Standing on the dueling arena, we looked at each other in silence.
One second passed. Then another. Then a third.
Eleris moved first.
She dashed forward, immediately closing the distance—just like I expected. Close combat was her domain.
I wouldn't allow that.
I swung my blade diagonally from the left, aiming to intercept her advance.
Miss.
But it forced her to slow down. She didn't reach me completely.
That was enough.
A pulse of mana—
Eleris cast instantly.
A red lightning spell shot toward me at terrifying speed. I barely managed to parry it, the impact numbing my arm.
The moment I focused on the spell, she moved again.
Too fast.
She slipped into close range and threw a right hook.
I frowned.
She had the initiative.
I dodged—but she was already too close. If this continued, she would start overwhelming me.
I reacted immediately.
Stone Rain (1★).
At the same time, I counterattacked with my sword from the opposite angle.
But—
Mana fluctuations.
Of course she wouldn't just sit still.
I had to retreat or I would've taken the hit.
Eleris pressed forward.
Now I was at a disadvantage.
Three meters left behind me. That was all the space I had.
I took the risk.
Stone Rain again—center aimed at her solar plexus, the side projectiles targeting her shoulders.
The moment the spell formed, I jumped back.
It worked.
Eleris laughed.
Finally, I had space.
Twelve Steps of the Storm + Storm Step + Stone Rain.
I launched my counterattack.
Another lightning spell flew at me—slower, but covering a wide area.
I cut through it with the first step.
My Stone Rain missed.
Second strike—aimed at her shoulder.
But Eleris didn't dodge.
Didn't parry.
She counterattacked.
If I traded like this, the damage wouldn't be enough for the formation to declare me the winner.
I needed more speed.
For the past week, I had been trying to figure out how to use Storm Step more effectively.
I knew it had to synchronize with Twelve Steps of the Storm.
But I never figured out how.
So I stopped thinking.
And trusted instinct.
I redirected the flow of mana—just slightly.
It worked.
My speed surged.
I cut her right shoulder.
And barely dodged her counterpunch.
Eleris clicked her tongue, irritation flashing across her face.
She went fully aggressive.
But now she was injured.
Ending the fight should've been easy.
That's what I thought.
I was wrong.
She cast again.
Six lightning bolts.
Three aimed at me.
Three cutting off my retreat paths.
I was forced to defend while moving back.
At the same time—
She activated her movement technique, enhanced by red lightning.
Right.
Of course she had that.
She closed the distance instantly.
I tried to intercept her with a preemptive strike—
She dodged.
Another spell came at me.
I avoided it—but that moment was enough.
She was already in front of me.
Her fist drove straight into my stomach.
The formation registered my defeat.
---
The injuries weren't serious. A healing potion and some rest would be enough.
But still—
I was frustrated.
More than I expected.
I was sure that with magic, I could win.
Eleris noticed immediately.
— Don't look so down. If you had a 2★ spell like mine, you probably would've won.
She tried to comfort me.
— Thanks.
I smiled faintly.
— Don't get cocky. Next time, I won't take hits like that.
She said it half-jokingly.
I laughed.
I liked being around her.
Cecilia stood nearby, listening silently as always.
Nothing unusual.
After five minutes of rest, we resumed training.