CHAPTER 19 — The Dojo competition (4)
Inside the barrier, two figures stood facing each other.
Riven Valemont.
Leonhart Vale.
Both held their wands firmly at their sides, mana faintly stirring around them as the translucent barrier sealed shut with a low hum.
Around the arena, the students had already begun whispering.
"Who do you bet on?" one asked.
"Riven," another answered instantly.
"Same."
"I'm betting on Leo," someone else said stubbornly.
A student leaned toward Rowan. "Hey, newbie. Who do you bet on?"
Rowan blinked. "Uh… I don't bet. My parents say betting is a bad thing."
A few students laughed.
"Haha, it's not real betting," one said. "Just say who you think will win."
Rowan hesitated, then his eyes drifted toward the arena.
Toward Riven.
'So his name is...'
"…Riven," he said quietly, not even realizing he'd answered.
A few students glanced at him.
At the edge of the crowd, one student cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted,
"HEY, LEO! After beating me in the last match, you better win this one!"
Leonhart flinched inside the barrier.
'Damn it, Aron,' he cursed internally. 'Stay quiet for one second.'
He inhaled slowly, Forcing his breath to steady as he stared at his opponent.
'So my opponent is him. Ok gosh.'
His heart beat faster.
'I planned to deal with Riven in the finals… not now. I haven't even finished analyzing him.'
Across from him, Riven stood calmly posture relaxed.
No tension in his shoulders. No rush in his breathing.
Just waiting for the battle to begin.
"Battle begins."
The instant the voice echoed—
Leonhart moved.
"Flame Shot!"
A burst of fire streaked toward Riven.
Leonhart didn't wait to see the results he shifted sideways. Boots skidding as he raised his wand again.
"Wind burst!"
A sharp compressed wind followed immediately blasting forward.
He didn't stop and moved again.
"Water Cannon!"
A torrent of water roared forward as Leonhart moved again, sweat already forming on his brow.
'If I want to win,' Leonhart thought grimly.
'I have to go all out from the start,'
'I can't give him time to aim. I can't stay still.'
Spell after spell poured out. The impact of spells churned the areana floor, steam and mist exploding outward until the space where Riven stood vanished into thick fog.
But Leonhart still continued casting spells into it.
From outside, students frowned.
"What's Leo doing?" one muttered.
"If he keeps throwing spells like that," another said, "he's going to burn himself out very soon."
Eldric watched closely. "He's giving it everything."
Master Garrick nodded. "Yes. And he's chaining different elements to disrupt counters. His control and understanding are not only good but that strategy is also quite solid."
Leonhart panted chest rising and falling, his eyes were locked on the fog.
'Please… please… please...'
Master Garrick continued calmly, "Leonhart's strength lies in his analytical mind. He adapts quickly to opponents."
He paused and then.
"But—"
A sudden gust tore through the arena.
The fog was blown away in an instant.
Riven stood there.
Untouched.
Not even his clothes were disturbed.
Leonhart's breath caught.
Master Garrick finished, "…his weakness is that when faced with a stronger opponent he hasn't fully analyzed, he becomes reckless."
Riven hadn't moved an inch.
"He handled all those spells,"Master Garrick said softly. "He's grown."
Leonhart swallowed staring in disbelief.
'Wh— What the…'
He raised his wand again, panic creeping into his thoughts.
'What spell should I use? What will work? Fire? Wind? Water—'
Too late.
Riven placed his left hand which had mana gather around it as he pressed it against the ground.
"Wind press."
Boom.
A compressed burst of wind exploded beneath his feet.
Riven launched upward.
Leonhart's eyes widened as he aimed instinctively. "Wind—!"
But before that, A razer-sharp gust struck his hand.
His wand flew from his grip, clattering to the ground behind him.
Before he could react—
"Water Cannon."
A crushing wave slammed into his chest. And then—
"Wind Surge."
The force compounded.
Leonhart's body was lifted and thrown backward.
The barrier flashed.
And in the next moment, He was ejected.
The arena fell silent.
Then—
"I told you Riven would win!"
"Yeah, that wasn't even close!"
The student who had cheered for Leonhart slapped his forehead. "Ahh, Leo, you idiot!"
Riven stood alone inside the barrier.
Unruffled. Unstretched. Not a bead of sweat in sight.
The barrier dissolved.
Master Garrick exhaled. "Hmm... So Leonhart lost."
"Wasn't that obvious?" Eldric added.
Master Garrick didn't respond immediately.
'If Leonhart learns to remain calm against opponents he hasn't analyzed,' he thought, 'he'll be ready for Grand Aetherion.'
His gaze shifted back to Riven.
'And Riven…'
A faint proud smile formed around master's lips.
'He has come far since that day.'
Master Garrick looked over the remaining students.
Rowan noticed his gaze and, misunderstanding completely, waved enthusiastically.
The dojo master blinked.
Then turned back toward the arena.
'The competition still has many participants left.'
"This will be interesting."
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Chapter Ends