The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"..."

Elias stood a few meters away from Raye, holding the golden handle of his longsword with both hands.

"..."

Raye just stared at him, [Nyx] on his right and [Celestria] on his left—it was in its sword form.

"It's starting..."

"I'm excited."

"Uwahhh, finally, silence... My ears..."

Murmurs from the crowd erupted as the two faced off.

Anticipation filled everyone's bodies as they grew excited about what was about to come...

Elias wasn't the strongest of the Elite Four.

And Raye had already defeated Ace and Christian—the arguably strongest of them.

So, the result was already set, right?

No, it wasn't...

'Ugh... My body aches.'

Raye's condition wasn't good.

His body felt heavy from being low on mana and stamina.

His breathing was already rough—he was just making sure nobody heard it.

Everyone knew this.

That's why no one can be a hundred percent sure of the outcome.

After all, Elias is also a member of the [Elite Four] from the other academies.

And so, after calculating a bit—

'I should finish this quickly.'

Raye declared that in his head.

He was sure that he would lose if the battle dragged on.

So after deciding that—

Fwip—

Raye tightened his grip on his swords.

And just then...

"You're already tired. I'll put you to rest."

Fwish—

Elias said that, taking a stance.

"..."

Raye just looked at him without changing expression.

Then, crouching down and preparing to kick off the ground—

"Try it if you can."

He said that in a monotone voice, a small smirk resting on his face.

"..."

Elias frowned at his words.

And at that moment—

"START!"

Charles exclaimed, starting the match!

And as soon as they heard his voice—

BAM!!

FWOOSH—

Elias and Raye immediately dashed toward each other!

CLANG—!!

Their swords clashed mid-air, in the middle of the arena, sending sparks flying!

Fwip—

Elias twisted his wrists, seamlessly flowing into a second strike.

'Oh no you don't.'

Fwish—

But Raye reacted instantly—twisting his body to the right and barely dodging the blade by a hair's breadth!

TINGG-!

TANGK—!

SWISH—

Elias pressed forward, his swordplay like a flowing river, each movement chaining into the next without pause.

His cold blade cut through the air in a smooth, relentless assault...

But Raye was fast... Too fast.

WHOOSH—

He ducked under a horizontal slash, moving to the side before Elias could fully recover his balance.

And in that split second—

SWOOSH—

Raye's [Nyx] slashed forward, aiming for Elias' left leg!

Seeing that—

Fwip-

Elias immediately turned his sword upsidedown—

TINGGK—!!

Deflecting the attack with a sharp metallic ring!

But in doing so—

Shhhhk—!

He slid back!

The force behind Raye's attack sent him back by a few inches!

"..."

Elias just glared at Raye, not taking his attention away from him.

And looking back at him...

'Tch… I thought I got him there.'

Raye thought, tightening his grip on his weapons.

He wasn't used to fighting someone with such fluid swordplay.

'That's the Alvah swordsmanship, right? No wonder they're a reputable swordsman family.'

Raye thought, his brows furrowing.

Each of Elias's movements—precise, disciplined, and efficient—carried the weight of generations of refined technique.

On the other hand...

Elias smirked.

'He's distracted. Now!'

He exclaimed in his head.

Then—

BAM!

He kicked off the ground, the force cracking against the arena floor.

And in a split second—

FWISH—

He closed the gap, his sword blurring as he unleashed a lightning-fast combo!

SWOOSH—

An upward slash!

FWISH—

A diagonal cut!

And lastly—

FWOOSH—!

A spinning strike that curved unpredictably!

His blade cut through the air with deadly speed, each movement fluid, seamless—relentless.

But—

SWOOSH—

Raye twisted his body to the side, just barely avoiding the first strike!

FWISH—

He bent backward, feeling the wind of the diagonal slash narrowly missing his face!

Then—

He dropped low.

Fwip—

His feet skidded across the ground as he shifted under Elias's spinning strike, his eyes sharp, calculating.

He successfully avoided the three attacks!

But suddenly—

TAAANGK—!

A direct hit!

Elias followed up with a fourth move in his combo!

It was a downward vertical slash!

"Urgh?!"

Raye managed to block it just in time by crossing his swords, but the sheer force sent a violent tremor up his arms.

'Damn it...'@@novelbin@@

His muscles tensed, his grip tightening around his weapons.

He was ready to attack back!

But before Raye could even launch a counter—

Elias suddenly changed the tempo.

And with a sharp pivot—

FWIP—

He pulled his sword back—

FWOOSH!

And lunged forward!

A sudden thrust aimed straight for Raye's chest!

Fast. Precise. Ruthless.

But—

"..."

Raye saw it.

And at the very last second—

He twisted his torso back to the left!

Fwish—!

Elias' blade grazed past his ribs, the cold steel slicing through the air instead of flesh.

Then—

Bam!

Raye leaped back, flipping backward and landing gracefully on his feet a few meters away!

"That was a close one."

Raye mumbled, straightening his stance with a frown on his face.

But not letting him rest or get away—

FWOOSH—

Elias disappeared from where he stood!

Fwish-

And he reappeared in front of Raye! Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

'He's this fast?!'

Raye was surprised.

And before he knew it—

FWOOSH-!

Elias launched another fast thrust!

SWISH~

Raye spun backward to the right, barely avoiding a fatal hit—

Slash-

But the blade still grazed his right side!

Red blood appeared on Raye's clean white uniform coat.

The crowd gasped.

Elias' smirk deepened.

And with a sly smile on his face—

"Slowing down, are we?"

He taunted.

"Fuuuu..."

Raye exhaled sharply, ignoring Elias' provocation.

And after that—

'No choice.'

Fwip-

He clenched his swords.

Then—

BOOM!

Mana surged through his body!

And opening his mouth—

"[Flash]"

Raye activated his skill!

Fwish—

His figure blurred, vanishing from sight!

Elias's eyes widened—

He expected the skill, but he didn't expect it to be this fast in person!

WHOOSH!

Raye reappeared behind him in an instant, his [Celestria] already swinging down!

"...?!"

CLANG!!!

Elias barely managed to turn and block, the sheer force of Raye's speed-enhanced attack sending a shockwave through the arena!

'Fast… but not enough.'

Elias declared inwardly.

Fwoosh~

Then his sword glowed as golden energy enveloped it—it was Weapon Aura!

BOOM!

A massive force erupted from Elias' blade.

"...?!"

Shhhhk!

Raye was slightly pushed backward despite his defensive stance. The ground beneath them cracked.

'His aura is something else, huh.'

Raye thought.

Swip-

His grip tightened again as he channeled more mana into his swords.

And at that moment—

Elias stepped forward.

Raye's eyes sharpened.

And—

FWOOSH—!!!

They vanished at the same time.

The crowd held their breath.

Then—

BOOOOOM—!!!

A deafening shockwave tore through the arena.

Sparks of energy crackled around his blades as he met Elias's weapon aura head-on.

TINGG-! CLANG! TANGGK—!

Their swords met in a blinding barrage of attacks—each strike sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

Swoosh- swish—

Raye weaved through Elias's precise, fluid combos, countering with blinding speed.

"...!"

But Elias remained composed, using his aura to extend the reach of his sword and suppress Raye's movements.

"Your speed is commendable, but it's not enough!"

Elias muttered, his golden aura flaring even brighter.

"Tch—"

'[Flash]'

Then Raye suddenly vanished again—

And the next thing everyone knew...

SCHWING!

His sword slashed at Elias from the left with [Celestria]—

CLANG!

Blocked!

"Keuk...?!"

Elias was able to block it.

Then instantly, Raye flickered again—

"[Flash!]"

SCHING!

A strike from the right!

TINGG—!

Blocked again!

"Tsk!"

Raye clicked his tongue, his mana running low from consecutive [Flash] activations.

"Hah!"

Elias smiled mischievously.

FWAAAAA~

His golden aura intensified as he raised his sword overhead.

And then—

"Here's your rest!"

SWOOOSH—!!!

His sword came crashing down, golden energy surging toward Raye in a wave of destruction!

A simple, downward vertical slash—

BOOM!!!

Dust and debris erupted into the air as the attack landed.

Swooooosh~

"..."

Silence.

Nobody in the crowd said a word, they were waiting for the dust cloud to disappear.

Then—

FWOOOSH—

A transparent white light flickered through the smoke!

And when the dust settled—

"..."

They saw Raye standing tall, his entire body radiating intense mana output!

His swords crackled with raw energy, fighting off Elias's aura with sheer force.

Raye smirked.

"This fight's just getting started."

He said.

And opening his mouth again—

"[Blaze]"

He muttered!

SWAAAAAA—

A violent raging fire engulfed [Celestria] and [Nyx]!

Bam-

Elias jumped back when he saw that.

FWOOSH—!

His gaze locked onto Raye's blades, now wreathed in fierce, flickering flames.

'So he's finally using it again.'

He said in his head, landing softly on the ground and readjusting his grip on his sword.

Then—

FWAAAAAAAA—!

Elias' golden aura started surging in response!

FWOOOOOOOSH—

Raye and Elias stood motionless, locked in a silent standoff.

Their eyes sharp. Bodies tense.

"..."

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

"..."

The arena, once filled with murmurs, fell into eerie silence.

The fight had just begun not long ago...

But everyone can instinctively tell that the end was near.

Swoosh~

Seconds stretched into minutes.

Then, after a few moments of silence—

BAM!

FWISH—

Raye and Elias vanished from their places!

And suddenly—

BOOOOM—!!

They collided once more—flames and golden energy erupting as their blades clashed mid-air!

"..."

Raye's eyes met with Elias'.

And while they were looking at each other—

"I thought you were going to put me to rest? I'm waiting."

Raye asked that slyly!

And responding to him—

"Your tongue is as sharp as your weapons, huh."

Elias muttered that with a frown on his face!

Then, with that—

TIINGG—!!!

They started clashing swords again!