my lost."

Having lost her weapon and suffering an injure, Silvia honestly admitted defeat.

From others' view point, it might seemed like a close call, but she knew. From start to finish, Ark had the advantage all along.

In sword clash she fell behind, her magic was completely neutralized, and even when using everything she got he evened the ground and pushed back with greater force.

He had completely 'overwhelmed' her.

Just yesterday, Silvia was sure she had no equal. But now Ark came, clearly superior to her and won as if it was a matter of course.

The audience cheered. The excitement born from this duel had everyone present awestruck.

"See ya around."

Waving goodbye, Ark retreats from the ring.

"I won't lose next time."

"Can't wait."

Replying nonchalantly, he doesn't look back once as he disappears.

That day, Ark became the talk of the capital. The story of his victory spread like wildfire, and he was soon being called the Storm Breaker.

Meanwhile, inside the hallway Ark disappeared to.

"Brat, you are to immediately come with me for your trial. Breaking the code in this competition is a heinous crime."

It was a commander coming himself. Ark guessed the other commanders didn't want to ruin the atmosphere of the audience.

"Ah, I can't right now."

"Huh? You cannot refuse!"

"No, I... can't..." He fainted on the commander.

Pushed to the absolute limit in both mind and body, his wrecked body oozed blood from everywhere.