Hulio wasn't the only one who could identify the uniqueness of the powers that had come to play.
From the crowd around the arena, its size now more than 10,000, people watching even from the roofs of windows and buildings nearby, nearly all students identified the transformation that had happened to Kael's wind.
Seeing an elemental intent in action was a first for many, and they were entrenched in the display, seeking to learn more, when another pressure bloomed from the challenger.
"Sword intent. He has two intents."
The revelation sent shouts of disbelief through the crowd, the shock similarly felt by those watching from the screens above.
They might not be present, but the screens above did a near perfect job of transmitting the sensations from the arena.
Many wailed within at the sight of someone possessing double intent.
The few who had managed to grasp a single intent, knowing the difficulty in making this basic achievement, shuddered at Kael's monstrous talent, while the majority who were still struggling, hoping to comprehend an intent, wailed within.
Kael's reveal of double intent was surprising, but it had no effect on Hulio's approach.
With his spear, Hulio entered the heavy winds circling Kael.
He felt a cutting sensation on several areas of his body, but essence surged within him, rushing through his powerlines and leaking from his body.
A faint halo seemed to appear around his form, and Kael, seeing his approach, lifted his sword and slashed it horizontally at Hulio.
An arc of wind launched from the sword, its length stretching nearly 10 meters, and within it was pressure, invisible but deadly.
Kael did not wait to see the effect of his attack, he retreated backward, creating space between him and his opponent.
With his spear, Hulio thrust at the approaching attack, muscles tightening in both his arms, a raging fire lighting up and covering the blade of his spear.
Bam!!
Boom!!
First, there was a standstill as both attacks met, but it lasted for only a second as an explosion erupted.
Hulio's spear tore through the arc of wind, but then it came in contact with the pressure buried inside, its sharpness snuffing out the fire on his spear and its desire to cut seeking to consume him.
Wind raged, the ground beneath exploding, and Hulio was sent shooting out of a cloud of dust.
He landed on his two feet, skidding a short distance back, his eyes going up to see blades of wind shooting down toward him.
"He's keeping distance."
Hulio muttered, glancing at Kael, who was several meters away, his hands by his sides, no hint of him performing hand seals.
He ignored the attacks from above and tapped his feet on the ground, his figure zooming off, explosions echoing behind him as he sped toward his opponent.
The attacks fell from above, seeking to decimate Hulio, but he moved too fast.
Ahead, Kael brought out his sword and began slashing at Hulio, making use of just his intent, a deadly pressure launching from his blade with each swing, moving at blinding speeds.
Moving to the left and right, Hulio dodged the incoming attacks, his figure making sharp turns that left much of Kael's attacks hitting empty space.
As Hulio got closer though, going past the halfway line, the attacks from both above and below intensified, and he swung with his spear, striking at the deadly slashes from in front.
Hulio's spear destroyed the invisible attacks, but these attacks were very different from the usual wind blade, they stalled Hulio's speed, and by the time he destroyed the third slash, he was sent stumbling backwards.
The wind blades from above caught up with Hulio and immediately consumed him, their quantity increasing as they had caught their target, the deadly sword slashes coming into play.
An intense explosion erupted where Hulio stood, the ground for meters around him shattering, a thick dust storm rising.
Hulio's form was effectively buried under a furious attack, his condition unknown. Then Kael's voice erupted, dragging everyone's attention.
"You're strong, Hulio, but how about we both show each other something we've never seen before."
"I'll go first."
There was unhidden excitement in Kael's tone, and then, not waiting for Hulio's reply, he inserted his sword into the ground and brought his hands together, blurring through several hand signs and then slamming them together.
"Sky realm summoning. Prince Asgar."
As Kael moved his attention, the flurry of attacks which had been falling on Hulio ended, but as he slammed his hands together, the dust cloud which had consumed Hulio was torn apart.
A spear enshrouded in burning red fire shot out, screeching through the air and leaving several bangs in its wake.
Crossing the distance, it appeared before Kael, seeking to annihilate his existence, but it was too late.
There was a thunderous roar in the sky as a bright circle filled with several symbols and drawings lit up several meters in the air above Kael.
The circle expanded, and from it, a bright blue beam shot down, smashing into Kael, enveloping his figure, and from within that light, a double-edged sword flashed, blowing away the fiery spear in an explosion that eradicated it.
With two long blue horns on his forehead, his katana transformed into a blue double-edged sword, and translucent wings on his back, Kael was revealed as the circle above disappeared and the blue beam ceased.
A suffocating pressure spread from him, going past the walls of the arena and falling on the shoulders of all.
Many began breathing heavily, their hearts palpitating, and after just a second of suffocation, they began falling to their knees.
Those watching from screens had it easier, but their legs still trembled, and a few still knelt in submission.
Kael's transformation was like the descent of an otherworldly being.
"Now, show me yours."
Just by virtue of his presence, Kael exuded a pressure that demanded submission, but now he spoke, his words a command which echoed through the air.
Power oozed from each word he spoke, sounding like an eternal decree, but standing a few meters from him, his target still maintained his blank expression, the only change a complex look in his eyes.
Hulio's essence churned within him, pumping through his powerlines, eradicating all trace of Kael's influence, and as for his mind, it was like stones being thrown at a steel door.
With his shoulders relaxed, Hulio reached behind, pulling out another spear, and as the weapon fell to his side, a heavy pressure descended.
Just like with Kael's sword intent, the pressure was invisible, but different from his, it didn't come from his spear but rather from within.
The pressure stretched around Hulio, the air for nearly 5 meters around him becoming distorted, people who looked at it seeing illusions of spears flying around him.
By this time, many had become able to fight off Kael's domineering presence, getting to their feet, but then from Kael, the feeling of their bodies being bored into appeared, the hair on their bodies standing on end, their instincts telling them to prepare to fight or flee.
The sensation wasn't as exaggerated as Kael's, which stretched beyond the screens, but the students had to fortify their minds to keep calm.
"So this is what a weapon intent at the manifested stage feels like."
Kael spoke with reverence, carefully studying the space around Hulio, but as he finished speaking, his eyes flashed to the left.
His pupils narrowed as he found Hulio by his side, his spear piercing forward, moving like it was in a vacuum.
It produced no sound as it approached, seeming simple, but Kael and everyone watching the fight could sense its true nature, its enduring desire to ruthlessly penetrate.