As General Cao and the others processed the awe-inspiring nature of Sofia's aura, Vice Chancellor Reeves dropped a revelation that left them further shaken. "Her aura… it feels eerily similar to the Great Alaric," he murmured, his voice wavering slightly, "the founder of our Academy."
An audible gasp rippled through the group. Carmilia's hand went to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock, while Bowen's disbelief deepened. "You mean... that same power? I thought Alaric's essence, his very gifts, had faded with his passing."
Vice Chancellor Reeves gave a grave nod, his gaze still locked on Sofia as she prepared to face the Ice Jade Princess. "There was something the chancellor told me regarding what the Great Alaric said before he passed… a prophecy. He said that one day, a chosen one would arise to take his helm and journey beyond where he left off. That successor would bear an aura unlike any other, one powerful enough to cleanse and reshape even the darkest forces."
General Cao drew a sharp breath. "Are you saying… that Sofia could be that chosen one?"
Reeves nodded, his expression unreadable but his voice brimming with conviction. "It may be too soon to say. But her potential—her saintly aura—reminds me all too much of Alaric's prophecy since I have held relics that he owned which still bears his aura. If she truly is the one he foretold, then the academy… and perhaps even the world, are about to change in ways we cannot yet fathom."
A deep silence settled over them as they looked at Sofia, now seeing not just a student, but perhaps the destined successor to one of the greatest legacies in their world's history.
As Sylvester signaled for the duel to begin, the Ice Jade Princess let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "A saint wannabe? Is this what you've come with?" she sneered, casting an icy glance at Sofia. "Saints are little more than glorified medics, better suited for the sidelines, healing and protecting. Offensive magic? That's not your kind."
Sofia's gaze hardened, a calm but powerful confidence radiating from her. Without a word, she raised her hand, and an intense golden light began to pulse from her fingertips. The air around her shifted, filled with a palpable, reverberating energy that instantly commanded the crowd's attention. In one fluid motion, she directed the energy forward, forming a blazing spear of pure, radiant power that cut through the air like a blade of heavenly light. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fiɾe·net
The Ice Jade Princess's expression faltered as the radiant spear barreled toward her, its brilliance nearly blinding. She barely managed to throw up a wall of ice just in time to shield herself. The impact sent a powerful shockwave across the platform, shattering her icy barrier and forcing her to spring back to avoid being hurled off the edge entirely.
"Is this convincing enough for you to shut your mouth concerning saints?" Sofia asked in a sharp tone.
Recovering her stance, the Ice Jade Princess's eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and grudging respect. It was clear she hadn't expected such a formidable offensive display from someone she deemed "just a saint." Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself, gripping her staff tightly as she locked her gaze onto Sofia, the taunt now frozen on her lips.
"You will pay for this!!" The Ice Jade Princess eventually exclaimed in a menacing tone as she began conjuring spells in the speed of light, But Sofia wasn't one who will back away from a confrontation of spells as she also began conjuring spells in similar fashion.
And so, The duel began with a fierce and unrelenting force, with each move escalating in intensity. The Ice Jade Princess wielded her ice magic with deadly precision, conjuring blizzards and creating deadly spikes of frost that erupted from the ground. Sofia countered each attack with surprising agility, evading the icy onslaught and retaliating with waves of radiant energy that disrupted the Ice Jade Princess's spells. Every clash sent shockwaves through the platform, the sheer energy from their techniques making the entire arena tremble.
The crowd was spellbound, unable to look away. Kaelen and the others watched in awe, their eyes fixed on the rapid exchange. Even the typically unflappable Dark Prince and the stoic Mysterious Swordsman had looks of genuine interest, as the former was captivated by the intensity of the duel, while the later was having a grim look on his face since it may not be noticable, but he is having an intense clash with Sofia's aura who is trying to purify his own.
As the battle reached its peak, Sofia took a steadying breath, her aura blazing brighter than ever before. She channeled her energy, focusing on her ultimate technique. Raising her hands to the sky, she summoned an array of radiant orbs that spiraled above her like a constellation. With a determined gaze, she brought her hands down, and the orbs descended in a cascading storm of pure light, each one detonating in brilliant bursts.
"Nova Storm!" she shouted, her voice resonating through the platform.
The radiant barrage was overwhelming, a relentless, blinding cascade that surrounded the Ice Jade Princess, who struggled to keep her footing as her defenses buckled under the assault. In one final, desperate attempt, she raised a fortress of ice around herself, but the intensity of the Nova Storm shattered it apart, sending her staggering back to the edge of the platform.
When the light faded, Sofia stood tall in the center of the platform, victorious. The Ice Jade Princess lay near the edge, her breathing heavy as she gazed up in disbelief. The arena erupted into stunned silence, broken only by the murmurs of awe from the spectators. Kaelen and his companions exchanged glances, their astonishment evident, while the Dark Prince and the Mysterious Swordsman shared a rare moment of mutual acknowledgment in as much as the former is in a very tight bind.
As for Sylvester, he was generally satisfied by this duel as he announced in a resounding voice.
"Winner, Sofia Hathaway!"