Chapter 12: Chapter 11- First battle(1)
"This is a bad matchup. Aiden is going to one-shot defeat him." After recovering from her defeat Valarie joined Edric with Amanda on the other side as they watched Alex walking onto the arena.
The opponent Alex has to face is none other than the rising Sword Saint; someone whom Edric respects.
Aiden Halestorm.
Aiden has a record of winning most of his matches during the two years of the academy, and recently, when the tournament was organized, he was among the five contestants who participated and won for his academy.
Although the limelight was stolen by Edric since he ended up facing two enemies and winning both of the rounds, there was no doubt that if not for Aiden's victory, their school would have lost.
"I don't agree with you." Before Edric could have said anything, Amanda retorted, making Valarie frown.
"Why would you say that? We all know that Alex is nothing but a bookworm and has a skill that is not useful for battle."
Amanda chuckled, pissing Valarie off even more, as the former said, "If only you ever woke up early in the morning, you'd understand why I'm betting my money on Alex."
Valarie ignored the girl and looked back on the stage; wanting to see what made Amanda so confident.
When Amanda's gaze fell on Edric she found her lover sulking, as some words reached her ears, "You never bet your money on me..."
Amanda smiled in amusement before hooking her arm with his and whispering, "I always remain so engrossed in you that I forget betting."
Edric's mood lifted as, with a shy smile, he looked towards the arena...and soon frowned.
"A stick?" Hearing him, Amanda also looked towards the arena and found her brows elevating.
In Alex's grip there indeed was a wooden stick rather than a real weapon.
And it wasn't a proper stick rather a fragment of a tree branch.
'What is he thinking?'
....
"Student Alex?" The instructor asked; clearly as confused as others.
Alex asked, "Will it be against the rules if I fight with this?" Truth be told, he didn't have a real weapon. Until now, the wooden weapons were provided by the school but they were removed.
"Are you mocking me?" The heavy voice of his opponent resonated, making him look intimidating.
Aiden heard about Alex's weapon from the murmuring of the audience, which forced him to ask.
Alex raised his brows before replying, "No."
"Hmm, then it's fine." Aiden nodded and got into a fighting stance. Unless someone was making fun of him, he didn't feel like getting angry needlessly.
The instructor stepped forward and asked in a hushed voice, "You don't have a blade, right?"
Her question was met by a nod as Alex said, "I can manage myself with this, though."
"This won't do, Alex...." The instructor heaved a sigh and contemplated what she should do.
Alex then asked, "Then...can I borrow it from someone?"
The instructor blinked in surprise before she assented, "If they agree then sure."
Alex sprinted towards the giant classmate and asked, "Lend me your sword."
The boy with thick brows hummed before asking, "Can you even lift it?" The person asked, since the sword he held was only a few inches shorter than Alex.
It was a great sword with a thick middle and tough blade. It was more for hammering enemies into oblivion and held double-edges. The handle of the weapon was thicker than Alex's thigh.
Alex huffed, "Just give it to me. I don't need to swing it around."
The black-haired giant chuckled before allowing the blade to fall towards Alex as he said, "Just finish my homework in return of the favour."
Alex shrugged as he held the heavy metal over his shoulder and dragged it towards the arena.
He was getting laughed at, and many blatantly ridiculed him for choosing a weapon which could crush him rather than helping Alex in winning this battle.
Alex, naturally, paid no mind to them, and once inside the ring, he planted the blade on the ground with all the strength he had.
"Ahhh!"
*Crash*
The blade somehow stabbed the ground, and while a little tilted, it retained its position inside the ground.
Alex dusted off his hands and looked at the instructor before telling her, "I am good to go."
The instructor was now worried as she gestured toward the medic to be nearby.
Once she ensured that Aiden was ready, she slashed her hand and yelled, "Begin!"
Aiden crouched low, his muscles coiled, then exploded forward toward Alex. His sword remained sheathed, gripped tightly in his left hand, aimed to deliver a crushing strike to Alex's neck and end the fight in one blow.
In a blink, his form blurred. Gasps echoed through the crowd as Aiden vanished, reappearing just behind Alex, ready to strike. He swung the scabbard with lethal speed—but his eyes widened in shock. Alex was gone, no longer standing where he'd aimed.
*Blink*
Just as Aiden sensed that advancing punch he used his skill for the second time and retook his initial position.
Aiden narrowed his eyes from behind the fabric, "How did you anticipate my movement?"
Alex shrugged, "Not like I am also blocking my ears like you. Just heard you." Alex's demeanour was nonchalant, but only three people on and off the arena knew that what Alex suggested was absurd.
'Aiden was airborne when he appeared behind Alex...then how?' Valarie asked herself with a frown.
Aiden didn't hesitate or linger, charging forward again, relying purely on his physical strength to attack Alex. He knew his opponent would be waiting for him to use his skills.
"Come at me!" Alex growled, widening his stance and tucking his left hand behind his back. The fierce look on his face made Aiden hesitate, but in the end, he couldn't resist.
*Blink*
"Agh!" This time, Alex was ready. He drove his fist into the spot where he sensed Aiden's arrival, landing a powerful punch just as Aiden appeared.
There was a grin on Alex's face...which lived for a very short duration as Aiden suddenly held his hand by his wrist, and raised his leg to kick Alex.
Alex raised his leg just in time to block that kick, but the force was enough to make his bones tremble by the impact.
Alex took a quick decision, and yelled,
"THIRD FORM!"
Aiden widened his eyes as he remembered that it was the same stance that took Abeth's life two days ago.
Instantly, his figure disappeared as the green-haired teleported as far as he could and readied himself to pary any throwable Alex aims at him.
"Huh?" However, all Aiden sensed was a chuckle as he heard his opponent saying,
"Kidding~Don't worry, you aren't worth making me use that move."
Many from the battlefield chuckled hearing that and inside the arena, Aiden's hand trembled in agitation.
He...was being looked down upon. He was made fun of.
Clenching the handle of his sword with his left hand, Aiden removed his blindfold with the other one.
Those reddened eyes showcased nothing but anger, as Aiden glared at his opponent, before declaring,
"I will make you pay for forcing me to go all out."
Alex grinned, 'Nice...nice. Waste more Soul Energy for me.'
Raising his hand, he provoked Aiden,
"Show me what you got."
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A/N:- It was a weird fight scene but I intended on making it like that. The next one will be interesting. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 13: Chapter 12- First battle(2)
The Soul Record is not a place but just a concept, that regulates Soul Energy through the vast ocean of realms.
The management of grimoires, the tool to measure and compute soul energy, is also under the command of the Soul Record.
In a battle, the more your enemy wastes their Soul Energy behind their attacks and skills, the more the opponent would gain from them upon victory. The distribution of Soul energy has always been within the control of the Soul Record, and no one has the right or authority to tamper with it.
As such, Alex's current ambition was to make Aiden use as many skills as he could and waste more Soul energy so that when the battle ends, Alex could benefit hefty.
"Show me what you got." The provocation was directed and Alex's opponent was now pissed.
Aiden shot forward, his slim sword flashing in the sunlight as he closed the distance between him and Alex in a heartbeat. Alex stood firm, his eyes locked on Aiden, not flinching as the blade sliced toward him. Just before the sword could connect, Aiden vanished.
*Blink.*
He reappeared at Alex's side, blade aimed straight at his ribs. But Alex was ready. He twisted his body, barely dodging the strike, his fist swinging up in retaliation. Aiden ducked, his form a blur as he teleported again, this time behind Alex.
Alex didn't turn. Instead, he threw his elbow back, catching Aiden mid-teleport. Aiden staggered; blood dripped as he bit his lips, but he recovered instantly, his eyes burning with determination.
He lunged again, this time aiming high. Alex met him head-on, blocking the strike with his forearm. The clash of steel rang out, and for a moment, they locked eyes, neither backing down.
Aiden gritted his teeth and blinked once more, disappearing. Alex's senses flared. He spun, catching Aiden's blade with his bare hand just as it materialized mid-air. The force of the blow sent sparks flying, but Alex held firm, gripping the sword with raw strength. His hand bled, and many from the students winced in pain just by seeing Alex' condition, but the person himself showed no sign of getting weaker.
Aiden snarled and pulled back, his sword slipping free. Without missing a beat, he teleported again, but Alex was relentless, already moving. He slammed a fist into Aiden's gut before the swordsman could fully reappear, making the latter grunt.
The students watching gasped, eyes wide as Alex stood tall, unfazed by Aiden's abilities. Aiden struggled to his feet, panting, blood staining his clothes, but his eyes still burned with fury. He gripped his sword tighter, preparing for the next strike, but Alex's calm stare made it clear—he was ready for anything.
Aiden has sensed that teleportation was futile against this boy. His movements were getting tracked, for some goddamn reasons.
He changed his plans, there was nothing he could achieve by holding against an opponent who was well set on defeating Aiden.
His form turned linear, his body sliming in a straight line, and his sword positioned in the middle of his brows.
Edric widened his eyes; he knew this stance. The very same stance that took down several opponents in the past with just this single move.
People held their breaths, and the dead silence allowed Aiden's words to echo through the crowd,
"Halestorm Phantom:"
Alex narrowed his eyes and ducked a little down, preparing himself, as he heard the other one chanting,
"...Hundred slash!"
A series of consecutive and randomly released slashes were directed toward Alex—the shockwaves of each swing approaching him at a blinding speed.
Alex had no other option than to escape from the trajectory, his body adapting a newfound speed as he sidestepped and tried dodging the strikes.
However, just as he expected, more than a few cuts sliced his flesh and drew his blood.
From a general perspective, it didn't seem Aiden was moving at all, however, those with sharp senses could see Aiden's arms moving at a monstrous pace.
Alex stepped away, moving in a definite direction, yet it wasn't helpful since Aiden could move his body while launching those many attacks as well.
Severe cuts could be seen on his face, arms, gut and thighs. The pain from the damage was excruciating, but Alex didn't stop, knowing that this tiresome stance could not continue for long.
And just as he thought, the series of attacks slowly paced down and Alex was already inches away from the great sword which he planted in the ground earlier.
Aiden snarled and intentionally stopped attacking; wanting to see what the boy intended to do with such a heavy-weight weapon
Alex lifted the sword with great struggle; his left eye closed, and blood dripped from several spots on his body. If anything, he looked like someone a foot away from his grave, but the instructor was so engrossed in the match that she forgot to call it off.
Alex lunged forward, not sparing a single moment for himself and his opponent.
A single stride was enough to land him before Aiden, the blade held above his shoulder.
"Fourth Stance!" Aiden heard that, and he no longer took it casually. Alex's great sword came crashing down with brutal force, aiming straight for Aiden's shoulder, the intent clear in the gleam of Alex's eyes.
But Aiden moved, faster than anyone expected. In one fluid motion, he brought his sword up, meeting the massive blow head-on. The clash of metal roared through the air, sparks flying, but Aiden didn't flinch. His sword barely wavered as he swatted the strike aside like it was nothing.
However, Aiden's eyes widened when he heard Alex's following words,
"Rebound!"
*Ting*
Like the ground was made of rubbed, the blade tapped on the ground and bounced back with double the speed. Alex changed its direction and while gritting his teeth, he struck the rebound attack to Aiden's side.
**CRACK**
Something snapped within Aiden and before he could register what he just witnessed, he found himself flying.
Students dispersed as Aiden's body flew out of the ring and travelled several meters before the boy crashed against the ground, rolled and finally came to a halt.
When the instructor went to check on him, she found Aiden was already out cold.
Returning to the arena, she announced, "Alex wins!"
Alex squatted on the ground, with his hands resting on the hilt of the blade.
With blood flowing down his head, the boy looked nothing but majestic in his current form.
Even Valarie, who had ridiculed Alex until moments ago, couldn't help but watch him in awe, and her lips parted in shock.
Throughout the battle, what Valarie admired about him the most was the fact that he retained his calm and never got lost in anger and frustration; a feat which she has yet to achieve in unfavourable situations.
*Clap* *Clap*
It was Edric who began to clap and the action was soon followed by others. Soon the whole crowd was clapping for the brave performance by the silver-haired.
Alex heaved a sigh as a few words rang out,
'I guess that deity was correct...I need to prepare for the worst...' One thing Alex has understood from this small confrontation. He was far from ready to face those monsters in the ascension contest.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
Gifts
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received Weekly Power Status
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