With his daggers now in play, Oscar's movements grew even more erratic and difficult to follow. His calculated sidesteps turned into fluid spins, each one closing the gap between him and Keir. In a sudden burst of speed, he darted behind his opponent, his daggers slicing toward Keir's exposed side in a flash of silver.
Keir reacted instinctively. Twisting sharply, he brought his glowing, energy-infused elbow up just in time to intercept the strike. Sparks erupted as metal met blazing heat, the clash reverberating through the arena in a sharp, metallic cry. Keir held firm, narrowly fending off Oscar's sudden assault.
The duel escalated. Keir roared as his fists ignited fully, leaving scorch marks on the arena floor with each missed blow. But Oscar's daggers danced like extensions of his own body, parrying each fiery strike and retaliating with pinpoint slashes that forced Keir to stay on the defensive.
The crowd watched in stunned silence. It was as if Keir, the proud descendant of the Arson family, was being toyed with. Every time he lunged, Oscar sidestepped. Every time he blocked, Oscar's daggers slipped through his guard, forcing him to retreat.
Keir's frustration boiled over. With a roar, he unleashed a massive, flaming straight punch, the sheer force of the attack creating a column of fire that surged toward Oscar.
For a moment, it seemed as though Keir's raw power might overwhelm the nimble Vitalist. But Oscar, calm and composed, sprang into the air with breathtaking agility, his movements fluid and deliberate. As he ascended, he twisted mid-flight, his arm snapping forward to release one of his daggers. The blade gleamed as it spun downward in a deadly arc, aimed straight at Keir.
Keir's sharp reflexes kicked in, and he lunged to the side, the dagger embedding itself harmlessly into the ground. A smirk of confidence briefly flickered across his face—until he sensed the movement behind him. His heart sank as he realized his mistake.
Before he could react, Oscar was already there, his speed almost unnatural. A hard kick struck the back of Keir's knee, buckling his leg and forcing him to kneel. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his body, and his balance faltered. In an instant, Oscar seized the advantage, pressing the cold steel of his remaining dagger against Keir's throat.
Keir froze. The blade's icy edge was a sharp reminder of his vulnerability, and the firm grip on the back of his neck left no room for resistance. Oscar pinned him down with practiced efficiency, his lean frame deceptively strong.
The humiliation was palpable. Keir clenched his fists, his jaw tightening in frustration. How had the opponent he had dismissed so easily turned the tables on him with such precision? The weight of the defeat stung worse than the physical blow.
"Stop!" The judge's booming voice echoed across the arena, commanding all attention. His expression betrayed his own astonishment, as though even he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. A brief silence hung in the air before he announced, "T-The winner is Oscar Ravenleaf!"
Keir remained frozen in place, his breaths ragged and shallow, as the weight of his defeat settled over him like a crushing storm. The judge's declaration rang in his ears, echoing alongside the murmurs and gasps of the stunned crowd.
The arena was alive with disbelief.
"Keir Arson lost?" a student muttered, his voice filled with incredulity.
"How is that even possible?" another whispered, their words carrying the shock shared by everyone present.
"Did you see that frail boy's movements? It was astounding!"
Professor Alden's expression was a careful mask, though the astonishment in his tone was unmistakable. "Unbelievable… That wasn't just a victory. That was a complete dismantling."
Professor Evelyn nodded slowly, her gaze still locked on Keir, who remained in the arena like a smoldering ember of his former confidence. "And it's not as though Keir was weak. His manifestation and control over the fire element are extraordinary for someone at the Awakening Phase. Yet Oscar completely suppressed him."
To Keir, the crowd's murmurs sounded like jeers, each one mocking him louder than the last. The proud son of the Arson family—hailed as a prodigy and shadowed by praise and high expectations—had been humiliated in front of everyone. And not just humiliated—forced to kneel in submission.
Clenching his fists and grinding his teeth, Keir's indignation boiled over. He could feel his blood burning, his pride screaming for vengeance. Still half-kneeling, he roared at the top of his lungs, "FUCK!"
The sound thundered across the arena, silencing the crowd. With his rage erupting, Keir slammed his fist into the ground, unleashing a massive burst of fiery energy. The platform beneath him cracked and splintered, the sheer force of his frustration causing the air to ripple.
Oscar, who had just removed his mask and bent down to retrieve his dagger from the ground, froze at the outburst. The sudden explosion of energy startled him, and he stumbled backward, falling unceremoniously to the ground.
The crowd's awe shifted to unease, watching the fiery spectacle Keir had unleashed.
Oscar's trembling hands gripped the dagger tightly as he struggled to his feet. His earlier composed demeanor vanished, replaced by the nervous, hunched figure from before. It was as if the calm and deadly fighter who had dismantled Keir moments ago had been an illusion.
Keir turned his blazing gaze toward Oscar, his eyes filled with seething hatred. The intensity of his glare was almost tangible, as if he wanted to rip Oscar apart, piece by piece.
Oscar glanced back, his expression one of sheer terror. He clutched the dagger like a lifeline, hastily backing away. His stumbling steps carried him toward the edge of the arena, and without a second glance, he hurriedly exited, leaving the platform cracked and smoldering behind him.
The crowd remained silent, unsure of what to make of the scene. Keir's fury and Oscar's retreat painted a picture far more chaotic than anyone had expected, leaving the students and professors alike in stunned contemplation.
Lyra turned to her twin brother, Aelric, curiosity sparking in her light-blue eyes. "What do you think? Could you beat him if you fought?" Her gaze lingered on the figure retreating into the distance.
Aelric's signature sly smile played on his lips. "Hard to say," he admitted, his tone light yet thoughtful. "He doesn't seem like the type to reveal all the tricks up his sleeve so easily."
Lyra shifted her stance, crossing her arms as her focus shifted. "What about the Arson guy?"
"Him?" Aelric murmured, his fingers idly stroking the head of the small white snake coiled around his shoulders. "He's strong. If I had to face him alone, I'd definitely struggle."
In the professor's stand Rayner's sharp eyes never left the lean figure retreating from the arena. His voice was low, almost contemplative. "Oscar Ravenleaf," he murmured. "It wasn't just speed. Every movement he made was precise, calculated. Somehow he fights with the discipline and instinct of someone who has faced countless battles."
He paused, his brows furrowing. "This boy… he's far more dangerous than his demeanor would suggest."
Evelyn tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Dangerous, perhaps. But it's his unpredictability that's most concerning. He seemed so fragile before the duel, yet his performance was nothing short of remarkable. What do we truly know about him?"
Alden crossed his arms, his tone thoughtful. "Not enough, clearly. But after this duel, one thing is certain: Oscar Ravenleaf is no ordinary student."
Many spectators bore witness to this electrifying duel, their excitement palpable as they envisioned the future of these young prodigies. Some even found themselves inspired by the sheer skill and determination displayed by Oscar and Keir. Yet, while the crowd reveled in the spectacle, blissfully unaware, the true significance of this battle extended far beyond a mere clash between new students.
In the grand chessboard of imperial politics, this duel was no simple exchange of blows—it was a carefully veiled maneuver, a ripple in the vast ocean of power struggles.