Chapter 196: Elysia’s Spar!
Elysia stepped out of the staff room after what she said to her class teacher.
The Next Day
The first-year students gathered on the training field. The usual running laps had already left everyone panting.
Kael wiped a sleeve across his brow, breathing steadily despite the burning in his legs.
Around him, other students slumped against benches and stretched to keep their muscles from locking.
Before anyone could relax too much, the familiar figure of Professor Sylvia appeared at the edge of the field.
"First-years," she called.
"Today, we will add a new component to your training. As of this moment, you will begin friendly duels."
"The rules are simple," Sylvia continued. "You may challenge either a single opponent or an entire team. No killing, no crippling injuries, and no outside interference. This is to test your combat awareness and adaptability. Remember, this is training. Fight seriously, but fight with control."
"You may begin immediately. I will return after class to observe. I have lots of work to do" With that, she turned and left the field, leaving the students behind.
Kael rolled his shoulders. Around him, Some students called out challenges to their friends, while others whispered strategies for team battles.
"Let’s see who’s brave enough to start," someone muttered.
From the far side of the field, Cecelia stepped forward.
"Kael," she said clearly, "I challenge you to a duel", she said smiling.
Kael gave a slight nod. "All right," he said calmly.
The two of them faced each other, blades and spells ready.
"Let’s begin", said Kael smiling.
Cecelia struck first and her staff glowed yellow and hit toward Kael.
He moved swiftly. Kael countered with boxing. Kael left the sword on the ground itself.
Cecelia deflected with a barrier of compressed air.
They traded blows—steel against magic, strength against strategy—until both were panting, sweat running down their faces.
"That’s enough! I quit! I lose", said Kael.
"Well fought, you are strong" Cecelia said simply.
"You too," Cecelia replied.
As they stepped aside, Kael barely had a moment to breathe before another one approached.
It was Elysia.
"Kael," she said in an angry voice, "I request a duel with you."
"Isn’t she supposed to be one of the top students already?" another said.
"Why him?"
Kael blinked with surprise.
"Elysia... you want to spar with me?"
"Yes," she said. "Do you accept?"
Kael hesitated for only a second before nodding.
"I accept."
"Elysia", said Cecelia.
As they stepped in, Edwin was nearby, folded his arms and scoffed.
"She’s playing with the weak?" he muttered.
"Let’s begin!", said Elysia in an angry voice.
(She looks angry), Kael thought.
Elysia moved first. Mana flared around her blade as she summoned her signature weapon: Oath Blade.
The air shimmered with golden light as a sword suddenly appeared in Elysia’s hand, glowing with dangerous power.
Kael braced himself, feeling his astral core hum as the pressure around her grew heavier.
Without warning, Elysia raised her blade and shouted,
"Judge of Titan!"
Mana exploded like a raging storm.
Behind her, a giant figure of light began to form—a towering titan with glowing eyes and massive arms of pure energy.
The crowd gasped as the titan raised a phantom weapon, moving in perfect sync with Elysia’s swing.
"
By the Ancients..." someone whispered.
Whispers spread through the crowd like a ripple in water as the colossal light-titan loomed behind Elysia.
Students who had been chatting moments ago now stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief.
"What... what is that thing?" someone murmured.
"A titan... it can’t be real," another student said.
"I’ve never seen a spell like this before," a third whispered, barely able to breathe.
Even Edwin, who was in the middle of sparring with another student, stopped mid-swing. His opponent’s blade hung in the air, forgotten, as both of them stared across the field.
The shimmering giant radiated massive power.
(This isn’t just a flashy technique), he realized.
(That’s a manifestation of pure mana... she really is strong.)
For the first time, he felt uneasy.
(Elysia wasn’t just talented, she was on a level that could crush anyone in their class if she willed it.), Jin thought.
The crowd held its breath, the golden glow of the titan reflecting in their wide, astonished eyes.
The titan’s strike unleashed a wave of raw force that tore across the training ground.
The ground shook violently, grass flattened, and students shielded their eyes from the blinding flash.
Kael’s heart pounded. There was no time to escape.
Instinct took over.
"Astral Punch!"
He punched forward, pouring all his mana into a burst of energy.
The sphere of power shot from his fist and met the titan’s attack head-on.
The collision shook the entire field. Dust and light exploded outward, throwing students back and leaving them shouting in shock.
When the dust settled, Kael was still standing barely.
His arms trembled, a cut bled on his temple, and his boots had dug deep into the dirt from the force.
Across from him, Elysia slowly lowered her glowing sword.
Kael exhaled sharply.
(She’s this strong? If that had been a real attack, I’d be dead.)
But beneath the fear, he understood something, this duel was her way of showing him how far behind he still was.
Straightening, he met her eyes and said quietly,
"You’re strong."
"I don’t need you complement"
(If he had died just now, I could have said it was an accident. No one would question it. One less threat to the future...)
(But he isn’t down... Just how much you will pretend that you are weak?)
Her grip tightened on the sword before she forced herself to release another skill.
"You surprised me."
Despite the pain, Kael managed a faint smile.
"And you reminded me how much stronger I need to become."
The air around the training ground vibrated with leftover energy from Elysia’s first attack, but she wasn’t finished.
Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, her grip on the Oath Blade tightening as she raised it high.
A sudden, sharp hum cut through the stunned silence, and a new surge of mana burst outward, shaking the very ground beneath everyone’s feet.
"Divine Star of War!", she shouted out loud.
Above her, the sky seemed to tear open as countless golden sparks formed into a swirling constellation of light.
The crowd gasped in terror as the stars condensed into a single, blinding orb that pulsed with the fury of a miniature sun.