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The day after Scarlet's training, it was Yuta's turn.
Unlike his teammate, he didn't really want to fight. Fighting… it wasn't in his nature. And yet, Raythem's "Astral Swordsman" exercise left him no choice. The training was designed to help him understand and master the weight of his sword, and above all, to learn how to combine his power with his weapon.
In the stands, Evelynn and Ryota took their seats again. Scarlet, however, stayed a little further back, the memory of her failure still lingering in her mind.
Yuta took a deep breath, staring at the arena. He had never faced an opponent wielding a blade, nor had he ever engaged in real close combat. All of this was new to him. Unlike Scarlet, he didn't feel the explosive stress of action, but a heavy, constant pressure weighed on him. The fear of failing, the thought of losing today… all of it pulled him away from his ultimate goal.
He stepped into the arena, still marked by Scarlet's blood. Raythem was already waiting, motionless and patient.
— I hope you're in good shape today, Yuta! the mentor called out with a smile.— A bit of pressure, but I'm fine, Yuta replied, a faint but serious smile on his lips.— Ready to begin?— Whenever you are!
The glass panels closed, covering the stands. Holograms appeared all around, displaying a five-minute countdown. The duel promised to be intense.
Raythem summoned two claymores from a mirror. One in each hand, their tips sinking into the ground. Yuta felt the pressure rise. These weren't replicas—their weight was real, overwhelming.
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The fight began.
— Don't forget the rules, Yuta. You must disarm me to win. Focus on the weight of your weapon. Good luck! Raythem said before launching forward.
His speed was less explosive than when he faced Scarlet, but it remained impressive—especially while wielding two such heavy weapons. In the stands, Scarlet wondered why Raythem had never used this level of power against her. Evelynn grew anxious for Yuta, while Ryota observed with heightened focus—tomorrow would be his turn.
Raythem swung one claymore downward to amplify its momentum, then raised the other to slice through the air. Yuta didn't even have time to react. Shocked, he realized his head could have been gone in a fraction of a second. His breath caught, his heart raced. But remembering his previous training, he managed to regain his composure.
He stepped back, attempting an attack with his sword to surprise and unbalance Raythem. But the weight of the blade pulled him slightly forward. Without using his power, he realized he couldn't do anything the way he wanted. In a real fight, there would be no time to think—every decision had to be instinctive, every movement decisive.
Yuta closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. Then opened them again.
Raythem was already in front of him, claymores ready.
Yuta positioned his sword at the center to block the attack. The impact was immense. Raythem's force created a shockwave in the air. The glass shattered into thousands of fragments, swirling around them.
— ARH… THEY'RE CRAZY! Evelynn shouted as she backed away, panic in her voice.Ryota stepped back as well to avoid the debris, while Scarlet remained still, watching the scene coldly.
Despite everything, Yuta stayed focused. Raythem stepped back slightly, smiling at his perseverance.
— Haha… that wasn't planned! he said with a laugh.
Yuta seized the opportunity. He raised his sword straight toward Raythem, and the light of his astral power merged with the blade. A brilliant flash tore through the arena. A cloud of dust and smoke rose, but behind his claymore, Raythem remained completely unharmed. The mentor smiled as he realized Yuta had succeeded—he had combined his power with his weapon.
Time was running out. Only about twenty seconds remained on the countdown.
Raythem hurled the first claymore with superhuman force. Yuta blocked it with his sword, but the impact threw him off balance and sent him crashing to the ground. Raythem advanced and used the flat of his blade to pin him down.
— You fought well, Yuta. But you lost, Raythem declared, a proud smile on his face.
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Ryota and Evelynn rushed down to join Yuta. Evelynn, panicked and furious, shouted:
— ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU WERE TRYING TO KILL HIM?!
Raythem burst out laughing and gently tapped her on the head.
In the stands, Scarlet watched the scene in silence. Her cold, icy gaze fixed on Raythem as she discreetly raised her middle finger.
— She's in the middle of an emotional storm, Raythem thought, amused.
Yuta slowly got back to his feet, breathing heavily, sweat and dust covering his face. He had lost the duel.
But he had succeeded in the exercise: understanding the weight of his blade, finding his balance, combining his power with his weapon. He had taken a crucial step forward in his mastery.
The young swordsman gave a faint smile, satisfied with his progress. The fight had been intense, dangerous, but rewarding. He now understood that raw strength alone was not enough—every movement, every action had to be deliberate, controlled, and mastered.