Lucas strode into the training grounds, the air was putrid, an amalgamation of sweat and disgusting body odour.
Lucas visibly shook upon taking in the air, his stomach twisted into knots as he stuck his tongue out, recoiling in repugnance.
'There are so many hard workers! It's seven in the evening and the training ground is still this lively? Jeez, these people are really trying to get their money's worth.'
Lucas shook his head in sadness. With a small step, he approached the gravity room which was packed with dozens of people.
'You know what…..I'll come back later.' He was not going to train while being squished by ten thousand people.
After a few minutes, Lucas suddenly paused, his face twisting in anger, "Why is every single place occupied beyond belief!" He cried out in his heart, his face crunching into a grimace of frustration.
Just as he was about to leave, Lucas chanced upon Kevin who seemed to be facing the same problem as him.
'Hmm, you know what. I really want to know how much I fare against him.'
Lucas stepped closer, trying to catch Kevin's attention, "Hey… you want to spar?" he called, keeping his tone friendly but firm.
Kevin froze, blinking in surprise. He turned to face Lucas, his head tilted slowly in confusion. "Uh… sure." He said slowly.
"But I don't even know you." he asked with a hint of curiosity. Lucas grinned, "Does that matter? I want to see how strong I am, and who's better other than the strongest person in the class.
"You on the other hand want to train, and testing your skills against an actual person instead of a motionless dummy is always better. So we both are getting what we want."
Kevin listened to Lucas's words and gave a slow nod, "Makes sense."
"..."
Lucas and Kevin each took their respective places in the arena. "Are you sure about this? I'm quite strong." Kevin asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Strength is not the only thing that matters. If you can't use your head in a fight, you're nothing but an autistic blow torch. And yes, I am sure." Lucas said with a smirk.
Kevin gave a slight nod, "Wise words." Lucas's grin widened, a spark of pride lighting his eyes. "Yeah, I know I'm smart, no need to compliment me." He said teasingly.
Kevin blinked, slightly taken aback by Lucas's boldness, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Alright then," he muttered, straightening his stance. "Let's see if you can back up with your confidence."
They circled each other for a moment, Lucas's sword pointing down while Kevin held the handle of his sword.
Without a word, Kevin suddenly drew his sword from his scabbard and lunged.
Lucas barely had time to react, sidestepping the first strike with a sharp pivot, his sword clashing against Kevin's in a spark.
The impact rattled his hand, and he staggered back. Lucas's face slowly turned serious. "Damn he's strong."
Kevin's eyebrows lifted in surprise, as if acknowledging his strength and without a pause, launched a series of rapid, precise strikes. Each one forced Lucas to dodge or block, his arms trembling under the sheer power behind the blows.
Despite the difference in strength, Lucas continued his defence, reading Kevin's patterns, he anticipated the next swing. Lucas ducked under the swing, slipping behind Kevin and swung his sword in a low arc aimed at Kevin's side.
Kevin twisted just in time, the edge of Lucas's sword creating a small tear in his clothes. "Not bad," Kevin said with a half-smile, he pushed Lucas back another step. "You're giving me more trouble than I expected."
Lucas grinned, his eyes focusing on Kevin, "Don't you think we should take this to the next level?" he muttered under his breath, rolling his shoulders as he regained his footing.
"Yes." Kevin said slowly, before lunging again, his movements faster this time.
His strikes were precise and blunt, each one coming from seemingly every direction. Lucas grit his teeth, and tried his hardest to block every single one of them, parrying the most dangerous of blows.
But Kevin's attack was relentless, a few of his attacks slipped in, creating small gashes and lacerations on his body.
Their movements were a blur, faster than the eye could follow. It was as if they were teleporting across the arena—one moment Lucas was on the left side, the next on the right, Kevin vanished and reappeared above him, striking from impossible angles.
Sparks flew as their blades collided, and the force of each exchange sent shockwaves rattling the sandy arena.
Lucas's heart pounded, sweat poured down his face and soaked his shirt, and yet he didn't stop. Every strike Kevin launched, Lucas parried, or well tried his hardest to parry.
Kevin suddenly vanished from his eyes. Lucas turned back, his eyes darted around as he tried to find him, "Lucas in front of you!" Bellie suddenly yelled, his voice roaring in his mind.
Lucas's eyes flickered, widening for a moment. "I know!" Lucas shouted at the top of his lungs, twisting his head forward, he slipped into the strike, the air howling in his face as he pivoted.
His body spun, Lucas channelled mana into his arm, quickly wrapping it around his fist as he slammed his mana infused fist into Kevin's cheek.
The force exploded outward like a thunderclap, sending Kevin hurtling across the arena, skidding violently along the floor before coming to a halt. Lucas's chest heaved, sweat dripping into his eyes, but he remained poised, and grinned fiercely.
Kevin pushed himself up, wiping his blood from his lip. His eyes glimmered with a mixture of respect and challenge. "…Impressive," he admitted, his voice low but sincere, as he steadied his stance once more.
Lucas smirked, cracking his knuckles, "See? Raw power isn't everything!" He said with a wide smile, his eyes beaming with satisfaction.
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A/N - Pretty sure this is my favourite chapter out of all the ones I've written until now. Put a lot of thought into this to not make it boring af. So how is it?