Nova City, Nova Academy training ground.


    loud cheering reverberated across the ce as students could be seen leaning on the handrails of the arena grounds excitedly talking to one another as they all had their eyes glued towards a certain tform below them.


    Emma and Evelyn sitting sides also nced at the tform, toward Adrian''s standing figure.


    "Why I''m sitting here with you?" Evelyn asked as she nced at Adrian.


    "C''mon, it''s not that bad thing. Let''s see how the match will unfold." Emma''s said excitedly to Evelyn.


    Evelyn just rolled her eyes at Emma being a fan girl over Adrian, but she knew she couldn''tin about it after all she was also the same at some time in past.


    Thinking of her past Evelyn thought about Lucas.


    ''When is that idioting anyway?'' There was so much she wanted to ask him, for example, what was he doing at Evergreen n.


    She had tried to ask Isabe but she didn''t answer anything.


    "Look it''s starting," Emma said bringing Evelyn''s attention back to Adrian.


    The duel was starting.


    Adrian stood confidently on the tform, his eyes focused on his opponent. The arena was filled with an anticipatory hush as the duel between Adrian and his challenger was about tomence.


    The challenger, a first-year student from [2-Hero-1], exuded an air of arrogance, confident in his abilities. The tension in the air was palpable as both students prepared for the sh.


    "By the way what was the name of Adrian''s opponent?" Evelyn asked as she gazed at Adrian''s opponent, Wearing a sky blue uniform, the youth was currently arrogantly looking down on Adrian as he insulted him from below the stage.


    Hearing Evelyn''s question, Emma nced at Adrian''s opponent, "His name is Rick Lace and he is at E rank and he is at [2-Hero-1], also he uses a war hammer. "


    "I see. But why did he challenge Adrian to duel?" Evelyn couldn''t help but ask.


    "I don''t know, we were at the cafeteria then he suddenly shows before us and challenges Adrian."


    Emma knew the reason, in fact,  Evelyn also knew the reason sinceing back from Silva City Adrian''s poprity skyrocketed there were many rumours about him going, also not after Adrian was taken as a disciple was Headmaster of Nova Academy.


    In simple words, many were jealous of him and could not help but beat him up that''s why they challenge him now and then.


    All of the spectator''s eyes were focused on Adrian''s figure. Excluding the fact that he was very handsome, everyone here had one thought.


    ''How strong is the number one youth in the world''s best academy?''


    Were the rumors about him exaggerated or was he as talented and unparalleled as people made him out to be?


    Soon saw a referee calmly walk down towards the arena grounds. Seeing the referee who was in charge of the match arriving, Emma couldn''t help but excitedly say.


    "Oh, the match is starting!"


    As soon as her words died down, the arena grounds quieted down as a referee came up on the stage. Staring at Adrian and the youth opposite to him, the referee warned.


    "Let me be clear this is a friendly match"


    Pausing to make sure that both Adrian and Rick were paying attention, the referee solemnly said


    "Both parties can use whatever means possible to defeat their opponent, be it skill, artefact, or anything that you have with you, is allowed. However, if one party admits defeat during the fight, the other party cannot continue attacking. If I feel even the slightest killing intent by any one of you I will be stopping the match. Do you understand?"


    "Understood." Adrian calmly took the initiative to respond.


    Rick Lace, was a rather muscr youth who looked around twenty despite being the same age as Adrian. As he looked at Adrian before him, his expression remained stoic and unmoving. Following Adrian''s example, Rick responded.


    "Understood"


    Seeing that both Adrian and Rick had understood the rules, the referee raised his hand and immediately lowered it as he shouted.


    "Begin"


    As soon as the referee''s hand shed down, without skipping a beat, taking a step forward, Rick ran towards Adrian''s direction.


    -Bam! -Bam!


    With every step he took, the arena tform shook.


    Adrian didn''t move his muscles from his spot, he just calmly stared at Rick''sing figure.


    Secondter Rick was standing in front of him. Raising his hammer, Rick smirked as he shouted.


    "Why aren''t you moving? Are you so scared of me that you froze in shock?"


    Without hesitation, he aimed for Adrian''s head


    However, just as the hammer was about tond on top of Adrin''s hand. The spectators only saw a sh, and Adrian''s body disappeared. The hammer fell on the ground and the arena shook.


    -Bam!


    "Huh?"


    As the dust settled, the spectators and even Rick himself were left bewildered. Adrian, who had been there a moment ago, now stood behind Rick with an air of calm confidence.


    "How...?" Rick stammered, caught off guard by Adrian''s speed and agility.


    Adrian''s response was measured, "Speed is essential inbat. Being predictable can be your downfall."


    The crowd erupted into whispers, the unexpected disy of Adrian''s speed leaving them in awe. Evelyn and Emma exchanged nces, both impressed by Adrian''s seemingly effortless manoeuvre.


    Unfazed, Rick regained hisposure, gripping his hammer tightly. Heunched another attack, this time more cautiously, aiming to catch Adrian off guard.


    However, Adrian effortlessly dodged and countered Rick''s strikes, his movements a dance of precision. The arena became a stage for the intricate choreography of their duel, drawing the audience deeper into the unfolding spectacle.


    Evelyn couldn''t help but admit that Adrian''s skills were extraordinary. His ability to read his opponent''s moves and respond with grace showcased the training and experience he had umted.


    As the duel continued, it became evident that Rick, despite his initial bravado, was struggling to keep up with Adrian''s pace. The disparity in their skills became more pronounced with each passing moment.


    Rick''s frustration grew, and he resorted to more aggressive tactics. His attacks became wild and uncoordinated, leaving openings that Adrian exploited with calcted precision.


    Adrian''s voice cut through the intensity of the duel, "Frustration clouds your judgment. Control your emotions, Rick."


    The match reached a decisive moment when, with a swift series of strikes, Adrian disarmed Rick, causing the war hammer to fall to the ground. The referee stepped forward, signalling the end of the match.


    "Adrian ckthorn is the winner!" The referee dered, prompting a mix of apuse and murmurs among the spectators.


    The fight was so good that everyone had forgotten about Adrian was very fact that he was just a first-year


    Adrian extended a hand toward Rick, a gesture of sportsmanship. Despite the defeat, Rick epted the hand, acknowledging the skill of his opponent.


    The arena grounds buzzed with discussions about the match. As Adrian stepped off the tform, his eyes briefly scanned the audience. For a moment, it felt like his gaze lingered on Emma, creating an unspoken connection that left her with a mix of emotions.


    The spectacle of Adrian''s victory concluded, leaving the crowd in anticipation of what


    woulde next. As the students dispersed, Evelyn remained in her seat, pondering the events and wondering when Lucas would finally appear.


    ***


    Back at the Western mountain range...


    Grrrr—!!


    My stomach growled vehemently with hunger as I arrived at the cave where we were staying.


    "You''re back," Yato remarked, his voice calm and nonchnt.


    He sat on a stool with a crackling campfire in front of him, relishing a steaming bowl of chicken soup sped in his hands.


    …This guy!


    Here I am, on the verge of starvation, and he''s eating chicken soup! Huh?!


    Yato rose from his seat, extinguished the fire, and quickly finished the soup before stowing away the empty bowl in his dimensional ring.


    Then he summoned the ck sword into his grasp and he turned to face me.


    "Today, we will spar again," dered Yato.


    "Again?" I frowned in displeasure.


    We have been engaging in sparring sessions almost every single day since we came to this ce.


    Though I learned so many things from sparring against him, his skills are on apletely different level than mine.


    Fighting him feels like trying to climb a wall that I know I can''t ever climb in a lifetime.


    Going against him, I couldn''t help but feel inferior. And I''m not good at dealing with inferiorityplexes since I don''t feel it much.


    Maybe Yato noticed my thoughts as he let out a sigh and said, "I can see you don''t like losing much, but as I''ve said before, martial arts can only be honed inbat."


    …I guess he has a point.


    "Alright," I relented. "Let''s get started then."


    "Good," Yato nodded. "And don''t worry, I will go easy on you this time."


    ''Like that, you went easy on me before.'' I remarked inside of my head and followed Yato outside to take another beating from him.