Fractured Blades

Aqua turned to Casial and asked for a second-grade sword. Without hesitation, Casial retrieved a spare sword from his subspace artifact and handed it to him. The simple blade gleamed faintly in the sunlight, its quality evident despite being a second-grade weapon.

Regis smirked as Aqua took the sword. "Are you sure? I'm using a fifth-grade sword," he said, his tone laced with arrogance.

With his usual calm expression, Aqua replied, "It should be fine, I guess."

The two began walking toward the arena, their strides deliberate, as murmurs swept through the gathered students. Excitement bubbled in the air, the anticipation palpable. Aqua glanced at Regis, his tone conversational yet probing. "You seem popular to draw this much attention. How many mana circles do you have?"

Regis's smirk widened as he responded confidently, "Fifth circle."

Claire and Emilia followed behind, their concern etched clearly on their faces. The prospect of using real swords made them uneasy, especially since Aqua was slightly weaker than Regis. Standing nearby, however, Casial and Adam showed no such worry. Casial, grinning, assured the girls, "Don't worry—he'll win." Adam gave a slight, confident nod.

The arena they entered was expansive, its marble floor reflecting the golden afternoon light streaming from high windows. The space was carefully chosen so everyone could see the match clearly. Aqua stood at one end, his sword steady in his hand. As he injected his mana into the blade, it began to shimmer faintly. Regis mirrored the action, his fifth-grade sword glowing with a denser, more vibrant mana aura.

Without warning, Aqua took the initiative, charging toward Regis at a blinding speed. The crowd held its breath as their swords met in a violent clash. Mana sparks scattered like fireflies, lighting up the arena with every strike. Regis blocked Aqua's attack with ease and countered, but Aqua's speed kept him a step ahead, his calm demeanor unwavering.

Meanwhile, in her office, Venustusia felt the surge of mana rippling through the training grounds. Curious, she teleported to the hall and found her twins watching intently from the sidelines. "What's going on here?" she asked, her voice carrying amusement. Claire gestured toward the match, her attention fixed. Venustusia's lips curled into a smile. "Interesting!" she exclaimed, folding her arms as she began to observe.

On the arena floor, Regis pushed forward, forcing Aqua to retreat a few steps. Seizing the opportunity, Regis charged, his strikes gaining speed and intensity. Aqua met each blow with precision, his calm face now tinged with a subtle excitement that only heightened Regis's frustration.

The sound of their swords echoed through the hall, rising above the collective gasps of the audience. Regis, determined to break Aqua's composure, poured more mana into his blade, its aura flaring brighter. Unfazed, Aqua responded in kind, his sword glowing fiercely as the mana around it thickened. The sheer intensity of the battle left everyone stunned, including Casial and Adam, who had witnessed Aqua's skills earlier but were no less surprised by his performance now.

Then, without warning, Aqua's second-grade sword cracked. The blade, unable to withstand the prolonged clashes and the immense mana coursing through it, shattered mid-strike. Both Aqua and Regis immediately withdrew, retreating to opposite ends of the arena.

The hall fell silent, save for the faint hum of residual mana dissipating into the air. The audience stood frozen, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief at the fierce display they had just witnessed.