Regnum Aetern: Dual Rebirth

Chapter 116: The Spar (2)

The reason she accepted the spar was simple. It was that Adrian had a point.

’I haven’t ever really fought against someone. This can be a good opportunity to experience it.’

She was aware that the two of them were at the same level in terms of strength, but she wanted to know how she would really compare against him.

’And if things escalate, I can just restrain him using Vox Imperium.’

***

Adrian now stood in the middle of the clearing, and Evangeline stood a few meters away from him, on guard.

The spar was just about to start.

By now, that strange irritation had completely faded, and he was once again in control of his thoughts. Considering that, he should’ve stopped this spar since it was not something he wanted to do in the first place.

But...

’Why did she agree?’

He couldn’t understand.

She may not have seen him fight seriously since he hadn’t ever done that in the first place, but she should still be vaguely aware of the gap between the two of them. More than that, it didn’t really seem like those cheap provocations from him had any effect on her.

Then why would she agree so easily without any hesitation?

’Does she have some sort of hidden card that I’m not aware of?’

This curiosity was part of the reason he was still going along with this spar. The other reason was that even though he wasn’t actually triggered by her words, he didn’t really think that what she had said was correct.

No, her words couldn’t have been more wrong.

Adrian picked up a fallen leaf from the ground and held it up. Evangeline adjusted her stance, seeing that. She probably understood that it would be the signal to start the spar.

Adrian dropped the leaf. At the same time, Evangeline began gathering mana in her palm.

Adrian sharpened his gaze.

’I might not be able to compete against real geniuses after a few years. But right now, there is nobody my age who can possibly defeat me.’

The moment the leaf touched the ground, Adrian dashed toward Evangeline at full speed. Her eyes widened as he suddenly closed the distance, causing her to jump back instinctively. But—

’I won’t let you.’

He quickly attacked her with a flurry of punches and kicks, aiming to corner her before she could act. Evangeline awkwardly dodged a few and blocked some of them with her arms.

"Ugh-!"

’She doesn’t seem to be proficient in physical combat.’

He increased the speed of his punches, making it harder for her to continue dodging them. More and more of his punches started landing, and she was gradually failing to keep up. But then, as if in desperation, she dodged to the side and counterattacked with an awkward kick aimed at his chest.

He easily blocked it by crossing his hands, but the force behind her kick pushed him back several steps.

"Haah... Haah..."

She was panting heavily as she channeled mana into her palm to cast a spell.

Adrian, meanwhile, glanced at his hands. He could still feel the impact of that kick. Being on the same Phase as him, she was not lacking in physical strength.

Just then, Evangeline finished casting the spell as a flame materialized above her palm. Adrian tensed his muscles to dash toward her, but before he could, she aimed her hand at him, launching a ball of fire in his direction.

Adrian jumped back a few meters to dodge.

She spoke with a strained smile while panting heavily.

"I’m... haah... not that easy..."

In the next moment, a vortex of wind began swirling around her other hand. And although she was trying her best to hide it, he could see water moving beneath the soles of her feet.

’Water manipulation, Wind manipulation, Flame manipulation. All tier one spells.’

He was already aware of them since he had seen her train. She also had earth manipulation, but she didn’t seem to be using it.

’Maybe that’s her limit, or maybe she doesn’t think it’ll help her in this fight.’

She knew a few tier-two spells, too, but she probably won’t be able to use them in this fight since she wasn’t proficient with them.

’It’s time to take things up a notch.’

Adrian picked up the wooden sword lying near the tree and coated its blade with mana. Gripping it with both hands, he performed several slashes in quick succession, launching a barrage of mana blades aimed at her.

In response to the incoming attacks, Evangeline gritted her teeth and stomped on the ground, causing a wall of water to rise from beneath her feet. The water wall slowly curved inward, as if trying to surround her completely. At the same time, a vortex of wind spun around her body.

Moments later, a vortex of water was spinning around her with her body at the center, shielding her completely from all sides.

All the mana blades crashed into the vortex, but the spinning vortex of water repelled them all.

The vortex disappeared moments later, revealing a heavily panting Evangeline. It must’ve been too straining to maintain for her.

Adrian adjusted his stance.

’That’s a rather creative defense.’

Still panting, Evangeline raised her hand, aiming it at him, and released a blast of wind. Adrian tensed his muscles but didn’t dodge. As he had expected, the blast of wind dissipated before even reaching him.

’As I thought, that’s the range of her attacks.’

Then he lunged forward, closing the distance between them quickly. But unlike before, Evangeline was quick to react this time, shooting a blast of wind at him.

Adrian jumped back, and the wind blast hit the ground where he had been, raising a cloud of dust that briefly blocked both of their visions.

Adrian frowned.

’This is a deadlock.’

He couldn’t use a lethal spell like Space Implosion in a mere spar, so the only way he could attack from a distance was through the first level of his infusion art. And that technique wasn’t very effective against her since she could defend against it with that water vortex.

He would be able to overpower her easily by using the second level, but he would need to close the distance to use it, which would bring him into her attacking range.

’I can’t underestimate those wind blasts; I would lose if even one of those blasts hits me.’

He could just continue this back and forth until they both run out of mana, and then defeat her in physical combat. But...

’That’s too tedious.’

Moreover, he believed that he had seen all her cards. It was clear from the strained expression on her face that she had nothing more she could use against him and was aware of the current deadlock.

Adrian sharpened his gaze.

’Time to end this.’

He swung the wooden sword, shooting an energy blade toward her. Evangeline raised her guard, ready to dodge, but the mana blade struck the ground near her feet instead, raising a thick cloud of dust to her left side, completely blocking her vision.

"Using tricks now, Adi?"

She reacted quickly, shooting a blast of wind at the cloud of dust, clearing it away. But—

’Too late.’

Her left side was empty.

Evangeline’s eyes widened.

At the same time, Adrian finally closed the distance from her right side while her attention was focused on the left. He was in the perfect striking position, moments away from striking her right shoulder with the wooden blade.

She wouldn’t be able to react in time to block.

’Checkmate.’

Adrian swung his sword horizontally, aiming at her shoulder. As if instinctively, Evangeline raised her right hand to block the strike. But a single arm wouldn’t be enough.

At least, that should’ve been the case.

But the moment the wooden blade struck her arm, it bounced off. It was as though he had struck something incredibly hard, causing him to frown.

Just then, the sleeves of her dress rolled down, causing Adrian to widen his eyes.

’...What?’