Clash of Wits
"Boomer," Feya muttered softly, her black eyes briefly glancing toward the imposing figure of the boy beside Kai Dawnsworn.
"Hi," Boomer nodded casually, his gaze sharp and unwavering, fixed squarely on Leo. The quiet intensity in his eyes sent a ripple of tension across the room, commanding attention without a single word.
"'He who knows not, fears not?'" Kai Dawnsworn said, a faint grin playing at the corners of his lips. He didn't appear the slightest bit agitated by Leo's cutting remark. Three years of insults and scorn had hardened him; petty words had long lost their sting. In the presence of beauty, it was common for others to inflate their self-worth through criticism.
"You think you're the expert, don't you?" Kai Dawnsworn taunted lightly.
"For development? That's not even a question, especially compared to you, loser," Leo replied with scorn. Confidence dripped from his words—after all, Kai Dawnsworn had lingered on the Nexus Plane for three long years, slacking and skipping classes with impunity.
"Alright then," Kai Dawnsworn said suddenly, leaning forward, "tell me—how could a warrior beat a double-element fire/metal mage?"
Leo hesitated, momentarily taken aback, before answering with thinly veiled sarcasm. "Are you joking? Even a single-element mage would effortlessly defeat a warrior, unless the mage were a fool and allowed the warrior to close in. In a one-on-one duel, that's the only scenario. Let alone a double-element mage."
Mages wielded their spells from afar, controlling the battlefield with precision—warriors needed to close the gap, a near-impossible feat against a skilled mage.
"You idiot. A warrior wins when he's on a higher-level plane," Kai Dawnsworn said, his voice laced with mockery. Leo's expression darkened. Around the room, whispers circulated, eyes wide at Kai Dawnsworn's audacity—how shameless could someone be to openly question the elite?
"You asked about cross-class battles without mentioning differing planes. Does your question even make sense?" Leo retorted sharply.
Kai Dawnsworn shrugged. "Same plane, huh? What if the warrior had increased strength and enhanced agility?" The shift in logic caused several students to pause. Suddenly, his point seemed plausible—a warrior with amplified strength could blitz, and agility would allow swift entry into close combat.
"Come on, you're talking about a double-element fire/metal mage. He would have a fire shield and metal-armor enchantments. Even at close range, the warrior has no chance," Leo sneered, still confident.
"And what if the warrior knew Rampage Cleavage?" Kai Dawnsworn countered, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. "It's a specialized armor-breaking technique. With Strength-concentration, metal-element defenses crumble like paper. As for the mage's attacks? They wouldn't even land."
Leo's frown deepened, realizing the merit in Kai Dawnsworn's argument. A Strength-concentration warrior with enhanced agility could indeed bypass a mage's attacks—a cunning observation for someone supposedly stuck on the Nexus Plane.
"This debate is just theory on paper. Stop it," Leo muttered reluctantly, unwilling to admit defeat outright.
"Exactly," someone else chimed in, "how could a mage ever truly lose to a warrior?"
"You're just parroting what you read in books, pretending to be omniscient while acting like everyone else is ignorant. Fine, then answer this: How do individuals differ in development within the first Awakened Plane, the Nexus?" Kai Dawnsworn pressed on relentlessly.
"A cultivator senses Mana from the universe and accumulates it within this plane," Leo began, deliberate and precise. "A mage, however, possesses heightened perception of a specific element, enabling purer power collection. So, for elemental collection, differences are vast. Yet, in general development, the gap is smaller. Each mage's Collection Plane reflects the nuances of their element and their innate perception."
"Idiot," Kai Dawnsworn said with a scornful glance before turning his back and strolling away, the faint grin still on his lips.
"What do you mean by that?" Leo snapped, frowning. "Walking away as if you have the last word when you can't even answer? You loser."
"Kai Dawnsworn is insufferable," murmured the students, shaking their heads.
Suddenly, a radiant glow erupted from Kai Dawnsworn's back. Mana spiraled outward in a dazzling display, like a living rainbow unfurling in the classroom. Every student froze, eyes wide in shock and disbelief.
Even within the Nexus Plane, Kai Dawnsworn was exceptional—some could indeed surpass the ordinary, and he was clearly one of them.
Leo's frown deepened, incredulous. How could someone who had lingered on the Nexus Plane for three years possess such a display? It defied everything they thought they knew.
Boomer followed Kai Dawnsworn silently as they left the room. Once the door closed behind them, the classroom remained stunned, the image of Kai Dawnsworn's brilliance etched in every mind.
"I have to admit… that guy is extraordinary for the Nexus Plane," someone whispered.
"So what? He's been trapped here for three years—of course he stands out. Anyone would if stuck on the first plane that long."
"Exactly. But how does he have the nerve to be so arrogant?"
"And how dare he talk dirty to Amaya Green and Feya like that? That scumbag," another voice spat, anger simmering.
"Leo, calm down. No matter what he says, you'd crush him instantly if he challenged you," a peer reassured him, and others murmured agreement.
Leo's tension eased, confidence returning. They were right—Kai Dawnsworn's status as a low-level cultivator could not cloud his judgment.
"Feya, that boy is dangerous," Mary said, approaching her friend seriously. "I know you've known him for a long time, but stay away from him. Don't let him influence you. He flaunts without substance, and it will harm you if you're associated with him."
"He is out of line," Feya muttered, a mix of frustration and disbelief in her tone.
Mary's gaze hardened. "Wake up, girl. You're about to become an official cultivator. Your focus must be on your path, not a reckless fool like him. People will judge you based on who you associate with—don't ruin your reputation for a boy like Kai Dawnsworn. Grow up, and stay away from him. Forever."
Feya frowned, absorbing Mary's words, realizing the gravity of the advice but unsure if she was ready to heed it.