Outside the main hall was a large courtyard that was rarely used. Just then, students and professors stood along its edges.

Meanwhile, Merlin and Geran faced each other in the center of the courtyard. They were ten meters apart, both ready to defeat the other.

Ronald stepped forward with his arms folded behind his back. He stopped five meters away from them and glanced at each of them in turn.

“Fight. But don’t use lethal force,” he said calmly. “After all, you’re both students of this academy. Understand?”

“Understood!” they replied in unison.

Ronald nodded in satisfaction. His figure vanished, then reappeared among the professors.

“Do you think Merlin Clay can win this match?” one of the professors asked.

“I think he can. He’s very strong, especially with that mysterious ability of his that took down Nysera last time,” another professor replied.

“But Nysera was only forcing herself to break through. She didn’t truly reach the sixth stage,” the first professor countered with a serious expression. “On the other hand, Geran has been at the Fourth Spirit Core level for a long time. He might even break through to the Third soon.”

A light debate broke out among the professors. Leina, Victor, and Jason simply stood quietly, with no intention of getting involved.

Then Victor broke the silence.

“What do you two think? Who will win?”

This time, Jason and Leina didn’t answer right away. Both remained silent, as if carefully considering their response.

After a short breath, Leina answered firmly, “In this battle, Merlin will win.”

During the battle against the demon Malphas, she had seen firsthand just how terrifying Merlin’s fighting techniques were.

Although he had boosted his strength with a potion at the time, Leina knew his combat experience was no joke.

On the other hand, Geran was just an ordinary student. Despite being older than Merlin and a second-year student, he was still far inferior to him.

Jason nodded in agreement. “Yes. He’ll win.”

He also believed in Merlin’s abilities, especially after witnessing the boy’s strength in the previous battle.

Jason could tell Merlin was still hiding many cards up his sleeve.

If he revealed them all, the winner would be obvious.

Victor remained silent, but deep down, he agreed with them.

Meanwhile, Luna, Catrine, Margaret, Liora, and Monica watched Merlin with concern. Monica in particular felt that Merlin would lose.

“Is this really going to be okay?” Monica bit her lower lip. “I’m afraid Merlin will get hurt.”

Catrine folded her arms and stared at her brother in the distance.

“Don’t worry. My brother understands the situation better than anyone. We just need to trust him,” she said calmly.

Luna and Margaret nodded in agreement. They both knew Merlin well and understood just how arrogant and stubborn he could be.

Monica was about to say something, but she quickly closed her mouth. In the end, she could only nod and stay silent.

Still, deep down, she prayed that Merlin would win this match.

On the other side, Lucius couldn’t hold back his smirk.

‘Hehehe… Merlin, oh Merlin. You’re finished today—along with your reputation and prestige. I can’t wait to see the despair on your face later,’ he whispered in delight.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Merlin, who shone like a star, would soon crash down to the ground with a thud.

“Don’t get too excited yet. If Merlin’s power is really as you described—reaching the Fourth Spirit Core—then it’s not impossible that Geran will be the one who loses.”

Rosaline’s calm voice felt like cold water poured over Lucius’s head.

His mouth opened and closed, as if he wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words.

He gritted his teeth and muttered, “I’m sure he’ll lose… yes, he’ll lose!”

He kept repeating it to himself until his confidence returned and his smile reappeared.

Rosaline glanced at him and shook her head in disappointment. Her younger brother was arrogant and full of pride.

But in just a month since entering the academy, his attitude had changed drastically.

And it was all because of one person—Merlin Clay.

Rosaline’s gaze shifted to Merlin, filled with coldness and a faint murderous intent.

“Since you’re much younger than me, and we happen to come from the same kingdom, I’ll give you the chance to strike first,” Geran said, folding his arms across his chest.

The arrogance in his voice was infuriating, like a minor villain halfway through a story.

Merlin simply smiled and shook his head.

“You asked for it. So don’t blame me if you get hurt.”

Whoosh!

His figure vanished, then reappeared right in front of Geran.

Geran’s eyes widened, and his breath nearly stopped. He tried to step back, but Merlin had already struck him in the face.

Bang!

His body flew like a bullet, slamming into the wall behind him and crashing straight through it.

Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Geran to be hit so easily.

Worse still, the power Merlin had just unleashed was terrifying. If any of them had taken that blow, they would’ve lost consciousness instantly.

Merlin furrowed his brow and looked down at Geran, who was buried beneath the rubble, with clear disdain.

“What’s wrong? Is that all the strength you’ve got?” He gave a thin, mocking smile. “If so… this is incredibly boring.”

Boom!

An explosion erupted, and Geran’s battered body was launched into the air. He gasped for breath, his eyes bloodshot.

When he touched the right side of his face, a searing pain shot through him.

“Damn… I underestimated him,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

That strike had been too fast. He hadn’t been able to react at all.

“Oh? You can still get back up?” Merlin taunted. “I thought you’d already passed out.”

“You…” Geran growled.

But this time, he didn’t dare be careless. Merlin’s strength was undeniable—a Fourth Spirit Core.

Luvis and his cronies had warned him earlier, but he hadn’t taken them seriously.

Merlin was just a new student. There was no way he could be that strong.

But reality had slapped him hard. Merlin Clay had truly reached that level.

“Don’t get cocky yet, Merlin Clay! I was just careless earlier. Now I’ll prove that I’m far superior to you!”

Geran raised his right hand and shouted, “Come forth, Vesperion!”

Buzz!

A purplish-red light flared. Moments later, a crimson sword began to take shape.

The blade was beautiful and awe-inspiring, yet its aura felt ominous—as if it had consumed the souls of countless innocent people.

Merlin narrowed his eyes and whispered, “System, reveal the sword’s status.”

“[Ding! Analyzing… Ding! Done!]”

[STATUS]

Name: Vesperion

Grade: Semi-Legendary

Description: A powerful semi-legendary sword. It was once Legendary, but its rank was downgraded due to fatal damage. Its ability allows it to absorb an opponent’s fighting spirit through the user. Do not get hit by its slash—not even slightly. Even a graze will paralyze you for two minutes.

Note: Using this sword severely drains the user’s strength. Therefore, the best strategy is to defeat the user quickly or prolong the battle until their stamina is depleted.

“Oh? Semi-Legendary? That’s unexpected,” Merlin muttered in surprise.

Artifacts of Epic tier and above were extremely rare. Epic-tier items could still be found in certain weapon shops.

But Legendary-tier items—let alone Mythic ones—were nearly impossible to obtain.

In that sense, Merlin possessing so many legendary items inside his storage ring was highly unusual.

Then again, the existence of the system itself was already strange enough.

While Merlin was still lost in thought, Geran suddenly lunged at him at incredible speed.

Boom!

The spot where Merlin had been standing exploded. The ground beneath it caved in, forming a hole nearly thirty centimeters deep, while Geran stood with his sword embedded sharply into the earth.

However, Merlin had already vanished from sight.

“Tsk! A quick attack, but that’s all.”

A teasing voice came from ahead.

Geran looked up and saw Merlin standing there with one hand folded behind his back.

Geran narrowed his eyes, then rushed forward, raising his sword high.

“Gotcha!”

His blade flared with bright light. But this time, Merlin didn’t dodge. He opened his palm, and a sword appeared in his grip.

He spun it smoothly, then parried the attack.

“What!?” Geran’s eyes widened. “How can you use a sword!?”

Swordsmanship was his specialty. Of course he would fight with a blade.

But Merlin was a mage. How could he wield a sword as well?

Merlin chuckled softly. “Specialization doesn’t mean I limit myself to one skill. Besides magic, my physical strength and swordsmanship aren’t half bad either.”

Thud!

Merlin drove his foot into Geran’s stomach, sending him flying backward at high speed.

Not giving him a chance to recover, Merlin turned into a flash of lightning and appeared right above him.

He twisted his body and swung his sword straight toward Geran’s chest.

Geran sensed an overwhelming sense of danger. A red aura erupted from his body. At the same time, he regained his balance, twisted his body, and leaped to the side.

Boom!

Merlin’s attack slammed into the ground. A one-meter-long crack spread outward in all directions, showing just how terrifying the impact was.

“You’re pretty fast. I underestimated you,” Merlin said casually, raising his sword and resting the blade on his right shoulder.

Geran gripped his sword tightly with both hands, his expression turning deadly serious.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Then they vanished from their positions and reappeared in the center of the arena.

Their swords swung at the same time, and then—

Boom!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep