Calm Before The Storm (5)

The training grounds were eerily silent, the air thick with tension as the crowd of students and faculty gathered around the perimeter. The duel between Julius Vaelorian and Alex Clay had been the talk of the academy since the challenge was issued, and now, as the two stood facing each other, the anticipation was palpable.

Julius stood relaxed, his hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips. His white hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and his crimson eyes glinted with a dangerous light. Across from him, Alex Clay, the Hero of Elysia, stood tall and resolute, his longsword gleaming in his hand. His blue eyes burned with determination, his stance firm and ready.

Joseph stood between them, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority.

"Standard rules. No lethal attacks. First to be incapacitated or yield loses."

Alex nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. Julius simply shrugged, his smirk widening.

"Try to last longer than five minutes, Hero," Julius said, his tone dripping with mockery.

Joseph raised his hand.

"Begin."

---

Alex moved first, his body blurring as he closed the distance between them in an instant. His sword came down in a swift, precise arc, aiming for Julius's shoulder. Julius sidestepped with ease, his movements fluid and almost lazy, as if he were dancing rather than fighting.

"Too slow," Julius taunted, his voice light and mocking.

Alex didn't respond, his expression focused. He pivoted on his heel, his sword flashing in a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed with deadly precision. Julius dodged and weaved, his movements almost too fast to follow, but Alex's relentless assault forced him to stay on the defensive.

Finally, Julius decided to stop playing around.

With a flick of his wrist, a surge of Hellfire erupted from his palm, forming a blazing whip that lashed out at Alex. The Hero barely managed to block it with his sword, the black flames crackling against the blade. The force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the dirt.

Julius didn't give him a moment to recover. He surged forward, his Hellfire whip dissipating as he closed the distance. His fist, wreathed in black flames, shot toward Alex's chest.

Alex twisted, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a spinning slash aimed at Julius's side. Julius ducked under the attack, his movements almost too fast to track, and retaliated with a sweeping kick that caught Alex in the ribs.

The Hero grunted, stumbling back, but he didn't falter. His sword flashed again, this time infused with a golden light—Holy Magic, the bane of demons.

Julius's smirk faltered for a moment as he felt the searing heat of the holy energy. He leaped back, putting distance between them, but Alex was already on the offensive again.

---

The duel became a blur of motion, the two combatants moving faster than most of the onlookers could follow. Julius's fighting style was a chaotic mix of taekwondo, and demonic magic, his movements unpredictable and deadly. He used his Hellfire to create barriers, whip-like tendrils, and explosive bursts, forcing Alex to constantly adapt.

But Alex was no ordinary opponent. His Hero's Blessing gave him an edge, his reflexes and strength far beyond that of a normal human. He parried Julius's attacks with precision, his sword glowing brighter with each clash.

At one point, Julius feinted with a punch, only to spin into a roundhouse kick aimed at Alex's head. Alex blocked it with his forearm, the impact sending a shockwave through the air, but he didn't back down. He countered with a thrust of his sword, the blade crackling with holy energy.

Julius twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a burst of Demonic Wind Magic. The razor-sharp gust of wind slammed into Alex, sending him flying backward.

The crowd gasped as Alex hit the ground, but he rolled to his feet almost instantly, his sword still glowing with holy light.

"You're not bad," Julius admitted, his smirk returning. "But you're still holding back."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "I could say the same about you."

Julius chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's stop playing around, then."

---

Julius's demeanor shifted, his smirk fading as his blue eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. The air around him seemed to warp, a dark aura radiating from his body.

Alex felt it immediately—the overwhelming pressure of Beelzebub's power. The Hero's Blessing within him flared in response, his sword glowing brighter as he prepared for the next attack.

Julius moved.

One moment, he was standing several feet away. The next, he was in front of Alex, his fist slamming into the Hero's chest with the force of a cannonball. Alex was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a deafening impact.

But Alex wasn't done. He pushed himself to his feet, his sword still in hand, his eyes burning with determination.

Julius didn't give him a chance to recover. He unleashed a barrage of attacks, his fists and feet moving in a blur, each strike infused with Hellfire. Alex blocked and dodged as best he could, but the sheer speed and power of Julius's assault pushed him to his limits.

Finally, Julius landed a devastating kick to Alex's side, the force of the blow sending the Hero skidding across the ground.

Alex coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he refused to yield. He raised his sword, the blade glowing brighter than ever, and charged at Julius once more.

---

The two clashed in a flurry of blows, their movements too fast for the onlookers to follow. Julius's Hellfire clashed with Alex's holy energy, the two forces canceling each other out in bursts of light and darkness.

At one point, Julius managed to disarm Alex, sending the Hero's sword flying from his hand. But Alex didn't falter. He lunged at Julius, tackling him to the ground and pinning him with surprising strength.

Julius grinned, his crimson eyes glowing with amusement. "Not bad, Hero."

Alex's fist came down, but Julius caught it with ease. With a surge of strength, Julius flipped their positions, pinning Alex to the ground instead.

"Yield," Julius said, his voice low and dangerous.

Alex glared up at him, his eyes burning with defiance. "Never."

Julius's smirk widened. "I was hoping you'd say that."

He raised his fist, Hellfire swirling around it, ready to deliver the final blow.

But before he could strike, a voice cut through the tension.

"Enough!"

Chiyo stood at the edge of the training grounds, her crimson eyes blazing with anger. "This isn't a fight to the death. End it now."

Julius hesitated, his smirk fading as he looked down at Alex.

The Hero's eyes were still filled with defiance, but his body was battered and bruised, his strength nearly spent.

Julius sighed and stood, releasing Alex. "Fine. I'll let you live... for now."

He turned and walked away, leaving Alex lying on the ground, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

The crowd was silent, the tension in the air almost suffocating.

Julius glanced back at Alex, his smirk returning. "Next time, Hero, don't hold back."

And with that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a trail of whispers and stunned silence.

---

Alex pushed himself to his feet, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. He watched Julius's retreating figure, his grip tightening on his sword.

"He's stronger than I thought," Alex muttered, his voice low.

Chiyo approached him, her expression unreadable. "He's not just strong. He's dangerous. More than you realize."

Alex nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I won't underestimate him again."

Chiyo sighed, her gaze lingering on the spot where Julius had disappeared. "Neither will I."

The duel was over, but the battle between Julius and Alex was far from finished.

And the world would soon learn just how dangerous Julius Vaelorian truly was.