Chapter 1690: Chapter 1507: Training~Final


    ?


    The air crackled with anticipation, the yful banter reced by a focused silence. Luna hefted her staff, its polished wood gleaming in the blue light. Maria unsheathed her ice sword, the de radiating a frosty aura. The two women stood poised, a storm brewing in the vast training ground. They weren''t just sisters or friends anymore; they were opponents, locked in a dance of skill and strategy. The yful sparring had ignited a fire within them, and the true training session was about to begin.


    Swoosh!!


    They disappeared together and their weapons meet midair.


    Bang!


    The ng of steel against wood echoed through the training ground as Maria and Lunaunched into their next duel.


    Maria, a whirlwind of controlled fury, wielded her ice de with deadly precision. Each swing was a calcted strike, aiming to exploit any opening in Luna''s defenses. The de, imbued with her magic, left trails of frosty mist in its wake, chilling the very air around them.


    Luna, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of raw energy. Her staff, a blur of motion, danced around Maria''s attacks, blocking and deflecting with practiced ease. She fought with an almost reckless abandon, her movements fueled by her light magic that crackled around the staff''s tip. The ground trembled with the force of her blows, each one powerful enough to shatter stone.


    The initial exchange was a blur of strikes and parries.


    Bang! Bang!


    Maria, the strategist, probed for weaknesses, searching for an opening tond a decisive blow. Luna, the brawler, relied on her raw power and unpredictable movements to keep Maria off-bnce.


    Neither women gained a clear advantage. Maria''s ice magic, while powerful, struggled to pierce Luna''s constant barrage of staff attacks. Conversely, Luna''s overwhelming strength couldn''t ovee Maria''s defensive maneuvers and the reach of her de.


    The stalemate wouldn''tst long. Sweat began to bead on their foreheads, and their breaths grew ragged. They were pushing each other to their limits, their bodies screaming in protest. But neither woman would yield. This wasn''t just about winning; it was about respect, about proving their worth.


    A change in the rhythm of the fight signaled a turning point. Maria, sensing an opportunity,unched a feint with her ice sword, drawing Luna''s staff upwards in a defensive block.


    With lightning speed, Maria spun on her heel, her de shing in a horizontal arc aimed for Luna''s legs.


    Luna, anticipating a potential trick, wasn''t fullymitted to her upward block. With a flick of her wrist, she angled her staff downwards, deflecting the icy de just as it grazed her shin. The impact sent a jolt through her arm, but it bought her precious time.


    Capitalizing on the momentary opening, Luna unleashed a spinning attack with her staff. The tip, wreathed in crackling light magic, whipped through the air, aiming for Maria''s chest. This time, Maria was caught off guard. She barely managed to raise her ice sword in a desperate block, the force of the blow sending her stumbling backward.


    The sh of concentrated light and ice filled the training ground, the air shimmering around them. Maria, her chest heaving, red at Luna from behind her ice de. Luna, staff held high, a triumphant grin on her face, mirrored the intensity.


    Neither hadnded a decisive blow, but the tide of the battle had shifted. Maria, forced on the defensive, was starting to show signs of fatigue. Luna, fueled by her fiery spirit during battle, seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.


    The fight continued more beautiful, more intense.


    The ng of steel and wood morphed into a relentless rhythm, a song of exertion sung by two warriors pushing their limits. Maria, her initial fury tempered by the demands of the fight, adopted a more measured approach. Her ice de became a shimmering extension of her will, each movement precise and economical. She weaved a web of defense, deflecting Luna''s relentless staff attacks with minimal effort, conserving her energy for a decisive counter. Luna, fueled by the thrill of the fight and the slight advantage she''d gained, pressed the attack. Her staff, a fieryet in the cool air, blurred with each swing. But with each deflected blow, a flicker of frustration flickered in her golden eyes. She knew brute force wouldn''t win this fight. She needed a new tactic.


    A momentary pause in the fight offered a window of opportunity. Luna, feigning another powerful staff swing, dipped low instead. Maria, anticipating a full-frontal attack, raised her ice de in a vertical block. But Luna, using the momentum of her dip, spun on her heel, her staff aimed not for Maria''s upper body, but for her legs.


    The surprise attack caught Maria off guard. Though she managed to twist her body slightly, the staff connected with a solid thud on her left calf.


    "Guh!"


    A yelp of pain escaped her lips as the force of the blow sent a jolt of searing pain up her leg.


    |||


    Luna seized the momentary advantage. With a renewed burst of energy, she unleashed a flurry of staff attacks, aiming for the injured leg. Maria, gritting her teeth against the pain, fought back with a desperate flurry of her own. Sparks flew as ice met concentrated light, the ng of steel echoing through the vast chamber.


    But the pain in her leg was a relentless foe. Maria''s movements grew slower, less precise. She stumbled back, her ice de dropping slightly. Seeing her chance, Lunaunched a final, overhead strike with her staff.


    Maria, fueled by a warrior''s pride, refused to yield. With a surge of adrenaline, she raised her ice de just in time, deflecting the blow with a bone-jarring impact.


    BANG!


    The force of the sh sent tremors through both women, pushing them back several steps.


    "Huff! Huff!"


    Luna, chest heaving, staff held precariously in her hand, stared at Maria. The Ice Empress, pale but resolute, stood firm, her ice de trembling slightly. The fight had reached a stalemate, both women exhausted, their bodies screaming in protest.


    A tense silence descended upon the training ground. Sweat dripped from their brows, their breaths echoing in the heavy air. Neither Luna nor Maria would admit defeat, but they both knew they couldn''t continue at this pace.


    Finally, Luna lowered her staff, a grudging respect shining in her golden eyes.


    "Alright, Alexia," she panted, a hint of a smile ying on her lips.


    "Looks like a draw this time."


    Maria, after a moment''s hesitation, lowered her ice de as well. A ghost of a smile touched her lips.


    "Indeed, L?," she admitted. "Perhaps another day we can settle the score."


    Relief, as well as a healthy dose of admiration, washed over them both. They had pushed each other to their limits, a testament to their unwavering will and skill. The yful sparring had evolved into a fierce dance ofbat, a disy of the deep bond that existed between them. It was truly a beautiful fight where they both gauged each other progress. Next time they would do a group battle with the others. Everything was to be prepared for the war growing closer, they must use every opportunity to strength themselves. Honing their skills is a must.