Chapter 57: NO HOLDING BACK

All three clashed at the center—lightning, wind, and steel erupting at once.

Lilith’s arms crackled with electricity as she met Morgan’s blade head-on. Sparks danced off the collision, but instead of retreating, she leaned into the contact—her magic flaring wild around her skin like a cloak of stormlight.

Zephyr wasn’t far behind. His greatsword came swinging from above, wrapped in a spinning spiral of water and air essence. Lilith twisted away, just in time, letting the massive blade crash into the floor where she’d been standing.

Boom!

Chunks of stone burst from the stage as the impact cratered the floor.

She didn’t stop.

With barely a step, she launched herself toward Zephyr—her footwork nimble, her palm aimed at his shoulder.

Zap!

But he was ready this time. A thin wall of compressed air burst out in front of him, dampening the shock just enough to avoid being thrown back.

Still, he skidded.

Morgan didn’t let the gap stretch. He spun forward, sword whistling low toward Lilith’s legs.

She jumped, flipped once in the air, and landed a few feet back—her feet gliding slightly above the ground.

“Good job. Keep it coming,” she said, grinning.

No response. Just the soft hum of mana intensifying again.

And they were off.

Zephyr moved like a silent storm. His greatsword didn’t swing wide anymore—it flowed like water, each movement calculated and measured. Instead of brute force, he was now using refined pressure strikes, small and controlled.

Lilith darted around them like lightning personified. Her feet barely touched the ground. Waves of gravity tugged at her enemies, shaking the space around her. Every few seconds she’d launch a tiny orb of lightning, not to hit—but to distract.

Morgan kept fighting.

It was getting more intense with every passing moment.

He slid in between the two, blade flashing fast, infused with just enough air magic to make it blur. Zephyr deflected one strike. Lilith parried another with a crackle of energy.

Then for a moment, all three stood in a triangle again.

Breathing heavier. Sweat glistening under the stadium light. But none backed down.

In the Audience

“Holy shit,” someone whispered.

“Are they even breathing at this point?”

“She is only twelve! The other two are below 20 as well. What were we doing at twelve?!”

“Trying to light a fire spell and not set our own pants on fire.”

Laughter, gasps, and roars swirled through the crowd like wind around a canyon.

And in the betting corner, Albert had both hands in his hair.

“Stop switching sides, you greedy bastards!” he barked. “You can’t bet on all three!”

Back in the Arena

Lilith inhaled sharply. Her fingers buzzed with lightning again.

I could go harder. But no…

She caught herself. It wasn’t just about power. It was about timing. Control.

Morgan shot forward again—but this time toward Zephyr. He spun into a low arc, faking an upward slash, only to twist mid-movement and duck under Zephyr’s parry.

The flat of his blade smacked into Zephyr’s ribs.

Thud!

Zephyr didn’t fall. He backed off—but now his eyes were cold. Focused.

His mana surged. Water condensed in the air behind him, forming four swirling orbs—each rotating with dangerous force.

Lilith raised a brow. ” Nice try.”

Morgan just adjusted his grip.

One orb shot forward—then another.

Lilith spun and deflected the first. Morgan sidestepped the second.

The third and fourth?

They collided mid-air.

Boom!

A water burst exploded, sending a shockwave across the stage. Visibility dropped as mist and steam swirled everywhere.

The audience leaned forward.

“Where are they?”

“I can’t see a damn thing—”

Alek Albrecht had a solemn look in the upper balcony. ” I hope he doesn’t disappoint me,” He murmured.

Suddenly on the stage…

Crack!

Lightning arced through the fog, parting it for a split second. Lilith’s silhouette was visible—mid-air, arms raised.

But below her—Morgan.

Waiting.

He jumped just as she descended, blade aimed for her shoulder.

Clang!

She deflected it with her forearm bracer, but the impact sent her spinning sideways.

And Zephyr was already behind her.

“Damn it!” she cursed, trying to adjust—

Whack!

The hilt of Zephyr’s sword struck her side. Not enough to knock her out. But enough to make her lose balance mid-flight.

She hit the ground and rolled, then quickly got back up, panting.

In the balcony, Emily was now in the same condition as Alice when Logan was fighting. She was a mother after all. Though she wanted Lilith to learn matters, she still couldn’t swallow Lilith getting hit.

On the stage…

Morgan blinked. That was… close.

But Lilith just smiled.

“Nice try,” Lilith muttered. She felt a bit embarrassed, but her eyes became stronger with focus.

Then she snapped her fingers.

Gravity reversed around her for just a second—then slammed downward with ten times the normal force.

Both boys faltered slightly in their footing. Even Zephyr’s knees buckled.

Lilith used that moment.

She pushed forward, lightning surging in her veins once more, and thrust her palm straight toward Morgan’s chest.

He blocked it with his blade—but it wasn’t a real attack.

It was a feint.

She was about to kick him in the stomach but suddenly…

From the side—Zephyr’s water whip lashed out.

Lilith and Morgan both turned, intending to block it but it was already too late.

Crack!

The water struck both of them, hurling them to opposite sides of the arena.

A moment of silence followed.

Up in the Noble’s Balcony

“She’s pushing herself harder than before,” Emily murmured.

“She always does when someone lands a clean hit,” Noah said softly.

“But what happens when it’s more than one hit?”

Neither answered.

Back on the Stage

Lilith stood slowly, breathing uneven. Morgan wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth. Zephyr rolled his shoulder, not a scratch on him—but sweat clung to his brow.

None of them looked tired.

They looked excited.

And in that split second, all three launched at each other again.

No holding back now.

The crowd was watching, the nobles were watching, Rowan Hale was watching, The judges as well.

All with anticipation…

To Be Continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep