Ashan smiled awkwardly, the corners of his lips twitching as unease settled in his chest.
'I'm screwed. I didn't even prepare for something like this, and I never wanted to. What should I do? If I step into that duel, I'll expose myself to other awakeners.'
"Ashan, what are you doing?!" Nevil hissed urgently, shaking his shoulder. "Your opponent is already inside the duel ground!"
Ashan let out a long, heavy sigh. Slowly, he took off his sunglasses and handed them to Narasha. The crimson glow in his pupils faded as the Sharingan disappeared.
'Since it's come to this, I have no choice,' he thought. 'But I need a weapon… I forgot to buy one. Who would've thought this would happen today?'
His eyes shifted to Nevil's sword.
"Nevil, can I borrow your sword for a moment? I need one for the duel."
Nevil didn't hesitate. He shoved the sword into Ashan's hand. "Take it, take it. Just go already, or people will start making a fuss."
Ashan glanced at Narasha. She gave him a small, reassuring nod.
"Well then," Ashan said quietly, gripping the sword. "I'm going."
Inside the duel ground, Seeren stood waiting, sword in hand, scanning the arena impatiently.
"Where is my opponent?" he scoffed. "Is he not coming… or did he run off?"
At that moment, Ashan emerged from the crowd and stepped into the duel ground.
A ripple of murmurs spread instantly.
"Wow… he's so handsome."
"So that's Ashan?"
"He doesn't look like a mage at all…"
Even without showing anything overt, his presence was undeniable. His build was solid and masculine, carrying the air of a seasoned fighter rather than a spellcaster. Many eyes, especially the girls', were drawn to him without realizing why.
Seeren forced a smile, though it came out stiff and awkward.
'What the hell… Are they saying this guy is a B-ranker? He looks more like an A-ranker. And a mage? No way. This won't be easy.'
Even several high-rankers shifted their attention toward the duel ground after sensing Ashan's presence.
'That guy will be tough,' Magnar thought silently, his gaze narrowing as he studied Ashan's well-built frame.
"Are you a sword user too?" Seeren asked, masking his tension with a polite smile.
Ashan smiled back and gave a small nod. "Yes, though I started using it not long ago. I'll try my best to fight you with a sword first, but I mainly rely on spells."
Seeren let out a short laugh. "Same here. I prefer mage skills over swordplay. I'm planning to give it my all. Is that fine with you?"
"Of course," Ashan replied calmly. "I'll do the same. Shall we start with swords?"
"Yeah… let's."
The bell rang.
Seeren dashed forward instantly, his sword flashing in two rapid strikes. Ashan leaned aside smoothly, dodging both without even lifting his blade.
The crowd gasped.
Seeren smirked and pressed harder, his sword movements growing sharper and faster. The air hissed as his blade sliced through it. This time, Ashan raised his sword, meeting the assault head-on.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel clashed repeatedly, sparks scattering across the duel ground.
'He said he started sword recently?' Seeren thought grimly. 'That doesn't look like it at all.'
No matter how aggressively Seeren attacked, Ashan's sword was always there. His movements were calm, precise, and unwavering. His stance had no wasted motion, no obvious openings.
Seeren's brows knit together.
'Wait… I recognize this. This is a well-known sword art taught in many schools. I learned it too, but abandoned it because my current technique surpassed it.'
'But this guy… he's mastered it perfectly.'
Ashan was using the very sword style Nevil practiced, a form built on balance, patience, and absolute control. Each block flowed into a counter. Each defense erased any opening before it could exist.
The duel caught the attention of Garrick Blackridge, who was watching the live broadcast on a large screen.
"That young fellow," Garrick said thoughtfully, "has a steadier body than his opponent. He follows the enemy's sword path and counters every strike cleanly. Seeing a B-ranker fight like this is refreshing."
Silas Wolven, seated beside him, smirked. "Hey, Garrick. Looks like that B-rank battle mage caught your eye."
Garrick nodded. "He's trained hard with the sword. That technique he's using, the Thunder Fang Sword Technique."
Silas leaned forward slightly. "I noticed. He's using it in perfect form. It's considered a weaker sword art, but if studied properly, it becomes quite effective in battle."
His gaze sharpened. "But it's not just the technique. Look at his eyes, they're constantly analyzing, searching for openings and attack patterns."
Garrick nodded slowly. "That only comes with experience. Win or lose, that boy has a bright future."
Back in the arena, the fight intensified. Seeren unleashed a furious barrage, his speed increasing with every second. The crowd roared at the pace of his strikes.
Yet Ashan did not falter.
He deflected, redirected, and countered with relentless composure.
Seeren growled and tried circling, attacking from different angles. Ashan adjusted his stance just enough each time, sealing every approach. It was like striking an immovable wall.
"Impossible…" Seeren muttered.
Ashan's expression remained calm, but inside, his thoughts churned.
'This is dragging on. I can feel his frustration building. Let's try something new.'
Ashan stepped back and tightened his grip on the sword.
[Chidori]
The crowd gasped as energy surged. Blue lightning erupted along the blade, crackling violently. A sharp, chirping sound filled the air.
Seeren froze, eyes wide.
"What the hell is that? Lightning power? Is that his skill?!"
Ashan raised the sword as lightning surged through it, the blade glowing violently.
Seeren clenched his teeth and charged, pouring everything into one final strike.
Ashan stepped forward.
BOOM!
The collision shook the entire arena. Thunder and light exploded outward. Seeren's sword cracked, then shattered completely.
But the lightning was too wild.
Ashan's borrowed sword split apart as well, unable to withstand the power.
Both men leapt back.
Seeren stared at the broken remains in his hand, his body trembling.
The stadium erupted into chaos.
"What kind of skill was that?!"
"Lightning on a sword?!"
"That's fucking amazing!"
Aren Redmarsh, who had been watching lazily, widened his eyes.
'A lightning user? Since when? And how is he stabilizing it to that level?'
Garrick and Silas froze in their seats.
"He infused lightning into his blade?" Garrick muttered. "That's not a B-rank skill, totally unique."
Silas's eyes gleamed with excitement. "A lightning blade… What a damn cool idea. Why didn't I ever think of that?"
Garrick sighed. "That's clearly a skill, you moron."
Silas laughed lightly, glancing at him. "Why? Is it impossible to imitate a skill? If I get the right resources, I could make a lightning sword too."
Noticing movement in the duel ground, both turned their full attention back to the screen.