"Well then, let's see what is making you so bold to challenge me" The Fleeting Spear suddenly commented as he stretched his body a bit will nonchalantly coming towards Charlotte. But when he saw that Charlotte wasn't even giving him any kind of response to what he just said as she hid behind her large shield, he narrowed his eyes out of displeasure as he thought.
'Not a talking type eh? Well you will still get punished for not knowing your place'
And just then, the duel between the Fleeting Spear and Charlotte quickly became electrifying from the first strike. The Fleeting Spear's robust physique and swift, spear-wielding form moved like a storm, his attacks hitting with relentless force. He launched into a lightning barrage, his spear crackling as it blurred through the air in rapid, vicious strikes. Charlotte held her ground, bracing against the torrent with her larger, more formidable shield, every blow sending shockwaves through the platform.
The crowd held their breath as he shifted his stance, unleashing one of his trademark move called the silent wave, a sweeping arc of spear energy aimed to bypass her guard. Charlotte gritted her teeth, twisting her shield at an angle that deflected the silent force just in time. Her balance wavered, but she steadied herself, eyes blazing with determination.
'What a persistent fellow'
Seeing her resilience only fueled the Fleeting Spear's intensity, and his grip tightened as he prepared his most feared move—the serpent thrust. His spear coiled and struck with blinding speed, the tip aimed for a weak spot in her defense. Charlotte barely caught the attack's flow, sidestepping at the last second and pivoting her shield to absorb the tail end of the thrust. The force rattled her, but she gritted her teeth and dug her heels in.
A murmur of disbelief spread through the crowd as Charlotte's defenses remained unbreakable. Then, with a glint of resolve in her eyes, she steadied her shield and thrust forward, launching into a surprising maneuver no one anticipated. Her shield hummed with gathered energy as she brought it down with a resonant strike against the platform, sending a shockwave that buckled the ground beneath the Fleeting Spear's feet. He staggered, caught off guard, and Charlotte took her chance.
With a fierce shout, she thrust her shield forward, a focused strike that collided with his core, bypassing his spear's reach. The impact was so intense that it sent him stumbling backward, and with one final shove, she knocked him clean off the platform.
The arena went silent as the Fleeting Spear was sent off balance and over the edge, landing below in astonishment. The spectators, including the other top-ranked students, watched in stunned silence as Charlotte stood tall, her breathing heavy but her stance unbroken, her victory etched in every line of her resolute figure.
"Win.... Winner, Charlotte Gregory!"
Sylvester stepped forward, his expression filled with disbelief as he signaled the end of the duel and declared Charlotte the victor. He'd witnessed countless duels in his years, but this one left him genuinely speechless. The audience mirrored his amazement, stunned by Charlotte's performance. Whispers surged through the crowd, as if they were seeing her for the first time—no longer as the determined shield bearer, but as a true contender among the Academy's elite.
Morris, watching from the sidelines, remembered his duel with her in the Rookie tournament preliminaries. He had faced her resilience then, but this…this was a different level entirely. A hint of respect gleamed in his eyes as he revised his opinion of her, acknowledging the strength she'd just shown.
Meanwhile, the Fleeting Spear rose, his face calm and unreadable. For a moment, he looked at Charlotte, and then he turned, stepping away from the platform. A rare silence surrounded him as he walked, pride and composure undiminished despite his loss. Inside, his thoughts were resolute: 'Seems like I've been slacking off recently. Well then, time to make up for this defeat.'
"Seems like he isn't affected by this loss"
"When last have you seen him being affected by a defeat?"
"Uhh... Good point, hahaha"
"Well that's what I like about him"
From their vantage high above, the Vice Chancellor and the Academy's Pillars conversed, clearly impressed by the Fleeting Spear's spirit. The Fleeting Spear's unbroken dignity after a challenging duel spoke volumes of his character, a trait the Academy revered. Even Sylvester's expression softened with admiration as he watched the Fleeting Spear leave, taking defeat as a chance to grow.
'I await your return'
As Charlotte stood on the platform, victorious and surrounded by silent awe, she felt a surge of confidence unlike any she'd felt before.
But just As Charlotte stood tall on the platform, soaking in the victorious moment, a steely gaze was fixed on her from the crowd. Callista, standing quietly among her fellow students, barely hid the simmering fury in her eyes. Her fingers curled tightly around the spear she carried, her knuckles white with tension.
Though outwardly composed, her mind raced with unyielding resentment. 'How dare she humiliate him like that?' Callista thought, fury igniting a fierce resolve within her. In her mind, her brother's pride wasn't just tarnished—it was shattered.
Under her breath, she made a silent vow, her eyes never leaving Charlotte. 'You may have won this round, Charlotte, she thought coldly, but I'll make sure you pay for every moment of it.'
As the murmurs of Charlotte's unexpected victory settled down, Sylvester gestured for her to step back among the top 10 students. She nodded, still catching her breath, and joined the lineup, earning nods of respect.
But before the crowd had a chance to fully absorb this shift, Eldric suddenly appeared on the platform with a burst of electric energy crackling around him. His determined gaze swept over the assembled students, then fixed on his target: Morrigan the Tempest. A hush fell over the crowd, followed by murmurs of surprise and intrigue as Eldric raised his hand, his voice clear and unwavering.
"Look, it's the thunder kid"
"Seems like he has finally decided to step up"
"I wonder who he will challenge"
"Morrigan, I challenge you."
Morrigan's eyes flashed with intensity, his hands sparking with storm energy as he accepted the challenge. The wind around him stirred, picking up momentum as he stepped forward, lightning flickering from his fingertips. The crowd's anticipation grew, recognizing that this battle would be one of elemental mastery and precision. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI~Fire.net
Eldric's confident stance mirrored Morrigan's as they squared off on the platform, the air between them thickening with charged energy.