Everyone who watched the match was completely absorbed. Unlike the usual fights between mages, which lacked the intensity of close clashes, the battle between Vale and Kael was pure bliss to witness. The rhythm of their movements, the violent exchanges, and the storm of power gave the audience a mix of excitement and fear. It was a strange sensation, both soothing and chilling at the same time. Adele sat still, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her eyes never left the two fighters. ’If Kael is defeated, I might have a chance,’she thought. She knew Vale’s strength well. She had seen him fight before, knew how dangerous he was, but Kael was a mystery. He was powerful, yes, but his background and limits were unknown to her. From the way the fight had gone so far, neither seemed to hold the advantage. Both had endured, both had countered, and both had drawn the other’s blood. Her heart pounded as she calmed her nerves and thought it through. The one who can endure and land the final strike will win. Kael has only just begun gaining experience. It hasn’t even been a year. Vale has fought for years. His experience is sharp, and that could tilt the fight in his favor. Just as Adele convinced herself with this reasoning, a voice cut through her thoughts. "Bahhh... what is this nonsense?" Ramos muttered, his face twisted in annoyance. Adele turned toward him, her brows furrowing. "Why is that rascal holding back?" Ramos asked aloud, his tone impatient. "What?" Adele gasped, unable to hide her shock. Ramos caught her reaction and gave her a sly smile. "What’s with that look, kid?" Adele almost retorted, almost told him he was insane, but the words froze on her tongue. She remembered who he was. Ramos wasn’t someone she could casually dismiss. She swallowed and asked carefully. "Does he have a trump card strong enough to defeat Vale easily?" Ramos snorted, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Trump card my ass. That boy is just toying with him, dragging this fight out." His voice was sharp with disapproval. "In strength they might be equal but that boy had a very peculiar swordsmanship that can cut through the space itself." "What!"Adele squealed in shock. For original chapters go to NoveI(F)ire.net Adele’s eyes widened. The thought of Kael toying with Vale was absurd, but Ramos said it with such certainty that she could not dismiss it. "Then why isn’t he using it?"Adele asked. "Because it’s a killing move.Once used,it’s sure death."Ramos spoke. "Killing move...."Adele furrowed her brows and refused to believe it. "How can there be such swordsmanship?" "You will know when you see it brat!"Ramos snorted. Ruth, who had been silent, finally spoke. His voice was calm and cold, without a hint of emotion. "Everyone has their own way. You have fought wars. On the battlefield, a single wasted moment can mean death." "Since he can’t kill his opponent,he waits for his prey to make a slip, then strikes. He doesn’t waste energy.You can see him conserving his power." Ramos leaned back and gave a reluctant nod. "I know. But still, it’s not good. The kid is always holding back, as if saving power for some emergency. A fighter shouldn’t always live like that unless he had been in an army fighting army throughout his life." His voice grew louder, almost ranting now. "For God’s sake, he’s twenty-one. His blood is hot, his heart is strong. He hadn’t been in war so shouldn’t he show off a little? Let people scream his name? Let women cry out for him, beg him, throw themselves at him? Shouldn’t he enjoy being young?" The words spilled out in a careless rush, but as soon as they left his mouth, Ramos froze. He could feel two piercing glares cut into him. Ruth’s cold eyes bore down on him, and Adele’s expression was sharp with disapproval. Ramos coughed into his fist, biting his lip. ’Damn. I slipped up again,’ he thought, his face twisting in irritation at himself. The room fell into tense silence, the only sound coming from the roars of the crowd outside. The fight in the arena raged on, shaking the very air with its violence. Then, the door swung open with a sudden crash. Rami rushed in, his steps fast and heavy. He hurried forward, lowering himself between Ramos and Ruth, his breathing uneven. Without delay, he bent close and whispered into their ears. The moment the words left his mouth, both men stiffened. It was as if the world itself shuddered. A tremendous shockwave erupted from the stands outside. The walls trembled, the ground beneath them vibrated, and the air grew heavy as if something enormous had stirred awake. The sound rolled through the building like the rumble of a quake. Kael and Vale’s fight raged on like a storm. The sound of their blows echoed across the arena, each strike carrying enough force to split stone. Vale’s body moved like a phantom, his cloak of darkness swirling around him as he jumped through shadows. Kael countered with sharp movements, his hexagram glowing faintly as he used it to twist the flow of luck in his favor. Every clash between them sent out shockwaves that cracked the ground and shook the air. Vale appeared behind Kael in an instant, his blade cutting through the darkness like lightning. Kael turned just in time, the edge grazing his arm as he pulled away. He pushed forward with his palm glowing with energy, forcing Vale to step back. Neither man showed weakness, their eyes locked as they searched for the smallest chance to bring the other down. The ground around them split open from the pressure, stones flying into the air like scattered dust. Then, all at once, the battle froze. Both Kael and Vale felt it at the same time. A heavy wave of killing intent spread across the arena like an invisible storm. It pressed down on everyone, stealing the air from their lungs. Kael stepped back, his breathing sharp. Vale narrowed his eyes, the cloak of darkness around him flickering as if responding to the pressure. They both looked up, and the audience followed their gaze. At the highest seat stood Ruth. His face was dark, his brow furrowed, and his eyes burned with heat as he glared down at the battlefield. The killing intent flowed from him without restraint, heavier than anything they had felt in the fight. The whole arena went silent, even the crackling ground seemed to still be in his presence. Ruth slowly rose from his seat, his steps steady and heavy with meaning. Without a word, he walked out, his eyes never leaving the fighters below.