The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

Everyone's eyes followed Raye as he walked over to the arena.

Tap—

Each of his steps was confident and steady.

And his eyes...

"..."

They were just focused on Ace!

And not long—

Tap—

Raye stepped onto the arena platform.

He stood face-to-face against Ace.

"You don't seem surprised that I picked you as my opponent."

Ace mumbled, looking at Raye.

Raye just shrugged.

"It was so obvious."

He said that.

'I stirred up things so bad now that you guys have no choice but to look in my direction.'

Raye thought boldly.

"Is that so?"

Ace asked him.

And then, as a smirk appeared on his face—

"Then, is what I'm about to do next obvious too?"

He questioned that!

And before Raye could even reply—

Swish—

Ace raised his hand and looked in the direction where Bryan and the other staff members from the other academies were watching.

"...?"

Charles looked at him weirdly.

And so did Bryan!

He tilted his head, and in curiosity—

"Yes? What is it?"

He asked that.

And without hesitation—

"I have a suggestion."

Ace stated that.

Then, opening his mouth again...

"Because this is the battle of elites, wouldn't it be much more exciting if we could use our personal weapons? Not just some wooden ones?"

He declared that!

"We could use the dome artifact again and just cover the arena."

Ace added arrogantly.

And at his suggestion...

"Heh..."

Bryan smirked.

He leaned back in his chair, amusement flashing in his eyes.

Then—

He glanced at the staff members from the other academies.

Some of them exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves.

A few looked hesitant.

But—

One by one, they nodded their heads.

"We'll allow the use of the dome artifact for this tournament."

A staff from the Zephyros Institute said.

And with that—

They accepted Ace's suggestion!

"Alright then."

Bryan announced, his voice carrying across the arena.

"We'll allow the use of personal weapons. The dome artifact will be activated for the competitors' safety."

He stated, and with a wave of his hand—

Swish—

The staff members moved quickly.

Several of them stepped forward, bringing out the dome artifact—a large, crystalline orb that shimmered with faint energy.

Then—

Fwoosh—

The artifact released a wave of mana!

A translucent barrier surged outward, enclosing the entire arena in a protective dome.

The moment it settled, a faint hum filled the air.

Fwish-

Ace looked at Raye, he was looking all smug.

"So, did you predict this too?"

He asked.

And Raye—

'Bruh, this is how it was supposed to go, fucking idiot.'

He just thought of that.

"Yeah."@@novelbin@@

Then he simply answered.

"...?"

Ace just frowned at his words, not believing it.

Raye ignored him and started preparing his swords.

...

...

Raye and Ace prepared with their personal equipment.

Ace adjusted the grip on his sword, rolling his shoulders as if testing the weight.

His weapon was a bright yellow katana.

Raye, on the other hand—

He ran his fingers over the hilts of his twin blades, [Nyx] and [Celestria].

"..."

His expression unreadable.

The atmosphere shifted.

Tension.

Anticipation.

And only after five minutes...

"The setting up of the dome artifact is now done."

They were all good to go again!

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

This battle...

Was about to get real!

*****

"Are you guys ready now?"

Charles asked, slightly feeling impatient.

And in unison—

"Yeah."

Ace and Raye responded.

"Then, to your side."

Charles instructed.

"..."

Raye and Ace just briefly glanced at each other.

And after that—

Tap- tap- tap-

They turned their backs against each other and started walking the opposite side of the arena.

And there—

Fwip—

They took their fighting stances.

Ace slightly bent his knees, his katana crackling with faint arcs of electricity.

Raye, on the other hand—

Fwoosh—

A gentle breeze stirred around him as he adjusted his stance, his twin blades steady in his grip.

His left hand gripping [Celestria]—the white, elegant sword that shimmered faintly.

His right holding [Nyx]—a simple, yet refined black sword.

Both of them—

"..."

Silent.

Focused.

The air between them grew heavier.

And then—

Szzzt—!

A sudden spark erupted from Ace's blade!

"START!!!"

And Charles declared that!

Then instantly—

BAM—!

Ace vanished.

A burst of lightning flickered where he once stood!

Raye's eyes sharpened.

'Tch—Fast.'

He thought, frowning.

But—

He's not someone who would lose in terms of speed!

Fwoosh—!

Raye's figure blurred as he twisted to the side, wind surging at his feet!

Szzzt—!

Ace appeared right behind him, his katana already mid-swing!

CLANG—!

Raye barely blocked in time, [Nyx] grinding against the crackling yellow blade.

Sparks flew.

Ace grinned.

"Not bad."

He said.

Fzzzt—!

Then a sudden jolt of electricity surged down Ace's sword, aiming to paralyze Raye's arm!

In response to that—

Bam-

Raye lightly jumped back, breaking the contact.

And with [Nyx] again—

Swish—

He countered with a sharp arc swing!

"?!"

Ace's eyes widened at this.

He barely tilted his head back—

Shnk—

A few strands of his hair were cut.

"...Tch."

Ace clicked his tongue in annoyance.

And Raye—

Fwoosh—

He didn't stop!

His footwork blurred, his wind-imbued speed pushing him forward!

And the next thing everyone knew—

SWISH—!

His left hand moved—[Celestria] flashing white!

Ace's eyes narrowed!

Fwish-

He brought his katana up—

TANG-!

And he blocked Raye's attack!

But—

Raye smirked.

And in that instant—

Fwoosh—!

[Celestria] changed shape!

The moment his mana flowed into it—

The blade thinned—elongating into a slender rapier!

Ace's pupils dilated.

"What—?!"

He asked in pure shock.

And before he could even reply—

Shnk—!

[Celestria] extended past his guard!

"...?!"

Then a thin, sharp cut appeared on Ace's cheek.

And the crowd—

"Wooooaahhh—!"

Roared in excitement!

Bam!

Ace took a leap back, touching his cheek.

A single drop of blood.

And then—

His smirk widened.

"...This just got interesting."

He said, looking back at Raye.

And Raye—

"Really? I don't think so."

He just mumbled that and casually readjusted the grip on his swords.

Fwoosh—

A light gust of wind swirled around him.

This fight—

Had only just begun...

*****

After a slight pause in their fight—

BAM—!

Raye and Ace exploded forward at the same time!

FWOOSH—!

Wind blasted from Raye's legs, his body propelled like an arrow released from a bow.

FWOOZZT—!

Meanwhile, arcs of electricity crackled violently around Ace's feet, leaving a trail of scorched marks on the arena floor as he surged ahead!

SWISH—!

Their speed was unreal.

To the spectators, they were nothing but streaks of wind and lightning!

Blurred figures—clashing in an instant!

And then—

TANG—!

CLANG—!

TING—!

Steel rang like a chorus of war!

Raye and Ace met in the middle, exchanging rapid, complex attacks!

SZZZT—!

Ace twisted his katana in a sharp arc, a pulse of electricity snapping down the blade like a whip!

FWOOSH—!

Raye sidestepped, the crackling energy barely missing his shoulder!

TANG—!

Then [Nyx] parried a lightning-fast thrust from Ace, the force pushing Raye's arm slightly back!

SWISH—!

At the same moment, [Celestria], still in rapier form, flicked forward—

TING—!

Ace barely deflected it, twisting his katana at the last second to redirect the strike with its hilt!

"Tch—!"

Ace's muscles tensed as another gust of wind brushed past him.

Raye was relentless!

He wasn't just reacting—he was controlling the tempo of the fight!

BAM—!

He kicked off the ground, his wind-enhanced speed surging even further.

FWIP—!

Celestria shifted again, thickening into a curved saber mid-swing.

And seeing that—

Ace's pupils shrank.

'Shit—this sword…!'

Before he could react—

SWOOSH—!

Raye's saber carved through the air toward him, its edge whistling with sheer momentum!

FZZZT—!

Ace raised his blade in an instant—

CLANG—!

And barely managed to block!

But—

BZZZZT—!

A violent surge of electricity exploded from his katana!

"Ugh—!"

Raye felt a tingling numbness crawl up his arm—Ace had used the impact to channel a shockwave through his sword!

Though, calmly—

FWOOSH—!

Raye twisted mid-air, letting his wind dispel the lingering electricity before it could paralyze him!

"?!"

Ace's eyes widened seeing this!

And just then—

Tap-

Raye's foot barely touched the ground—

BAM—!

But he lunged forward again!

CLANG—!

TING—!

And the fierce exchange between him and Ace continued!

Their blades becoming nothing but blurs of silver, black, and yellow light!

Ace swung down—

Raye swung horizontally—

TIIING—!

Their weapons met in unpredictable angles, the sound of steel-on-steel echoing nonstop!

Every strike—precise.

Every dodge—flawless.

The crowd was breathless.

And then—

BOOM—!

A shockwave blasted outward as both of them clashed with full force!

Dust kicked up.

The entire arena trembled.

And when the dust cleared—

The two stood a few meters apart.

"...Hah."

Ace wiped his lip, a faint cut there.

"..."

Raye simply exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

This battle—

It was far from over!

"You're pretty fast, huh. I'll admit that."

Ace mumbled, eyeing at Raye.

"...?"

Raye just squinted his eyes at him.

Then—

"You're the fastest guys I know, next to me, of course."

Ace followed confidently, there's a smirk on his face again.

And seeing that...

"..."

Raye frowned. He was getting annoyed at Ace's face!

And so—

'I should probably put him in his place now.'

He decided that!

And opening his mouth—

"[Flash]"

Raye muttered!