Luci still couldn't believe that she was defeated like that.
Once she calmed down and saw Azzy didn't even move from the spot, she realized what kind of attack it was. "Lunge?"
Her combat instructor said a lot of times to learn fencing to improve her saber arts but she looked down on the sport as it was created by normal people and that too, for a sport.
Not to mention, those moves won't be of any use in a real battle in the wild.
"I didn't know that you are a fencing expert," Luci commented as she let out a huge sigh.
To her comment, Azzy shrugged his shoulders, "No, I never practiced it. I just remembered watching a fencing battle and thought of trying it now that I have a saber in my hands."
"I was defeated by a beginner?" Luci was stupefied on the spot. She felt like all the hard work she had done for so many years wasn't worth it in front of this genius before her.
"Anyway, I won and you lost, Miss Heart. Time to honor your promise. I'll get to keep this saber and you will walk out of the barrier." Azzy no longer paid any attention to her and turned around to leave.
He believed that a representative captain of a prestigious academy like Luci wouldn't go back on her words, especially when higher realm experts were watching the match.
Well, even if she becomes shameless and does not admits defeat, Azzy was confident about defeating her again.
Thankfully, she kept her words and started to walk away in disappointment.
"Sigh, I was too arrogant." It was the only thought she had as she voluntarily stepped outside the barrier.
She was so ashamed of herself for losing in such a manner that she forgot about her shoulder injury. It was only after her aunt Carmella came to her and applied a healing-skill-card on her that she realized the injury.
Looking at their captain voluntarily walking away, a look of surprise appeared on her teammates as they didn't expect she would lose right away.
At the same time, a large part of the audience was also confused at the same time as they didn't know why the Rebirth team captain admitted defeat.
A part of them realized that it might have something to do with their conversation before their one-second battle with the blades.
The only one that didn't notice yet is the healer Ardella, who was busy battling with Claire.
With Luci out, the rest of the match completely turned in Twilight's favor.
After defeating Luci, with the saber in his hands, Azzy went on to provide assist Snivy in cleaving Misty Queen's Zebra into two.
However, he didn't disturb the battle between the spear-wielder and hammer wielder and rushed towards Claire to help her as she was facing two opponents of which one of them has a platinum-grade beast.
From far away, he could see that Claire was in a deadlock situation.
She was being attacked by Ardella with the Bo staff, the flaming eagle was attacking with its claws and beak from time to time, and Iphi was looking for every opportunity to energy arrows from the sky.
Thankfully, as the laughing skull constantly followed Iphi, the little girl wasn't getting enough opportunities as the eagle needed to constantly dodge it. After Luci's defeat, she couldn't risk it.
Seeing how Claire couldn't get an advantage, Azzy decided to help her out. Just as he stepped onto the middle island, he saw Claire take out a five-star skill card and unleashed the skill.
The water surface in the surroundings immediately turned into golden color.
"Holy ground?" Azzy immediately stopped moving.
He was really surprised at the scene. The whole blue lake now turned into a golden lake. "The last time she used it, it was only 50 meter range. It seems the range of the five-star card is at least three times than a four-star."
Azzy couldn't help but imagine how high the range of this skill would be if this girl ever enters the nine-star realm.
At the same time, he also felt heavy as if some invisible weights are tied to his legs. He also felt like some kind of soul energy invaded his body.
But, with the Reaper's support, he resisted the effect. Not intending to show weakness in front of everyone, especially regarding his speed, Azzy just stood on the island and watched the battles like a spectator.
Like him, many higher realm experts were surprised as they felt that the golden water is like oozing with life.
It was so powerful that the wood attribute Arcana like Oaktree became stronger. The thickness of its trunk, roots, and branches was increased by half a fold. The pace of its roots that were slowly spreading underground was also increased.
Some people thought she was foolish as the skill is essentially helpful to Ardella as she's also a light attribute user.
While Claire also considered this as she unleashed the skill, she didn't know that Ardella felt nothing despite being standing in the golden water.
Seeing the changes around, Iphi made her big move.
<strong>"Soul skill: Flames of Fury."</strong>
Letting out a powerful screech, the flaming eagle spread its fire wings wide and flew vertically for hundred meters before making an arc and diving towards the target at a blazing speed.
The spectators including Azzy raised their heads towards the endless dark sky where Iphi was riding a firebird-shaped flame.
This time, Claire didn't bother to either evade the attack or block it. She didn't even look at it. Even her teammates don't look worried about it. Gideon and Snivy continued their battles while Mia was waiting for the perfect time.
Ignoring the incoming attack from the sky, Claire whose eyes were fixed on Ardella raised her heavy sword and swung at her.
In her defense, Ardella managed to block the attack with the Bo staff but flew a few meters away as a result.
Meanwhile, the flaming eagle almost reached her. However, Claire just raised her head and stood on the spot with a smile on her face.
*Boom*
An enormous explosion occurred in the middle of the lake.
"Captain!" For a moment, Gideon and Snivy halted their attacks and looked at the front. While they were injured because of that, still, both of them sighed in relief upon watching how Claire was completely fine.
Apart from Azzy who had activated the eyes of god, advanced realm experts (rank-7 and above), and Iphi who was at the close range saw that Claire was indeed injured very badly but was completely recovered almost instantly.
"What the hell!" Iphi was stunned to see there was another threat at the same level as Azzy.
"It was my turn." Claire's pupils suddenly turned golden and started to glow while a pair of golden energy wings sprouted from her back.
***
Thirty minutes later, with half-meter thick roots around them, Ardella, Misty Queen, and Dewy were seen standing on the lake. None of them are trying to struggle to get free and their eyes were fixed on the sky where Iphi and her flaming giant eagle are battling against golden-winged Claire.
The laughing skull was nowhere to be seen as Iphi somehow managed to let it touch the barrier and destroy it.
"Admit defeat, Ms. Magnolis. There's no use in prolonging this battle anymore." Claire said to her in a serious tone after slashing at the Eagle.
As the blood started to drip from its head, Iphi took out a four-star healing card and healed its injury. Then, she looked at Claire and replied, "If you have any more strength left, use it to defeat me."
The battle is going on between them for the past 30 minutes and neither of them is falling to a disadvantage.
Even without Holy ground, Claire's rate of recovery is still high enough to self-heal quickly while Iphi possessed an abundant amount of healing and recovery cards to prolong the battle.
Watching the battle from below, along with the audience, while the rest of the Twilight team members were amazed at Iphi's persistence, Claire started to get annoyed.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "very well. So be it…"
<strong>"Soul skill: Descent of the Heavenly Guardian."</strong>
As she was covered by an armor of thick holy aura, her golden wings grew bigger. The sword disappeared and a halo appeared over her head.
"Wow" "Is she an angel?" "She's very pure" "What a tremendous amount of life force" "What kind of skill is this?"
Many of the spectators were amazed to see Claire's transformation. Of them, the one that was surprised the most is her sister Syllia. A look of disbelief appeared on her face, "Life? Ancestors blessing?"
Meanwhile, Azzy sighed in relief, "thankfully, I dismissed Vajra long ago…"
His black wolf was constantly barking in his mindscape after feeling the presence of its most hated enemy.
Looking at her, Claire raised her hand, "I wanted to save this technique until the finals but I guess I will have to use it now. Brace yourself, Ms. Magnolis."
Slowly, her soul energy gathered in her palm and then, transform into a golden whip.
"C'mon." She had used all soul skills, and yet, there was no trace of fear on Iphi's face.
Flapping her wings, she dashed towards Iphi.
As the eagle managed to dodge it, Iphi drew her bow.
However, before she could conjure an arrow, Claire made a sharp turn and attacked her with the whip.
As the rope of the golden whip captured her waist, Claire dragged her from the back of the platinum-grade beast and flew towards the barrier.
Letting out a powerful screech, the flaming eagle chased after its master. After flying for ten seconds, just as it was about to catch up with Claire, the latter spun around and threw Iphi towards the barrier. "Kyaa…."
The flaming eagle shot passed Claire and dashed towards flying Iphi. But, Claire wasn't finished yet.
Before the flaming eagle even gets away more than 3 meters, this time, its leg was captured by the whip.
"Gra…" The flaming eagle screeched once again and forcefully escaped from Claire's grip. But, it was already too late. Iphi was already out of bounds.
"Team Twilight wins." The proctor declared the winner after Luci admitted the defeat.
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
The crowd erupted with cheers and huge applause for both the teams. Because of the showdown between Claire and Iphi, the two girls entered the most wanted list in the minds of scouts.
Meanwhile, in one of the seats at a corner, a nine-year-old little girl enthusiastically clapped along with others. "She's really amazing, grandpa."
Beside her sat a young man who was wearing black robes and a hood. As the surroundings are dark, it's very hard for anyone to have a glimpse at his face.
In response, the young man sighed, "too bad that she is a step-daughter of the heavens and not the true daughter. If only she..." *sigh*
"Stepdaughter? True daughter?" The little girl was confused.
Putting aside his thoughts, her grandfather explained, "Extraordinary individuals like you and me who awakened a platinum grade beast and above Arcana are called true children of heavens.
However, certain people weren't blessed by the heavens and hence awaken a gold-grade Arcana.
Still, their extraordinary talent and potential to enter the 9-star realm make the heavens watch over them and help them out in mutating their Arcana spirits. That's why they are called adopted children of heaven.
In this sense, Iphi is the true daughter and Claire is the step-daughter of the heavens."
"Oh! So, I was also considered as a true daughter of the heavens?" The little girl's eyes it up in excitement.
In response, her grandpa caressed her head with affection and smiled, "Of course, Izora."
"Anyway, we have been here for too long. Let's get back home." The young man in a hood then grabbed her hand and both of them disappeared from the spot.
All this while, no one in the stadium either spotted their existence or heard their conversation.
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