CHAPTER 61: AN EXCUSE TO USE IT [3]

Chapter 61: An Excuse to Use it [3]

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The roar of the crowd was deafening.

Nathan’s strike had landed, and the commoner spectators were merciless in their celebration.

"Did you see that?!"

"He’s done for!"

"One more hit and Pureheart won’t get up!"

The noble students, clustered on the right side of the hall shifted uncomfortably. Their cheers had faltered, replaced by tense murmurs. A few still tried to sound confident, but their voices lacked conviction.

"It was just one hit..."

"He’ll recover."

"He’s a noble. He has to."

But the doubt was plain on their faces.

Nathan had truly succeeded in turning a class that was in relative peace into a divided battleground of nobles and commoners, who now talked against each other.

Nathan’s eyes gleamed with savage joy. He stepped forward, sword resting on his shoulder, every inch of him the predator closing in on his prey. "What’s the matter, noble? Did that hurt? Just imagine what it’ll feel like when I break every bone you’ve got."

Arios forced air into his lungs, steadying the burning pain in his side. His ribs throbbed with every breath, but he stood. He had to stand. His blade lifted, trembling slightly but still sharp in its guard.

Stay calm.

Nathan chuckled. "Still standing, huh? I’ll give you that— you’ve got stubbornness. But stubbornness isn’t strength."

He lunged forward.

Arios barely managed to pivot aside, his blade flashing to deflect. The impact sent vibrations coursing up his arms, his bones screaming under the strain. He spun, trying to redirect momentum, but Nathan was already there, a follow-up strike crashing down.

Block. Step back. Block. Sidestep. Block again.

Each clash was heavier than the last. Arios’ arms grew numb, his shoulders on fire. He could feel his stamina bleeding away like water through a sieve.

The commoners cheered louder again.

"Crush him, Nathan!"

"Make him bow!"

"End the noble’s pride!"

The nobles shouted back, their voices desperate.

"Hold your ground, Arios!"

"Don’t let him overwhelm you!"

"You’re better than this!"

The hall shook with divided voices, a storm of sound that battered Arios’ focus.

Nathan sneered, pressing closer. His blade whirled in wide arcs, a storm of wood and mana. Arios deflected one strike, dodged another, only to catch the edge of the next across his shoulder. The blow sent him stumbling sideways, his balance barely recovering in time to avoid the next crushing swing.

Pain flared through his body, sharp and hot. His shoulder ached, ribs throbbed, breath came shallow. Sweat slicked his palms.

Nathan’s laughter rang in his ears. "You thought you could dance around me forever? Thought you could hide behind fancy footwork? Guess what, noble— I learn. And when I learn, I don’t forget."

He drove forward with another series of brutal strikes. Arios managed to parry the first, evade the second, but the third caught him clean across the side of his thigh. His leg buckled.

The commoners among the crowd erupted again.

"Down he goes!"

"Pureheart’s finished!"

"That’s the difference between real strength and noble weakness!"

Arios gritted his teeth, forcing his body upright. His blade wavered, but he held it in place.

But the truth gnawed at him. His agility was no longer enough. Nathan had begun to anticipate his dodges, timing his strikes to cut off escape routes. Each clash drained Arios further, while Nathan only seemed to grow more feral, more exhilarated.

Another strike. Another block. The wooden blades cracked together, it splinters scattering like fireflies. Arios’ arms shuddered, his grip slipping.

Nathan leaned close, voice low. "You nobles think you’re untouchable. But here, in this hall, it’s just you and me. And I’m going to prove to every last one of them that bloodlines mean nothing."

He shoved Arios back, following with a crushing overhead blow. Arios blocked, his knees bending under the weight. His arms trembled violently, his ribs screamed with pain, and for a moment he thought his bones might snap.

The judges whispered among themselves, eyes darting between the movements on stage.

"Pureheart is faltering."

"He’s outmatched."

"Unless he changes something, it may be over."

Eldrich Lionsheart never for once joined them in the analysis discussion. His eyes were fixed on Nathan, a glimpse of disappointment in them. He had hoped he had talked some sense into the boy, not to dwell on the past and let a burning hatred for nobility drive him to his defeat.

Professor Vaelian also remained silent, eyes fixed on the stage. His expression unreadable, but his gaze sharp as ever.

Flash Step... The thought clawed at Arios’ mind. If I unleash it now, I can turn the tide. But then again, the risk of everyone seeing it. They’ll question me, unwanted attention at this time. The Azurine Blade will draw eyes I don’t want now.

Arios was just battling in his mind, eager to finally test the Flash Step he’d spent so much time on. He wanted to see if his improvised technique was as effective in a real fight as it had been in practice. But he was always reminded of the unwanted attention he would get after using it.

Another blow slammed against his guard. Arios staggered back, coughing, chest heaving.

Arios was able to withstand more series of blows and strikes thanks to the strength he acquired from his seven-winged physique trait.

If I don’t... I’ll lose. I’ll look weak, especially in front of Kyuosouke. I’ll become nothing more than Nathan’s example of a noble weakness. And then what? My plans of outshining him, my purpose, all of it can’t be ignored.

Nathan circled him, grinning like someone savoring the kill. "What’s wrong, Pureheart? Running out of tricks? Where’s that noble pride now?"

"Never had one," Arios whispered beneath his breath.

Nathan quickly envisioned himself in an arena, filled with spectators from across the kingdom. The crowd’s cheers were a rising wave, their chants a single, deafening roar of his name:

"Nathan! Nathan! Nathan!"

Arios’ vision blurred at it edges. His body slightly screamed in pain as his arms began to tremble.

If I keep holding back... it may be over.

He clenched his jaw, forcing his focus inward. He felt the blood in his veins, pulsing like liquid fire. His left hand twitched, trembling at his side, aching to channel. He pictured the Azurine Blade, the runes inscribed within, the way they shimmered when activated.

His training replayed through his mind: Channel, then transfer and finally activate. A microsecond is all it takes.

Nathan raised his sword high for the finishing strike, his grin wide, the smirk of victory forming on his face. "This is it, noble! Fall before me!"

The crowd leaned forward as one, the hall holding its breath.

Arios’ left hand glowed faintly with gathering mana.

Finally the perfect excuse to use it. Flash step