The air in the arena seemed to be still.

Aestrea’s voice wasn’t loud, but it also didn’t need to be.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his lips raising to a small smirk.

“I was hoping you’d ask.”

Maya immediately perked up.

“OHHHHH, this is what I signed up for!”

Iris gave her a strange look.

“You said that about the hotel breakfast.”

“Because it slapped,” Maya shot back, then turned toward Aestrea, bouncing on her heels.

“So what are we doing? A one-on-one? A group match? A tournament?! No, wait, I know—duels until someone cries!”

Violet stood quietly in her place, looking at Aestrea, and so did Rose; neither of them didn’t necessarily want to fight.

“Is this really necessary? We’re here as guests, not some kind of gladiators.” Telmo scoffed, crossing his arms.

‘Uh?’

Aestrea raised an eyebrow at Telmo’s words.

After all, he was the first one to start a fight back at the Royal Academy.

“I don’t mind,” Leon said coolly, eyeing Aestrea with a detached air.

“If it’s to understand the strength of this place.”

“Yeah,” Ethan nodded with a grin.

“I’m totally in. It’s been a while since I sparred against you, Aestrea.”

Ella hesitated.

Her light blue eyes locked with Aestrea’s for a moment. She did not speak at all and only stared at him for a few seconds.

Then, finally, she said softly,” Not right now. Maybe later.”

That answer alone made Telmo twitch like he’d been slapped.

Aestrea didn’t press her. He simply gave a small nod, then stepped down into the ring, his long coat trailing behind him.

“Alright then,” he said, lifting his hand.

A signal rune flickered into the air above the arena.

From above, the crowd of Silverleaf students stirred.

Voices buzzed.

“Wait, is that—?”

“Aestrea’s gonna spar?!”

“Who’s he fighting?!”

One of the academy staff activated the speaker rune.

«Sparring match initiated: Hero Party vs. Silverleaf’s Students – Arena Exhibition.»

Lucas hopped down after Aestrea, cracking his neck.

“Let’s see how strong you’ve gotten in this short of a time.”

Aestrea glanced sideways at him.

“Sure.”

Then, he took a few steps back, standing at the other edge of the arena.

Across from him, Lucas rolled his shoulders and pointed his sword forward.

Crackling black flames slithered to life across the blade, and lightning began to snake around his arm.

He grinned.

“Demon Slaying Sword Art…”

A burst of mana surged.

『 Corrupted Sword! (✦ Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ✦) 』

FWOOOOOSH—!!

Lucas launched forward. The air howled.

His blade swept from left to right in a brutal arc—black fire trailing behind like a hungry serpent.

Aestrea’s palm snapped upward.

CRACK!

A sword of translucent ice formed midair—just in time to intercept the slash.

KRRSH—!!

The ice shattered on impact, shards bursting out in every direction.

But Aestrea was already moving. He pivoted low, the hem of his coat dragging. With his free hand, frost condensed in a snap—

『 Ice Series: Ice Fang! (✦ 2nd-Level Spell ✦)』

BAM!

A shard of sharpened ice blasted out like a bullet.

Lucas twisted mid-lunge, barely dodging as the spike whizzed past his face—grazing his cheek with a thin line of blood.

He didn’t stop.

His boots hit the ground, and lightning flared brighter on his arm.

“Demon Slaying Sword Art—!”

He roared.

『 Devastation Sword! (✦ Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ✦) 』

He swung vertically with crushing force.

BOOOOOOM—!!

The ground cracked under the pressure. A column of black fire erupted from the blade.

Aestrea’s form blurred—FWOOSH!

He sidestepped the strike, frost exploding beneath his feet as he zipped sideways with sudden speed.

『 Mixed Ice Series: Frost Step! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦)』

Lucas spun, catching Aestrea’s movement—and thrust his blade forward in a lunge.

SHNK—!!

Aestrea deflected with a second ice blade—just before it crumbled in his grip.

Using the split-second opening, he raised his hand.

『 Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦) 』

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Spikes of ice jutted up from the arena floor like a minefield, forcing Lucas into the air.

But he wasn’t surprised.

Lucas twisted in midair—his sword flaring again.

“Demon Slaying Sword Art…”

『 Breaking the Sky! (✦ A+ level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

KA-THOOM—!!

A thunderous boom echoed across the arena as Lucas cleaved downward mid-flight.

A line of raw destruction tore across the arena, shearing through ice and stone.

Aestrea planted his foot, raised both hands—

『 Ice Series: Ice Wall! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦) 』

A thick sheet of ice erupted in front of him.

BOOOOM!!!

The attack slammed into it like a meteor—shattering it instantly, but blunting the worst of the force.

Aestrea slid back, heels grinding against the floor.

Frost coiled around his arms.

He exhaled, mist fogging from his lips.

A new blade of ice materialized—jagged and wicked.

Then—

FLASH—!!

He burst forward, low to the ground.

Lucas was ready.

Their swords clashed—

CLANG!! CLANG!! SHIIINK!!

A flurry of rapid strikes. Aestrea slashed low—Lucas blocked. Lucas countered with an upward arc—Aestrea ducked and kicked out—

THUD!

Boot to ribs.

Lucas skidded back, coughing once, flames hissing from his blade.

Then—

Both of them moved at once.

Their powers ignited.

“Demon Slaying Sword Art…!”

『 Piercing Sword! (✦ S-level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

『 Mixed Ice Series: Frozen Mirage! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦)』

WHOOSH—!!

Lucas thrust his sword forward—a line of black flame ripped across the floor.

But it hit nothing.

Aestrea’s image flickered—vanished.

Then—

CRACK!!

A boot slammed into Lucas’ side from behind, launching him across the arena.

The crowd screamed.

Lucas rolled, flipped mid-air, and landed in a crouch—panting, blood at the corner of his mouth.

He wiped it with the back of his hand, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“You’ve gotten better.”

Aestrea raised an eyebrow at his words, one hand out, frost climbing up his arm like armor.

“And you’ve gotten louder than before.”

Meanwhile, from the stands above, the air was buzzing.

Not just from the mana pressure, but from the stunned silence of Silverleaf students and the Hero’s Party alike.

“…He had the upper hand against Lucas. With an ice sword that keeps breaking….” Violet murmured, feeling a little taken aback.

She knew that Aestrea was really strong, but she totally didn’t expect that he would still have the upper hand against Lucas after he had gotten stronger in such a short period of time.

After all, Lucas is the Hero, the one who’s supposed to slay the Demon King and bring peace all over the world.

Rose nodded silently beside her, fingers clenched tight around the railing.

Iris blinked twice, then leaned toward Maya.

“You’re seeing this, right?”

Maya’s grin was ear to ear.

“Damn right I am! This is SICK!”

“Is Lucas seriously going at full strength… just for fun?” Ethan whispered, watching intently.

“Aestrea… didn’t even reveal his aura, much less, he’s not using magic above the fourth-level… How high is the difference between us?” he sighed inwardly.

Ella’s blue eyes never left the field.

Her fingers curled slightly around the edge of her sleeve.

“…He’s holding back, isn’t he?” she muttered.

That time against the Archdemon… or against all six of us, he was definitely stronger; however, his control now seems even more proficient than before.

“Tch. That guy’s enjoying this too much.”

Leon scoffed.

“Show-off.”

Next to him, Telmo crossed his arms, tightening his jaw in disgust.

The crowd of Silverleaf students was no quieter.

“Or Senior is really stronger than the hero?!”

“Aestrea’s movements are ridiculous!”

“Did you see that Frozen Mirage just now?!”

“Senior Aestrea is so cool…!”

Cheers and gasps rippled across the arena.

Down below, Lucas stood and rolled his shoulders again.

His mouth curled into a wider grin.

“Now this is more like it.”

He raised his hand—and mana surged like a thunderstorm.

CRACK-CRACK—!!

Bolts of electricity spiraled around his arm.

『 Lightning Bolt! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦) 』

ZRAAAK—!!

A lance of lightning shot forward like a laser.

Aestrea raised his ice sword, stepping sideways with a twist—

BOOM!!

The bolt blasted into the ground beside him, scorching the tiles and sending debris flying.

Lucas didn’t pause.

『 Lightning Flash! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦) 』

CRACK—!!

His entire body lit up in a burst of white-blue light.

He disappeared.

FWOOOOOSH—!!

Aestrea’s eyes sharpened just in time—

ZSHHH—!!

Lucas reappeared above him mid-air, sword raised, lightning trailing behind him like a dragon’s tail.

He came down fast—faster than before.

“Demon Slaying Sword Art…”

『 Piercing Sword! (✦ S-level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

The thrust screamed downward with pinpoint force.

Aestrea leapt backward, barely evading—

CRACK!!

The tip of Lucas’ sword exploded on the ground.

A crater formed instantly.

Aestrea landed on the other side, his boots skidding across the cracked arena.

However, Lucas didn’t stop at all and continued with his attacks.

『 Consecutive Lightning Strikes! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

ZRAK!

ZRAK!

ZRAK!!

Multiple lightning bolts rained from the sky in a staggered pattern—each slamming down toward Aestrea’s position.

BOOM—!

BOOM—!!

BOOOM—!!

Dust clouds rose from the impacts, electricity dancing across the stone.

Rose gasped and took a step forward, her hands trembling.

“No…!”

But Violet held her back with a firm hand.

“It’s not over.”

As the smoke cleared—

CRACKLE—

A dome of layered frost stood at the center of the destruction, steaming slightly.

『 Shield Series: Winter’s Barrier! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

Within it, Aestrea knelt low, arm raised, ice blooming up his shoulder like a shield.

He stood slowly, the frost fading.

“…You’re pretty loud.”

Lucas chuckled, stepping into view through the smoke.

“Why don’t you stop holding back? Or do I need to turn it up first?” He raised his sword, steady and bold, the tip aimed straight at Aestrea.

His eyes held an unyielding determination.

Aestrea sighed at his words.

But then, he smiled lightly.

“Alright then.”

His eyes glowed sinisterly, turning into a crescent red moon.

“Let’s shift gears.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep