ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 216 THE LAST MATCHUP OF THE STAGE

The Northern Wind Spire Coliseum buzzed with anticipation as the final matchups for the group round-robin phase were about to be announced. The atmosphere was electric, with cheers and conversations echoing throughout the grand arena. In the VIP section, Castenada and Marel leaned forward in their seats, their expressions both contemplative and eager.

"So far, your students have performed admirably. Especially Kaelen—he hasn't even broken a sweat. I take it you've trained him well?" Marel suddenly said lightly.

"Kaelen has grown stronger, but strength alone won't carry him through this convention. Strategy and adaptability are just as vital. Let's see how he handles this last challenge." Castenada replied while he gave a light smirk.

Marel nodded but turned his gaze toward the arena where the various mini-arenas remained active, their barriers shimmering faintly. His eyes rested on Kaelen, who stood calm and composed, seemingly unbothered by the growing tension in the air.

"And what of the Ferrum boy? Magnus... He's been crushing his opponents with pure power. If Kaelen has to face him—" Marel suddenly said as he shifted his attention towards Magnus who was leisurely standing in the group as if he has already won.

But before Marel could finish, a loud chime rang throughout the coliseum, signaling the announcement of the final matchups. The crowd erupted into cheers and roars, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. On the massive screen above the arena, the names of the participants in each mini-arena lit up.

In one arena, two names shone brighter than the rest:

Kaelen Grey vs. Magnus Ferrum

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd, and even in the VIP section, Castenada's expression grew serious.

"Well, it seems fate isn't wasting time. This is the clash everyone's been waiting for—your most promising swordsman against the brute force of Ferrum." Marel suddenly said with an awkward smile on his face.

And while having a grim look on his face, Castenada replied "This is more than just a clash of strength. Magnus's sheer power will test Kaelen's discipline, but if Kaelen falters even slightly... the outcome could be disastrous."

On the battlefield, Kaelen stepped forward, his face calm, his movements precise. Across from him, Magnus Ferrum entered the arena like a thunderstorm, his gigantic war hammer slung across his back. His sheer presence was enough to silence a section of the crowd.

Magnus smirked as he hefted his hammer, slamming it into the ground with a loud thud that seemed to shake the earth itself.

"Finally. I was starting to think no one here was worth my time. Let's see if you can handle the weight of my hammer, Grey." Magnus suddenly said with pure arrogance.

Kaelen unsheathed his blade in one fluid motion, his expression unchanging as he replied.

"I'm not here to play games, Ferrum. Let's see if brute strength is all you have."

The crowd roared as the supervisor signaled the start of the match. Magnus wasted no time, charging forward with astonishing speed for someone of his size. His hammer swung in a wide arc, aiming to crush Kaelen in a single blow.

Kaelen sidestepped the attack, his movements as smooth as water as he activated his Quick steps technique. The hammer struck the ground, leaving a crater in its wake. Magnus grinned, the raw force of his attack sending a shockwave that Kaelen had to shield himself from.

"Not bad, but dodging won't save you forever!" Magnus said with a confident smile on his face.

"We'll see about that" Kaelen replied cooly before he moved yet again.

As Kaelen darted in, he closed the distance with a quick slash aimed at Magnus's side. But Magnus spun his hammer with terrifying precision, blocking the attack and countering with a downward swing. Kaelen leaped back just in time, the hammer smashing into the ground where he had stood moments ago.

The two fighters engaged in a deadly dance, Magnus's strikes shaking the arena while Kaelen moved with calculated precision, dodging, deflecting, and counterattacking when openings presented themselves.

Darian moved first, lunging forward with a burst of speed, his spear aimed straight for Ethan's chest. Light magic coursed through the weapon, creating an intense glow that seemed to burn away any trace of shadow in its path. Ethan sidestepped the attack at the last second, his movements fluid and calculated.

"Impressive speed, but it'll take more than light to catch me." Ethan suddenly said with a calm look on his face.

Ethan retaliated with a swift slash of his twin blades, the strikes coming from both sides. Darian spun his spear, deflecting the attacks with precision. As the two clashed, their contrasting styles became evident—Darian's radiant, forceful strikes against Ethan's elusive, unpredictable movements.

Darian unleashed a burst of light magic, creating a dazzling flash that forced Ethan to leap back. The arena lit up like the midday sun, the intense brightness momentarily blinding the spectators.

"You can't run from this. My light will expose every shadow you hide in." Darian commented with an intense battle spirit.

But Ethan, even in the face of such overwhelming light, remained calm. He melded into the faintest traces of mist left in the arena, his figure flickering like a phantom. Darian's eyes narrowed as he gripped his spear tightly, scanning for Ethan's next move.

Suddenly, Ethan appeared behind him, his blades slicing through the air with lethal precision. Darian spun around just in time, his spear meeting Ethan's blades in a shower of sparks.

The two fighters exchanged a flurry of attacks, their weapons clashing with increasing intensity. Darian's spear movements were wide and sweeping, bolstered by bursts of light magic that made every strike explosive. Ethan countered with quick, precise strikes, his twin blades moving like extensions of his body.

The tide of battle shifted when Darian planted his spear into the ground, creating a radiant barrier of light that pushed Ethan back. Darian then charged forward, his spear glowing brighter than ever, each strike infused with concentrated light magic.

Ethan dodged and parried as best as he could, his movements becoming more erratic as the light magic began to overwhelm him. Darian's attacks were relentless, forcing Ethan closer and closer to the edge of the arena.

"It's over, Ethan! The light will always prevail!" Darian said in a victorious tone.

But Ethan's smirk returned as he suddenly leaped into the air, disappearing into a swirl of mist as his voice echoed through the it.

"You talk too much."

Before Darian could react, Ethan emerged from the mist behind him, his blades aimed at the gaps in Darian's defense. Ethan executed a series of rapid strikes, his Twin Shadow Slash technique creating overlapping afterimages of his blades. Darian struggled to keep up, his spear deflecting some of the attacks but not all.

Finally, Ethan disarmed Darian with a swift upward slash, sending the spear flying out of his hands. Ethan's blades stopped just inches from Darian's neck as he stood frozen in place, breathing heavily.

The supervisor's voice boomed across the arena, declaring Ethan the winner. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, acknowledging the intense battle they had just witnessed.

Ethan stepped back, sheathing his blades as he glanced at Darian.

"You fought well. Your light is strong, but sometimes... shadows have their own way of winning." Ethan said cooly.

Darian nodded silently, retrieving his spear before leaving the arena. Ethan turned and walked away, his expression calm but his body visibly fatigued.

In the VIP section, Castenada and Marel exchanged a glance.

"That boy has the makings of a true master. His ability to adapt to overwhelming odds is remarkable." Marel complimented with a light smile on his face.

"He still has much to learn, but yes... Ethan is proving himself. Let's hope he can keep that sharpness in the next stages." Castenada replied with a calm look on his face.

As Ethan exited the arena, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. The round-robin phase was complete, and he had emerged undefeated. But he knew the battles ahead would only grow more challenging, and he was ready for whatever came next.