ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 70 SOFIA'S POV

As the group stage of the tournament commenced, Sofia stood on the edge of her designated platform, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. The roar of the crowd was distant, muffled by her intense focus. This was it—the chance to prove herself among the best.

She stepped forward onto the platform, her grip tightening around her new scepter. It was an elegant piece, forged from a pale blue crystal that seemed to pulse with an inner light. Intricate silver veins ran along its length, and a diamond-shaped shard of pure ice floated at the top, suspended by her magic.

The scepter felt cold to the touch, yet it resonated with a warmth that mirrored her own dual mastery of light and ice.

Facing her was a tall boy, broad-shouldered and exuding raw strength. His sword gleamed in the sunlight, and his eyes locked onto hers with fierce determination. Sofia could see the confidence in his stance, but she met it with her own unshakable resolve.

The moment the barrier sealed around them, she inhaled deeply, drawing in the cool, crisp air that felt familiar and invigorating. The platform beneath her thrummed with energy, and the tension between them grew palpable.

'This is my time' she thought, feeling a surge of power. 'I won't let anyone stand in my way'

With a sharp cry, her opponent charged forward, his sword slicing through the air with lethal precision. But Sofia was ready. She raised her scepter, her voice clear and steady as she chanted a spell.

A blinding flash of light erupted from the scepter, momentarily disorienting the boy. He hesitated, just for a second, but it was enough. Sofia swiftly followed up with a wave of her hand, and a wall of crystalline ice shot up from the ground between them. His sword collided with the ice, sending shards flying, but it held firm.

Sofia didn't give him a chance to recover. With a graceful spin, she directed the ice wall to shatter into hundreds of sharp fragments, each one glinting with a faint blue glow. The shards shot toward her opponent, forcing him to duck and weave to avoid being hit.

He managed to deflect some of the shards with his sword, but not all. A few cut through his defenses, drawing blood. He winced, his movements growing sluggish as the cold seeped into his wounds. Sofia could see the uncertainty creeping into his eyes.

'You're already slowing down' she observed, her gaze icy and calculating.

Not wasting a moment, she raised her scepter again, this time summoning a beam of concentrated light that shot straight toward him. The boy barely managed to bring his sword up in time to block it, but the force of the impact sent him stumbling backward.

Sofia pressed her advantage. She conjured a swirling vortex of snow and ice, sending it hurtling toward her opponent. The air around them dropped in temperature, and the boy shivered as frost began to form on his armor. His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one visible in the cold air.

With a final, determined look, Sofia focused her magic into one decisive strike. She channeled her light and ice into a single point, forming a radiant spear of pure energy. With a powerful thrust, she sent it speeding toward her opponent.

"Your little firefly didn't quite have the spark, did she, Cao?" Carmilia remarked smoothly, her voice laced with a playful cruelty. "Perhaps you should reconsider how much faith you place in such... volatile elements. Fire burns bright, but it flickers out just as quickly when faced with a true challenge."

"Indeed," Vlahiç added, leaning forward slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his chair. "It's rare to see someone of your...reputation, lose so easily. Perhaps that fire of yours was doused too soon. Or maybe," he said with a sly grin, "your student just wasn't quite up to the task."

General Cao, who had been silently watching the proceedings with an unflinching gaze, finally turned toward them. His eyes, sharp and intense, locked onto Carmilia and Vlahiç. Now Clad in his dark martial robes which he might have brought from his storage ring and put on, his aura was one of restrained power—a storm held in check. He didn't flinch at their taunts, nor did he rise to their bait.

Instead, he responded with a calm that made the temperature in the room seem to drop even further. "Victory and defeat are part of any warrior's journey," Cao said in a measured tone. "Guinevere may have lost today, but what matters is what she learns from this. Unlike you two, I don't see my students as mere tools for victory but as individuals with the potential to grow."

When the disciple behind Vlahiç heard what General Cao said, he suddenly flinched momentarily before he quickly came back to normal.

Carmilia arched a thin eyebrow, her smile growing colder. "Is that what you tell yourself to soften the blow of failure?" she asked, her voice soft yet cutting. "Perhaps it's a good thing you're not known for producing champions. You might want to reconsider your methods before all your students fall like that poor little flame."

Vlahiç chuckled again, nodding in agreement. "You always were too soft, Cao. Maybe if you spent less time playing mentor and more time honing them for battle, your results would be... less embarrassing."

Despite the biting words, General Cao remained unmoved. His gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable. "We shall see who stands tallest when the dust settles," Cao replied, his voice carrying a quiet confidence. "This tournament is far from over."

With that, Cao turned his attention back to the arena, dismissing their taunts without another word. Carmilia and Vlahiç exchanged smirks, but their barbs had failed to land as they intended. Despite their mockery, a flicker of doubt crossed Carmilia's mind as she watched Cao. He was never one to let a defeat, no matter how small, affect his composure.

That unshakable calm was what made him so dangerous. Perhaps they had underestimated the General after all.

But for now, they savored the small victory of having drawn some blood, even if it was only verbal.

'Kaelen...' But unbeknownst to the three pillars seated in the VIP room and their disciples, Lila suddenly thought with a mixed feeling present within her while she fixed her gaze on him.

But Kaelen was completely clueless about all this as his full attention were on the screen hovering above his Platform.

"Hey look! The screens are coming to life!!"

Suddenly, The screen floating above Kaelen's platform flickered to life, glowing with a bright azure hue against the backdrop of the coliseum. Names appeared in bold, striking letters that commanded attention: Kaelen Draegor vs. Morris Greyson. The crowd's murmur grew in anticipation as the display along with the others rotated slowly for all to see, the tension in the air thickening.