Chapter 322

Words : 2694 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 322 “...” Kasar broke out in a cold sweat under Li Kenxie’s piercing gaze. That bastard... The sheer audacity—handing over a sword that was entrusted to him to someone else entirely—was astounding. Kasar wanted to confront Se-Hoon immediately, but standing up now would mean never seeing Ashen Smoke again. Right now, he had to rack his brain for a way to escape his predicament. Before he could come up with anything, though, Li Kenxie’s sharp voice cut through the air. “Was it you who did this?” Li Kenxie’s eyes shifted to something—or rather someone—behind Kasar. “Yes, it was me. I asked if I could borrow it for research purposes.” Hearing the voice, which was all too familiar, Kasar turned his head in shock. However, contrary to what he thought, a young man, someone he had never seen before, stood behind him. “You’re...” “It’s me. I thought things might become too much of a hassle if I didn’t disguise myself,” the young man replied, an awkward smile on his face. That’s just a disguise? Kasar stared in disbelief at Se-Hoon, who donned a nearly perfect disguise. Except for the voice, there was nothing remotely familiar. Even his flow of mana and movements felt like they belonged to an entirely different person. At that level, it wasn’t just a disguise; it was practically a transformation. Yet that wasn’t even what truly unsettled Kasar. How did he get this close without me noticing? Even if Se-Hoon didn’t exude any hostility, the mere fact he approached undetected was no ordinary feat. Experiencing Se-Hoon’s growth firsthand, Kasar was awestruck. “So, what’s the reason you gave Ashen Smoke to that brat?” Li Kenxie asked, his tone cold, laced with menace. It was a clear warning that if Se-Hoon’s explanation was unsatisfactory, punishment would follow. Yet Se-Hoon casually took a seat beside Kasar and nonchalantly responded, “I wanted to show you.” “Show me?” “Yes.” Nodding, Se-Hoon gestured toward the arena, where Luize stood confidently. “To show you that Ashen Smoke can also be used this way.” Both Kasar and Li Kenxie stared at him with puzzled expressions. Ashen Smoke was a weapon Li Kenxie specifically forged to amplify Kasar’s talents. It wasn’t something that could easily be used effectively by others, making Se-Hoon’s confidence in his statement perplexing. Contemplating, Li Kenxie spoke. “If I find it anyhow unimpressive, I’ll take the sword back. Neither of you would be worthy of using my sword.” “Understood.” “W-wait a minute...” Flustered by the way they were discussing between themselves, like he was a bystander, Kasar tried to intervene, but at that moment, Se-Hoon gently tapped his shoulder. “Don’t worry. If it gets taken back, I’ll make you something even better,” he whispered. “...Really?” Kasar quickly calmed down, his interest piqued. He knew that while Se-Hoon might act impulsively, he wasn’t one to lie. “...” Observing them both, Li Kenxie spoke bluntly upon seeing the glimmer of curiosity in Kasar’s eye. “You know what? I’ll just take it away right now.” “No, wait! That’s not what I meant...” Meanwhile, as Kasar floundered between the two, the hall’s lights shifted to illuminate a new competitor: Aria. She stepped into view, her dazzling presence drawing the attention of everyone in the arena. So this is how it feels like... Her overwhelming charisma made Luize narrow her eyes. Normally, Luize drew all eyes to herself with her own commanding presence. But in front of Aria, she felt like a firefly trying to outshine a blazing star. Just Aria’s mere presence completely dominated the arena. Despite it, though, Luize was unfazed. She doesn’t seem too special. Even as the audience’s gazes shifted to Aria, Aria’s pair of eyes remained locked on her. And as long as that gaze persisted, Luize saw no reason to back down. BOOM! That match had yet to start, however Luize drove her massive gray greatsword into the ground, disrupting Aria’s focus. Mana then surged across the entire arena, centering on Luize. Woong! With the mana boosting her, the oppressive force of Luize’s willpower rivaled Aria’s presence. And upon seeing that, Aria’s eyes widened briefly, then curved into a grin—a challenge was before her. “That talent, I sure am jealous of it...” Shing- Responding in kind, Aria unsheathed Glare, the golden blade gleaming under the spotlight. Both combatants then locked eyes, brimming with hostility. The tension climbed. And just as the tension reached its peak... —Let the match... BEGIN! At Lan Fang’s announcement, Aria immediately vanished. Clang! The sharp sound of metal echoed as sparks flew before Luize’s eyes. Aria had reappeared mid-strike, slicing Glare through the air in a flurry of rapid attacks. CLANG-CLANG-CLANG! Unleashing her full strength from the very start of the match, Aria’s attacks were so swift and relentless that even those who specialized in close combat would struggle to defend. Yet Luize didn’t budge an inch, blocking every strike. Her mana flowed into Ashen Smoke, planted firmly in the ground. In response, Ashen Smoke began emitting gray smoke, which was then shaped into blades that intercepted Aria’s strikes with unyielding precision. The spectacle left the audience awestruck, and Luize took it a step even further. “Spread.” Resonating with Ashen Smoke, the incantation made the gray blade tremble violently before spewing smoke. To the untrained eye, it seemed like ordinary smoke, but Luize’s incantation had changed its very nature. “Auto Attack.” As the new incantation sunk into the smoke, dozens of swords formed and rained down on Aria. “Oh...!” Clang! For the first time during the tournament, Aria swung her sword defensively, cleaving the gray swords in half with golden arcs of sword aura. But the shattered blades just dissolved into smoke and reformed, shooting once again at Aria in continuous waves of attacks that forced her on the defensive. “How is she...?” “Unbelievable!” The audience was stunned. The idea that Aria, of all people, could be pushed back was inconceivable. Meanwhile, the one under the astonished gazes was starting to notice something strange as she dealt with the attacks. Her reflexes are too fast. At the start of their fight, Luize’s reactions lagged slightly behind her attacks. Of course, it was possible for one’s instinct to outpace physical movement, but Aria doubted that was the case here. Is Ashen Smoke responding automatically? No, I was told it doesn’t have that functionality. If not Ashen Smoke itself, then what was enabling Luize to counterattack so effectively? Pondering what it could be, Aria felt something click when she observed the patterns of the attacking swords. Clang! They came at her in relentless waves, leaving no room for a counter. Initially, Aria had simply assumed Luize was overwhelming her, but Aria now noticed something else. Her attacks... they’re all too easily avoidable. They weren’t meant to actually strike her—they were herding her movements, steering her into predictable paths. Realizing the truth, Aria smirked and drove her rapier into the ground. BOOM! Letting go of her rapier, she raised her golden fists and shattered the swords in her vicinity. Then, twisting midair, she dodged the next wave while reclaiming Glare from where she had planted it and unleashed a golden slash aimed directly at Luize with a powerful swing. Ka-Boom! The strike landed precisely where Luize stood. Whoosh! Once the aftermath swept away the lingering smoke, Aria, standing tall, was revealed. I allowed two hits, she thought, noting faint traces of damage on her body. Although she had only been grazed, it marked the first damage Aria had received in the tournament. Smirking at the thought, she glanced over her shoulder. “So, it seems you found a different way to use dispel techniques. Was it Amir Singh who taught you?” Behind her, Luize emerged from the smoke where she had teleported to avoid the attack, calmly replying, “He just provided the information. I designed it myself.” “Hmm. I must admit, it’s pretty creative.” Typically, a dispel technique was specifically crafted to neutralize an opponent’s technique before launching a counterattack. But Luize had flipped the concept on its head. Instead of directly neutralizing, Luize subtly guided Aria’s movements and techniques, intentionally creating opportunities for her that seemed straightforward to counter—which forced Aria into predictable patterns for attack, defense, or evasion. It saves my energy, but... it also gives her more time to adapt. In essence, Luize was buying time for her next move by catering to Aria’s strategy. With a newfound understanding of the core essence of Luize’s plan, Aria made an eager grin. “So, are you ready yet?” “Well, more or less.” In truth, Luize needed more time, but there was no way she would admit that in front of such a monster, though Aria seemed to see right through her. Chuckling softly, Aria lunged forward, faster than before. “Then I’ll look forward to it!” THUD! THUD! THUD! Ashen Smoke responded immediately, conjuring blades to intercept Aria’s charge. Unlike before, however, Aria swung Glare in response, slashing through the gray swords. Clang! Luize’s strategy only worked when her opponent followed the efficient paths she laid out for them. So, against someone moving with clear intent rather than reactionary responses, her method lost all of its advantage. And I’ve figured out how you reacted that fast to my attacks, too. SWOOSH! Glare carved a golden crescent slash into the air, its shimmering arc lingering instead of flying forward. Next, without missing a beat, Aria struck the stationary crescent with her blade. Crack! “?!” The crescent had shattered into countless golden shards, all sent scattering forward like shrapnel. Startled, Luize quickly transformed Ashen Smoke into a shield to block the onslaught. Tatatatatatatatata! Though the shield withstood the attack, it emerged battered and frayed, its surface riddled with cracks. Seeing that, Aria grinned and pressed her advantage with relentless strikes. BOOM! BOOM! Each swing of her blade sent golden projectiles ripping through the smoky battlefield. Like before, Ashen Smoke responded, but its previously sharp and precise movements had slowed, struggling to keep up. Damn... seems like she caught on already. Luize clenched her teeth. Ashen Smoke was operating on an automatic response system she’d programmed—react to hostile intent and counter it. But now, Aria had discovered its limits and was using mass attacks to overload its capabilities. CRASH! The golden debris forced Ashen Smoke into constant defense, leaving it sluggish and vulnerable. With just a glance, Luize realized she wouldn’t have a chance anymore if she were to continue defending. The distance between her and Aria had closed significantly, and even teleportation wouldn’t let her escape this time. Her mind raced to calculate what her best course of action was. What I need to do now is... Luize fixed her gaze on the approaching Aria. A head-on confrontation! Disabling Ashen Smoke’s automatic responses without hesitation, Luize shifted to manual control, pouring all her energy into an offensive stance. “Lightning Bounce.” BOOM! A surge of lightning erupted, forming weapons resembling lightning rods amidst the smoke. They each amplified the electric force, growing larger and more powerful as they absorbed the arena’s mana. Aria responded immediately. Pulling Glare back, she unleashed a barrage of golden slashes, destroying the lightning rods and splitting the massive bolt of lightning in two. Yet Luize wasn’t surprised. She had already begun preparing for her next move, but Aria gave her no chance to act. THUD! Closing the gap in an instant, Aria thrust her blade forward before Ashen Smoke’s automatic defenses could reactivate. Just then, right when the golden tip of Glare hovered inches from Luize’s throat— “Spatial Distortion.” Luize activated the Ascension Ring, twisting the very space before her. Caught, Aria’s blade veered off-course, grazing her own cheek. “?!” Surprised, Aria’s eyes widened as she reflexively pulled back. Luize’s magic had somehow redirected her attack, warping its path and sending it back toward her. Though the wound itself was minor, it seemed Luize had been planning for it from the beginning. To think someone was able to push me this far... For the first time, Aria was genuinely impressed. She now understood why Se-Hoon and others had taken such an interest in Luize. But admiration didn’t mean restraint. Aria grinned, signaling the endgame. She gathered her mana, preparing to unleash her ultimate strike—but Luize moved first. “Prohibition.” A force radiated outward, suppressing the activation of her sword and making Glare’s sword aura fizzle before vanishing. Furthermore, Aria’s body also stiffened, as though shackled. Huh...? Both the blade and she herself were immobilized. Confused, Aria’s gaze shifted upward to the source of the sudden restriction. There, above the arena, a glowing book hovered in the air, its pages inscribed with runes. In bold letters, the proclamation read: The use of sword aura is prohibited in this arena. A simple yet absolute rule, rewritten into the fabric of the battlefield itself. “...!” Aria attempted to summon her sword aura again, but it was futile. The invisible force suppressed her every attempt, leaving her stunned. On the other side, Luize was leaning on Ashen Smoke for support, visibly exhausted. The effort of rewriting the arena’s laws had pushed her to her limit, but she remained standing, her defiance shining through. “You really are... incredible,” Aria admitted, giving a rare compliment. Suppressing her sword aura wasn’t just a clever trick; it was a feat that only a select few could accomplish. Finally, Aria felt the thrill of true competition from the tournament. Gripping her slender blade loosely, she observed the exhausted Luize. Despite her condition, Luize’s determination was evident. “Brace yourself.” She could have attacked immediately, but she waited, granting her opponent the chance to recover. However, the unexpected act of sportsmanship only made Luize scowl. Easy for her to say... After using Akasha, Luize was barely maintaining her posture; it had drained her strength to the limit. She could deactivate the magic and restore some mana, but then Aria’s relentless swordplay would carve through her with ease. What kind of monster is she...? Perhaps that was why Se-Hoon had said she was unbeatable. Quitting now wouldn’t have been a disgrace; her pride, however, wouldn’t allow it. There must be something... some way to push back... As Luize mulled over her options, Aria’s ears twitched, and a sly smile spread across her face. “Is that all you’ve got?” Aria taunted, her voice mocking. Her provocation, however, made Luize more perplexed than offended. Why so sudden? It was as if Aria had just heard something intriguing. But before Luize could figure out her intentions, Aria’s next words froze her in place. “Then I’ll take Se-Hoon for myself.” Grind- The sound of teeth gritting echoed like ice shattering. Whether it was her own reaction or someone else’s, Luize wasn’t sure. But one thought was seared into her mind. Destroy. Kill her. An uncontrollable surge of rage filled Luize as the words echoed like the whispers of a devil or a maddened beast. The golden-haired figure before her felt unbearable to behold. Fueled by her fury, the spell Luize had struggled to maintain became almost effortless. She still couldn’t muster enough strength for casting advanced Incantation Magic, but her mind quickly pivoted to an alternative strategy. “Maximum Boost.” Woosh! Her body pulsed with energy as her physical capabilities were enhanced to their absolute peak. Gripping Ashen Smoke tightly, she steadied herself, her stance solid. “Good.” At the sight of Luize, Aria’s grin widened before she shifted her stance as well, preparing for the clash. Thud- Both of them charged at each other simultaneously, their weapons slicing through the air. Clang! Boom! In a contest of raw strength and skill, their swords collided. With no magic or sword aura involved, the battle boiled down to sheer grit and precision. It was a brutal exchange, one that lasted over five minutes—an eternity in such intense combat. And at the very end, a single announcement echoed across the arena. —The winner is Aria Myers! Aria stood victorious.

Chapter 322

Comments (0)