The first clash happened in a flash, just a single moment is all that it takes for both Medea and Novus to know who the winner of the exchange is.

The junior’s fist is bloodied, finger bones peeking through the open wound as the blade tore his flesh apart, a painful sight indeed, all the more painful to the junior who, because of his own talent, feels it way more than any normal person would.

The senior’s face is shocked, despite the damage her attack inflicted, he endures and doesn’t seem to bother with the gruesome sight at all, what’s worse for her, it wasn’t only him that was damaged because of their previous exchange, but her as well, her arms feeling the brunt of their exchange as the force from it causes her grip on the blade tremble and shake.

’Be careful, Junior Novus, I’m about to get serious~~’

"I’m gonna beat you up so bad you won’t be standing up from your bed until before the start of the exam~~" she said in a graceful voice, a faint, lady-like smile still on her face despite saying what is possibly the most unladylike thing she could probably say, sending her opponent to a brief trip of confusion as he replies.

"That’s why I said you’re unladylike, Senior Medea," he said as he weaves through the piercing armament, its tip approaching him, prompting him to move to the side, ever so slightly avoiding its trajectory as he steps in, intending to send a solid one towards her guts once again.

"What did I even say? I just told you to be careful, right?" Perhaps it is because she is too preoccupied, too entertained with the fight, but it is taking her quite a while to realize that she mixed up what she was thinking and what she was supposed to say.

She doesn’t even have the leeway to think about it as she goes to fend off the attack coming for her, but not by blocking as she now has an idea of how strong his punches are, prompting her to redirect it instead, lifting one of her elbows and slamming it down on the approaching fist, changing its trajectory downwards, away from herself.

This should’ve given any normal combatant a time to create distance and recompose themselves; however, her experiences bring her far, far away from being branded as normal.

Metallic sheen shines across the air once more as her blade left a sharp, swift crescent across its path, aiming directly at her opponent’s arms in an attempt to hinder his movement a little bit more, intending to make this fight last so as to take back when he was verbally picking a fight with her previously.

Blood spills from yet another part of Novus’ body.

Feeling that sharp fang of pain biting on his shoulders, he merely takes a short glance as he realizes that it is completely debilitated right now, True Immortal Blood already kicking in and beginning to regenerate it to complete recovery; however, something seems wrong, as while still fine, his recovery seems to work a tad bit slower than before.

’Is it an effect of the Blade Enchantment Magic?’ he wonders to himself as he notices that the blade is wrapped in an ever-so-faint white glow that no one will even notice if they don’t pay enough attention to it, making him wary as his mind concludes.

’That’s really dangerous... but why only bring it now?’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Those were the thoughts in his mind as he observed the flickering faintness of that glow, and despite his wariness of it, the curiosity about why Medea only brought it out now, when they already had exchanged something that weighed on his mind even more.

Meanwhile, seeing the damage she just inflicted, Medea herself is starting to feel a bit more confident as exchange after exchange happens, her thoughts on the fact that she might just be able to get what she is aiming for, beating him up a little bit, that is, hence why she feels a little more at ease right now.

A significant mistake on her part.

Medea assumes that just like her clan’s Blade Enchantment Magic, the method, the ’magic’ that Novus is using to reinforce and strengthen his body, most probably the Argenta Family’s unique magic under her assumption, operates under the same principle as her clan’s unique magic.

It might be stronger in terms of sheer reinforcement and healing of the body; however, there’s just no way for it to be consistently augmenting a mage’s bodily strength.

’If my guess is right, then he should be losing that monstrous strength any moment now... I’m going to shortly explode my strength with Blade Enchantment Magic again once that happens.’

She thought to herself as she waited for what she assumed was the eventual fall of her opponent’s combat prowess, the disciplined mind of a born swordsman showing as her eyes took in all his body’s motion, patiently waiting for her perfect opportunity to come.

However, it appears that said opportunity refuses to come.

And she realizes it as well.

’H-how??’ Each exchange continues relaxed on the surface, yet even then, she was already starting to get shaken with each passing moment, her hands trembling as she struggles to keep her grip on her blade due to the blunt force created by each of their moves clashing with each other.

Each hit feels harder, heavier than the last, almost as if her opponent is just starting to get used to dishing out stronger and stronger attacks using his own body.

His raw strength is part of her surprise, but it is not the main reason why she is that shocked; it is the fact that his unique magic can sustain that kind of bodily strength for such a long time, making her wonder to what degree what she assumes as the Argenta Family’s unique magic pushes its users’ physical prowess to.

Another punch, another block.

’Just a little bit more... there has to be a limit to it, right?’ From that exchange alone, she can confirm it.

’At least, in terms of sheer brute force that the body can exhibit, as well as the duration of the magic, the Argenta Family’s unique magic is superior than ours... however...’ as she thought of those words, a smile, not the graceful, teasing and mischievous one but instead a slightly maniacal one, starts creeping on her face for reason known only to her.

She just stands there as she regains her footing, blade in front of her and eyes trained on her opponent, waiting for his next move.

Seeing that slightly unhinged smile on her beautiful face, Novus couldn’t help but be reminded of the times he was fighting inside the Evolution Domain, that same thrilling feeling, that same intensity that forces him to the edge whenever he’s fighting against a stronger enemy, being invoked inside him as well.

He smiles, just like how he smiles inside the domain.

Excitement, anticipation, pure lust for battle.

And she felt it as well, just like how her expectations are gradually getting elevated as she continues to clash with him time and time again, he keeps wanting more and more as well, born from the greed they have fighting with each other, a massive power that tears apart their mask of façade and reveals what is underneath.

Neither of them is a mage, but monsters craving for a worthy fight.