Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-Chapter 403 91.11 - Duels [2]

As Julia collapsed to the ground, the amphitheater fell into a stunned silence. The spectators, who had been on the edge of their seats throughout the duel, now looked at the arena with wide eyes and open mouths. They had witnessed countless duels at Arcadia Hunter Academy, but this one was different. The level of skill and intensity displayed by both combatants was extraordinary.

The murmurs started slowly, then grew louder as the crowd processed what they had just seen. "Did you see that? Damien Arkwright's swordsmanship is on another level!"

"Yeah, the way he used the 「Realm of Dreams」... It's incredible. At this age, other heirs couldn't even deploy that, let alone in the middle of a fight."

"And his tactics, so precise. Every move had a purpose."

But amidst the admiration for Damien's prowess, there was a palpable respect for Julia's performance. Those who knew about the 「Realm of Dreams」 understood its terrifying nature. It was a technique designed to disrupt the senses of the opponent, making them vulnerable and disoriented. Many who faced it for the first time never survived.

"Julia Middleton... She held her own against the 「Realm of Dreams」," a seasoned scout remarked, his voice filled with awe. "Do you know how rare that is? Most people can't even fight back once they're caught in it."

Another scout nodded in agreement. "And she didn't just hold her own. She almost won. Her technique, her resilience... It was extraordinary."

"She adapted so quickly. It's like she has an innate understanding of her surroundings that goes beyond normal senses."

"She's not just relying on her family's techniques. She's developing something unique, something powerful."

In the stands, Ethan watched Julia with a mixture of happiness and concern.

He knew how hard she had trained, how much she had pushed herself. Her performance today had been nothing short of remarkable. She had faced one of the most challenging techniques and had nearly emerged victorious.

"Julia, you were amazing," he whispered, his eyes filled with admiration. "You'll get there. I know you will."

Though he couldn't spend too much time here. Since it would be his match soon.

Damien Arkwright stood in the arena, breathing heavily but triumphant. He glanced at Julia's unconscious form, a flicker of respect in his eyes. Despite his taunts and cruelty, he couldn't deny the strength and skill she had shown.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, breaking the silence, "the winner of this duel is Damien Arkwright!"

The crowd erupted into applause, but there was a different tone to it. It wasn't just admiration for Damien's victory; it was also recognition of the incredible fight both combatants had delivered. Julia's ability to stand against the 「Realm of Dreams」 and her nearly victorious performance had left a lasting impression on everyone present.

As medics rushed to tend to Julia, Damien walked off the arena, his confidence unshaken.

At least that was how it looked, yet something was different.

'That bitch….She almost got me.'

The fact that a mere beast dared to bare his fangs at him. The fact that he almost lost.

He felt anger. He refused to acknowledge it. As the superior one from the start, how could he let a mere beast almost bite him?

It was unacceptable.

'At least no one was here to witness.'

He thought inwardly, yet a subtle smile crept on his lips. How would it feel if he were to break such a beast?

"I will look forward to the time when you crawl under my feet." He mumbled. "Julia Middleton." With a crazed expression on his face.

*******

<Arcadia Hunter Academy, Thursday, 4 P.M>

As the arena was cleared and Julia was taken to the infirmary, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the next and final duel of the day. The atmosphere was electric, charged with excitement and curiosity. This was the duel everyone had been waiting for: Ethan Hartley, the rising star with an impressive lineage, versus Kellan Stormrider, a higher-ranked student who had controversially chosen to challenge someone significantly lower in rank.

The amphitheater was filled to capacity, with students, faculty, and spectators eager to witness the showdown. Whispers and murmurs filled the air as people discussed the upcoming fight.

"I can't believe Kellan challenged Ethan. What was he thinking?"

"Yeah, it's a cowardly move. He's ranked 456, and Ethan is 970. It's not a fair match."

"Well, I've heard Ethan has been showing incredible progress lately. Maybe Kellan sees him as a real threat."

As the crowd settled, the announcer's voice boomed through the amphitheater. "Ladies and gentlemen, for our final duel of the day, we have Kellan Stormrider, ranked 456, versus Ethan Hartley, ranked 970. Contestants, please step into the arena!"

The crowd erupted into applause as Ethan Hartley stepped into the arena. His presence commanded immediate attention. His wavy blue hair and piercing hazel eyes, combined with his calm demeanor, made him a figure of intrigue and admiration. He held his spear confidently, a weapon that had become a symbol of his determination and skill.

Opposite him, Kellan Stormrider entered the arena, his expression stern and focused. He was a tall, muscular figure with dark hair and a determined gaze. Despite the frowns and murmurs from the audience, he maintained his composure, ready to face Ethan.

"Look at them. They're both so composed," a student whispered to her friend.

"Yeah, but Kellan's got the rank advantage. Ethan's going to have to pull something extraordinary to win this."

They both knew the fight between Ethan and Samuel. After all, Ethan was already a hot topic, and many people were observing his prowess.

The announcer's voice called out again, signaling the start of the duel. "Are both contestants ready?"

Ethan and Kellan nodded, their eyes locked onto each other. The tension was palpable.

"Begin!"

As the announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, the tension reached its peak. The crowd fell silent, their eyes glued to the two combatants.

Kellan Stormrider moved first, his greatsword glinting in the light as he charged forward. His muscles rippled with power, his attribute [Shock] adding a visible aura of energy around his weapon. With each step, the ground seemed to tremble slightly, a testament to his strength.

Ethan, however, remained calm. His spear crackled with lightning psions, the energy dancing along its length. He waited, his eyes focused and unflinching as Kellan closed the distance.

With a mighty swing, Kellan brought his greatsword down in a powerful arc, aiming to crush Ethan with sheer force. The air around the blade shimmered with the shockwave it generated, creating a wave of pressure that surged toward Ethan.

'He is fast!' Ethan reacted swiftly, his lightning-imbued spear meeting Kellan's greatsword in a clash of elemental forces. Even though Ethan trusted his speed and strength, Kelland had surpassed him in that regard.

If his lightning attribute wasn't increasing the speed of his motor reflexes and the strength of his muscles, he would be having a hard time even at the start.

CLANK! Sparks flew as the weapons collided, the shockwave from Kellan's attack dispersing into the ground with a resounding boom. The crowd gasped, the sheer power of the impact reverberating through the arena.

Ethan spun his spear, deflecting Kellan's follow-up strikes with precise, fluid movements.

Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but Ethan's agility and lightning-enhanced reflexes kept him one step ahead.

–Thunder Step

Ethan invoked his skill, his body flickering with speed as he sidestepped a particularly heavy blow from Kellan's greatsword. In an instant, he was behind his opponent, his spear crackling with energy.

Kellan, however, was no novice. He twisted his body with surprising speed, bringing his greatsword around in a wide arc. The blade caught Ethan's spear just in time, and the shockwave from the impact sent a tremor through the arena floor.

Ethan grinned, his eyes alight with the thrill of the duel.

"I still don't understand why you had chosen me as your opponent, but thank you for the opportunity."

Even the fact that Ethan was chosen by someone of a higher rank didn't bother him too much. No, rather, it strangely made him proud.

"Don't get carried away."

Kellan responded. It was quite irritating seeing Ethan deflecting his attacks like that.

'This guy is way above his rank.'

It was evident that his duel wasn't meant to be easy. But, well, he had no choice either.

"We will see about that."

Raising his spear high, Ethan called upon the storm. Dark clouds began to gather overhead, lightning crackling within them. The air buzzed with energy as he channeled his power into his weapon.

「Spear of Hartley: Exotic Form, Thunder God's Wrath!」

A massive bolt of lightning struck Ethan's spear, infusing it with an intense, crackling energy. The ground beneath him charred from the sheer power, and Ethan stood amidst the electric storm, his spear a beacon of thunderous might.

Kellan's eyes narrowed, but he stood his ground.

'It is the same move. Calling Thunder and Lightning.'

Channeling his own attribute, he surged with power, the shockwaves around him intensifying. His greatsword hummed with energy, ready to meet Ethan's assault.

「Seismic Shocks.」

With a burst of speed, Ethan closed the distance, his spear thrusting forward with the force of a lightning strike. Kellan met the attack head-on, his greatsword clashing against the spear in a blinding explosion of light and energy.

BOOM!

The shockwave from the collision rippled through the arena, sending dust and debris flying. The crowd shielded their eyes, the sheer force of the impact leaving them in awe.

Ethan pressed the attack, his movements a blur of lightning-fast strikes. His spear danced with electric energy, each thrust aimed at overwhelming Kellan's defenses. Kellan countered with powerful swings of his greatsword, the shockwaves from his attacks creating ripples in the air.

"This…."

'I need to use it.'

Kellan's expression hardened, and he decided it was time to employ a special technique he had honed over the years.

With a sudden shift, he slammed his greatsword into the ground, sending a series of shockwaves rippling through the arena floor. But these were no ordinary shockwaves; they were aimed to disrupt Ethan's equilibrium by targeting his inner ear, the primary organ responsible for balance.

Not many people were aware of this fact, and he had come to the realization of this while training on his own.

Shockwaves, especially the ones that were specifically manipulated, were rather rare to be seen, making people not aware of their aftereffects.

And Ethan was one of those.

「Shockwave Disruptor.」

The crowd watched in stunned silence as Ethan staggered, his balance momentarily thrown off by the disorienting effect of the shockwaves. Kellan didn't waste a second. He pressed his advantage, launching a relentless barrage of attacks. Each swing of his greatsword sent another disorienting shockwave, keeping Ethan off-balance.

Ethan gritted his teeth, feeling the ground beneath him tremble with each shockwave. His vision blurred slightly, and his footing became unstable. He tried to counterattack, but Kellan's precise use of shockwaves disrupted his movements.

"Not so easy, is it?"

Ethan's mind raced. He needed to find a way to regain his balance and counter Kellan's relentless assault. With each shockwave, he felt his control slipping further away. He knew he had to act quickly.

「Spear of Hartley. Thunder crash」

Summoning all his focus, Ethan channeled the power of his lightning psions into his legs, grounding himself with a surge of energy.

It was an offensive ability, but he decided to use it to strengthen his footing.

CRACKLE!

The lightning crackled around him, creating a stabilizing force field that counteracted the disruptive shockwaves.

"Nice trick," Ethan muttered, a determined smile on his face. "But it won't be enough."

After all, he found his footing once again.

With newfound stability, Ethan launched himself into the air, using his lightning attribute to propel him higher. As he descended, he channeled the full power of the storm into his spear, aiming for a decisive strike.

CRACKLE! BOOM!

The spear came down with a thunderous roar, a massive bolt of lightning accompanying the attack.

Kellan braced himself, his greatsword raised to meet the incoming blow. The impact was monumental, the ground beneath them shattering from the sheer force.

CRASH! And as if a volcano erupted, the ground was broken into shambles. There stood two figures.

One Ethan. Kneeling on the ground.

And the other one, Kellan, with his sword piercing the ground. He stood like a proud knight, looking down on his opponent.

"Yield."

Nobody saw what was happening, but in a second, suddenly, Ethan was on the ground.