ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 71 A DUEL BETWEEN BEST FRIENDS

As the announcement echoed through the coliseum, the crowd close to Kaelen's platform instantly shifted their focus to the platform whereas Kaelen and Morris now stood opposite each other.

"Don't take it to heart when I defeat you bro" Morris suddenly said with a very intense fighting spirit brimming in his eyes.

"Right back at you" But Kaelen was strangely calm as he replied with a light smile on his face. Although Morris became stunned momentarily due to Kaelen's reaction, he later calmed down as he thought in pleasure.

'Seems like he has grown over the days he was with the pillars of the academy'

And so, Morris gripped his scepter tightly, a determined gleam in his eyes. His mana swirled visibly around him, dense and charged with potential. He unleashed a barrage of elemental spells—fireballs and streams of lightning that crackled across the platform. The air hummed with magical energy as the ground beneath them trembled from the sheer force of his attacks.

Quick steps!!

Kaelen, however, remained eerily calm, his movements fluid and measured. He danced around Morris's spells with precision, effortlessly dodging each one. His Blade of Eternity gleamed as he deflected stray bolts of magic with minimal effort, his face betraying no sign of strain.

With a swift, almost effortless motion, Kaelen shifted his stance and darted forward, his sword flashing in a series of controlled strikes. He didn't need to unleash his full power—just enough to keep Morris on the defensive. A single calculated sweep of his blade disrupted Morris's casting, and with a well-placed strike, Kaelen disarmed him.

The force behind the blow sent Morris tumbling backward, his mana dispersing into the air like dissipating mist.

Morris hit the ground, slightly wounded but not severely injured. Kaelen stood over him, offering a hand with a smile. "Good fight," he said.

Morris grinned as he accepted the hand, pulling himself up. "You didn't even break a sweat," he muttered, a bit in awe.

Kaelen chuckled softly, sheathing his Blade of Eternity. "Not today," he replied, leaving the crowd to wonder just how much of his true strength he had kept hidden.

As Kaelen helped Morris to his feet, the crowd's cheers echoed around them, but in the shadows of the platform, a pair of sharp eyes watched the match with quiet intensity. Eldric, seated cross-legged near the edge of the platform, had been meditating, seemingly uninterested in the upcoming battles that were going to occur.

But now, his eyes were open, and his gaze was fixed on Kaelen. The way Kaelen moved, the precise control over his sword, and the effortless grace with which he defeated Morris—all of it caught Eldric's attention. He stood up slowly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"That boy...he's hiding something," Eldric murmured to himself, intrigued by Kaelen's restraint. "I'll have to see for myself just how deep his mastery of that blade goes."

"Huh? What the heck are you talking about? Am totally fine" Morris quickly replied with a strange look on his face. When Kaelen saw this expression, he finally eased up as he replied.

"Ok then"

As for Guinevere, she is currently meditating at another corner of the platform a fair distance away from where Eldric is sitting.

But just then, the energy of the platform suddenly hummed beneath their feet, Morris then felt a sudden surge of revitalization wash over him. His fatigue and exhaustion from the previous duel with Kaelen melted away, and his mana reserves were fully replenished. He stood straighter, feeling the rejuvenating power coursing through his body, his breath steadying as strength returned to his limbs.

"Huh? What is going on here?" Kaelen quickly asked with a surprised look on his face.

"It seems like the platform is restoring me to my peak condition" Morris replied with a relieved look on his face.

Around him, the platform shimmered briefly with a soft, glowing light, signaling the completion of the rejuvenation process. Morris clenched his fists and cracked his neck, preparing himself mentally for whatever came next. Above him, the large screen hovering above the platform flickered for a moment before displaying the names of the next duel.

**Morris vs. Eldric**

A hushed murmur spread through the crowd as the new match was revealed. The spectators close to that particular screen quickly turned their attention to the platform, their eyes widening with anticipation. Morris' eyes flickered up to the screen before shifting toward Eldric, who had been quietly meditating on the platform until now.

Eldric stood up slowly, opening his eyes and stretching his arms before locking gazes with Morris.

"Good luck" Kaelen suddenly said with a solemn expression on his face. While giving Kaelen a nod, Morris replied solemnly.

"Thanks, I need it"

There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. Eldric, who had just recently defeated Guinevere, rose to his feet with an air of calm yet dangerous composure. His eyes, a deep, piercing blue, now had a glint of curiosity and challenge as he faced Morris, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders back as he slowly stepped toward the center of the platform.

Morris exhaled deeply, his fingers tightening around his scepter. He knew this was going to be no ordinary fight. Eldric had already proven his prowess, but Morris had felt the fire of competition reignite within him after his duel with Kaelen. The tension between them crackled in the air, the crowd anticipating the clash of powerful magic and technique between two talented contestants.

Without speaking, both stepped toward the middle of the platform, ready for the duel that would surely be one of the most challenging and thrilling of the tournament thus far.