The next day, the sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the city. Inside one of the Association's training facilities where the duel would be disputed, Ace and Chris, each prepared in their own way for the duel to be disputed merely minutes away. And so, the time for the confrontation had arrived.
The air buzzed with anticipation of some Realizers, who unknowingly, became spectators. Among them, Maria acted as both witness and referee. In the crowd, Deker, Undila and other Realizers could be seen.
Entering the battle platform with focused eyes, Chris and Ace glared at each other, drew their blades and took their stances. Maria raised her hand, and everyone fell silent. With a decisive motion, she brought her hand down and shouted loudly, "START!"
In an instant, both warriors were on the move. They dashed and vanished at such high speed that the air crackled with energy as they blurred into motion. Reappearing in the center of the field, they clashed. A powerful gust of wind erupted, sending dust and debris swirling around them.
Chris's face was set in fierce grin, his eyes blazing with determination. "Let's see how I fair against him," he thought as he swung his sword which was enveloped in flames, in a powerful downward arc.
Ace's eyes narrowed, his resolve unwavering. "Without a doubt, he's a monster in his own right." He thought as he countered with fluid movements and footwork, intercepting Chris's strikes every strike with his sword as the clash sent sparks flying.
As they moved around the platform with high speed, their swords clashing with each other, unleashing sword techniques and magical arts upon the others, those witnessing the fight became captivated at this myriads of black shadows, silver hues and red fire which emanated such high levels of mastery.
As the duel wore on, Chris, his eyes fierce, reminisced his time as an on-field Realizer, acknowledging the power and high-level mastery Ace had shown.
"I wonder what kind of battles you've faced to reach this level. How strong were your opponents for you to grow to such lengths. But…" Chris's thoughts continued as a grin played on his face.
Their battle continued to rage on, however, as the duel progressed, both combatants bore the marks of their fierce exchange. Cuts and bruises adorned their bodies, but their spirits remain unyielding.
Enjoying the duel to the fullest and grinning happily, Deker was burning the sight of the battle in his eyes. Never looking away for even a second.
"Sir, don't you think we should stop them?" asked Maria.
"Why should we?" Deker replied with another question.
"I may not be an experienced combattant, but even I can tell that this duel would end up with one of them getting seriously hurt."
"You're worrying over nothing. You didn't say anything when I went up against that kid."
"For the simple reason that there was no way of stoping you and your ambush."
"Hahaha!" Deker laughed as his gaze then refocused on the battle in front of him. "Chris is one of the few people who can match me."
"I know. Everyone knows about the Infernal Swordsman," Maria said, also refocusing on the battle.
"Even back in our academy days, he was the only who kept up with me. If I've got bloodline for an advantage, then he has pure raw talent. Even when we faced that monster of a dean who is called the Archmage, we were only capable of passing our exam since it was the two of us. Even I've gotta admit that I'm curious about what that kid can do when faced with Chris, the Infernal Swordsman. Just let them go at it until he's satisfied," recounted Deker, a certain warmth in his eyes.
"Truly, he's the only person to whom you'd ever trust your back with. Your rival, your friend," thought Maria as she saw Deker's smiling expression. "If only he was there to help me stop your antics. I'd have an easier time doing my job."
Back to the battle, Chris saw an opportunity and countered Ace's stab, kicking him away with a powerful blow.
Ace barely managing to land on his feet, "You truly are strong. So this is what happens when you get serious, huh?," felt respect slowly growing in his heart for Chris.
"I better warn you. If you're unable to break through this next attack, then you will lose," said Chris as he raised his sword above his head.
Taking a deep breath and calming himself, his aura flared, creating a searingly red-hot atmosphere around him while his blade was being engulfed in crimson golden flames. "This will be my final attack so prepare yourself!"
Thoughts rushed through Ace's mind as his gaze became steady and a grin slowly formed on his lips. "Concentrating all his strength throughout his entire body and his sword for one devestating blow, huh? Truly, if I don't find a way to stop that then without a doubt, I'm done."
"He's really giving it his all, huh? Guess I should take up the challenge, right? Fine. Bring it on. No more tricks. I'll cut right through it," Ace, his eyes glowing with a golden beast-like intensity, released all of his strength and poured it into his final strike. As he prepared to unleash his final attack, his fingers traced a path down the blade, infusing his sword, now gleaming with a fierce silver aura with energy, and focusing it into a singular devastating blow.
The duel was reaching its climax as both of them then unleashed their attacks.
"Now!" thought Deker his gaze widening.
Chris's voice cut through the air, commanding and resolute. "
Simultaneously, "I gotta thank you Chris. Thanks to all our lessons, training and spars, I was finally able to come up with my own technique."
Though he didn't feel or notice it, a blurry memory accompanied by glitching sounds echoed in Ace's mind as he roared, launching his attack. "
Silver energy sliced through the air, coiling around his sword. The two techniques collided with cataclysmic force. The clash of their swords creating an intense pressure that shook the very ground beneath them.
All the spectators gasped in awe as the landscape around them distorted under the immense energy of the clash. Chris, his gaze determined and unyielding, was on the brink of breaking through Ace's attack.
Suddenly, the power emanating from his opponent had shifted for only an instant as it took on an otherworldly quality. Ace was now enveloped in a shadowy black aura with silver hues, the appearance of his eyes now distorted by the energy, were shrouded in deep blackness as his iris glowed white, visible from his right eye while from his left eye hidden by the aura, the distortion of the glow made it seem like a silver flame in the darkness.
It was as if space and time were fixed. This sudden change was startling. Ace's appearance took on a spectral, winged-like quality, his presence almost ethereal. And while locking eyes with Ace, Chris momentarily taken aback, felt a shudder running down his spine.
The duel reached its peak as Ace, his sword covered in the same aura and with newfound strength, broke through Chris's sword.
A massive explosion rocked the field, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air. As the dust cleared away, all the spectators watched in stunned silence. Ace and Chris, though exhausted, out-of-breath, and barely standing, both fell to the ground thus ending the duel in a draw.