Chapter 677 150.2 - Why don''t you see for yourself?


    "Why don''t you see for yourself?"


    Astron''s invitation to spar hung in the air, his calm gaze unwavering as he waited for her response. Irina studied his expression, noting the subtle intensity in his eyes and the slight smirk on his lips. So he wanted to test the bracelet and see what it could truly handle and, if she was honest with herself, she was just as eager to see what he was capable of.


    A smirk curved her lips as a spark of anticipation ignited within her. She''d always wanted a better grasp of Astron''s strength, and here was the perfect opportunity to do just that.


    But she raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze. "Are you serious about this?" she asked, a hint of mischief in her tone. "Should I grab some protective gear for you? My mes aren''t exactly gentle."


    Astron shook his head, his expression rxed but resolute. "This is just a spar. And let''s be honest," he replied smoothly, "no equipment will save me from your mes anyway." He paused, then added, "Besides, I trust you to control your strength."


    The simple statement caught her off guard, warmth flickering through her chest at his words. His trust in her, despite the power she wielded, meant more than she cared to admit.


    "Fine," she said, taking her stance and letting her mana re to life around her. Her mes danced along her arms, rich and vibrant, embodying the very essence of Emberheart fire. "Don''t me me if you get singed," she teased, though there was a softness to her tone that wasn''t usually there.


    Astron mirrored her, settling into a bnced stance, his gaze steady, unwavering. "I''ll take my chances."


    3


    As the timer counted down, Irina took a deep breath, focusing her mana into a simmering warmth that spread through her core. She knew Astron''s speed was his greatest advantage, so she''d need to be precise, using her mes to control his movements and force him to respond to her terms.


    2


    ''Alright, Astron,'' she thought, feeling the ember of anticipation re into readiness. ''Let''s see just how quick you are.''


    1


    SWOOSH!


    The moment the timer hit zero, Astron shot forward, moving with explosive speed, his


    figure blurring as he aimed to close the gap between them, Irina reacted immediately, sweeping her hand forward as a wave of me surged from her fingertips, fanning out to create a wall of heat in his path. Her mana pulsed in steady waves, a testament to her control, as she wove the fire into a barrier designed to slow his approach, if only for a split second.


    But Astron was ready. He didn''t hesitate, twisting his body mid-sprint to sidestep her mes. His movements were fluid, almost as if he could read her intentions, dodging the fire with practiced agility.


    ''As expected,'' Irina noted, her eyes narrowing.


    Without missing a beat, she spun her wrist, redirecting the mes to trail after him. This wasn''t about overpowering him-she knew better than to waste her energy against someone as evasive as Astron.


    Instead, she focused on creating a rhythm, a tempo to her attacks that would eventually force him tomit to a defensive stance.


    "Not bad," Astron called, his voice calm even as he dodged another fiery arc. His steps were calcted, every movement efficient and precise, like he was studying her just as much as she was studying him.


    "Let''s see how long you can keep that up," she replied, a hint of challenge in her voice. Her mes pulsed brighter, flickering as if they shared her excitement. With a flick of her fingers, she sent small bursts of fire toward him-quick,pact attacks designed to probe his defenses.


    Astron''s response was instantaneous. He weaved through her attacks, slipping past each burst of me with ease. But Irina didn''t let up, increasing the pace of her strikes, her mana thrumming as she pushed herself harder, mes surging in controlled bursts.


    Finally, she saw her chance. Astron was forced to dodge a low arc of fire, his bnce shifting ever so slightly. In that split-second opening, she thrust her hand forward, sending a concentrated ze directly at his chest.


    But Astron was quicker than she''d anticipated. He twisted his body with impressive agility, the mes grazing past him, leaving only a faint scorch mark on his sleeve. Before she could fully register the near-miss, he countered, closing the distance in an instant, his handing down in a quick strike aimed at her shoulder.


    Irina barely had time to react, but her instincts kicked in. She shifted, angling her arm to intercept his strike while channeling her mana through her body, creating a thinyer of heat around her skin. His hand connected, but the fiery shield absorbed much of the impact, leaving a stinging sensation rather than real pain.


    A grin spread across her face as they disengaged, though she was breathing a little heavy.


    "This guy? When did he be this fast?"


    He was even faster than when he was dealing with the dummies just now. It was evident that he was not showing his full speed at all.


    "Not bad yourself," she quipped, letting her mes flicker brighter. "But I hope you''re not holding back too much."


    Astron did not reply, simply looking at her.


    Irina''s smirk faltered as she caught Astron''s gaze, his eyes carrying a silent message of victory. He hadn''t said a word, but the look was enough. It was as if he was telling her that he''d won that round effortlessly, as though her carefully controlled mes had been nothing more than a warm-up to him. The realization sparked a re of indignation in her chest.


    ''Is he serious? I was going easy on him, and he dares look at me like that?"


    She narrowed her eyes, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. "Alright," she said, her voice low butced with challenge. "You''re asking for it. I won''t hold back as much this time. Let''s see if you can keep that expression then."


    Astron raised an eyebrow, giving a faint nod, his calm demeanor unchanged. That only fueled her resolve further. Taking a step back, they both assumed their stances, each one silently preparing for the intensity of the second round. Irina could feel the anticipation building in the air, her mes burning brighter as she gathered her mana, letting it course through her body with renewed purpose.


    The moment the signal sounded, she moved, sending a wide arc of mes cascading across the ground, creating a wall of fire that spanned the entire width of their makeshift arena. Her goal was clear: limit his movements, cut off any escape routes, and make him truly contend with her mes.


    This time, there would be no restraint.


    FLICK!


    With a flick of her wrist, the wall of mes surged forward, inching closer to Astron,


    forcing him to backpedal.


    SWIRL!


    She followed up with a secondyer of fire, interweaving smaller bursts between therger arcs, making it impossible for him to find an opening. The heat intensified, casting a flickering orange glow that bathed the area in a fierce, oppressive warmth.


    To her satisfaction, Astron was forced to stay on the defensive, his agility limited as he dodged each strike, his expression sharpening as he realized her change in tactics. She could see his gaze darting from me to me, calcting his next move, but she didn''t let up, pushing him harder and harder.


    "Not so easy when I don''t hold back, is it?" she called a victorious edge in her voice.


    She intensified the heat, pouring more mana into the mes, making them sear the ground around him, creating a dangerous perimeter he couldn''t step into without risking a burn.


    For a moment, she thought she''d cornered him. But just as she prepared to close in, Astron shifted his stance, his body tensing. In one swift movement, he leaped,unching himself over a surge of mes with perfect timing. The maneuver was bold -and dangerously close to reckless-but hended on the other side unscathed.


    And the way he moved was a perfect example ofplete body control, as he didn''t waste any movement at all.


    Irina felt a surge of respect, mixed with a renewed determination, ''He''s really not


    backing down.''


    But that was it.


    ''And I knew you would do it like that.''


    Astron was using [Martial Arts] right now at this moment, and he was fighting barehanded. She didn''t know why he was doing that, but now that he had decided to take this route, she wouldn''tin.


    Irina focused, visualizing Astron''s movements in her mind, the way he''d counter her mes with precision and agility. His mastery over every muscle, each motion deliberate and efficient-it was impressive, even a little exhrating. But she wasn''t about to let him mock her with that calm expression, as though he''d already won. ''Alright, Astron,'' she thought, a smirk forming on her lips. ''Let''s see how you handle


    this.''


    In an instant, she summoned multiple Fire Javelins, their tips glowing hot as they hovered in the air before her. With a quick motion, she sent them hurtling toward him in rapid session, each one aimed to test his evasive skills. She knew he''d dodge, and that was precisely what she was counting on.


    True to her expectation, Astron''s body moved, weaving between the ming projectiles with speed and control. He sidestepped each javelin, his gaze sharp and focused, but Irina was already onto her next move.


    With a flick of her fingers, she channeled her mana again, igniting the ground around him. mes burst up in a tight circle, forming a wall of fire that surrounded himpletely, cutting off any horizontal escape. She watched him carefully, her smirk


    widening.


    ''Let''s see if you''re bold enough to run through that, she mused.


    She saw him pause for a split second, evaluating his options. And then, just as she''d anticipated, he bent his knees, preparing to leap. Her mes roared higher, framing him perfectly against the fiery background. This was her moment.


    [School of Emberheart. Pointy ze.]


    The second heunched into the air, Irina''s mana surged as she focused on a single,


    powerful ze. With practiced precision, she directed a concentrated arc of fire directly at him, its path aligned with his mid-air trajectory. There was no way he could dodge mid-leap, and the realization struck her with a spark of satisfaction.


    ''Got you, Astron."


    As the mes closed in on him, she couldn''t help but feel a surge of anticipation. The image of him charred and singed was oddly satisfying, yet...she didn''t actually want to


    harm him, especially that face of his.


    Yet, things didn''t y as she wished.


    Suddenly, something that she would never have expected happened.


    BLAST!


    Her mes were sted back.


    And there, as her mes were sted back, she saw the bracelet on the Astron''s armn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    shining, with the Orichalcum melted onto the bracelet itself.