Blater (commentator):
"And now—don't blink! The second bout, a brutally sharp clash! The head of the Siwar School, Leoner, versus the strange young man Ortinus! Will a blade be sharp enough to face Leoner's iron fist?"
Leoner (entering the arena):
"Listen, you. I'll turn that sword of yours into scrap metal sold right here in the market."
Ortinus (drawing his sword calmly):
"I've heard a lot of talk since arriving in this city, but I haven't seen a single deed worth admiring. Show me what you've got instead of parading your tongue."
Blater (commentator):
"Oh! Ortinus has a sharp tongue to match his sword! Leoner, will you let this stranger talk like that in your arena?"
Leoner:
"I'll shut him up now! Take this!"
Leoner charged forward with a speed Ortinus hadn't expected. His fist was wrapped in an aura of green crystal energy. He threw a powerful punch that slammed into Ortinus's blade, forcing the young man back several steps as numbness spread through his hands.
Ortinus:
"What is this strength? It's like striking a moving boulder!"
Nerar (from outside):
"Ortinus! Don't collide with him head-on! His power relies on momentum—use your agility!"
Leoner:
"Where did your pride go, swordsman? Starting to feel regret?"
Blater (commentator):
"What a collision! Leoner uses Momentum Fist! Ortinus is in a tough defensive position—will his sword break under this pressure?"
Ortinus:
"Nothing will break today except your arrogance! Take this dance!"
Ortinus began moving in rapid circles, using the fencing skills he had learned from Romilius. He no longer blocked the blows; instead, he slipped past them, letting his blade scrape Leoner's leather armor.
Romilius:
"Well done, Ortinus! Don't give him a fixed target!"
Leoner (breathing heavily):
"Stop spinning, you rat! Face me fist to fist!"
Ortinus:
"Why? Tired of chasing my shadow? I thought the Siwar School taught patience as well."
Blater (commentator):
"A stunning shift in momentum! Ortinus turns the arena into a dueling stage! Look at Leoner—he's losing his temper, and that's the most dangerous mistake a fighter can make!"
Leoner:
"Enough! I'll finish this now—Crystal Quake!"
Leoner slammed his foot into the ground, shaking the arena as thick dust rose everywhere. Using the lack of visibility, he rushed toward Ortinus with a finishing blow.
Pikos (shouting):
"Ortinus! Watch out! He's behind you!"
Ortinus (whispering to himself):
"The feather… feel me now."
Suddenly, without taking it out, Ortinus felt the feather grow warm in his pocket. Everything slowed in his eyes. He saw Leoner's fist approaching at an agonizingly slow pace. With astonishing flexibility, he bent his body and, in a flash, struck Leoner's wrist with the hilt of his sword, then kicked him hard in the center of the chest.
Leoner:
"Ughhhh!"
Leoner was sent flying backward, crashing into the ropes around the arena before collapsing face-first, to everyone's shock.
Blater (commentator):
"Impossible! Did you see that move? How did he evade the strike in all that dust? Leoner is down! One… two… three… four…"
Leoner (coughing as he tries to rise):
"I—I won't lose to a stranger… I'll kill you!"
Blater:
"Stop, Leoner! It's over! Your knee touched the ground twice—the rules are clear!"
Ortinus (sheathing his sword):
"You can keep your anger for next time. Today, the sword of Acadia has spoken."
Blater (commentator):
"The winner is Ortinus! The score is now two to zero in favor of the outsiders! What a scandal for the academy's students! Batro, it's your turn—will you restore your school's honor against that loudmouth youth, Darius?"
Darius (leaping into the arena):
"Don't worry, Blater. I'll finish this quickly before the food Pikos is thinking about gets cold. Batro, was it? Ready to be the third victim?"
Batro (a massive man, cracking his knuckles):
"I'll crush your bones, boy. I'll make you wish you'd stayed wherever you came from."
Nikos:
"Darius! Don't underestimate him—this man has brute strength!"
Darius:
"Father, I'm Darius, son of Nikos—have you forgotten? I'll make him chase the air!"
Blater (commentator):
"The crowd is boiling! The third bout begins now—Darius versus Batro! Will intelligence triumph, or pure strength?"
Romilius:
"Ortinus, well done. You used your calm at exactly the right moment."
Ortinus:
"I felt something strange, my master… as if time stopped for a moment."
Nerar:
"That's the feather's effect. You've begun to synchronize with your body. Get ready—Batro isn't as easy as he looks."
Blater:
"Let the third round begin!"
Ortinus has claimed a decisive victory, and now it's the turn of the humorous Darius to face the giant Batro.
Will he be able to win?