The arena within the Ebonhart estate was vast.
It was carved from dark stone and reinforced with layered formations, it was designed to withstand forces far beyond ordinary combat. The air within carried a faint metallic scent, mixed with the lingering echoes of countless battles fought across generations.
And right now at its center two figures stood opposite each other.
Isolde.
Malrik.
The distance between them was neither too far nor too close but neither moved first.
Isolde's twin swords rested lightly at her sides, their edges gleaming faintly under the dim arena light. Her posture was straight and composed—but beneath that stillness was tension, as she was extremely focused on the fight ahead.
Malrik, on the other hand, stood relaxed.
A spear rested loosely in his grip, its tip angled slightly downward. His stance was casual… almost careless but his eyes told a different story.
They were sharp, watching Isolde closely. After a while, he looked at her and said one word.
"Come"
No countdown, no signal.
Isolde moved.
Her figure blurred forward, her speed erupting instantly as she quickly closed the distance between them.
Both swords slashed toward him in a precise, crossing arc aimed at his torso.
Clang—
Malrik's spear moved, and his attack looked effortless.
The shaft intercepted both blades with perfect timing, redirecting their force to the side as though it weighed nothing.
But Isolde didn't stop.
Her body twisted mid-motion, one blade reversing direction to strike upward toward his neck while the other swept low toward his legs.
Clang. Clang.
Blocked again.
Seeing that her attacks had been blocked her expression didn't change one bit because she knew who she was sparring against and also knew that breaking through his defences was not something she could do easily.
Malrik didn't retreat but he didn't advance either. He simply stood at a spot and neutralized everything that she threw his way.
Isolde's eyes narrowed and her attacks accelerated.
Her attacks were faster and sharper as she didn't hold back in the slightest facing her brother.
Her blades became streaks of silver as she pressed forward, each strike layered with intent—feints, redirections, deceptive angles.
But no matter how intricate her movements became Malrik matched them.
His spear moved her every move with minimal effort, its length allowing him to intercept every strike before it could reach him.
He wasn't just blocking, he completely controlled the flow of her attacks, guiding some of them away and dismantling some.
Isolde stepped back briefly, then surged forward again.
But this time her movements changed it became more aggressive and more forceful.
Her swords collided against his spear in a rapid sequence of strikes, each heavier than the last.
Clang—Clang—Clang—
The sounds of their battle echoed throughout the arena.
But regardless, Malrik remained unmoved. Since the beginning of the fight the had yet to take a step backwards and had yet to make a single wasted motion.
"You're too predictable," he said calmly.
Isolde's eyes narrowed as his words seemed to annoy her.
Then she vanished and reappeared at his flank, both swords descending in a simultaneous strike aimed at his shoulder and ribs.
Malrik turned and his spear rose slightly
Clang.
Blocked once again. The outcome was the same as her previous attempts.
Isolde clicked her tongue softly.
She created some distance between them again holding her swords in both hands she adopted a fighting stance. Then she breathed in and exhaled.
The moment the air left her mouth the air around her shifted.
A faint mist began to spread from her body as her aura changed.
Malrik's gaze flickered slightly as he observed all the changes.
"Good," he murmured.
The ground beneath her feet frosted over as darkness coiled through the ice like veins, merging into something unnatural.
She had activated her physique, and without hesitation, she charged towards him again. But this time the aura around her felt more dangerous.
"Abyssal Frost Rend."
Her blades carved through the air, leaving behind trails of blackened frost that tore toward Malrik in intersecting arcs.
Malrik moved his spear
A single sweep and all attacks shattered scattering ice fragments across the arena floor.
But it seemed like that attack was a feint as Isolde instantly appeared behind him with her swords brewing with power waiting to be unleashed.
"Ebon Glacier Severance."
Both swords descended, wrapped in dense, dark ice that distorted the air around them.
Malrik, without turning back, quickly brought his spear behind him, and almost instantly her swords connected with his spear shaft.
Clang—
The impact rang louder this time as he blocked the attack
Malrik lifted an eyebrow in surprise as although he could easily track her movements the force behind her previous attack had increased dramatically.
And right now her attacks matched those of someone at the first level of the soul realm.
Meaning that if she were compared to those her age she would rank at the very top.
Isolde didn't stop.
Her attacks flowed into the next seamlessly.
"Frozen Nightfall Cascade."
A flurry of strikes followed, each one faster than the last, her blades weaving a storm of dark ice slashes that came from every angle.
Malrik's spear moved faster, more precisely, and extremely controlled.
Malrik met every strike with equal force had every angle covered leaving openings.
And due to this tight defense, Isolde left no damage on him. Although she too hadn't been touched, she knew he had just been on the defensive.
Isolde's expression hardened.
She stepped back and thrust both blades forward.
"Voidfrost Convergence."
The air condensed.
Darkness and ice fused into a single, concentrated force that shot toward Malrik like a collapsing star.
For the first time—
Malrik shifted his footing albeit slightly.
His spear moved forward again and stopped it.
The force dissipated against the shaft, breaking apart into fading fragments.
Silence followed as the cold air lingered.
Isolde stood still for a moment.
Her breathing was steady—but heavier.
Malrik seeing this lowered his spear slightly.
"Better than your first attempt," he said.
He was completely unscathed after the assault. Even his clothes hadn't been touched.
Isolde stared at him for a while, and then she moved again.
But this time closed the distance fully her swords disappeared from her hands.
Her stance changed as her body shifted.
It was at that moment that Malrik understood what she planned to do.
Close combat.
Instantly her fist shot forward carrying with it destructive might
"Frostshade Breaker."
Dark ice wrapped around her arm as her punch aimed directly for his chest.
Malrik raised his hand and caught it effortlessly.
The force dispersed as she twisted her body; instantly, her leg swept upward in a sharp arc.
"Glacial Phantom Kick."
A precise, powerful strike aimed at his head.
Malrik tilted his head slightly avoiding it by mere inches
He then placed a hand against her leg and pushed it aside.
Isolde didn't falter.
She flowed into another motion turning every part of her body into a lethal weapon
Elbow.
Knee.
Palm strike.
Each movement chained seamlessly, her body transitioning through different martial forms with precision and speed.
But—
Every strike was blocked or deflected. Each attack was completely neutralized.
Finally, she stepped back.
Her chest rose and fell slightly as she exhaled.
Silence filled the arena.
Malrik lowered his spear completely now.
"That's enough." He said
Isolde said nothing, but her gaze remained locked on him.
Malrik looked at her for a moment then nodded slightly.
"You've improved."
It was a simple statement but from him it carried weight.
Isolde stood straight as her swords reappeared in her hands and she put them back in their sheaths.
"Not enough," she replied.
Malrik's lips curved faintly.
"No, but for your level you've done enough."
Silence settled once more.
The arena returned to stillness, but the air still carried the remnants of their clash
A quiet reminder of the chasm that existed between the two of them.
After stareing while Malrik turned to leave as he had completely seen what he came for.
But as he was going Isolde suddenly spoke
"What's the true extent of your power?" She asked.
Hearing this Malrik who was on his way out paused
Seeing this she continued " As we battled you didn't show anything as though you completely sealed your aura. I know I'm not powerful enough to challenge you but not being powerful enough for you to take seriously is different."
She paused for a moment, then said
"Show me the difference between us right now"
Malrik sighed after listening to her, then he turned to face her
"It's not like it's a secret or anything those old men already know sooner or later you'll find out" he muttered under his breath
He then looked her in the eye and said
"Try not to pass out"
Hearing her brother's warnings her body instantly tensed as she prepared herself for the worst.
Watching her movements Malrik nodded, took a deep breath then let it out
At that moment the air around the arena stilled and a monstrously dark aura that reeked of blood and death erupted from his body.
Feeling the aura Isolde was shocked
Malrik who had a laid-back aura suddenly transformed into a ferocious beast king that felt ready to rip her apart.
The aura coming from him pressed on her physically and mentally try to force her to her knees.
But Isolde being as stubborn as she was gritted her teeth and withstood the monstrous pressure rolling of her brother.
Her joints creaked and her mind felt exhausted but she still fought back
Malrik seeing this was surprised but sighed as he knew this moment would spur her into working harder than she already did and he didn't want that for his little sister.
After a while, he withdrew his aura transforming back to the unassuming youth.
After retracting his aura he looked in the direction of his sister but she didn't move an inch, Malrik thought she was deep in thought after experiencing that but after a long while something felt off.
So,Malrik swiftly appeared by her side and checked her condition only to be shocked by his discovery.
Isolde had passed out under the weight of his aura but her body refused to kneel. So, even after she lost consciousness she remained standing.