Chapter 204: Ash vs Ray (1)
I will not win in a sword fight...
Ash thought with quiet certainty, his gaze fixed on Ray. No one knew Ray’s abilities better than him, and because of that, he was fully aware there was no chance of defeating him with swords alone, at least... not yet.
Due to his trait and class, he can easily see through any sword art and exploit the weak points. Even though I have somehow managed to create a rough, clumsy sword art of my own, I will lose miserably if I rely on swordsmanship alone...
Because of this, he decided to maintain the act of pretending to be a mage. But that did not mean he was incapable of fighting up close. No, he will fight without any restrictions on himself, just he does not want to give Ray a chance to exploit his weakness right now.
He might read my sword, but let’s see how well he can handle my fists...
Instructor Leonard’s voice cut through the tense silence. "Start." He stepped outside the arena, his eyes glimmering with a sharp interest as if expecting something fierce to unfold.
Ash and Ray stood still, their gazes locked, both wearing the black combat uniforms of the academy. The suits clung to their forms, revealing the defined muscles and honed physiques they had built through relentless training.
Then a flash of lightning tore across the dark sky above, as if signaling the start of their clash.
Ray moved first. His body blurred, vanishing and reappearing right in front of Ash using Flicker Step.
Ash, prepared for such a sudden rush, shifted his stance with sharp precision. He stepped back and twisted, sending a spinning back kick toward Ray’s stomach, the strike cutting through the air with a violent hiss.
Ray twisted his body with an almost unnatural precision, his movements fluid yet sharp as he narrowly avoided the incoming strike. Without wasting even a fraction of a second, his sword shifted seamlessly, flashing toward Ash’s extended leg with the intent to cut off his momentum and exploit the opening.
But Ash’s body pulsed with a faint crimson glow for a brief second. With a smooth, almost unnatural twist of his hips, he shifted his weight onto his hands, flipping upside down on the ground. He swept his other leg in an arc, a second strike aiming directly at Ray’s head.