Chapter 74: A clash between Spears [5]
Shui Yinran’s gaze shrank the moment the surge erupted.
SWOOOOOOOOSH-
A violent torrent of energy burst outward in all directions, whipping the air into a frenzy as dust, shattered stone, and loose debris were flung away from him like leaves caught in a storm.
The arena floor beneath his feet cracked and then sank.
A shallow crater formed instantly as the sheer pressure of his released mana pressed downward.
Students in the front rows staggered back.
Some instinctively raised their arms to shield their faces as the wind howled past them.
"T-This pressure- what the hell?!"
"That’s not E-rank... no way!"
Shui Yinran’s pupils trembled slightly as she felt it ’He is not just releasing mana, he has refined it. Such a level of mana control for someone who awakened two weeks ago?’
Klein’s muscles tightened subtly as mana flowed through every fiber of his body, reinforcing and bridging the exact gap Shui Yinran had just identified.
Standing in the VIP box, the Headmaster had a smile on his face "Not bad, young man."
"I thought he was reckless to pick a fight with a division head, but it seems like he has some tricks up his sleeve."
The head of the mage Division had a slight frown on her face "But... Yinran, she is holding back a lot of her strength."
"If she wanted, she could flatten the entire arena with one swing even without mana."
Turning to her, the Headmaster spoke "Because this is not a normal duel where they showcase strength."
"That young man called Shui Yinran for a ’Spear Duel’ where they showcase their spear skills and overwhelm the opponent."
"If she used her full strength, it would be a shame on her for going all out against a first-year who just wanted a Spear Duel."
"This is just a pure duel between... two genius spear masters."
In the arena, Shui Yinran swirled the spear in her hand "Let’s see how long you can maintain that state."
The moment her words ended, she moved.
FWOOOSH
But this time, Klein moved at the same instant.
BOOM-!
The ground shattered beneath both of them as they collided at the center of the arena, their spears crashing into each other with a deafening-
CLAAAAAAAAANG-!!!
A shockwave erupted outward, far stronger than before, tearing across the arena and slamming into the barrier with enough force to make it ripple violently.
The crowd gasped and this time, Klein didn’t get pushed back.
His arms held firm against the impact, his muscles reinforced by the surge of mana flowing through his body as the instability from before vanished completely.
It was replaced by a terrifying level of control that allowed him to withstand the force behind Shui Yinran’s strike without being pushed back even a single step.
Shui Yinran’s eyes sharpened, ’He matched it...? I know I am holding back, but still...’
For a brief second, their spears remained locked and the pressure between them rose to a suffocating level as mana and intent clashed violently at the point of contact, causing the air itself to distort and tremble under the strain.
*swoosh* Then Klein moved and his body twisted along the axis of the clash, using the force of her strike to redirect his momentum as his spear spiraled in a tight, coiling motion that slipped along her shaft like a snake seeking an opening.
’Calamity Serpent Style: Third Coil.’
The trajectory of his attack shifted mid-motion, bending unnaturally as it bypassed her guard from an angle that should not have been possible.
Shui Yinran reacted immediately and adjusted the spear with minimal movement, blocking the incoming strike.
*CLANG*
Stepping back for a moment, Shui Yinran raised her spear slowly, and as it did, the air around it began to distort as a crescent-shaped shadow formed along the blade.
Klein’s eyes narrowed "...Dark Moon."
Shui Yinran’s expression turned completely cold, "Let me show you what the first form of the technique truly looks like."
The crescent shadow deepened.
The light around the arena dimmed slightly as if being devoured.
"Dark Moon: Crescent Slash."
Klein’s instincts flared violently as his body reacted on its own and his spear snapped upward to intercept-
CLANG-!!!
A massive crescent arc of condensed shadow crashed into his weapon, detonating on impact as a shockwave far greater than before tore through the arena, shattering the ground beneath them and sending debris flying in every direction.
This time, Klein was forced to slide, his feet carving into the ground as the sheer density behind her strike bore down on him.
His muscles tensed ’Yep. That’s the real power of the first form. If she can execute it this well, then it’s definitely not from a manual.’
Shui Yinran did not give him time to recover.
The moment their weapons separated, she flowed seamlessly into the next motion, her spear tracing another arc through the air as the shadow deepened.
"Second Form- New Moon Veil."
The crescent expanded, descending with overwhelming pressure upon him.
Klein’s pupils shrank, but instead of retreating, he stepped forward.
Mana surged violently through his body and the white aura of Spear Intent compressed along the length of his weapon as his stance lowered, his entire being focusing into a single point.
"...Then I’ll break it."
’Dark Moon: Fallen Eclipse.’
The two techniques collided head-on.
BOOOOOOOOM-!!!
The spiraling force at the tip of his spear imploded into itself, forming a dense, compressed core of shadow that pulsed once before expanding outward in a collapsing sphere.
Instead of clashing against her descending crescent, his technique consumed it.
The moment the two techniques met, her ’New Moon Veil’ was swallowed into the forming Eclipse as Klein’s technique absorbed and crushed it from within.
Shui Yinran’s eyes widened ’He’s... overriding it? So that’s how you use the third form? Even i didn’t know that.’
The Eclipse expanded for a second and then collapsed violently.
BOOOOOOOOOOM-!!!
A catastrophic explosion tore through the arena as the compressed energy detonated outward and the ground beneath them disintegrated instantly while a massive crater formed at the point of impact.
The crowd screamed as the entire arena shook.
At the center of the destruction, Klein stood firm with his body trembling slightly under the strain but his spear was still extended forward.
Across from him, Shui Yinran was pushed several meters as her feet carved into the ground with her spear raised defensively as the aftermath of the Eclipse washed over her.
Silence fell across the arena as no one dared to speak, their minds struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
A first-year student...
Overpowering a Division Head’s technique.
Klein slowly lowered his spear, "...Now, ask yourself again."
"Who does that technique belong to?"
Shui Yinran met his gaze without flinching "Where did you learn it?"
Pointing his spear at her, he uttered "...Come take the answer from me."
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