Chapter 160: 160 Allen’s battle.

A hush fell on the coliseum as two figures walked forward into the arena.

On one side stood Allen; his composure was calm. The boy’s shoulders were loose, almost unaffected by the palpable tension in the air.

Allen’s snow-white hair fluttered gently in the wind; his ruby eyes were serene or rather distant as if his mind wandered through beyond the match.

The opposite of him was Selka Ignat, the fiercest talent in Valor Academy. Her booths clinked on the ground with quiet force, and her fingers twitched on the sides uncontrollably.

Selka’s expression was calm, but her orange eyes blazed with an intense spirit that evaporated even the sea.

She was currently fighting the flame inside her, holding it in place from erupting early in the battle.

Cheers rumbled across the crowds, but the two didn’t react, staring at each other’s eyes.

There was no need for words; both understood each burden that was carried on their shoulders.

Selene’s energetic voice echoed through the arena.

“The sixth match begins”.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Selka/s figure burst forth in brilliant red.

The ground beneath her feet began to hiss because of the high temperature. Red flame slithered on the ground following her feet that glided sideways, preparing her stance.

With a flick from her wrist, a giant hammer approximately as big as hers emerged on her hand, resting it on her delicate shoulder.

A mechanical click rang, prompting Allen to glance at her side. The hammer cracked open as coiling flames crawled upon the weapon, shrouding it in a gentle embrace.

Selka tensed her upper body; a hot wind billowed in fright as the hammer passed its way.

“Let me apologize in advance”.

Selka’s voice was calm but laced with scorching venom while exhaling vapor.

“I will not pull my punches”.

Allen gulped but summoned his long sword. The weight that settled on his hands traveled down to his heart, and then his body weighed him down to earth.

He inhaled deeply, trying to calm the raging heart that pounded furiously in his chest.

The blood in his body chilled, almost indifferent as he saw the opponent’s threat.

’Good, I can do this’.

Allen drew the sword, its silver edge gleaming firefly under the scorching sun.

With a flick from his hands, the boy spread his legs, putting his stance while facing the flame incarnation.

No one moves; neither Allen nor Selka kept their eyes closed, observing each opponent meticulously.

Their control subdued the cheer in the arena before Selka shot forward like an arrow holding the hammer up.

Selka swung the hammer, leaving a trail of flame tail.

Allen leaped back, dodging the massive weapon that could flatten his body.

Upon contact, tremors rumble beneath the place, turning the atmosphere into a panic.

Then, a blooming flame spurted from the ground and scattered across the arena as it trapped Allen’s retreating path.

Allen’s brows knitted, and his danger sense flared like an alarm in his brain. But it was already too late.

His surroundings were bathed in flames, encasing him in a small space.

’this wide range of attack’.

Allen bit his lips, clearly frustrated by his poor decision in wanting to gauge his opponent first without preparing for what was coming.

’I should…!?’.

His thought was cut short as the flame in front of him parted away, revealing the figure of Selka tightly gripping the thick shaft of the hammer.

She swung it sideways, and Allen’s expression was grim. He dodged sideways, feeling the scorching crumbs that grazed his skin.

Each swing Selka unleashed was heavy, hurling a remnant of shockwaves that permeated heat to sink deep into his blood and dulled his judgment.

The boy abandoned the thoughts of others besides dodging.

There was no room for a counter and no room to catch his breath either; even so, Allen gritted his teeth. He reaffirmed his resolve to bring victory over his classmates behind him.

So, instead of putting force in his swing. Allen loosened his grip and waited for the perfect time to deflect his opponent’s power.

Diagonal swing, sideways swing, sparks scattered in the air, and Allen’s expression hardened.

’Now’.

Allen moved slightly, tilting his body sideways enough to dodge the hammer swing that came from his bottom left diagonally.

His ruby eyes watched closely as the hammer passed his face, nearly touching his nose.

He inhaled and tensed his hands, putting all his weight into one swing that touched the hammer’s back head.

A thunderous clank resounded in the arena as Selka was losing her balance.

Her eyes were wide in shock, noticing the boy’s intention to use the momentum of her swing to push her further.

In a heartbeat, Allen closed the distance between them and carried the sword a level with his waist, swinging it sideways.

“Tch”.

Selka clicked her tongue and leaped back, returning to swing her hammer.

However, Allen was faster as he slid past the hammer trajectory and trapped Selka’s in his sword range.

Allen flicked his wrist in thrust mode, aiming at Selka’s chest. The girl clenched her jaw and used the hammer shaft to deflect its pointy blade.

He twisted his wrist before doing an upward slash that cut open a wound on Selka’s left arm, who barely dodged the attack.

Red blood spurted in the air. Selka’s expression twisted in anguish as she stomped the ground hard, conjuring a massive magic circle beneath them, halting Allen’s in place.

“Flame wall”.

Bright flame erupted from the ground, creating a tall curtain that blocked Allen’s vision.

Allen jumped back dozens of steps, watching his opponent inside the towering fortress.

He flinched upon seeing the flame around his surroundings and flew toward Selka’s place.

His expression hardened as he felt a stifling pressure choking him inside.

The wall flame swirled wildly, and Allen saw the flame clumped together into a miniature sun hovered above the arena.

“Solar flare”.

Selka’s low voice echoed through the coliseum. Her feet slowly left the ground, making the crowds gasp in shock.

Behind her, a pair of searing flame wings clapped majestically. Each clap sent flaming feathers that fell like a petal in autumn, giving a surreal scenery that felt regal and ethereal.

“I suggest you concede the match, first year”.

Allen flinched upon hearing Selka’s instruction. He loosened the grip on his hilt, feeling a great sense of loss, watching someone else power that way above him.

After years of training and being told as someone who would greatly influence the world, Allen dreamed of the time to come.

However, his dream was like a billowed flame that got splashed with cold water of truth. It was fleeting but radiant, giving him hope to continue to strive forward in heavy times.

’But, now I’m different’. Allen raised his sword, gripping the hilt close to his chest.

He closed his eyes and could feel the mana in his heart pulsating.

“Answer my call”.

A golden pillar surged from the arena, coming from Allen’s body. It pulsated like a living thing, following Allen’s every will.

The crowds gasped; their bulging eyes stared at the golden light that pierced the clouds above.

Allen tightly grasped the sword hilt, and the golden light followed suit, shrinking into a form of sharpened edge of blade.

“…Brave Heart”. Allen’s calm voice was heavy with tension.

Floated above, Selka’s orange eyes knitted dangerously. She raised her hammer high as the miniature sun let out a growl.

“Go, burn everything”.

A low hum trembled in the air, Its sheer presence distorting even the space and turning the atmosphere around in a sea of heat.

The sky screamed as the flare dropped, leaving a trail of scorched light in its path.

Allen heard the ground hissed in fright, crying in mercy. His breath was heavy with palpable heat that scorched his lungs, but he prevailed.

He twisted his grip, holding the sword high above his head.

[Sword of The First Light – Aether]

The light above roared, trembling furiously as it descended upon the sun.

Its sharp edge clashed with the blazing furnace as it cleaved the thing without resistance.

The golden blade goes down, slicing menacingly upon the gathered flame.

“Wha!?”.

Selka’s eyes widened as she saw her strongest spell split into two.

Both parts distorted before a roar erupted in the atmosphere, following a loud explosion that shook the earth, rendering the atmosphere to stop.

However, the golden blade parted the black smoke like heaven’s judgment. It swept the sky in one single stroke.

’I’m dead!’. Selka whispered to herself, half-whispered and half-resigned to her fate.

As the golden sword arrived a few meters above her, it shattered into a myriad of sparkles.

It rained down on the coliseum, giving closure and warmth to those gripped by fear as they almost witnessed the end of the world a moment ago.

A dull thud resounded in the arena as all eyes gathered to its source, seeing the boy who conjured a miracle lay on the ground, breathing calmly in a deep sleep.

The Coliseum was shrouded in heavy silence as Selene stepped forward to break the stillness in the area.

“The sixth match ended and congratulations for Valor Academy”.

Despite the effort of Selene, the world is still muted as if mocking the results of the match.

It left a bad aftertaste.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep