"CALLIUS!" A violent scream echoed inside the field as the girl raised her sword. She finally managed to reach him; she was not going to let this opportunity slide.
/SWOOSH/
As the blade approached the young black-haired man, everyone was watching intently.
"You are really good." However, Callius had a smile on his face. Even in the face of the blade, his composure was still normal.
/FUSH/
In that crucial moment, Callius condensed his fire magic on his arm, transforming it into a fiery blade of his own.
/CLANK/
With a swift and precise movement, he intercepted Emilia's radiant sword, their weapons clashing in a brilliant display of elemental power.
/BOOM/
The collision sent sparks flying, and the force of their clash created a shockwave that rippled through the arena. The ground beneath their feet trembled as their combined mana and aura clashed in a battle of wills.
"Huh?"
Emilia's eyes widened in surprise; she was not expecting such a move. Especially, she didn't expect Callius to confront her in close combat like that.
'What is this magic?' She couldn't understand at all. The fire mana around him was condensed in such a way that it looked like an aura, but it was not.
'I guess I should thank Xenon, huh?' Callius thought. 'When I go to hell.'
The spell he had just used was a spell he learned from Xenon's book.
'Flamma Volantis.'
A spell that enabled him to condense fire magic into a specific line in the space, making it turn into a form of constant blade.
'The mana supply is still very high, though. This should be enough to reveal for now.'
With that thought, Callius looked directly into Emilia's red eyes.
"You are good, but that is it. It is not enough to beat me."
/SWOOSH/
Swinging his arm at a rapid speed, he attached Emilia with his condensed blade.
"WHY!"
Emilia's eyes were wide open, not because of surprise but because of anger.
/CLANK/
"I will destroy you, no matter what, Callius."
Her eyes determined, she received the attack with her sword.
She didn't falter. Instead, she pushed forward with unwavering determination, pouring more energy into her sword.
/CLANK/
Her radiant energy and light mana intertwined with Callius' fiery magic, creating a mesmerizing dance of elements.
"Is that so?" Callius mumbled. "Is this the path you have learned in your church?"
His questions entered her head, but Emilia's eyes widened more.
"My path…. You don't have the right to talk about it."
With her words steel cold, the girl raised her sword.
Callius could see the pain in her eyes, the weight of her loss, and the desire for vengeance.
'It reminds me of that time.' He thought.
As their blades clashed again and again, it was clear that this was more than just a duel—it was a battle of emotions and beliefs.
At least for Emilia, that was.
'I will give you one last chance.' Callius thought. 'Consider yourself lucky that I respect Arden.'
Emilia's strikes became more forceful and precise as if every swing of her sword carried the weight of her friend's memory.
She channeled her mana and aura into her attacks, infusing them with light magic that added a radiant glow to her blade.
Callius, on the other hand, remained composed and calculated. He countered Emilia's every move with skillful parries and swift strikes.
His fiery blade danced with precision and finesse, matching Emilia's determination with his own unwavering focus.
"Isn't he a mage? How can he move so skillfully?"
Some of the audience asked amongst themselves.
"Don't you know? Before Augustrides were known for their Lightning Magic, they were famous for their rapier skills."
"So that's why. But why is he not pursuing the path of knights, then?"
"I heard he was weak from childhood, so he couldn't keep up with the training."
"Then how can he move like that now?"
"He is using magic for that."
As the questions about his prowess lingered around the arena, the duel reached its climax.
The intensity of their battle escalated, and the arena seemed to resonate with the clash of elements. The spectators watched in awe, witnessing the raw power of two skilled fighters driven by their emotions and beliefs.
"You cannot understand!" Emilia yelled as she unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one aimed with precision and purpose. "You took away someone I cared about! You destroyed everything!"
/CLANK/ /CLANK/ /CLANK/
Her voice trembled with anger and sorrow, and each word seemed to pierce through Callius' composure. It seemed…..
"I can't understand?" Callius replied calmly, blocking Emilia's strikes with ease. "I know the pain of losing someone, and I know the guilt of being unable to protect them. But I also know that vengeance won't bring them back. It will only consume you."
"Don't you dare act like you understand my pain!" Emilia shouted, her voice filled with rage. "You have no right to speak of guilt and loss. You're a monster!"
Callius' expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. The last word almost made him smile unconditionally.
"People classify those whom they can't beat as monsters…. A monster is a monster until you beat them."
He mumbled as he moved swiftly.
/SWOOSH/ /CLANK/
Immediately closing the distance, he threw a smooth right swing at Emilia's shoulder, only to be blocked by her sword.
/BOOM/
However, that made her chest exposed for a second, and seeing this, Callius didn't forgive that mistake.
With a smooth palm strike filled with fire mana, he blasted Emilia off.
"Kurghk-"
It was a move that he always used.
"If you want to defeat me, you need to focus on the present, not the past," Callius said, his voice firm. "You need to find strength in your beliefs and your training. Let your emotions guide you, but do not let them control you."
Looking at the girl that was breathing heavily from the explosion, he spoke.
"Things may not be how they looked like. Your judgment is clouded, just like Arden's."
'This will be your last chance.' Callius thought as he looked into the eyes of the girl.
"Heh…."
And as the response Emilia laughed….
"It is funny that now you are mentioning his name…."
Her red eyes raised as she matched with Callius'.
"The name of the one's life whom you had taken. The name of my only friend…. The one that helped me…. And now you are saying I should not focus on the past."
"No," she said firmly, her voice tinged with a mix of grief and fury. "I won't find peace, not until I make you pay for what you did to Arden. I won't rest until I see you suffer as he did!"
Her voice raised as the emotions in her heart poured out.
"I see," Callius said as he looked at the girl. A small sigh escaped his mouth.
"But, it seems you are mistaking something." A tone filled with question and authority entered her ears as pressure descended upon the girl.
/SWIRL/
The fire mana around him started swirling around him, making him look like the lord of fire, as his crimson gaze strengthened.
"I do not seek forgiveness for my actions, neither do I feel guilty. I never account for anyone. I will always destroy everyone who stands in my way, no matter how noble they are. If you wish to be my enemy, then so be it."
Emilia's eyes widened at the intensity of Callius' words, and for a moment, doubt and fear flickered in her heart. It was at that moment the young man before she looked like the real demon in this world.
A demon that didn't think of anyone other than himself.
But she quickly shook them off, unwilling to back down despite the overwhelming force before her.
"I don't care about your excuses or lack of remorse!" Emilia shouted, trying to steady her trembling voice. "I will avenge Arden, no matter what it takes!"
Callius' expression remained unchanged, but his next move showed the full extent of his power and determination. He raised his hand, gathering an immense amount of fire mana in the air above him.
"Flames of Annihilation," he intoned with a voice that resonated with power.
With that, he unleashed a torrent of scorching flames, several times larger than any fireball he had previously cast, surging toward Emilia with frightening speed and intensity.
For a moment, Emilia's eyes widened in disbelief, realizing the sheer power of the attack. She tried to summon her defenses, but the exhaustion from the previous clash and the overwhelming fear of the approaching flames made it difficult for her to focus.
But she didn't speak, neither did she beg. Her widened eyes closed as she remembered his friend's smile. 'Next time, it won't be like this, Callius Augustride.' She thought to herself.
She didn't try to dodge, to escape the fiery onslaught, since it was too late. The flames engulfed her, their searing heat consuming her vision.
As the blaze subsided, the arena fell into a heavy silence. Emilia lay unconscious on the ground, her body scorched and battered by the intense magic. Her once vibrant red eyes were now closed, and her breathing was shallow.
But soon a second later, the healing formation was immediately activated, healing the injuries she sustained.
Callius lowered his hand, his fiery aura slowly fading away. The spectators watched in shock and awe, unable to comprehend the sheer power of the mage before them.
For a moment, there was silence, and then a murmur of concern spread through the crowd. Some rushed to Emilia's side, worried about her well-being.
"Winner, Student Callius."
Just like that, the first duel of the mid-term exams were concluded….
----------------------A/N--------------------
Hope you liked the chapters. I am trying to make the characters not shallow, and Emilia will have her own character development as well.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested.
This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺