The Duel

Marcus stood at the edge of the training field, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Leo's challenge had ignited a fire within him, a burning desire to crush his rival and prove his strength.

In the novel, Leo was the strongest first-year student, thanks to the principal's teachings and his impressive sword techniques. But this was no longer the original story. Marcus had taken Leo's place as the top scorer in the entrance exam and had gained the ability to use sword aura, making him stronger than the previous Marcus.

Marcus pondered the implications of this shift. He knew that the original Marcus had not scored well in the group tests, likely due to his arrogant personality that looked down on those he deemed inferior. This time, Marcus intended to rewrite his fate and dominate the competition.

As he stood there, Marcus recalled his training session from the previous day. He had grown familiar with his new body and had accessed the memories of the previous Marcus, which gave him a solid understanding of combat. Despite this, he was acutely aware that this would be his first real duel. The excitement and nerves intertwined within him, but he steeled himself, determined to win.

Marcus began to strategize, analyzing Leo's fighting style. Leo's combat approach was similar to that of a magic swordsman from outside the continent, coating his sword with the light element in a manner akin to sword aura.

The light element enhanced his weapon and body strength making it exceptionally powerful. Additionally, Leo wielded the water element, which posed a threat to Marcus's fire element. To defeat Leo, Marcus realized he needed to engage in close-quarters combat, where his physical strength and swordsmanship could give him an edge.

Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Now, the next participants come forward and show me your abilities,"

Professor Erza called out. Marcus snapped back to reality, realizing it was his and Leo's turn for the sparring match. The entire class was watching him, and Professor Erza had already called his name three times.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something," Marcus responded, shaking off his distraction.

Leo smirked, his confidence evident. "Marcus, don't worry. I will go easy on you."

"Actually, I was thinking of how much I should hold back while fighting against you," Marcus retorted, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

A vein popped on Leo's forehead, his patience wearing thin. "You don't have to hold back anything against me."

Their exchange left the students and Professor Erza stunned. Sensing the rising tension, Erza intervened. "This is a sparring match. You just have to show your combat style and basic strength."

Leo turned to Erza, his determination unwavering. "Professor, I know that, but can we fight for real? I want to test my strength against my fellow students and see how strong I am."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Professor. You can interrupt our duel if you think our attacks will seriously injure each other."

After a moment of contemplation, Erza conceded. "Alright."

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the students eagerly anticipated the clash between the top two students of their grade.

Erza asked, "Are you both ready?"

"Ready," Marcus and Leo replied in unison.

"Alright, the duel begins," Erza declared, stepping back to give them space.

Without hesitation, Marcus and Leo launched fireballs at each other. The fireballs collided mid-air and dissipated, but it was evident that Marcus's fireball was slightly stronger. Leo responded swiftly, conjuring a water ball and hurling it at Marcus. Marcus countered with another fireball, creating a cloud of steam as the magic clashed.

Leo didn't relent. He used a whirlwind to lift the water, forming a waterspout aimed directly at Marcus. Marcus countered with a firenado, a combination of fire and wind magic. The two elemental tornadoes collided, creating a heavy smoke screen that obscured Marcus's vision.

Seizing the opportunity, Leo charged through the smoke with his sword drawn, aiming for Marcus. But Marcus's agility stats kicked in, and he drew his sword just in time to block Leo's attack. The clash of their swords sent sparks flying, and the students watched in awe as the two rivals engaged in close combat.

Marcus's superior strength and swordsmanship became apparent as he began to overpower Leo, pushing him back with each strike. "Should I hold back more?" Marcus taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.

Irritated, Leo coated his sword and body with light magic, increasing his strength. "I hope you don't disappoint me," Leo replied, his determination unwavering.

Marcus responded by coating his sword with sword aura, ready to meet Leo's enhanced attacks. They resumed their duel, but this time, Leo's light-enhanced attacks pushed Marcus back. Inwardly, Marcus felt a surge of frustration. He had underestimated the power of the light element, a gifted element that only chosen one can get from the Gods. This cheat-like element was proving to be a formidable challenge.

A sudden attack from Leo grazed Marcus's hand, leaving a shallow cut. Professor Erza stepped forward to intervene. "That's enough, both of you. This duel ends here."

Leo, however, wasn't ready to concede. "I didn't know our topper amounted to this much," he sneered, his confidence unshaken.

Marcus, who had been momentarily dazed by the unexpected turn of events, suddenly found himself laughing. It was a crazed, almost manic laugh as he realized he still had a trump card. A thought popped into his head, and he decided to act on it.

Standing up, Marcus declared, "Who said this was the end? Prepare yourself, Leo."

Erza moved to stop him, but Leo was already gearing up for another round. "Here I come," he announced, his determination unwavering.

A dark aura began to surround Marcus as he coated his sword with both dark aura and sword aura. A warning from the system echoed in his mind, "Host, you are not strong enough to use this move."

Ignoring the warning, Marcus channeled every ounce of his mana into his next attack. He swung his sword towards Leo with a ferocity that stunned everyone watching. Leo, sensing the danger, tried to dodge, but it was too late. The attack grazed past him, and blood began to flow from a deep wound in his stomach.

Marcus watched with a satisfied smile as he felt his consciousness fading. He had pushed himself to the limit, and the effort had taken its toll. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

On the other side, Erza had been watching the duel with growing concern. When Marcus unleashed his dark aura, she knew it was a dangerous move. She wanted to intervene, but the sheer power of Marcus's attack had made it impossible. Now, with Leo injured, she rushed to his side, administering healing potions. However, the dark energy from Marcus's attack hindered the healing process.

"He needs to be treated soon. I will go and see the doctor. You all go to the rest of the class; duels are suspended for today," Erza instructed the students, her voice firm.

As Erza looked towards the students, her gaze fell on Marcus, who lay unconscious on the floor. She approached him and saw that he, too, was in a critical condition. She decided to take him along to the infirmary.

The students who had watched the fight were left in a state of shock and fear. They had known that both Marcus and Leo were strong, but witnessing the extent of their powers left them speechless. Marcus's last attack, shrouded in dark aura, had painted him as a devil in their eyes.

Erza carried both Leo and Marcus to the infirmary, her mind racing with concerns about the implications of their duel. She knew that Marcus's last attack was dangerous and that the rivalry between him and Leo could have far-reaching consequences.

In the infirmary, the healers worked tirelessly to stabilize Leo and Marcus. Leo's wound, tainted with dark energy, proved challenging to heal. Marcus, on the other hand, was suffering from severe mana exhaustion and the aftereffects of channeling more power than he could handle.

As the healers tended to them, Erza couldn't shake off the feeling that this was just the beginning. The duel between Marcus and Leo had revealed their potential and hinted at a deeper conflict brewing beneath the surface. She knew she had to keep a close eye on both of them and ensure that their rivalry didn't escalate into something more dangerous.