Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1232: The Duel

On the stage, the instant Rice shifted his posture, his aura gathered tightly, rendering his footing far more steadfast...

Next, he lifted his hand, pouring energy into Piercing Echo, the Combat Spell crafted to pierce barriers by sending vibrating aura straight to the foe’s essence.

This was a skill he'd only just grasped after endless lessons from Denise...

Truth be told, he'd tested it solely on Arthur, one of Denise’s Magic Automatons. Arthur had served as his sparring companion these last few months, and Rice realized he couldn't wield this power without such practice...

Bam!

His palm shot out, aura surging like a blasting wave.

Sora tensed up, his body soaking the hit, his aura bursting forth to guard him.

The strike rocked him back, yet he stood his ground... His Dragon Blood kicked in, muscles clenching, bones toughening, and lessening the harm to his vital organs.

Then came his bellow, laced with soul power, rumbling the earth beneath.

Rice felt stunned as his balance faltered briefly from the roar's force. Yet he steadied himself swiftly, aura flowing back under his command.

The Arbiter observed intently while the spectators shouted wilder with every clash.

The Arbiter grew anxious, fearing he might not react in time to rescue either if things turned deadly.

He glanced about, relieved to see several professors edging nearer, ready to step in if needed.

"Beat him, Sora! You can do it!"

"Make it more entertaining! Go use your Soul Energy!"

"Right, no one should surrender! Fight until one of you gets knocked out!"

"Do not lose, muscular boy!"

"Beat that tiny classmate of yours!"

The audience yelled for varied motives. Some craved the thrill of battle, others backed a victor in the bout.

Yet the pair tuned out the noise. Their minds locked on the fight alone!

Sora charged once more, fists glowing hot, his build driving him with unyielding might.

Rice faced the onslaught directly, honing in on ripostes. As moments ticked by, his actions grew keener and smoother.

His energy drain dropped steadily.

To onlookers, the skirmish resembled a graceful performance.

Sora’s brute force pounded ahead as Rice’s polished skills deflected it. Every collision jolted the platform, driving the throng into frenzy...

They adored clashes like this among Martial Artists!

Even so, the fighters remained mere youths...

Sora’s breathing grew labored as the contest dragged on.

He'd prepared rigorously, withstood Chad’s savage drills, taken in dragon blood amid agony and flames, but battling Rice proved tough given the precision of his methods.

Rice’s gaze, meanwhile, blazed with concentration. He understood clearly that misjudging any of Sora’s strikes could spell disaster. A solid hit from Sora’s power would crumple him for sure.

He'd faced belittlement his whole life, his weak frame ridiculed, his might questioned... But now his senses sharpened, his aura merged seamlessly with his being, allowing effortless mastery.

Moreover, his skills could be deemed perfect for his tender years.

"Haa!" Rice yelled while parrying yet another blow.

The masses bellowed fiercer, none able to predict the duel’s victor...

Sora dashed in anew, his punch fueled by Dragon’s Drive.

Rice pivoted then, employing his Redirecting Spiral. Exhaustion nearly undid him, but he pulled it off!

The force splintered the ground, though both pressed without pause.

The brawl intensified, with neither seizing dominance!

***

Meanwhile, the duo atop the platform, eyeing the clash, kicked off their wager!

Denise brushed off the tease, her focus shifting back to the fight. "Look at them. I think Rice is about to finish this..."

Chad chuckled and shook his head. "You mean Sora’s about to end this? Do you want to bet?"

Denise cocked her head, a subtle grin playing on her mouth.

"A harmless wager, then. If Rice wins, I’ll give him a runic pendant with Temporal Power... It came from a Time Manipulator, but aside from that, it also stabilizes aura flow and prevents overexertion. For someone with his body, it could mean survival in the real competition."

Chad grinned. "I like that! And if Sora wins, I’ll hand him a draconic gauntlet I’ve kept hidden. Forged from tempered scales, it channels aura through the fists. Perfect for a boy who insists on breaking walls instead of walking around them."

Denise chuckled softly. "So, a pendant for accuracy, a gauntlet for recklessness. Fitting gifts."

Chad leaned closer... "It’s not about winning or losing, is it? It’s about showing them we believe in their growth."

Denise nodded. "Well, I guess you’re scared to lose. But let’s just say it’s exactly like that.’

Before Chad could reply, the air shimmered beside them. A ripple of shadow and light condensed into a figure cloaked in faint mist.

Neither the crowd nor the Arbiter noticed, but Chad and Denise immediately recognized the presence.

Vale’s Avatar had arrived.

"Still making wagers, I see," the Avatar said with a chuckle. "You two never change."

Despite being an Avatar, he still had Vale’s soul, so the two didn’t treat him like a stranger.

Chad smirked. "We’re just keeping things interesting. Besides, Sora fights harder when he knows what’s at stake. So I plan to tell him this through telepathy, is that alright?"

Denise inclined her head respectfully. "And Rice fights harder when he knows he is seen. He has always been underestimated. This duel is his chance to prove otherwise."

Vale’s Avatar turned its gaze toward the arena, where the two boys clashed again...

"Alright... Let’s see how the battle will change if they learned that there are some stakes on the line."