?


    nk...


    Tess felt her hand jerk backward as her rapier made contact with Drake''s massive greatsword, producing a loud metallic sound that echoed throughout the arena.


    "..."


    She tightly pressed her lips together, eyeing the blond man in front of her with a mix of determination and joy as she felt happy whilst fighting a worthy opponent.


    "You''ve gotten stronger!"


    Drake eximed, rotating his shoulder as if he was hurt from the previous exchange. His green eyes also burnt with excitement, but mes ofpetition danced within them as well.


    He was also enjoying thisbat dance.


    nk...


    They shed the weapons for the second time drawing all sorts of reactions from the spectators gathering around the arena.


    While Tess and Drake were enjoying the battle, other students were betting on the winner, cing sums of money and hoping to go home with a profit.


    During thest few days, this became like some kind of sport, as even senior students came to spectate the fights sometimes.


    Tess and Drake had even attracted a few teachers, who nodded their heads as if acknowledging their talent.


    Crash...


    Tess, suddenly spun her crimson rapier around in a swift motion, forcing Drake to block her iing with his sword.


    This, however, gave her time to use her leg to sweep Drake off his feet, causing him to fall on his back.


    Thud...


    Rose didn''t even wait for him to recover, as she immediately pointed the tip of her rapier toward Drake''s throat.


    "Nice trick..."


    Drakemented, but his eyes were still burnt withpetitiveness as he grinned up at her.


    Zziinngg...


    Lightning particles started dancing on his body, forcing Tess to retreat a few steps backward, already assuming the danger.


    She stared at the yellow aura surrounding Drake, seeing Lightning snakes coiling around his body, enhancing his speed and strength.


    "..."


    Tess raised her guard, also preparing to use her Mana Art.


    [ Phoenix me: Igniot! ]


    Her rapier flickered with red mes as she chanted her Mana Art, her weapon growing hotter and stronger by the second.


    The heating from the sword was so intense that even the onlookers felt pearls of sweat gathering on their foreheads.


    "..."


    However, nobody dared to even blink or move - a lot of money was on the line.


    Whoosh...


    Both powerful forces collided in the middle of the arena, sending sparks of lightning and fire everywhere.


    Some spectators were even caught in the aftereffects of the sh.


    Although it was merely a small portion of the sh''s power, it threw the onlookers off bnce, making their faces pale in seconds.


    They knew Tess and Drake were strong, but they had never expected such power from the two students.


    "Crazy..."


    One of them murmured, cing money for Tess since she seemed to be gaining an upper hand, her fiery sword zing brighter than ever.


    "..."


    As the sh of elemental forces subsided, a tense silence fell over the arena. The spectators held their breath, their eyes fixated on the battlefield, waiting to see who would emerge victorious from this exhrating duel.


    Tess and Drake stood a few meters apart, their bodies radiating with residual energy. Sweat trickled down their faces, but their determination remained unyielding.


    Tess''s rapier, now enveloped in vibrant red mes, crackled with intense heat. The Phoenix me imbued her weapon with the power to scorch and sear, giving her an advantage in closebat.


    She gripped her rapier firmly, her eyes locked onto Drake, who was surrounded by a swirling aura of lightning.


    Sensing the tension in the air, Tess tightened her grip on her rapier and made a swift move, lunging forward with a series of agile shes. Her de sliced through the air with precision, leaving trails of fiery streaks in its wake. Each strike aimed to exploit the smallest opening in Drake''s defense.


    Drake, however, was not surprised by her sudden attacks. He deflected Tess''s attacks with calcted precision, his greatsword moving with grace and power. His eyes never wavered, tracking Tess''s every move, anticipating her strikes and countering with his own lightning-fast maneuvers.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The sh of steel echoed through the arena as they exchanged blow after blow.


    sh...


    The spectators watched in awe as the twobatants engaged in a breathtaking disy of skill and strategy. Their movements were a dance of elegance and raw power, each step and parry executed wlessly. The crowd was caught up in the intensity of the fight, their hearts racing with every swing of the weapons.


    There was a lot of money on the line!


    Sparks flew and sweat dripped down Tess''s forehead as the duel continued to unfold. She could feel the exhration of the battle coursing through her veins, fueling her determination to ovee Drake.


    Crackle...


    With a swift motion, Tess disengaged from the flurry of strikes, creating some distance between them. She took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes fixed on Drake. There was a fire in his gaze, mirroring her own passion forbat.


    Drake''s lightning aura crackled and intensified, illuminating the arena in a dazzling disy. He clenched his jaw, readying himself for the next round of attacks. The power surging within him was electrifying, lending him speed and agility that pushed Tess to her limits.


    Tess smirked, her eyes narrowing in focus. She knew she couldn''t let Drake overwhelm her with his lightning-infused attacks. She needed to find a way to turn the tide of the battle in her favor.


    She took a deep breath, centering herself in the midst of the chaos. As she exhaled, she channeled her mana into her rapier, strengthening the mes of the Phoenix me that danced along its de. The temperature around her rose, creating an intense heat that shimmered in the air.


    Whoosh...


    With a burst of speed, Tessunched herself forward, her feet barely making a sound as she closed the distance between her and Drake. She executed a series of intricate footwork and feints, aiming to disrupt Drake''s rhythm and exploit any opening he might expose.


    Drake responded with lightning-fast reflexes, deflecting each of Tess''s strikes with precision. The sh of their weapons reverberated throughout the arena, resonating with the hearts of those watching. The crowd held their breath, their eyes glued to the mesmerizing spectacle unfolding before them.


    Tess''s movements became more fluid and unpredictable, incorporating acrobatic spins and leap into her offensive maneuvers. She infused her attacks with the scorching heat of the Phoenix me, leaving trails of singed marks wherever her de passed. The air itself seemed to tremble with the intensity of their battle.


    Drake adapted to Tess''s ever-changing tactics, his concentration unyielding. He countered her strikes with lightning-infused shes, creating bursts of electricity that crackled through the air.


    Boom...


    Finally, the two weapons collided in the middle of the Arena, sending shockwaves through the ground beneath them.


    Tess and Drake stood still, their weapons locked in a fierce stalemate, but both tried to gain an upper hand over the other.


    Their eyes met for a second and they both lowered their weapons at the same time, realizing that neither could gain an advantage over the other.


    "That was a good fight."


    Drake was the first to speak, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Although he hadn''t used his Weapon Style, the fight was nheless intense and thrilling.


    Tess nodded, hearing the genuine admiration in Drake''s voice.


    nk...


    They both sheathed their weapons and stepped out of the Arena, ignoring the crowd of students that looked like hungry griffons.


    There probably weren''t a lot of people who ced a bet on a tie.


    "..."


    Moving through the whispering crowd Drake and Tess made their way straight to the Cafeteria, feeling hungry after the battle.


    As they both sat at the table, the door of the Cafeteria suddenly opened and a girl with two big blue eyes and azure hair walked in, her eyes scanning the room, searching for something.


    "Rose!"


    Tess abandoned her seat, throwing herself into Rose''s arms and hugging her tightly. She hadn''t seen Rose for days since the matter of the Compatible person and since she was back it was clear that it was sorted.


    While they both hugged each other, Drake looked at them with a small smile, feeling slightly happy and left out at the same time.


    "Can you let me go? I''m not able to breathe..."


    Rose tapped Tess''s shoulder and the girl with red hair quickly loosened her grip around Rose''s waist.


    "So... Any information?"


    Guiding Rose back to the table, Tess spoke, her eyes shining with curiosity. One could see sparks of excitement dancing in her eyes.


    "..."


    Drake also looked towards Rose, slightly interested in the topic. He was yet to find hispatible person, but he was curious about the effects of having one.


    He just hoped that the guy who is Rose''spatible person wasn''t aplete douchebag.


    "..."


    Feeling both of her friends staring at her Rose, wriggled in her seat, a small blush creeping up her cheeks.


    "Do you know where Aiden is?"