"I didn’t expect that we would have a battle of such level."
The sound echoed across the arena, sharp and clear, like the crack of thunder before a storm.
Faces in the crowd shifted from awe to horror as they stared at the fierce battle that was about to unfold before them.
The first battle raised their hope.Despite that,they still hadn’t expected such a clash.
When it was announced that both Kael and Vale were at S rank,they almost lost it.
And just as they thought,the moment the two stepped in.The air itself seemed heavy, charged with a pressure that weighed down on every chest.
At the center of the stage, two figures stood firm, their silhouettes outlined by the dust and flickering light.
Kael breathed in deeply. His chest rose and fell slowly as he steadied his hand, the edge of his sword gleaming under the light. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, though his eyes were sharp and steady. He tilted his head slightly and spoke, his voice calm but carrying through the tense silence.
"I have been curious about one thing."
Vale’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched tight. His voice thundered back, rough and heavy, filling the arena. "What?"
The moment the word left his mouth, a powerful surge of pressure burst forth from his body. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and the walls of the arena seemed to groan under the sudden wave of energy. Dust swirled into the air, carried by the violent gust that tore outward.
Kael’s hair whipped across his face, disheveled by the sudden wind. Yet, he stood there without flinching. His eyes gleamed brighter, the sharp light in them revealing something wild, almost untamed. It wasn’t fear that answered Vale’s strength. It was anticipation.
He raised his sword again and looked straight at Vale. "Why did you hit me? You knew very well what Elara was doing. You knew it, yet you stood there pretending to play the hero. Why?"
Vale’s face twisted with anger. His voice cracked with rage as he shouted. "Shut up! You bastard! You filthy scum!"
"Everyone knows you drugged her."
A hollow laugh broke from Kael’s throat, but it wasn’t light or mocking. It was raw, as if the words Vale had thrown at him were too bitter not to laugh at. His chest shook with the sound, echoing across the field.
"You are calling me filth?" Kael’s voice rose, his words cutting through the tension. "I have seen many hypocrites in my life. But even among them, you stand above the rest."
The arena fell silent for a breath. Vale’s grip tightened on his weapon as Kael’s words drove deeper.
"You, who lead the Assassin Tower itself, dare to call me filth? Tell me, isn’t that laughable?"
"Fuckkk youuu!"Kael spat in disgust.
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Vale’s face hardened, his fury no longer contained. "Shut up!" he roared, and in that instant, he pulled out his weapon.
The sudden gleam of steel made Kael’s eyes widen. "A spear?" he muttered under his breath, steadying his stance.
It was unexpected but he had been informed.
"My Lord, I have something to report."
"What is it?" Kael looked at Ariana with a calm, sincere gaze.
"My Lord, the battle with Vale isn’t going to be simple," Ariana said firmly.
"He is a S rank. Of course it won’t be..." Vic added with a frown.
Ariana shook her head. "The top rankers aren’t ranked just like that. Everyone thinks Vale’s weapon is a dagger, but that’s wrong."
Confusion appeared on their faces.
"His real weapon is the spear, and besides that, his shadow ability is a nightmare to deal with. And... I don’t know if he can use a domain."
Kael’s expression shifted when he heard the word domain. Despite his strength, he had never managed to create one. Most people shaped their domains from their elemental powers, controlling an area completely as their own. But Kael had no affinity with any element.
He narrowed his eyes. "How did you know all this?"
Ariana pressed her lips together. "I have sources."
Kael gave a faint chuckle at her reaction. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don’t worry, I won’t pry into it. I trust you completely."
Ariana met Kael’s steady gaze, and her heart trembled. Unlike the cruel stares of those vile creatures who always looked at her with disgust, as if she were nothing but a worm, Kael’s eyes held respect. She had never once been trusted by the ones she served.
To Adele and Reins, she was only a sword to be used until it broke, without will or value. But Kael was different.
Ariana smiled softly. "Thank you for trusting me."
Kael’s eyes widened slightly at her smile, and his cold expression eased as strands of her golden hair brushed across her face.
Kael shook his head to clear the memory and became serious.
The crowd gasped in excitation.
They could feel it too. Both men began to draw out power held in their body.
The mana inside their body churned, rising like a tide, pressing against each other with crushing force. The ground under them quaked,with the small shards of stone splitting apart as their power grew heavier.
Then, in the space of a heartbeat, both charged forward.
A ripple flashed across the place.
The thunder of their movement roared across the arena. It wasn’t just strength colliding; it was will against will. Each step shook the floor, each breath burned through the air.
The spectators could feel the anticipation crackle around them, as if lightning itself was about to strike.
"Today,I will finally have revenge."
Vale’s spear gleamed with a dangerous edge. He swung it up with both hands, gripping the handle tight, and then slashed forward with all his might.
"Are you too high or what? Shouldn’t it be me who says this?"
Kael spat at Vale hypocrisy and attacked.
His sword was already glowing with mana, a sharp crimson light wrapping around the blade.
Instead of simply clashing, he cut through the air in a swift arc, letting the wind carry along his strike. The gust gave his attack a sharper edge, merging steel and wind into one seamless blow.