As the excitement from Julian’s duel with Linus began to settle in the coliseum, the Vice Chancellor leaned back in his seat in the VIP section, his gaze narrowing as he observed the young man who had just dominated the battle. There was something off about Julian — not just his overwhelming skill, but the aura he carried. It wasn’t the typical confidence of a talented participant; it was more...
calculated, more refined than the other rookies. It was as if Julian wasn’t here to simply compete, but to prove something far more sinister.
Turning his head slightly, the Vice Chancellor called over to Vlahiç, who was seated nearby. The Fleeting Spear had been unusually quiet throughout the tournament, his eyes often drifting to the duels with a disinterested air, but now the Vice Chancellor needed his insight.
"Vlahiç," the Vice Chancellor said in a low, measured voice. "That boy, Julian. Do you know anything about him? He doesn’t seem to be from any of the factions in this academy."
Vlahiç turned his attention from the arena, his sharp, piercing eyes locking onto Julian, who was now sitting calmly in the participants’ area. He frowned, his brow furrowing as he studied the young man. After a moment of silence, he shook his head.
"No, I don’t recognize him," Vlahiç admitted, his voice gruff. "He’s not one of mine, and I haven’t seen him in any of the other factions. He doesn’t match any of the prodigies I’ve been keeping tabs on either."
The Vice Chancellor’s frown deepened. "Odd, isn’t it? His movements are far too polished for a rookie. His composure reminds me of someone who’s been through far more than a typical academy student."
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Vlahiç nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Julian. "He fights like someone with battlefield experience, not just training in a controlled environment. There’s something cold about him, something... mechanical."
The Vice Chancellor glanced at Julian again, watching him interact with no one, his demeanor calm and almost detached from the excitement of the tournament. It was as though he was an outsider — someone who didn’t quite belong in the world of the rookies. A troubling thought began to take root in the Vice Chancellor’s mind.
"Do you think he could be... an outsider?" the Vice Chancellor mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. "Perhaps someone placed in the tournament for reasons other than glory?"
Vlahiç’s expression darkened. "If that’s the case, then he’s a threat — not just to the students, but to the integrity of this tournament. We’ve seen similar tactics before, especially from rival academies and those who wish to undermine us."
The Vice Chancellor grunted in agreement. "We’ll need to keep a close eye on him," he said, his tone serious. "If he’s here under false pretenses, we need to uncover his purpose. I won’t have this tournament tarnished by deception."
"And also we need to know if he has any connections with the Valen military academy. I can’t help but have the feeling that it might be the case"
Vlahiç’s grip tightened around the armrest of his chair. "I’ll look into it," he offered, his voice filled with determination. "If he’s a plant, we’ll know soon enough."
The Vice Chancellor nodded, but his gaze remained on Julian, his suspicions growing deeper by the minute. There was something about this boy that didn’t sit right with him, and until he found out what it was, Julian would remain a puzzle — a dangerous one at that.
The air in the coliseum buzzed with energy as the screen hovering above the stage shifted, the large letters rearranging themselves to reveal the next matchup. All eyes turned to the glowing display as it announced in bold:
**Kaelen vs. Grox.**
A murmur rippled through the crowd as the name "Grox" appeared. His reputation had been quietly growing over the course of the tournament. Known for his brute strength and twin hammer fighting style, Grox was a force to be reckoned with, his blows capable of shattering through defenses with alarming ease.
Kaelen remained calm, his expression unreadable as he stood from the participants’ area. He exchanged a glance with Sofia, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement while seated nearby as she clapped him on the shoulder.
"Take him down, Kaelen," she said with a grin, though there was a slight edge to her voice. Grox was no pushover.
Kaelen nodded in return, his mind already focused on the task ahead. He made his way towards the stage, each step deliberate. Across the arena, Grox lumbered to his feet. The enormous man stood head and shoulders above most of the participants, his physique hulking and covered in bulging muscles. His twin hammers were strapped across his back, each one almost as large as an ordinary man’s torso.
As both fighters ascended the stage, the tension in the air grew thicker. Grox grinned down at Kaelen, his eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. "You’re that swordsman everyone’s been talking about, aren’t you?" Grox rumbled, his deep voice carrying a hint of menace. "Let’s see if that fancy swordplay of yours can stand up to real power."
Kaelen remained silent, his hand lightly resting on the hilt of his sword. He could feel the weight of the Blade of Eternity, now more attuned to him than ever, pulsing with quiet energy. It had been restless ever since absorbing that mysterious shard, and Kaelen wondered if this battle would reveal more about the sword’s growing hunger.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the beginning of the duel. The crowd fell into a hush, anticipation gripping the entire coliseum.
"Begin!" the referee shouted, slicing his hand downward.
In an instant, Grox surged forward, his twin hammers drawn in a flash. The ground trembled beneath his heavy steps, and with a bellowing roar, he brought both hammers crashing down toward Kaelen with brutal force.
Quick steps!!
Kaelen leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow as the hammers slammed into the stage, cracking the stone beneath them. Without wasting a moment, Kaelen unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming under the coliseum lights as he moved with swift precision. He darted around Grox, slashing at him with quick, calculated strikes.
Grox, however, was not just a brute. He twisted with surprising agility for his size, using one hammer to block Kaelen’s strikes while swinging the other in wide arcs that forced Kaelen to stay on the defensive. Sparks flew as steel met steel, Grox’s strength evident in every swing, each strike sending shockwaves across the stage.
’Damn, what power’
Kaelen could feel the raw power behind Grox’s attacks. Each time their weapons clashed, it sent a jarring impact through Kaelen’s arms, forcing him to adjust his stance. But he was patient, calculating, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Grox’s hammer came down again with a deafening crash, and this time Kaelen sidestepped it, using the momentum of the swing to propel himself forward. In a fluid motion, Kaelen swept his sword low, aiming for Grox’s legs, but Grox reacted quickly, jumping back with a surprising nimbleness.
’He’s faster than I expected,’ Kaelen thought, adjusting his strategy. He couldn’t rely on outmaneuvering Grox alone; the brute was more agile than he let on. But there was something else Kaelen had yet to tap into.
As Grox came at him again, this time swinging both hammers in a devastating crisscross pattern, Kaelen’s eyes sharpened. He dodged to the side, his body flowing like water as he began to activate his Sword Union. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as he allowed his sword to become an extension of his will, the techniques ingrained in his body coming to life with flawless execution.
The Minimal Aura of a Swordsman!!
Intermediate Swordsmanship!!
Grox roared in frustration as Kaelen became harder to hit, his movements fluid, almost like a dance as he weaved around the battlefield. The Blade of Eternity gleamed with a dangerous edge, each slash of Kaelen’s sword drawing closer to Grox’s defenses.
But Grox wasn’t done yet. With a grunt, he slammed both hammers into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the stage. The sheer force of the impact caught Kaelen off guard, and he stumbled slightly, giving Grox the opening he needed. The giant warrior charged forward, one hammer raised high to deliver a crushing blow.
Kaelen’s instincts kicked in, and with sheer determination, he activated the Sword Rain technique. His blade moved like a blur, splitting into multiple afterimages as countless sword strikes rained down upon Grox in rapid succession.
Grox’s grin faltered as the onslaught overwhelmed him. He tried to block with his hammers, but Kaelen’s attacks were too swift, too precise. The Blade of Eternity danced through the air, cutting through Grox’s defenses and finding its mark. With a final powerful slash, Kaelen sent Grox stumbling backward, his hammers falling to the ground with a resounding thud.
Breathing heavily, Kaelen held his sword at the ready, watching as Grox, battered and bruised, slowly sank to one knee. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices ringing out in a deafening roar.
Kaelen, drenched in sweat but victorious, sheathed his sword. He glanced down at Grox, who looked up at him with a mixture of disbelief and grudging respect.
"You’ve got more than just fancy swordplay," Grox muttered, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. "Guess power isn’t everything."
Kaelen simply nodded, his mind already shifting to the next challenge. As he stepped away from the stage, he could feel the eyes of the entire coliseum on him. But among those watching, it was Julian’s gaze that lingered the longest, a cold, calculating interest gleaming in his eyes.