ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 90 A NEW DEPT OF SWORD UNION

The roar of the crowd filled Kaelen's ears as he and Lira faced each other on the stage. Her intense gaze was locked onto him, her spear twirling effortlessly in her hand, the tip gleaming under the light. The tension in the air was palpable, and every fiber of Kaelen's being was alert.

He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him as he took his stance, his sword shimmering in the dim light of the coliseum.

The referee raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent, waiting for the signal. Kaelen's heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts centered on one thing: victory.

"Begin!" the referee's voice echoed.

Quick steps!!

Intermediary Sword Mastery!!

Minimal Aura of a Swordsman!!

Lira moved like a blur, her spear lunging forward with blinding speed. Kaelen barely had time to react as he sidestepped the first strike, feeling the gust of wind as the spear whizzed past him. She was fast—too fast. He parried her next attack, but the impact sent a jarring shock through his arm. Her strength matched her speed, and Kaelen found himself immediately on the defensive.

'She is way too fast for me to catch her with my moves' Kaelen thought anxiously.

Lira pressed forward relentlessly, her movements graceful yet deadly. Each thrust of her spear was calculated, designed to keep Kaelen off balance. He blocked and dodged as best as he could, but Lira was like a whirlwind, her spear spinning and striking with deadly precision. A few close calls left shallow cuts on his arms and legs, her spear grazing him just as he managed to avoid deeper hits.

'No, I can't let this continue'

Kaelen gritted his teeth, realizing that if he didn't shift the tide of the battle soon, he would be overwhelmed. He needed an opening, a chance to strike back. But Lira wasn't giving him any. Her mastery over the spear was evident in every movement, her control over the flow of the battle absolute.

**Requirements fulfilled!!**

**The way of the sword has achieved a breakthrough!**

**Congratulations, you have reached the Level 20 milestone!!**

Then, it happened. As Lira lunged forward for another thrust, Kaelen caught a flicker of something in the air around him as a monotonous voice rang out in his head inwhich he was clueless about. A strange sensation tingled through his body, like electricity coursing through his veins. His instincts screamed at him, and time seemed to slow for just a moment.

The Vice Chancellor, his brow furrowed, leaned forward in his seat, his gaze locked on the battlefield below. His once-calm demeanor had been replaced by one of quiet astonishment.

"This boy... Kaelen," he murmured under his breath, still processing the mastery Kaelen had displayed with his sword union. His mind raced as he attempted to piece together how the young participant had managed to unlock such profound abilities in the heat of battle.

Next to him, Vlahiç's usually stern face softened in genuine surprise. He stroked his beard thoughtfully as he exchanged a glance with Carmilia, who raised her eyebrows in acknowledgment of Kaelen's prowess. Neither had anticipated such a sudden breakthrough from someone they had previously overlooked.

"He's certainly not what we expected, is he?" Vlahiç remarked, his voice betraying the admiration he felt for Kaelen's performance.

Carmilia, known for her cold and calculated demeanor, was unusually quiet. Her icy gaze, however, revealed a deeper interest in Kaelen. "It appears our academy has produced someone with immense potential after all," she said finally, her words clipped but meaningful.

Across the coliseum, in the Valen Military Academy's VIP section, the atmosphere was far more tense. The headmaster of the Valen Military Academy, a scowl etched on his face, observed the battlefield with narrowed eyes. He had come to the tournament with the intent to prove Valen's superiority, but what he had just witnessed disrupted that confidence.

"This boy, Kaelen," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "He's far more dangerous than we accounted for."

Behind him, the military prodigy stood silently, his expression a mixture of frustration and unease. The display of skill from Kaelen, especially the sudden breakthrough, had rattled him. He clenched his fists tightly, feeling an odd sense of dread creeping into his chest.

Julian, standing off to the side, watched with an intense gaze, his eyes narrowing dangerously. The smile that often played at his lips was absent, replaced by a grim, calculating look. He felt a dark stirring within him, a strange discomfort in seeing someone else rise to the occasion so effortlessly.

Julian's mind raced, his usual arrogance replaced by a newfound focus. Kaelen's prowess was a potential threat he hadn't considered before, and it irked him. Still, he refused to let this outcome affect his own plans. He would not be outshone—not by Kaelen or anyone else. His grip tightened on the armrest of his chair as he resolved to crush any competition in the upcoming duels.

Yet as all eyes remained fixated on the coliseum floor, none of them were aware of the figure hovering far above them, shrouded in the clouds.

High in the sky, concealed by the misty white expanse, Kelvin stood on the air as if gravity itself had no hold on him. His eyes, glowing with a faint, ominous light, observed the tournament below. His presence went unnoticed, masked by the swirling clouds that veiled him from view.

Kaelen's breakthrough had not escaped Kelvin's attention. He had been watching silently, a detached observer of the unfolding events. Despite the excitement below, Kelvin remained eerily calm, his expression unreadable.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself, his voice lost in the wind. "Kaelen Draegor... You've managed to surprise them all. But this tournament is only the beginning."

Kelvin's gaze hardened as he continued to watch. His intentions remained veiled in mystery, but one thing was certain—he was not just a spectator in this tournament. He was waiting, biding his time, preparing for something far beyond what anyone below could comprehend.

As the celebrations and discussions continued below, Kelvin hovered above, a shadow lurking in the clouds, waiting for the moment to strike.