The first to reach Corvus was Kurz’s massive axe. The sharp steel sliced through the air at high speed, leaving a shrill whistle in its wake. Kurz’s muscular arms swung the axe with deadly force, determined to bring his opponent down with a single blow. However, Corvus dodged at the last moment, twisting his body with almost supernatural agility and barely escaping the sharp death. But right then, someone was waiting for him in the direction he had dodged—Kaelyra.

  Kaelyra, with years of battle experience, had already anticipated Corvus’s escape route. She had positioned Kurz’s attack in a way that would direct him straight into her range. Her axe swung upwards like a silver lightning bolt. Corvus barely managed to step back, avoiding the deadly blade, but this retreat only pushed him into a greater trap. At the exact same moment as Kaelyra’s strike, Kurz had already launched another downward swing with his axe.

  The two had trained side by side for years, learning to anticipate each other’s movements instinctively. Their attacks were like a dance of war, executed in flawless synchronization. Kurz’s axe moved in perfect harmony with Kaelyra’s; when one attacked, the other closed the gap, each strike complementing the other’s. As Kaelyra’s axe slashed through the air, Kurz’s was already positioned for another deadly blow from a different angle.

  Yet despite the unmatched coordination of these two warriors, Corvus had not taken a single hit. His body flowed like water between the attacks. He did not retreat, did not flail in panic—every movement was deliberate and masterful. He stepped sideways, narrowly avoiding Kurz’s axe, then bent slightly to pass under Kaelyra’s blade. As he swayed to the side, it was as if time itself had momentarily paused—he could see and read their attacks as a whole.

  Kaelyra’s axe passed a mere inch from Corvus’s face. Kurz’s axe blocked his escape route. But Corvus swiftly lowered himself, planting one hand on the ground beneath Kurz’s feet, and pushed off with great force, launching himself backward. Kaelyra’s next strike came straight at him, but Corvus twisted his body midair, dodging at the last second. The moment he landed, the duo immediately renewed their assault.

  Yet, Corvus had still not made a single attack. Meanwhile, the pressure on Kaelyra and Kurz was mounting with every passing second. They could feel their movements becoming heavier, their muscles straining. Even the air itself seemed to solidify. The intense Lightstone energy radiating from Corvus pressed down on them like invisible chains. While their attacks slowed, Corvus moved with the same fluidity as before.

  This was not just a battle. This was Corvus proving his absolute superiority.

  The aura emanating from Corvus suddenly surged, expanding like a wave and enveloping the entire arena. What had begun as a subtle, insidious pressure had now become an overwhelming, suffocating force. The air grew heavier, the arena trembled as if an unseen power was shaking it. Kurz’s breath hitched, his shoulders tensed involuntarily—and in that moment, Corvus moved.

  Kurz’s axe swung with all his might. The colossal steel blade sliced through the air with a menacing hum, ready to carve a deadly rift. But Corvus had timed his suppression perfectly, causing a slight delay in Kurz’s reflexes. Kurz’s vision blurred for a moment, his muscles failed to exert full force, and his axe swung just a few centimeters off target. And in that instant, Corvus seized the opening.

  He capitalized on his opponent’s moment of weakness in a single decisive move. He dodged to the side, escaping the range of Kurz’s axe. But he did not merely evade—he lunged towards Kurz’s exposed right side. His body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, gathering all his strength in an instant, and delivered a crushing kick to Kurz’s ribs.

  Kurz gasped as the force of the blow knocked the wind out of him, the pain reverberating through his entire body. His feet left the ground as he was sent flying several meters before crashing down in agony. His body tumbled across the arena’s hard stone floor, leaving a small cloud of dust in his wake.

  Yet Kaelyra paid no heed to the echoes of Kurz’s fall. Her battle instincts had already driven her into action. Without wasting a single breath, she moved. Her axe hurtled toward Corvus’s shoulders like a shining storm of death. But this time, Corvus’s response was entirely different from what Kaelyra had expected.

  When her axe met Corvus’s sword, she had anticipated a powerful clash. But instead of resisting like a solid wall, Corvus’s blade was nearly powerless. Kaelyra instantly lost her balance—because at the last moment, Corvus had loosened his grip, allowing his sword to slip from his hand. Without the expected impact, Kaelyra stumbled forward, struggling to regain her footing.

  And that moment was the perfect opening for Corvus’s strike.

  Before she could stabilize her stance, a powerful blow struck Kaelyra’s abdomen. Corvus’s fist, like a hammer forged from steel, sank into her body. All her internal organs trembled, the air in her lungs forcibly expelled. Her vision darkened for a brief moment, and a drop of warm blood rolled from her lips.

  But her warrior instincts kicked in—despite the pain, she immediately leaped back, forcing herself to recover even as her knees wobbled. Corvus’s second punch followed swiftly, but Kaelyra ducked just in time to avoid it. The force of the missed strike cut through the air beside her, stirring up a gust behind her.

  Kaelyra, suppressing the pain in her abdomen, took several steps back. Her breath was ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly. The impact of the blow still echoed within her body. Yet her eyes never lost focus.

  Instead of pursuing her, Corvus turned to retrieve the sword he had deliberately discarded. As he grasped the gleaming steel and lifted it from the ground, the atmosphere of the arena changed. Until now, Corvus had only been on the defensive. But now, he had decided to attack—and he was no longer wielding a single sword, but two.

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  Kurz and Kaelyra regained their stances almost simultaneously, but the balance had completely shifted. Corvus’s every attack fell upon them like a storm of death, slicing through the air with merciless precision. His swords moved in flawless synchronization, one striking while the other covered any openings, never ceasing their relentless assault.

  Kurz’s axe grew heavier with each passing moment, requiring more strength to block every blow. Kaelyra’s arms trembled, her reflexes growing slower. But the worst part was the overwhelming pressure of the Lightstone energy surrounding them. Corvus’s aura weighed down on their bodies, making their muscles feel as heavy as lead.

  Every one of Corvus’s strikes could have been lethal, yet he held back. When he struck Kaelyra, he never used the sharp edge of his blades. Instead, he deliberately used the flat side, merely shaking her with each impact. But Kurz was a different matter.

  Kurz was no longer fighting to win—he was fighting to kill. His strikes were wild, filled with rage. He attacked with a force beyond his limits, growing more furious with every failed attempt. He felt humiliated. He had noticed the restraint Corvus showed Kaelyra, and it fueled his fury. Kurz’s every attack was an embodiment of his hatred and wrath—and Corvus had recognized it.

  Thus, Corvus responded to Kurz in equal measure—not playing with him, but truly fighting him.

  And then, in a sudden shift, Corvus turned toward Kaelyra.

  As she was forced entirely into defense, Kaelyra realized something—Corvus wasn’t truly trying to defeat her, but rather maneuvering her into a specific position. She understood it, but Kurz did not.

  Kaelyra had noticed it, but Kurz lunged forward before he could realize the situation.

  Kaelyra could have told Kurz to stop. If she had warned him, maybe she could have saved his life. But she didn’t. She looked into Kurz’s blood-filled, furious eyes and remained silent, knowing there would be a consequence.

  Kurz’s axe was rushing toward Corvus like lightning. He thought he would succeed this time. But Corvus’s move was once again unexpected.

  At the last moment, he spun around, turning his back, and skillfully deflected Kurz’s axe with one of his swords. When the steel of the axe clashed against the blade of his sword, Corvus’s wrists shifted direction with precise mastery. Before Kurz could regain his balance, Corvus brought down his other sword in a swift, downward strike.

  The sharp steel carved a deep gash from Kurz’s right shoulder to his left ribs.

  Corvus had tried to execute the attack with as little force as possible, but even so, Kurz had suffered a severe wound. Blood quickly dyed his clothes red, warm droplets falling from his shoulders. Yet, with trembling legs, Kurz still stood. His eyes were locked onto Corvus with hatred, as if even blood loss wouldn’t be enough to bring him down.

  But Corvus was determined to end this fight here.

  In an instant, he moved right in front of Kurz and delivered a sharp punch to his chin. Kurz’s consciousness was severed immediately—his eyes turned blank, and his body suddenly weakened, dropping to his knees.

  And then, with a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground.

  Corvus took a deep breath and slowly straightened. As Kurz’s unconscious body lay sprawled across the arena’s grounds, Corvus locked eyes with Kaelyra. Even though the battle had ended, the tension between them was still palpable. However, it was not hostility. There was neither anger nor resentment in their eyes—only mutual respect and that deep connection shared between warriors.

  Kaelyra took a deep breath, and a faint smile settled on her face. She had achieved her goal. She had wanted to see Corvus’s growth, and now, she had personally witnessed how far he had come. At the same time, Corvus slightly inclined his head and smiled as well.

  The silence lasted only a few seconds.

  Corvus sheathed both of his swords onto his back. At that moment, the overwhelming energy of the Lightstone, which had dominated the entire arena, completely dissipated. The air became cool and light once more, but the exhaustion of battle weighed on both of them.

  Kaelyra carelessly tossed her axe aside. This did not mean the fight was over. On the contrary, now the real struggle was about to begin.

  The two of them had decided to set their weapons aside and finish the fight with sheer physical strength alone.

  Kaelyra cracked her neck, loosened her shoulders, and repeated that old habit of hers before a fight. Her smile widened slightly, but this time, there was amusement in it.

  “Don’t forget who taught you how to fight with your fists, kid!” she said in a mocking tone.

  Corvus slightly raised an eyebrow and took his stance. His hands were clenched, his feet firmly planted in position. He tilted his head slightly to the side, smirking.

  “You’ve grown old, Kaelyra… Way too old.”

  As the words echoed within the arena, they both moved at the same time.

  Corvus and Kaelyra clashed right in the center. Kaelyra threw the first punch, but Corvus sidestepped quickly and countered with a strong hook to Kaelyra’s ribs. Her body staggered for a moment, but she quickly recovered and swung a powerful right straight toward Corvus’s face.

  Corvus raised his arm to block the punch, but the sheer force of the blow made him slide back a few steps. Kaelyra didn’t miss the opportunity—she followed up with a left hook and then a swift knee strike.

  Corvus couldn’t evade the knee strike, but he retaliated immediately. Twisting his body, he landed a sharp right hook on Kaelyra’s cheek. Her head snapped to the side from the force, and a drop of blood fell from her mouth onto the sand.

  But Kaelyra was not someone who would retreat from this. Ignoring her own pain, she quickly ducked down and swept her leg toward Corvus’s to throw him off balance. Caught off guard, Corvus stumbled for a moment.

  Seizing the opportunity, Kaelyra rammed her shoulder into Corvus’s chest, sending him backward. Corvus had to take a few steps to steady himself, but Kaelyra was already preparing another strike.

  She lunged forward, throwing a strong left hook. But this time, Corvus had anticipated it. With a sudden move, he ducked, dodging the punch, and landed a direct right straight into Kaelyra’s stomach. Her breath was knocked out of her lungs, and her body instinctively curled forward.

  Corvus stepped back to deliver the final blow—a powerful kick meant to knock her to the ground. Kaelyra reflexively raised her arms, but her already exhausted body could no longer withstand such heavy attacks.

  She completely lost her balance and crashed to the ground.

  For a moment, only the sound of heavy breathing echoed in the arena. Kaelyra’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her body trembling. Yet, despite everything, there was still a faint smile on her face. Corvus took a few steps back. He took a deep breath and straightened, feeling the certainty of his victory.

  He had earned the right to sit at the top.