"Aren't you a bit too arrogant for a commoner? I think you don't know the height of the sky; you may be a magical swordsman, but you're still a commoner. We'll see if you're still insolent when I break your limbs," Kelvin replied, laughing with disdain at my claims.
*Apicem Terra*
"This guy... if the word 'commoner' didn't exist, he'd invent it," I thought, easily dodging the spikes of earth.
"That won't be enough if you want to defeat me."
*Terra Golem*
A golem burst from the ground and appeared instantly in front of me. I dodged the fist, but the force of the attack threw me off balance, forcing me to leap backward.
*Ice Magic: Plures Hastae*
"At this rate, he must be at least two stars and close to three."
*Glacies Superficies*
The charging golem lost its balance on the icy surface, while I neutralized most of the stone spears as I advanced.
"Don't you think you're too confident for a commoner?" he retorted, remaining serious despite the miserable failure of his attacks.
*Earth Magic: Lapis*
A stone spear appeared in Kelvin's hand as he tried to impale me.
"Are you stupid or something? You're attacking a Martial Artist head-on."
I dodged his spear, then punched him in the face. Even though he tried to evade by jumping back, a mage couldn't match the speed of a Martial Artist. I sent him flying with a roundhouse kick, and he spat blood.
"Well, you're stronger than I thought. Let's get serious now," Kelvin said, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"I'm ready for it."
*Terra Tractatio*
The earth within a thirty-square-meter area trembled, and craters appeared all around us.
"What do you think of this spell? I control the earth within a thirty-square-meter radius," Kelvin declared, smiling.
"Nothing, and why are you explaining how your spell works? I was right, you really are an idiot," I replied casually.
With his earth manipulation, he created a dozen golems armed with spears, while stone arrows flew everywhere.
"I must say I'm a bit surprised he still has so much mental endurance to cast this spell. I think he'll suffer repercussions from overusing his mana."
*Glacies Superficies*
*Ice Magic: Plures Sagitae*
Dodging the arrows, I neutralized most of the golems as I advanced.
"Don't even think about it," he shouted in rage.
A large rocky hand formed and quickly advanced toward me as I approached.
"Do you think I'm cornered by your spells? You're naive, buddy," I replied, sneering.
*Ice Magic: Glacies Murus*
A wall of ice quickly appeared in front of me.
*BOOM*
The collision of the two spells created a cloud of dust and pushed Kelvin back to avoid the shockwave.
"Alright... I've had my fun. I'll end it now."
"Let's finish this fight that's gone on too long," I thought, using my movement technique.
*Descent of Light*
I disappeared in place, leaving a trail of light, and my silhouette appeared behind Kelvin in an instant. Kelvin didn't notice my technique because of the mist.
A moment after the mist dissipated, Kelvin searched everywhere for me, but I remained elusive to him.
"How?" Finally sensing my presence, he turned abruptly, only for me to deliver a roundhouse kick to his face. Giving him no chance, I followed up with an elbow strike to completely subdue him.
He fell to the ground, his face bloodied and unrecognizable, barely conscious.
"I... I was beaten by a..."
"Ah... Shut up, I'm not a commoner," I said, annoyed.
"And I know a commoner who could've beaten you easily," I added, thinking of Morgan.
"Impossible..."
"Yeah, buddy," I replied, striking his face again to render him completely unconscious, and he vanished.
"Alright, I think I'll head out. I wonder where Morgan is?"
"Ah... There you are, you bastard. I've been looking for you since the test started."
Seeing the guy who just arrived, I instantly got a headache. I really don't feel like fighting him...
"Buddy, let it go."
End of POV
...
While another duel involving Eden took place, in the room where the faction leader students were, Kara Geb Bentham watched the evaluation of the first-years, particularly a few students whose parents were loyal to her father, with a bored expression. Then her gaze shifted to the fight involving Ingrid, then Eden.
"This famous Eden, it turns out he's talented enough to have such an arrogant demeanor during a fight. Ice!? He'll make a good subordinate, and if he refuses the offer? He'd better accept." she murmured with a mischievous smile.
Daemon simply nodded.
....
On Ingrid's side, she approached Morgan, who was sitting on the ground, wiping blood off his blade. Even though he had lived outside the family with his mother, the latter had taught him the first two movements of *Bloody Lotus Arts*.
"As expected of Eden, he defeated his opponents in just a few minutes," Ingrid thought, smiling as she watched the hologram displaying Eden slapping a guy, without paying attention to Morgan, already on guard.
"Hey, Drake, are you looking down on me?" Morgan asked, annoyed.
"Not really, I was watching someone who had value," Ingrid replied, looking away.
Angered, Morgan used all his power, displaying a level three swordsman aura and using one of his attack techniques.
*Sword Aura*
The sword emitted a bloody aura and rippled like water. Apparently, the blood he had coated his blade with belonged to a student with aquatic affinity.
*Bloody Rush*
Morgan moved quickly, seeming to transform into a blood projectile moving in a serpentine manner, making the direction of his attack difficult to discern. He appeared on Ingrid's left side, his sword dangerously close to her neck. Ingrid tried to block Morgan's attack with her sword without using her aura or techniques. Suddenly, her sword passed through Morgan's blade.
"Afterimage," Ingrid thought, surprised.
*First Movement: Fluid Cut*
Morgan, now on Ingrid's right side, used one of his techniques. His sword was now like a thin layer of water as it approached Ingrid's left side. Ingrid tried to block the attack without using her technique, but her sword passed through the blade again. A second later, Ingrid heard the sound of a sword piercing her flesh.
"Arg," Ingrid cried, holding her bloodied hip, retreating.
"What do you say now? Do I have value now?" Morgan asked with a satisfied smile.
"I admit I underestimated you. You're a level three swordsman, but your attacks can rival a normal level four Martial Artist. I suppose that's the advantage of a powerful Art, but I'm not a normal Martial Artist, so let's get serious," Ingrid declared with a wide smile.
"Uh... okay," Morgan replied, a bit nervous at the maniacal smile on Ingrid's face.
*Second Movement: Explosive Cut*
Morgan moved quickly, appearing in front of Ingrid, still smiling. Morgan's sword, previously calm like water, now had a violent appearance like fire on the blade. The sword approached horizontally, aiming for Ingrid's left side. Ingrid raised her sword, intending to block the attack. Suddenly, her sword shattered upon clashing with Morgan's.
"Useless, you've lost," Morgan declared, laughing confidently.
"No, it's the opposite."
*Drakonic Body*
Ingrid's reptilian red eyes ignited with flames, as did her hair. Flaming horns appeared on her forehead.
*Fist of Fire*
As she propelled herself with her affinities, Ingrid left a trail of fire and appeared behind Morgan, striking him in the spine with her flaming fist. The cracking of Morgan's spine could be heard.
She disappeared again, reappearing in front of a Morgan writhing in pain, covered in blood, unable to stand.
*Claws of Fire*
As Ingrid's attack rushed toward Morgan, a light appeared in front of Ingrid, grabbing her wrist despite the flames burning her flesh.
"I think killing isn't allowed, Ingrid Von Tertius," Eden said, his eyes emitting an unusual coldness.
"How...?"
The tension was palpable, Ingrid having just tortured someone who was like her brother, and her carefree nature giving way to her brutal side.