Crash!
I couldn't count the number of pieces my sword broke into.
The mana flow into the sword stopped suddenly and I lost my momentum. Sylas' didn't waste this chance. As soon as my sword, he retraced the path of his sword and aimed for my neck.
{Fireball}
I used another Fireball to stop his sword like I did with his blood sword. I needed to stop this even if it cost me an arm. I could still fight with my right arm.
I twisted my neck sideways as I hurried to step back. I brought my left hand glowing with fire to tackle his sword.
But he changed the trajectory again and this time it was aimed towards my heart. I hurriedly moved my left hand predicting his move but I was a little late.
Gahhh!
I felt my heart stop for a second as I made a strange cry in pain. The fireball connected with his sword in the last second and parried in downwards. It missed my heart or wherever he was aiming but still left a deep wound in my chest.
And this scale couldn't be compared to the wound at my waist. This was much worse.
'God dammit! Is he trying to kill me?'
I could die if I don't treat it soon enough as there was no way to stop the bleeding from this wound.
'I need to finish this soon enough but how?'
I could feel the desperation in my mind as I panicked to think of a solution. I felt like my brain has also left me alone to deal with this situation. The heavy sabre appeared in my hands in no time, it's weight at maximum.
Sylas' skill was already something crazy. I could see he is barely holding back his reason as he tried not to kill me.
I also knew why he used that type of suicidal skill. He too was very desperate to win this like me. He said he had to save someone and for that he needed to go to Elysium. He told me that he could do anything to win this.
Then what about me? I also had to meet with my family. What if I lost here? Will I see them again?
But... there was no way now.
I could see I already lost. I lost my battles before. In Elysium, many others defeated me using their skills. I lost to my father when he tried to teach me something in a spar. I lost to Rowan everyday. I almost lost my life to the Dark Wyvern and Minotaur.
But nothing hurt me more than this.
All those other fights till today, I already gave up on those before even winning. Or even trying to win.
I fought the Wyverns thinking I'd lose. I sparred Rowan thinking I'd lose.
Still, I tried fighting those matches I had no chance in the first place.
Do you expect me to show my basic swordsmanship against those numerous skills given by Stigmata to all these people?
I can't.
Or do you expect me to defeat my father or Rowan without any experience in fighting?
Of course, I can't.
Compared to now, I couldn't even hold my sword properly at that time, so I ran from that Dark Wyvern too. What did you even expect?
I lost and lost.
But this... I bet my everything for today. I didn't go to those plays and museums with my parents, I didn't even go to those fancy stores to buy clothes. I trained for four years, all the time, no matter how injured or tired I was. So why???
Why am I losing?
WHYYYY???
I couldn't think straight. This was a new feeling to be honest. I never felt this frustrated before when I lost.
Sylas' speed was decreasing every second but mine was worse. I was even struggling to hold onto that heavy sword.
'Ah! So this is how they feel when they lose.'
This desperation, this feeling...
I wanted to win.
[Congratulations. You have achieved the third understanding of your Stigmata]
[Your Stigmata has been upgraded]
[Stigmata of void: ★★ ---> ★★★]
[Exclusive Skill 'Void Jump' learned]
My eyes blurred out, having difficulty reading... or maybe understanding the words infront of me.
It was because of my loss of blood, or from the drops of water that covered my eyes.
It was a strange feeling.
I never thought facing the bitterness of defeat would also be an understanding of my stigmata.
Gritting my teeth, I pulled myself together again.
'Not yet'
Somehow I managed to endure the throbbing pain that was enough to make me lose my consciousness any second.
'One chance... I have to use everything.'
{Void Jump}
Seeing me using another skill, Sylas suddenly stopped. Taking a defensive posture, he backed as far as he could. The people watching were also confused about his sudden change. But the one who was confused the most was me.
'Nothing happened? What the hell?'
I felt a massive amount of mana draining away from my body but the next moment it returned back away to my body. The skill failed to activate itself. And there was only one thing I could think of.
'I don't have enough mana.'
I still had a little less than a quarter of my mana but that was not enough. It needed more.
{Mana Flow}
Although after my Mana Borrow changed into Mana Flow, my situation to fight long battles without physically exhausting myself improved a lot, but it wasn't completely gone. And now with all these injuries numbing my senses with pain, the exhaustion hit me even harder.
The mana from the surrounding flowed in me. I still wasn't sure how much mana the skill needed so I had to wait a little.
At least until I have a quarter of my full mana.
***
The Heart, Inside a VIP room
The VIP rooms were slightly above all the audience's seats and were made with strange, powerful glasses. The people inside the room could spectate all the things outside but it was not the same for the ones outside it. The people outside just saw it like a room covered by dark black glass. There were a total of twelve of such rooms in The Heart.
"Who do you think will win, Timmy?"
"I really don't like you using those nicknames"
"Che! You are now behaving like an old guy too. I have been calling you this even before you learned to hold your sword."
"...."
The one who asked the question was a black haired man in his early forties. Still, if someone saw him they would call him a man around thirty years of age, or less, enjoying his prime.
He was none other than Duke Micheal Zarda, the father of Penelope Zarda.
And the one talking to him was a handsome man with light brown hair. He looked even younger than Duke Zarda even though he was in his late thirties. Duke Timothy Aeris, the father of Isabelle Aeris, arrived in Lumina Town to investigate the matter considering those terrorists closely.
"Well, to answer your question. I think it is already decided. Marcel Mistmer...he already lost"
"Hooo~"
"Don't be sure, Duke Aeris." Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by someone else. They both hurriedly turned their heads to see the uninvited person who was to be confident enough to enter into their private conversation.
It was a lady with long auburn hair and deep brown intimidating eyes.
"Erica~chan~ I thought of paying you a visit. Thank you for saving our daughters"
"Yes. I should also thank you for saving Isabelle, Guild Master."
"I didn't save her. It was the guy you are talking about. Both of them attacked their camp on my command and Marcel Mistmer also succeeded in saving your daughter after that."
"I heard. Micheal is already hosting a banquet on his daughter's eighteenth birthday. I will thank him there in person."
The dukes already heard the overall news from the guards. Since Duke Aeris came here for an investigation against those criminals, he had no intention to meet his daughter's savior. It didn't mean that he wasn't thankful. He just knew how to separate work from personal matters.
"By the way, what did you say earlier?" Duke Zarda asked.
"Ah! I mean that Marcel guy is just full of surprises. I think he will show another miracle today."
"Heh... I would really love to see Timmy's face when he is wrong. But this time, I also don't think that Marcel boy is going to win."
"Well, I don't know about the winner. But he definitely won't disappoint me. I am sure of it."
She looked below at the grey haired boy, his eyes continuously searching for something. Like a true hunter waiting for a perfect timing. Slowly her lips curled upwards.
***
I decreased my mana output and only depended in the weight of my sword to defend against him. I'd fall down the moment I stop now. It was a miracle that I lasted this long.
Sylas' condition wasn't that better than mine.
But still, I finally had enough mana to use Void Jump. At least, I believed it would be enough.
'I need to create a opening'
I swapped my sword from right to left hand. Sprinting towards him, I swung my sword downwards. He tried to block it but I retraced it back as a feint and kicked him in the gut. The strength was just enough to push him a little, and at that moment, a spear appeared in my right hand.
{Lighting Wave}
I used a small amount of mana to start the skill but it wasn't enough to spread the lightning around the arena. Only the tip buzzed out small lightning. But it was sufficient for me.
Gripping the spear tightly, I threw it towards him.
I used a skill called Never Miss when hitting the Dark Wyvern's eye but now I had no such skill. Still I was much better than me from that time. Sword, spear and bows. I learnt everything I could. I knew I wouldn't miss this time.
The spear cut through the air at a terrifying speed and I immediately activated the skill.
And this... this was my chance.
{Void Jump}
Mana sucked out my whole body like a pump as I suddenly felt nauseous. But the next moment, I was right behind Sylas. I was even faster than the spear.
'W-what just happened?'
I had no idea about this skill or what it does.
The moment I was teleported behind him, I was more astonished than anyone else in this arena.
Quickly analysing the situation infront of me, I tried to gather myself together.
I had a tiny bit of mana remaining on me. I immediately increased the length of my sword and aimed directly at his neck.
He had to defend against my spear coming from other side and I would finish it then.
But he... he once again exceeded my expectations again.
He decided to take the spear head on.
He completely ignored my spear, letting it hit him and turned his complete focus behind him, that is, towards me.
He tried to defend my sword with his weapon and aimed his blood sword in other hand towards my stomach.
Slice!
Thrust!
The spear pierced through his shoulder, which made his sword halt for a second. Taking advantage of this, I immediately changed the path of my sword downwards and cut down his entire arm. But at the same time, a red sword entered my stomach.
Keuk!
Both of us had no strength remaining to fight another round.
But just when I thought it was now a matter of tolerance, the blood sword in my stomach expanded even more and I vomited a mouthful of blood.
'What...no..t.... like..... this... '
Thud!!
My vision blurred as I saw Sylas staggering around. I could see the crown cheering in the back but I couldn't hear anything.
"The win... is... Sylas Zy..."
I completely passed out there.