**

- Clunk!!!

- Keweok!!!

Sparks from the two weapons were seen in the air as the blade of the sword collides with the spearhead. The sound of two metal clashing in on one another got faster and louder as the arms of both warriors turn into a blurry image, going at a high speed.

Though Red was using a spear, he was fighting at a closer range distance compared to what a Spearman's distance normal distance was. He thrust the spear repeatedly forward, just for the Sword Saint to tap his spear with the sword, changing the trajectory of the spear. This caused Red's spear to always be missed and gave Arthur a chance to counterattack.

Arthur thought to himself. "He really has a lot of openings." While yawning and deflecting Red's strike. Red saw Arthur's bored expression, but he wasn't insulted.

No. He was already plotting his next moves.

"He may be a sword saint but underestimating me is your biggest mistake." Red said to himself while still trying to land a hit on Arthur.

However, Arthur wasn't just a prodigy. He was a monster that already outclassed everyone. No attacks can escape his eyes. The trajectory, the weight, the power behind every blow. None of it mattered to Arthur. For him, the moment he held a sword, nothing else can beat him.

Red not wanting to waste any more time, initiated his next attack. He inhaled a massive amount of air that he could breathe in and just stood still, holding his spear in one hand.

He then exhaled the air with his mouth slowly. The blood in his body starts circulating, while his heartbeat started slowing down.

- BabumpBabumpBabump

- Babump Babump

- Babump

As his heartbeat slows down. So did his muscle,

and mind. He was relaxing his body. His entire body went from a compact build to looking like slime or Ice melting. He looked weird and funny to the audience.

Some even laughed asking: What the hell is he doing?

But Red ignored them. What he needs now is absolute peace and relaxation. He needs his body to be as relaxed as motionless Lake. he walks/melts his way towards Arthur.

Arthur was still underestimating Red. However, he was cautious regardless and ready for whatever Rwd was about to throw at him. He stood still and sheathed his sword back in this scabbard, prepared for a quick draw. His blue eyes blinked once and then, Red was gone.

"!", Arthur surprised by Red's disappearance widened his eyes. His battle Instinct warns that an attack is coming but he can't tell where is it coming from. It was as if it was clouded by something.

- Sinkhh!

Arthur's thigh got cut. That's where he finally saw it, Red was directly above his head, trusted his sword at Arthur. However, he missed his body from above and instead it landed on his legs. With the spearhead stuck, Arthur swung his sword upwards with zero hesitation, prepared to cut Red in half.

But Red calmly blocked it with the shaft of his spear and spin it, grabbing the bottom of his spear.

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The spear made a crescent-shaped slash downwards that the Sword Saint had to take a step backwards.

"Hm. He seems faster than before." Arthur mumbled while lifting his head, purposely missing the attack just barely.

However as he takes a step backwards, his leg was suddenly stuck. He looked down, finding his feet frozen to the ground. As he attempts to free himself. Red already lunges forward for an attack. Calmly, the Sword Saint read the flow of the spear and tilted his head slightly, dodging all the strikes Red made within a 1-meter distance.

Red thought to himself, "Insane, what kind of monster are you? Dodging a rapid spear thrust at such a close range."

Regardless, he still didn't lose focus and his composure. Arthur however had a different plan. He needed Red to be away from him to set himself free or else he would be at a disadvantage.

"I'm going to have to scare you a little," Arthur said, raising his hand high in the sky, and pointing the sword upwards. His sword glowed in bright yellow as the Aura blade manifested from his sword, enveloping the entire blade. From there, he swung his sword aiming at nothing.

Red looks at it puzzled. He was suspicious of why Arthur just swung at nothing. However, he didn't have time to think. Ignoring what Arthur just did, he rushed straight for Arthur.

[Red, DODGE NOW!!!]

Red surprised by Ryong's tone, looked up to see what was happening.

A giant sword, the size of a rainforest tree can be seen from below. It rained towards Red as the sharp end of the sword pierce through the air, falling towards him at a rapid speed.

This caught everyone by surprise, even Archer his own father.

"That boy truly reached the peak of swordsmanship." Emperor Agnus commented. Lionel now beside his father, stared at the sword above and bit his lips. He wondered to himself, "Just how big of a gap is there between us." He turned his head, looking at the man who defeated him with eyes of hope.

"Red. Please win."

Queen Molly looking very nervous, grabbed the sleeve of King Darius. "Is that boy going to be alright?" She asked worryingly.

King Darius gave a warm smile to Queen Molly, reassuring her that his disciple can survive any situation thrown at him. But deep in his heart, he was also worried for Red as well.

"Boy, I don't care if you lose. Just come back to me safely." He wishes in his heart.

The crowds were frightened by the fact that such a large sword appeared out of thin air and was aiming for them, however, Arthur controlled the giant sword using his finger and redirected it to Red.

With no choice, Red ignored the Sword Saint and concentrated on the falling sword. He inhaled as much air as he could, and stomped his front foot on the ground. He raised Stix parallel to his eye level and concentrated. The objective here is to destroy that sword in one blow. The key to that is absolute concentration and Aura output. Focusing his breathing, he starts gathering the Aura he had from both his shoulder and his forehead. Redirecting them to his arms and hands and the more complicated part. He had to direct them from his fingers to the weapon to have the explosive power needed. Slowly the aura flows through his fingertips and attached itself to his weapon. But not yet, the giant sword was still not in the range of distance. He continued charging up his Aura, and the moment the sword came in contact with his range of attack. He let loose, breathing out the air in his lung with all his might. He thrust the spear forward at his target, bringing out the raw power of the spear and letting everything explode.

[*Exclusive Weapon Skill Created* ]

[Stix Exclusive Skill: Sub-Zero Destruction]

Single Target Skill

A Piercing attack that is imbued with pure Aura power. Combined with Spear's unique properties. Any target the spear lands on results in a massive ice explosion.

With a calm mind and a proper understanding of Aura flow. The User managed to draw out the Spear's explosive power even though its cold in nature.

Combo: 1

Status Effect: Freeze, Frost Bite, Bleeding, Piercing Damage.

Requirement: Stix, Red.

Aura Consumption: High

The Spear lands its sharp end directly at the sword, causing a chain of explosions all over the sword resulting in it being frozen. The sword was frozen, causing it to crack and break apart.

As the ice explodes one by one, smoke forms covering the entire arena.

Snow begins to fall in summer.

**

[Red's POV]

I fell with my face planted to the floor due to my body suddenly losing strength out of nowhere. My hands were shaking so vigorously that I struggle to even stand up, resorting to using my spear as support.

"What the hell is this...?"

I suddenly remembered King Darius's words.

"Aura is linked directly to your body. How much you draw out and complete mastery is completely up to how much the person honed his skills. Two types of skills can be used. Magic skill depletes your mana whereas Aura Skill depletes your stamina. It is very advisable to focus on either Magic or Aura as focusing on both would lead to your death if you used up the entire energy in your body."

Though there are special cases/geniuses, like my daughter who could use both without receiving a heavy backlash compared to others."

"Talented Bastards." I cursed under the mask as I struggle to even squat down.

As the smoke starts clearing up, the giant sword breaks and disappeared in thin air.

I could hear from the crowd someone saying Aura Arts.

Suddenly remembering that Arthur was still around, I took a quick turn facing where he was initially. He was already gone. I took a gamble to throw my body forward.

- Thunk!!!

A hole appeared on the ground where I was squatting previously. The attack was so great that cracks start to spread on the ground.

Arthur's white hair shines under the light as he leans back on his sword, folding his arm.

"Hey. You're the first person to survive that attack." He said nonchalantly, lifting his sword from the ground.

[How are thou planning to fight this?]

"By using my entire arsenal," I replied Ryong.

As I lose concentration talking to Ryong. Arthur raised his sword in the air again. I stare in horror as the yellow aura envelops his blade again.

"I'll break through all your defence and end this quickly." He said impatiently.

In the sky, giant swords appeared out of thin air again.

Yes.

Swords.

There were at least 7 of them in the air spinning about.

Arthur then points his sword at me. Immediately, all the other swords stopped in motion and all of them started aiming at me as well.

"How do you plan to get out of this?" He said to me, smiling softly.