Great. So after nearly getting killed in a duel, I get to spend two days in a monster-infested forest. This just keeps getting better.
Before Lucas could dwell on that pleasant thought, Professor Hendricks's voice boomed across the arena: "NEXT DUEL! DAMION VALORHEART VERSUS GARRETT MILLS!"
"That's me!" Damion said. "Time to show everyone what I can do!"
"Good luck," Lucas said.
"Don't need luck when you've got skill!" Damion called back as he jogged toward the platform.
Lucas watched as Damion and Garrett took their positions.
This should be interesting.
"BEGIN!"
The fight started immediately, with Garrett rushing forward with surprising speed.
Garrett's muscles hardened as mana flooded through his limbs. He swung his sword in a brutal left chop aimed at Damion's neck.
Damion ducked low. The blade whistled over his head. He drove his fist toward Garrett's exposed stomach.
Garrett twisted his torso. The punch grazed his side. He snapped his knee upward at Damion's face.
Damion's hands shot out and caught the knee. His fingers locked around Garrett's leg. With a grunt, he pivoted and hurled Garrett sideways through the air.
Garrett's body tumbled. He hit the ground shoulder-first and rolled, dissipating the momentum. Dirt sprayed up around him. He came up in a crouch, then exploded forward.
The sword came down in a savage overhead chop. Damion stepped left. The blade bit empty air.
Garrett didn't stop. He swung again. It was a horizontal slash from the right. Damion leaned back. The edge passed inches from his chest.
Three more chops followed in rapid succession. Left. Right. Left. Each one faster than the last. Damion's head bobbed and weaved. His feet shuffled in tight circles. The sword carved the air around him but never touched flesh.
Garrett roared and delivered two more diagonal slashes. Damion slipped outside both strikes, his movement economical and precise.
The seventh chop came down vertically. Damion sidestepped it and the blade sparked against stone.
Garrett's breathing grew heavier. He changed tactics immediately. His leg swept low at Damion's ankles in a vicious arc.
Damion jumped. His feet left the ground just as the leg passed beneath him.
While still airborne, Damion's leg shot out. His boot hammered into Garrett's chest.
Garrett stumbled backward. His arms windmilled. He fought to keep his balance.
Damion landed and pressed forward. His right fist drove toward Garrett's sternum.
It connected and the impact echoed across the arena.
His left followed instantly. Another solid hit to the chest.
The third punch came lightning-fast.
Garrett's forearm came up and blocked it. The force still pushed him back a step.
Garrett reversed his grip on his sword and thrust the pommel at Damion's temple.
Damion threw himself backward into a backflip. His hands touched the ground briefly. He landed on his feet three yards away.
Garrett charged. His boots pounded the dirt. He closed the distance in seconds.
The sword came alive in his hands. He attacked with fury and his strikes were wild. High, low, diagonal, horizontal.
Damion ducked under a horizontal slash. Twisted away from a thrust. Leaned back on from an upward cut. His feet traced intricate patterns across the ground. The blade never found him.
Garrett pressed harder. Sweat dripped down his face. His muscles burned. He swung with everything he had.
Damion evaded every attack. Not a single cut landed on his body. Hell, they didn't even touch his clothes.
"He's toying with him," Zacard said. "Garrett's got heart, but he's completely outclassed."
It seemed Garrett had noticed this too.
"If you're going to play around then why even come to this test." He said.
He then began to surge his mana.
"Since I'm clearly outclassed, I might as well put all of my power into one blow. " Garrett continued.
Garrett leaped back suddenly. He planted his feet wide. His sword pointed at the sky.
Blue light began to gather along the blade. It pulsed and swirled and began to gather more and more power.
I knew it would be something like this. Once everyone began using spells I saw that it was mostly nobles who were using them.
I figured that they were the only ones with the resources and connections to learn spells outside of the academy's control and even if any commoner learned spells, they would definitely save it for last resort and not spam it like the nobles.
Unfortunately, most of those who passed the battle royal are nobles.
"I see. Then I'll make this quick." Damion replied.
"[Star Impa..." Garrett said.
Damion burst forward. His speed doubled.
Garrett's eyes widened.
Damion's fist crashed into Garrett's jaw and the impact snapped his head sideways.
The blue light sputtered.
Another punch drove right into his solar plexus. All the air left Garrett's lungs in a rush.
The sword fell from from his fingers.
Damion's knee slammed up into Garrett's stomach and Farrett doubled over.
An elbow came down on the back of his neck. Garrett dropped to his knees.
Damion grabbed his hair and wrenched his head back. His other fist hovered an inch from Garrett's face.
Garrett stared up at him. Blood trickled from his mouth. His eyes glazed.
"Done," Damion said.
He released Garrett's hair. Garrett collapsed face-first into the dirt.
The sword lay five feet away, its blade dull and lifeless. The blue light had vanished completely. Star Impact had failed before it could manifest.
Damion stepped back. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. His breathing remained steady.
Garrett groaned and tried to push himself up. His arms trembled. They gave out. He fell flat again.
Damion turned and walked away. His footsteps were quiet against the ground.
Behind him, Garrett lay motionless as the medics rushed to assist him. The fight was over.
"DAMION VALORHEART WINS!"
The crowd exploded in noise.
"We love you, Damion!"
"You're the best!"
"You're so handsome, Damion!"
"I want to have your babies!"
"Room 703 of the Suilen girls dorm! Be there tonight, Damion! I have something warm and nice to give to you!"
Damion just continued smiling and walked away.