Chapter 184: Element Of Surprise
Lyra stepped into Torren’s heavy shield attack.
BAM.
A clean blow to the guts before his shield could recover its defensive position as he dropped to one knee.
Selene fired to cover him..
But Lyra dodged.
And responded to Selene this time, catching her unawares as she caught the arrow with her barehand.. followed with a light spin that sent it back towards the her.
WHOOSH!.
Selene stumbled back from the light hit as she dodged awkwardly at the last minute reducing the impact.
It wasn’t a heavy damage,but it was just enough.
Ryn stepped in again, trying to regain control with Lyra’s imbalance.
Now it was just him. But he fought anyway.
His blade moving quickly, his feet steady. As he controlled his breathing.
But Lyra met him.
Every step.
Every strike.
Until..
CLANG.
She caught his blade again.
This time, she didn’t strike back immediately.
She looked at him.
"You’ve gotten better."
Ryn’s grip tightened.
"...Not enough."
Lyra smiled.
"No."
Then she pushed.
Ryn slid back, boots dragging across the ground.
He steadied himself before he looked at his team.
Torren was down on one knee.
Selene breathing hard, her bow lowered slightly.
He understood at that glance.
They were done.
He could keep going... he wanted to.
But that wasn’t the point.
This wasn’t about him. It was about them fighting as a team.
Ryn exhaled.
Then raised his hand slightly.
"...We’re done."
The words came calm.
There was no frustration or anger.
Just acceptance.
Torren dropped fully to the ground.
Selene sat where she stood.
While Lyra straightened as her expression softened slightly.
She had seen it.
Ryn wasn’t quitting because he couldn’t continue.
He was stopping because his team couldn’t.
She respected that.
"Good call."
Ryn nodded once.
His breathing finally catching up with him.
"...Didn’t see a win there."
Lyra stepped forward.
"You wouldn’t. Not yet."
She looked at all three of them.
"But you got close."
Torren laughed weakly from the ground.
"Didn’t feel close."
Lyra shook her head.
"It was."
She pointed at Selene.
"Your attack improved."
Then at Torren.
"You held space better than yesterday."
Finally at Ryn.
"And you..."
She paused slightly.
"...led properly."
Ryn didn’t respond. But he understood what she meant.
"You knew when to stop," she added. "That matters more than forcing a loss."
There was a small silence.
Then Selene spoke quietly.
"...We’ll do better next time."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"I know."
The tension eased a bit.
Even Torren pushed himself up again.
"Next time, I’m not falling for that trick."
Lyra chuckled.
"You will. Just a different one."
That got a small laugh out of them.
They stepped back, making space.
Arthur watched them the whole time.
He didn’t comment anymore. But his eyes said enough.
"They did good".
Soon, Lyra turned.
Her gaze landed on the second group.
Arthur.
Althea.
Nox.
She smirked.
"Alright."
She stepped back into the circle.
"Come get your ass kicked."
Nox sighed.
"I knew this was coming, but..."
Arthur stepped forward, rolling his shoulders.
"Don’t sound so defeated already."
Nox glanced at him.
"You’re too excited."
Arthur grinned.
"Of course I am."
Ryn walked past him at that moment.
He paused slightly.
"Do your thing."
Arthur met his eyes as he responded simply.
"Always."
Ryn nodded and moved on.
Arthur turned back to his team.
He looked at Althea.
"You good?"
She nodded.
"I’ll support."
Then Nox.
"You?"
Nox cracked his neck.
"...Let’s just survive first."
Arthur laughed.
"Fair enough."
They stepped forward together.
Lyra watched them.
Interested, but also very curious.
Arthur met her gaze.
"Ready."
A brief glance passed between him and his teammates.
That was enough.
Lyra raised her hand.
Then... "Start."
Arthur moved first.
Intent Step Activated.
The ground barely made a sound, but his body had already appeared half the distance. His intent step felt sharper today, like his body understood it better than before.
Lyra’s eyes tracked him.
But not fast enough.
As Arthur suddenly appeared in front of her.
Althea moved at the same time.
Her timing was perfect.
A soft glow wrapped around Arthur’s body just as he entered striking range.
"Now," she whispered.
Arthur didn’t hold back.
Intent Skin Activated.
It came alive instantly.. it wasn’t forced as it felt completely natural already.
The mana layer wrapped around him, tight and dense, especially around his arm as he drove his fist forward.
BOOM.
The impact landed.
Clean and heavy.
Lyra’s body shifted slightly.
But it was real.
Her feet slid half a step back.
For a second.. She looked surprised.
Arthur saw it.
And he smiled.
"Didn’t see that coming, did you?"
Behind them.. Nox blinked.
"...Wait."
Selene leaned forward.
"What was that?"
Torren frowned.
"That wasn’t just a buff."
Althea’s magic was still active, but it wasn’t enough to explain what they saw.
Ryn didn’t speak.
His eyes locked on Arthur.
Sharp and focused.
That...
He saw it clearly.
The layer.
The control.
The density shifting exactly at the point of impact.
"...Lyra’s Mana Technique," he muttered under his breath.
But that wasn’t the shocking part.
It was how Arthur used it.
There was no delay, or buildup.
It just appeared and it worked.
Ryn’s brows furrowed slightly.
When did it get this good?
He had an idea he learnt it from the commander yesterday.
It was enough to shock him that he learnt it in a day
But this...
This wasn’t someone who just learned a technique.
This was someone already pushing it.
His gaze didn’t leave Arthur.
"...What are you?"
Back in the circle...
Arthur didn’t stop after the hit as he stepped in again.
He was relentless as he continued piling up the pressure.
But Lyra recovered quickly, her expression shifting from surprise to something sharper.
Interested.
Arthur didn’t give her space as another strike came.
Stronger and Faster.
His body felt different.
Lighter.
But heavier at the same time.
Every movement carried weight.
And he liked this feeling..
He felt the rhythm and flow.
His Intent guiding his mana without hesitation.
But he wasn’t alone.
Nox was already moving.