<h4>Chapter 28: Figures</h4>


    Two figures faced each other in the arena.


    On one side stood a slim boy with distinctly Japanese features, emanating a sense of authority.


    In his hand was a prototype ive— Takahasi Aoi.


    Gazing into the distance of the arena, Aoi fixed his eyes on his opponent.


    As he slowly circled the disc arena, he scrutinized its surface, searching for any advantage he could use to his benefit.


    Were there any? It was a simple arena.


    Across the arena stood a muscr guy wielding a curved, double-edged sword.


    Aoi repositioned himself, creating a safe distance between himself and his opponent.


    He couldn''t help but marvel at Aeravat''s prescense, as if a deity had graced the battlefield.


    Aeravat exuded a unique blend of ethereal beauty and raw power, with petal-shaped brown eyes that shone brilliantly.


    His tannedplexion only served to enhance his otherworldly prescense, which was neither ck, nor white or even something in between.


    Despite his arrogance, Aoi was no fool.


    He observed his opponent with caution, knowing that this was the number one ranker, Aeravat Indrath.


    By sensing the atmosphere around him, Aoi had already confirmed that Aeravat''s battle strength was around (E+).


    Aeravat stood with a stoic poise, his demeanor indifferent, as the entire ss looked on with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the sparring match that was to begin.


    The top rankers among them appeared especially apprehensive, acutely aware of the gravity of the oue of this match.


    "I know this is not necessary to say, but since this is just a sparring match, do not use any artifacts," Professor Riya announced.


    "Begin!" shemanded, and with that, Takahasi channeled mana, ready to unleash the full force of his dark element at any moment.


    Step by step, Takahashi made his way towards the center of the disc while Aeravat stood his ground, bored.


    Was he bored? Or, was this how he usually lived? It was hard to tell.


    The ground trembled as Takahasi lunged towards Aeravat, his ive gleaming with a deadly intensity.


    Though the de was dull, it was anything but harmless.


    Aeravat effortlessly intercepted the attack with an expert flick of his wrist.


    ????????????!—Steel bit steel, sending sparks flying in the air.


    "Hahn!!" Takahasi pushed with all his strength, but Aeravat stood unmoved, his countenance betraying any signs of strain.


    In a swift motion, Aeravat released a swing of his sword, knocking Takahashi back by ten feet.


    The intense onlookers could guess by this short exchange who was physically stronger. But physical strength was not everything that determined the oue of a battle.


    With Takahasi''s strength rated at (E-) and Aeravat''s at (E+), it was clear that thetter had an advantage in this match.


    Aware of the power difference, Takahashi approached the situation with caution, determined not to risk any reckless moves.


    But, he was not one to give up easily. Takahashi had a rare element as his affinity—darkness.


    Dark affinity can enhance one''s strength and other attributes in a sh.


    Takahashi took a brief two second break,unching the element from his mana core.


    Within moments, his strength surged by several folds, now at (E+).


    As dark shadows began to emanate from Takahashi''s figure, he readied himself for the next round.


    Heunched himself towards Aeravat, using the darkness to supercharge his speed.


    But, Aeravat was quick to assess the situation, covering his sword with a thin but transparentyer of ice—a small measure, a dirty trick of sort.


    ????????????! Aeravat''s sword and Takahashi''s ive shed again.


    The impact caused the iceyer on the sword to break and it''s chunks flew straight at Takahashi''s face. Theter instinctively closed his eyes.


    The ice shards momentarily blinded Takahashi.


    "Ah!" Aoi groaned in surprised, but he quickly regained hisposure, reopening his eyes.


    Even though the entire ordeal onlysted for a second, it was enough to create a momentary opening.


    At that precise moment, Takahashi''s eyesnded on his opponent only to find him holding the sword with one hand. He frowned.


    Where was the other hand?


    Takahashi''s eyes widened in surprise as he realized the mistake he had made. Aeravat''s hand was on his abdomen!


    But, before he could do anything to remedy the situation—??????????!


    A burst of mes with immense force pushed Takahashi back a full ten feet with a deafening sound.


    Riya watched the match with keen interest, her eyes bright with anticipation.


    As Aeravat expertly disyed his skills, using different elements seamlessly and nning a counter-attack while measuring Aoi''s movements, Riya couldn''t help but be amazed by his tactical genius.


    Meanwhile, Takahashiy on the floor, trying to quickly rise to his feet. But, he couldn''t.


    Takahashi fell to his knees, as if someone was holding his feet.


    To his surprise, he saw that ayer of earth encapsted both his feet in a tight lock.


    With wide eyes and a mixture of confusion, he blurted, "When?!"


    Aeravat lunged aggressively at Takahashi with his sword, but Takahashi, in an instant, executed his Art: Shadow sh.


    He drew his ive towards his abdomen, moved it to the ground, and used it as a pivot to propel himself into a spinning attack mid-air.


    With swift precision, he sent a lethal blow to Aeravat, who retaliated with equal ferocity.


    The sh of their weapons echoed through the air, creating a symphony of metallic sounds.


    Sparks flew haywire as they expertly parried and countered each other.


    Takahasi''s exhaustion became apparent with each exchange, while Aeravat was seemingly calm


    Despite the fatigue, Takahasi continued to disy impressive technique, evading Aeravat''s strikes and delivering calcted counter-attacks.


    Within seconds, their exchange produced a musical harmony.


    Takahashi drove his ive''s de into the ground. Heunched himself skyward, using the pole as leverage to twist his body mid-air.


    As he descended, he unleashed a kick, his right leg encased in a capsule of bones. It was his [Bone Capsule] skill.


    As the powerful kick, struck Aeravat, he used the force of the blow to propel himself into a graceful leap backward, diminishing its impact.


    Hended, his figure positioned at a distance, perfectly on one knee.


    Aeravat ced his right hand on the ground, aiming towards Takahashi.


    In that instant, pirs of ice rose from the ground with a series of deafening thuds—????????! ????????! ????????!


    The spiky pirs rose higher and higher.


    Acting on instinct, Takahashi activated his [Dash] skill, evading the ice like a leaf on the wind.


    He zigzagged to the left, using his momentum to approach Aeravat in a blur.


    Takahashi executed another [Dash] skill, unleashing a dark aura that engulfed his ive, ready to strike.


    In return, Aeravat lifted his left palm and released a fiery projectile at Takahasi, scorching the air with intense heat. At the same time, he swung his sword, and a water ball hurtled from it.


    The ball of water was as big as a football, but the projectile of fire slightly obscured its path.


    "Vup!" went the explosive collision, enveloping bothbatants in a dense cloud of vapor, momentarily blinding Takahasi''s peripheral vision.


    ***


    Emily gazed at the scene before her in awe and whispered, "This is amazing. It''s almost like an art exhibition instead of a fight."


    "You''re right," Aurora nodded in agreement.


    Everyone observing the match had a simr expression of bewilderment.


    The contest seemed more like a symphony of music, art, dance, and light, rather than a brutal fight.


    The onlookers remained silent, embraced in the stunning beauty unfolding before them.


    ***


    Noah''s POV:


    [Scanning...] The robotic sound of Nano echoed in my neuralwork.


    "What are you scanning?" I asked in a low tone.


    [This is the first time I have witnessed such a style of martialbat, using magic. The fighting technique seems new and foreign. Initiating data analysis for deeper understanding so counter measures could be readied for probable future conflicts.]


    I quirked one eyebrow in surprise. ''Probable future...conflicts? Maybe it means sparring sessions?''


    As Takahasinded, he emerged from a cloud of vapour.


    Slowly, the cloud dispersed to reveal Aeravat. Takahashi hurled his ive in a javelin throw towards Aeravat, who swiftly dodged it by taking two steps back.


    But, upon hitting the ground, the ive caused eight bone shards to fly towards Aeravat from its shaft, while two others flew towards an different direction.


    Aeravat remained still and sidestepped, evading all bone shards effortlessly.


    Suddenly, the ice pir that Aeravat created earlier came crashing down on him as the bone shards sliced through them.


    Aeravat dodged the falling ice as well, but Takahasi used the opportunity to grab his ive andunch a series of attacks at Aeravat in quick session.


    Aeravat''s eyes widened in surprise as he realized the danger, reacting quickly by unleashing his Art Flow of the Universe.


    Soon enough, the deafening sound of shattering metals and bones echoed across the arena.


    Takahasi was sent flying into the air towards the edge of the arena, as Aeravat narrowly managed to dodge his opponent.


    But, before Takahasi could hit the ground while plummeting down, Aeravat used [Destructive Rush] to emit a beam of deep violet light that hit Takahasi mid-air, sending him flying out of the disc arena.


    It was over.