Chapter 19: Elegance

  The tension in The tension in the arena was palpable. Marcus stood beside his friends, his gaze shifting from one contestant to the next, taking in the array of Beastfolk with growing awareness. It was becoming increasingly clear to him that the crowd was biased—cheering enthusiastically for those of Beastfolk descent while the rest were treated with a noticeable coolness.

  “Dont worry, beastfolk naturally take a liking to their kin, complicated history, but they're a warm bunch once you get to know them,” Vira muttered, crossing her arms and scanning the arena.

  Marcus couldn’t help but feel a pang of discomfort. The energy in the air was noticeable, and while he’d expected it to be competitive, he didn’t realize just how deeply the divide between Beastfolk and others ran.

  Still, he was here to learn and compete, and that’s exactly what he intended to do.

  The announcer’s voice broke through his thoughts.

  “Next match, Thalron Kelcrest and Kessik Omnack!”

  Competitors...please make your way to the arena...

  Marcus’s heart skipped. He’d been eagerly waiting to see how his friend and rival would perform. Thalron had been a mystery in some ways, but Marcus had noticed the underlying strength in him—the quiet resolve, the unshakable composure.

  Thalron stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful, his sword gleaming under the natural light. He was a master swordsman, a Spell Sword. Marcus couldn’t help but watch with admiration as Thalron entered the ring, each step elegant yet deliberate, his every motion the embodiment of a swordsman’s confidence and grace.

  Thalron faced Kessik, a panther Beastfolk who was every bit the equal of his opponent. Kessik’s stealthy movements were a deadly testament to his training, his Ki-enhanced agility making him resemble a shadow more than a man.

  The crowd quieted as the match began, the silence a prelude to the calm before the chaos.

  "Begin" the referee announced.

  Suddenly...the competitors dashed forward and a series of clangs rang out...

  Kessik prowled around Thalron, his eyes glinting with every slash. The air between them felt charged, every movement an attempt to feel out the other’s weaknesses. Thalron’s eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword steady, his posture perfect.

  Kessik darted in, his Ki-infused Sword flashing through the air. The strikes were quick—slashing with lethal intent. But Thalron was prepared. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even move at first. He deflected each strike, his body still, watchful—waiting for the perfect opening.

  Kessik was fast, and Thalron knew that any mistake could end the match. He kept his mind sharp, feeling each strike with calculated precision, allowing his sword to hum with magical energy. The blade glowed faintly with an ethereal light, yet he held back, not yet revealing his full strength.

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  Kessik, meanwhile, circled with deadly grace, his form a blur. He moved like a shadow, slipping in and out of Thalron’s range, testing his opponent’s resolve. Each slash from Kessik came dangerously close, but Thalron didn’t waver—his sword raised with perfect poise, blocking and deflecting each attack with practiced ease.

  ... frustrated...Kessik infused his legs with Ki, and when he was just in range of Thalron's slash, he back dashed at a speed Thalron couldn't follow with his eyes. Thalron lost his target..then suddenly Kessik appeared behind him, sword raised ready to slash at Thalron's back.

  Thalron had no time to turn and block the blow..

  Kessik swung his sword down, and...

  "Clang!"

  Thalron had summoned a pillar of ice behind him blocking Kessik's sword.

  Thalron preformed a faint motion with his off hand summoning a gust of air that carried him out of Kessik's range.

  Kessik hesitated, just for a fraction of a second,

  Thalron waved his sword horizontally in front of him.

  As the sword passed through the air, it left behind white translucent copies of itself that stood suspended in space...

  Thalron raised his sword and pointed toward Kessik...

  The spectral swords mimicked the action...

  Kessik, not knowing what was to come, infused his entire body with Ki...

  With swift, fluid motion, Thalron attacked, his spectral blades attacked with him, blades slicing through the air like whispers of wind.

  With an abundance of Ki strengthening his body, Kessik was just' fast enough to deflect, Dodge, and block the attacks that came at him from every angle...

  Thalron made another gesture with his off hand, and his shadow began to stretch from its position, and reached toward Kessik's, who was too distracted to notice...

  Once the shadow made contact with Kessik's own, Kessik was frozen in place...

  Thalron shot forward with a punch, His fist engulfed in Mana fire, the fist connected with Kessik’s chest, sending him skidding backward across the arena floor.

  The crowd gasped, their breaths caught in awe at the grace, speed, and Thalron's Mana manipulation. Kessik stumbled back, but he quickly regained his footing. His pride, however, had been dented. He wasn’t out of the fight yet.

  With a snarl, Kessik lunged again. This time, his strikes came faster and more ferocious, but Thalron’s movements were fluid and precise—his sword's spectral copies danced in the air like living things. Each slash from Kessik was met with a perfect parry, followed by a swift counterstrike from one of the blades that kept the panther Beastfolk on the defensive.

  Kessik’s movements became more frantic as Thalron expertly closed the distance between them, each move calculated and graceful. But Kessik was no slouch. He feinted left, then right, all while blocking anything that attacked him.

  Just as it seemed that the two fighters could dance forever, Kessik faultered...

  In a final, elegant display of skill, Thalron’s sword sliced the air, catching Kessik’s sword at the perfect angle, with a twist Thalron dislodged Kessik's sword from his grip, and in a follow maneuver, The flat of Thalron’s sword slammed the panther Beastfolk to the ground. Kessik didn’t fall unconscious—but he was clearly overwhelmed, his body unable to continue the fight without risking serious injury. Kessik raised two fingers, submission.

  “Enough,” the announcer called, stepping forward as the crowd hushed.

  “Winner—Thalron!”

  The crowd erupted into applause, though not as loudly as they had for the Beastfolk fighters. Thalron, unshaken, took a moment to acknowledge the crowd with a respectful bow. His gaze turned toward Marcus, offering him a small, knowing nod, a silent acknowledgment of their shared experience.

  Marcus couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride for his friend. Thalron had demonstrated mastery—a perfect blend of swordsmanship and magic, and he had fought with honor.

  Marcus had learned a lot...

  The fight had been far from easy, but it had never been about proving dominance. It was about the elegance of the duel, a test of skill, precision, and patience.

  As Thalron exited the ring, he gave the crowd one last wave, and the quiet elegance of his movements left the crowd buzzing in appreciation.

  “Well done.” Marcus whispered under his breath, his mind already racing with ideas and admiration for what he’d just witnessed.

  “Guess you weren’t kidding about him being impressive,” Vira said, a teasing smile playing at her lips.

  Marcus nodded, his thoughts still on the fight. “Yeah. He’s definitely a worthy rival"