chapter 44

Durmstrang Academy, Comprehensive Arena.

Beyond the duel stage, numerous training rooms and grounds exist. However, access to these facilities is not granted unconditionally—certain requirements must be met before applying. These areas are considered a valuable resource within the academy.

However, twelve exclusive training rooms cannot be borrowed under any circumstances. These rooms are reserved for the twelve students on the first page of the academy's rankings.

One of the privileges of these top twelve students is having their own private training rooms, separate from the general student body. The quality of these rooms is determined by their ranking—the higher the rank, the better the training space.

In other words, the No. 1 student of Durmstrang Academy has the best training room. The ceiling is high, and the space is vast, comparable to a full-sized gymnasium. Even if intense battles occur, there's no concern about causing major damage.

At this moment, inside the No. 1 dedicated training room, two individuals were engaged in a fierce duel.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal colliding echoed as the magic sword with a pure white blade clashed against a real sword with a cold steel hue. Sparks erupted like tiny explosions.

"Haaah!"

Wearing a red sports uniform, Natasha let out a sharp cry, twisting her wrist as she wielded the famed blade, Rollerped. She slashed through the air, sending streaks of sword light at lightning speed toward her opponent.

"Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!"

The sound of clashing metal resonated continuously, illuminating the room with flashes of sparks.

Erend, dressed in a blue sports uniform, remained calm. He barely moved his body, relying solely on his sword arm to deflect Natasha's relentless strikes. The Black Furnace Demon Sword, glowing with an intense white light, parried each attack effortlessly.

Despite its reputation as an unstoppable weapon capable of burning through anything, Erend's sword merely diverted Natasha's slashes without cutting through Rollerped.

Any outsider witnessing this battle would be astonished.

How could the Black Furnace Demon Sword, rumored to incinerate anything it touched, fail to destroy Rollerped? The legend surrounding the sword seemed exaggerated, yet Erend and Natasha remained unfazed, continuing their relentless duel.

"Shua! Shua! Shua!"

Natasha's blade carved through the air with increasing speed. Her strikes grew sharper, more rapid, and seemingly endless. Sword light flooded the training room in a dazzling display.

Like a butterfly dancing in the storm, Natasha moved fluidly, her blade cutting in arcs from every angle. Her storm of slashes created an overwhelming barrage of attacks.

Yet, Erend did not falter. Each time he deflected a strike, Natasha adjusted her technique, accelerating her next attack.

This was the essence of the Kane Style: an endless, uninterrupted assault. A relentless wave of strikes that never ceased.

Compared to her performance in last month's ranking battle, Natasha had improved significantly. However, Erend had not remained stagnant either.

"Now, it's my turn."

Erend's voice was calm, yet decisive.

"Buzz!"

The Black Furnace Demon Sword suddenly shifted from defense to offense. Vibrating intensely, it sliced through the air, colliding directly with Natasha's incoming strike.

"Dang!"

A massive impact sent heat waves across the room. Natasha, unable to withstand the force, was knocked backward.

"Uh…!"

Her hand trembled from the impact, and her body staggered as she struggled to regain her balance. Her feet skidded across the floor before she finally came to a stop.

Before she could react further, Erend was already closing in like a phantom.

Natasha instinctively raised Rollerped to defend against the oncoming attack.

But halfway through his charge, Erend did something unexpected.

He suddenly raised the Black Furnace Demon Sword and hurled it like a javelin.

"What—?!"

Natasha's eyes widened in shock.

"Bang!"

The flying magic sword crashed into her with immense force. Though the protective aura of star power prevented serious injury, the impact still sent her flying. She slammed into the training room wall.

"Buzz!"

Before she could catch her breath, the Black Furnace Demon Sword floated in midair, its tip hovering directly in front of her forehead.

She froze.

After a moment, realizing her defeat, Natasha sighed and lowered Rollerped.

"Are you alright?"

Erend approached her, grasping the hilt of his sword and lowering the blade. He smiled warmly at her.

"I'm fine," Natasha replied after a quick assessment. Thanks to the protection of her star power, she was unharmed.

"I lost again," she muttered, frustration evident in her tone.

Erend shook his head.

"You rely too much on traditional techniques. The Kane Style is formidable, but it emphasizes offense over defense. Against unconventional attacks, its weaknesses become apparent."

He patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Also, you still don't fully understand the Black Furnace Demon Sword. You didn't realize it could act independently, which is why I was able to catch you off guard."

Natasha's frustration faded slightly, replaced by admiration.

"Even after training with you for a month, you still manage to surprise me. You have complete control over the Black Furnace Demon Sword. It's supposed to be an unstoppable weapon, yet under your command, it fought evenly against Rollerped."

Erend remained modest.

"It's not difficult. The Black Furnace Demon Sword's 'defenseless' nature is due to the intense heat concentrated within it. By controlling that heat output, I can reduce its destructive power when necessary."

To make their training possible, Erend had intentionally suppressed his sword's power. Otherwise, their battle wouldn't have lasted this long.

Natasha sighed.

"You've improved too fast. Last month, I could still pressure you with my swordsmanship. Now, even without relying on the Black Furnace Demon Sword, you can probably beat me in a pure sword fight."

Erend simply smiled.

"That depends on the situation."

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