The sound of steel clashing rang out, sharp and unbearable, like the cry of tearing metal. Sparks burst into the air where the tip of Vale’s spear met Kael’s sword. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze around that single clash and then. The ground underneath quivered, forming a faint crack and shockwave spread across, stirring the wind. Kael gritted his teeth as he felt the force of the impact shoot through his body. The vibration ran down his arms, striking his muscles and bones. His hands trembled as the numbing force spread, but he refused to let go. His eyes stayed locked on Vale, refusing to show weakness. Vale roared and pressed harder, the spear trembling in his hands as he poured more mana into it. The air around them crackled, thunder rolling through the clash of weapons. Then, with a burst of strength, the weapons split apart. The collision blasted a wave of pressure outward, scattering dust and throwing smaller stones across the arena floor. The shockwave hit the front rows of the crowd, making them shield their faces. A chorus of gasps filled the silence that followed. Both fighters stepped back, their weapons still glowing, their bodies steady though their arms bore the tremors of impact. Kael’s lips curled into a tight line. His smirk was gone, replaced by a focus that cut deeper than any smile. Vale’s chest heaved, his breath harsh as he glared at his opponent. The fight had only just begun, and yet the two went over each other’s throat without any mercy. Vale’s eyes narrowed as he grabbed the shaft of the spear to turn around. He pushed his strength deep into his legs and stomped on the ground. The arena cracked under his step as his body shot forward like a cannon, his spear aimed straight at Kael’s chest. Kael’s eyes widened at the sudden burst of speed and he instantly activated his movements technique by channeling his mana into legs. His figure blurred, leaving faint afterimages behind as he moved aside. Vale’s spear smashed into the stone floor, tearing open a fissure and throwing up clouds of dust. The ground shook from the force of the strike. Kael’s body blurred back into view a few feet away. Surprised by how narrowly he had avoided the attack. Vale pulled his spear free and twisted his body, thrusting forward again with a sharp whistle of air cutting through the arena. Kael did not back down. His sword met the spear mid-swing. Sparks scattered across the battlefield as steel clashed. The air shuddered from the impact, and small cracks spread across the floor under their feet. Kael’s arms trembled slightly from the force. He jumped into the air to meet Vale’s next swing, his sword slicing downward with speed and precision. Vale turned his wrists, redirecting the shaft of the spear to block, and their weapons clashed again with a loud echo. This time, Vale did not try to meet Kael’s blade head-on. He let the clash hold for a breath, then shifted his weight and drove his leg forward. His kick landed against Kael’s side. Kael raised his left arm to block, but the strike still sent him sliding back. The shock carried through his bones, and he winced as he saw the skin on his forearm already swelling red. "He hits too hard," Kael muttered, steadying himself with his blade dug into the ground. ’"Aren’t you an assassin? Assassins should focus on dexterity,right?’’ "How the fuck taught you to be assassin?"Kael mocked him.From all the spar,Kael managed to understand one thing. This guy wasn’t using his assassin skills.May he is held back because members of the assassin towers were quite reprimanded in public. "Why are you shocked?There is more to come..Wait until I will beat the shit out of you and peel the skin?’’Vale spat angrily. ’What a weirdo!On second thought,if he wasn’t then he wouldn’t have fallen for that bitch.’ Vale’s eyes narrowed. With both working together, nothing could stand before him. He lifted his spear, channeling strength into his legs again. This time his movements were even sharper, the air cracking around him as he burst forward at twice his earlier speed. Each step shook the ground, leaving shallow craters where his feet landed. Kael’s eyes followed him closely. He focused, his sword glowing faintly as he pushed his energy into it. He vanished from his spot with another step, meeting Vale in the middle of his charge. Their weapons struck again. The sound erupted was deafening. The clash sent a powerful shockwave across the arena, blowing away dust and rattling the stone pillars around them. Fragments of stone shot outward as if a storm had swept through. Both men slid back, their boots digging trenches into the floor, but neither let up. Vale spun his spear in a wide arc, each swing strong enough to slice through the air like a blade of wind. Fresh chapters posted on noⅴelfire.net Kael deflected with quick cuts, the clash of steel creating bursts of sparks that lit up their faces. Every collision sent waves of force rolling across the battlefield. The crowd watching could feel the shock pressing against their chests. Kael’s breathing grew heavier, but his eyes never left Vale. His sword danced with quick slashes, meeting the spear with precision. Vale’s expression stayed cold, his strikes coming one after another, faster and stronger each time. The arena floor was now filled with cracks, the ground trembling beneath their relentless fight. The battle between Kael and Vale had turned into a storm of steel, speed, and power. Each strike shook the air, each clash tearing pieces from the world around them. Neither backed down, and with every exchange, it was clear that they were fighting equally. Vale looked at Kael wearily and spoke. ’I can’t go on ..It seems I need to use my real powers.’ With that he shot at Kael and thrust his spear at Kael who raised his sword to deflect it but just as his sword inches toward Vale,he disappeared. "Hohoooo!Finally using it..."Kael whistled in amusement and in the next moment he whipped his sword backward.