>WHOOOOSHH<
Both boys charged at each other at great speeds, drawing their weapons with precision and firing it toward the opponent at the same time.
>CLANG<
As the spear met the sword, both Martial Artists stood a couple of meters from each other, smiling ecstatically. They seemed thrilled by the fight that had only begun.
>FWOOOOSHHH<
Twisting his hold on the spear, the Senior—Jeffery Keener—removed his weapon from its position and struck forward in an attempt to steal a jab on Edward.
Fortunately, the junior was just as fast as he quickly picked up his senior's intentions and dodged at the right moment, taking a few leaps backward to prevent further assaults.
I smiled as I watched the whole exchange.
'The spear is a tricky weapon, especially at the hands of an experienced user...'
Even though Edward had superior Techniques, in the end, he lacked experience. His way with the blade had not become second nature to him as it was for the senior.
Plus, Edward had yet to fight a spear-wielder with such skill, so it would prove a bit challenging.
In any case, this was quite an interesting match to watch so I sat back and relaxed. It would be presumptuous of me to dictate my knowledge of the outcome, so I left it all to chance.
"Hyaaa!!!" Jeff made multiple jabs as Edward tried getting close, creating several afterimages of the spear.
'A Spear Art, eh?'
Infusing Mana to his strikes, these afterimages could have as well been real, as my student was assailed by a barrage of strengthened spears.
>SWOOOOOSHHH!!!<
This time, Edward refused to run, instead channeling his Mana to cover his blade and counter.
>CLANG<
The strikes ended with both weapons and masters moving back in recoil.
From their exchange just now, it was certain they were both evenly matched in Skill—though at the base level.
Jeff had more experience, so it seemed like Edward was at a slight disadvantage. But, Ed also had more tricks up his sleeve and a considerably higher Mana Pool than his opponent. So, there had to be a reason he was holding back.
'Accumulating experience through sparring, eh? Good job.' I smiled.
"I didn't take you for the kind to hold back in these kinds of fights. Why aren't you using your full powers?" Jeffrey finally asked, sounding a bit offended.
So, the senior too had found out!
"I want to learn as I spar! There's no guarantee I will get this opportunity again. That's why I want to enjoy this round as much as I can!"
Jeff seemed a bit dazed by Edward's reply, but his expression only lasted for a moment before switching to a more understanding one.
"I see... very well!" He straightened his spear once again and pointed it toward his opponent with determination.
"I will entertain you with all I have!"
Beads of sweat appeared on Edward's face as he also took his stance once again and braced himself for what was to come.
*****************
"Winner, Edward Karl Leon!" Klaus declared, returning to the stage.
I was still shivering with excitement in my seat when he spoke, causing my already stretched-out smile to widen even more.
Edward nearly collapsed on the stage, but supported himself with his blade. I saw sweat dripping from his body and the tattered, ripped clothing that clung tightly to his skin.
His opponent was flat on the ground, knocked unconscious by Edward's last move that shattered the stage to a terrifying degree. The destruction was not as high as mine, but it was obvious that it needed to be repaired and most likely reinforced for the next match.
"Haa... Haaa..." The young Martial Artist gave gasps for breath as he maintained his solitary stance.
The audience was in a frenzy, completely dazed by the young boy's victory.
I was certain that no Lower Class student had ever gotten this level of acknowledgment before. Even the seniors and those in higher classes had to applaud and acknowledge the prowess he showed.
"I now declare that the one who has officially scored first place in the Martial Arts Division for the First years is... Edward Karl Leon!"
More deafening cheers echoed from the crowd. I was certain the Martial Arts department students were very pumped after viewing the match.
Edward had indeed brought about a revolution.
"Congratulations, Ed. You really did it!" I smiled in genuine pride and joy.
Perhaps things would have been different a while back—I would most likely be a little jealous of his achievement. However, I was now seeing the bigger picture.
Edward's efforts had paid off, and he fought to the fullest. If I wasn't happy about that, then what kind of comrade would I be?
The silly boy considered me a friend as well as a mentor, after all. I had to show the support attributed to my role.
"WOHOOOOOO!!!" We cheered on for him.
I, Ana... and the congregation that gathered! We all voiced our heartfelt congratulations to the star of the Lower Class, Edward Karl Leon!
******************
Shortly after Edward got off the stage, the Earth Mage from earlier arrived at the scene and began repairing it once more.
He seemed a bit disgruntled about the level of damage occurring in the Finals and began adding enhancements to the stage.
I watched as layers of strengthening Magic flowed through the blocks and tiles until they completely merged.
'You should have done that earlier.' I smiled in a little tease.
Edward, of course, returned to the place where the competitors sat, so Ana and I couldn't see him—at least, not while the Exchange was still going on.
"For the next round, we have the Finals of the Scholar Division of the First Years!"
The sole winner who had qualified for the finals stepped on the new and improved stage. Her situation was the same as Edward's—they were the only ones left for the final round.
'Will she be picking one opponent as they did for the Martial Arts Division?' I pondered
