Valeria tightened her grip on the hilt of her Zweihander, her breaths steadying as she met Varen’s intense gaze. She could feel the weight of his mana pressing down on her, the oppressive heat of his flames radiating with every movement. His presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavy, as though the battlefield itself bowed to his dominance.
She shifted her stance slightly, her armor catching the sunlight as she prepared to meet his next assault.
‘He’s no ordinary opponent,’
she thought, her eyes narrowing
. ‘His swordsmanship is refined, deliberate. Every strike has purpose.’
And she wasn’t wrong. Varen moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, each swing of his greatsword precise and calculated. Combined with the overwhelming force of his mana, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Valeria could feel the strain in her muscles, the unfamiliar sensation of her newfound strength still untempered by experience. ‘I’ve broken through the 4-star stage, but if I can’t fully control this power, it’s meaningless.’
Varen’s voice rang out, calm and steady. “You’re strong, Valeria. But strength isn’t enough if you can’t wield it properly.”
He surged forward, his greatsword trailing flames as he swung it in a sweeping horizontal arc.
”
Silver Flame Art: Blazing Horizon!
”
Valeria braced herself, her Zweihander coming up to intercept the strike.
CLANG!
The impact sent her sliding back several feet, her boots digging into the sandy arena floor. The force of the blow was immense, the heat of the flames licking at her armor and searing her exposed skin.
But Varen wasn’t finished. Without giving her a moment to recover, he spun his greatsword in a fluid motion, flames roaring to life along its edge.
”
Silver Flame Art: Infernal Cascade!
”
The blade came down in a series of rapid, crushing strikes, each one heavier and faster than the last. Valeria’s arms trembled as she blocked and parried, her Zweihander ringing with the relentless barrage.
‘Too fast,’ she thought, her mind racing to keep up. ‘He’s overwhelming me.’
The final strike of the cascade sent her staggering to the side, her footing unsteady. Varen stepped back briefly, his mana surging visibly around him as he raised his greatsword high, flames spiraling up its length.
”
Silver Flame Art: Phoenix Ascendant!
”
The attack was devastating—a vertical slash that unleashed a roaring inferno, the flames taking the shape of a phoenix as they surged toward Valeria with blinding speed.
The crowd gasped as the flames engulfed her position, the heat of the attack radiating across the arena.
But then, through the roaring fire, a faint golden light began to glow.
Valeria’s voice cut through the chaos, calm and resolute. “A knight’s strength isn’t just in their blade. It’s in their resolve.”
The flames dissipated, revealing Valeria standing firm, her Zweihander glowing with a soft, golden light. Her body radiated an unshakable presence, her mana forming a shimmering barrier around her.
‘This is it,’ she thought, her focus sharpening. ‘This is what my family’s teachings meant. The strength to endure, to stand unyielding no matter the odds.’
Varen’s eyes widened slightly as he sensed the shift in her aura. “What is this…?”
Valeria raised her blade, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her newfound clarity.
”
Sword of Olarion: Knight’s Resolve.
”
She stepped forward, her Zweihander moving with deliberate precision. Her strikes were no longer reactive—they were purposeful, each one carrying the weight of her resolve.
The first swing collided with Varen’s greatsword, not with brute force but with precision, redirecting his attack and breaking his rhythm. Experience tales at
The second struck the ground before him, releasing a pulse of mana that disrupted his footing.
And the third came down with a force that resonated through the arena, golden energy trailing behind the blade as it cleaved through the flames surrounding him.
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling across the arena, forcing Varen to stagger back. His flames flickered, the oppressive heat dissipating as he struggled to steady himself.
Valeria stood tall, her Zweihander gleaming in the sunlight, her presence unshakable. She locked eyes with Varen, her calm gaze meeting his fiery resolve.
*****
Varen steadied himself, his fiery aura flickering faintly as he met Valeria’s unyielding gaze. She stood there, Zweihander in hand, her stance solid and her expression resolute. The golden shimmer of her mana reflected in her eyes, and for a moment, Varen allowed himself to take in the transformation.
‘This isn’t the same girl I watched before,’
he thought, his grip tightening on the hilt of his greatsword. ‘Back then, her blade lacked purpose. It was hesitant, uncertain. She swung her sword like someone playing at war, like a sheltered knight who’d never known what it meant to truly fight.’
He shifted slightly, observing her movements as she adjusted her stance. Her every step now carried weight, her every motion deliberate. There was no hesitation in her gaze, no wavering in her strikes. Her aura was focused, her resolve clear.
‘But now…’
Varen’s eyes narrowed, the faintest trace of a smile curling at his lips.
‘Now, she’s found it. That thing she was missing.’
Resolve.
He took a slow breath, his fiery mana surging to life again, wrapping around him like a second skin. As he prepared for the next exchange, his gaze briefly flickered to the stands. There, among the spectators, he spotted him—the enigmatic man who always seemed to linger in Valeria’s shadow.
Lucavion.
The man sat with his usual relaxed posture, arms draped over the back of his seat, his smirk as insufferable as ever. His sharp, watchful eyes betrayed an understanding that Varen found unnerving. Varen had seen their dynamic before—Lucavion teasing her, testing her, pushing her beyond her limits.
‘
It’s him,
‘ Varen knew.
‘He’s the reason she’s changed this much. He’s the one who made her find this resolve.’
His gaze returned to Valeria, and he could see it now—the reflection of Lucavion’s influence in her movements, in the way she carried
His gaze returned to Valeria, and he could see it now—the reflection of Lucavion’s influence in her movements, in the way she carried herself. It wasn’t just strength that had changed her. It was her clarity, her ability to focus under pressure, to wield her power with purpose.
‘But still,’
Varen thought, his expression hardening.
‘It’s not enough.’
Valeria charged forward, her Zweihander glowing with golden light as she struck with a ferocity and precision that forced Varen onto the defensive. Their blades clashed, sparks flying as fire met gold. She moved with an intensity that demanded respect, each strike calculated to disrupt his rhythm and leave him open.
Her mana surged as she brought her blade around in a sweeping arc, aiming to overwhelm him with sheer force. Varen countered, his greatsword igniting as he unleashed
“Flame Serpent Spiral”
once more. The fiery serpent coiled around her blade, seeking to bind it, but Valeria’s golden aura flared, shattering the flames and leaving her path clear.
‘Impressive,’
Varen admitted to himself as he stepped back, his footing steady despite the force of her attack.
‘But power without precision is still a weakness.’
He shifted his stance, his fiery mana condensing as he prepared his next move. Valeria lunged again, her Zweihander trailing golden light as she aimed a decisive strike at his core.
‘Now,’ Varen thought, his mind calculating every angle.
At the last moment, he sidestepped, his greatsword arcing upward in a blinding slash. Flames roared to life as he activated fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
“Phoenix Ascendant”
once more, the fiery phoenix erupting from his blade and engulfing the space between them.
The explosion of fire forced Valeria back, her golden shield flickering as she braced against the force. She skidded to a stop, her breathing heavy but her grip on her Zweihander firm.
Varen didn’t wait. He surged forward, his greatsword blazing as he unleashed a series of relentless strikes. Each swing was calculated, each step forward narrowing the space between them.
Valeria parried desperately, her blade meeting his with a resounding clang. But the pressure was mounting, and Varen could see the cracks beginning to show. Her resolve was strong, but her body was nearing its limit.
“Miss Valeria,” he said, his voice calm but commanding as he prepared his final strike. “That was a good match. You were strong.”
“Likewise. Mister Varen.”
Valeria also replied.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
She channeled her mana.
“I am sorry to show you an incomplete technique.”
She also knew that this move would be the end.
“But I have no choice, please overlook the sloppiness.”
”
Sword of Olarion: Knight’s Sanctuary.
”
Her intent surged.
Varen did the same.
His flames surged, his blade cutting through the air in a devastating arc.
“Every type of effort is commendable.”
With those words, he struck.
“Silver Flame Art: Eruption Strike!”
The impact was overwhelming. Valeria’s golden aura shattered under the force, and her Zweihander was knocked from her grasp, the blade clattering to the ground. She staggered back, her breathing ragged, her knees threatening to buckle.
But even then, she didn’t fall. She stood her ground, her gaze unwavering as she met Varen’s fiery eyes.
He lowered his greatsword, the flames dissipating as he regarded her with a mixture of respect and finality.
“It was a fine duel.”
The bell rang, signaling his victory, and the crowd erupted in cheers and gasps. Varen turned, his steps steady as he left the arena, his mind already turning to the next challenge.
Behind him, Valeria stood, battered but unbroken. Her eyes burned with a determination that promised this would not be the end of her growth.