LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 8: MARVEL OF ESSENCE [ friendly spar]
After a while, both lords were standing face to face in an arena surrounded by nobles. They were both dressed in light armor. Edgar glanced at Amanda and smiled slightly. William observed Edgar and Lord Archy closely. "Third Eye," William whispered.
STATUS WINDOW!
NAME: MELIOS ARCHY ESSENCE
LEVEL: 71 WATER
RACE: Human
AGE: 35
STATS
HP: 7295/7295
ESSENCE: 10600/10800
STRENGTH: 7200
AGILITY: 7200
INTELLIGENCE: 140
DURABILITY: 7200
SKILLS : TIDAL SLASH
AQUEOUS SHEILD
RAIN OF DAGGERS.
HYDRO CANON.
OCEANIC WRATH.
WHIRLPOOL BIND
TRIDENT OF SEA KING.
DOMAIN OF SEA KING.
"Hello, hello, and hello, ladies and gentlemen!" A booming voice silenced the murmurs of the nobles, their attention snapping to the center of the arena.
"I, the Duke of Bavaria, will serve as the referee for today's spar!" he announced, his voice rich with authority. "With me overseeing this match, there will be no cheating." He paused dramatically, casting a sly glance at his secretary. "Oh my, aren't I looking particularly dashing today?" he murmured with a wink, eliciting a few stifled chuckles from the crowd.
"Now, let's go over the rules!" the Duke continued, his tone lighthearted yet commanding. "First, no use of domains, essence weapons, prisons, or heavy attacks. The participants may only utilize two skills, and they can choose one weapon from the selection we've provided. And lastly…" He chuckled, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "Please, try not to hurt each other too much!"
William, standing among the onlookers, shifted his gaze to the Duke. "The Duke of Bavaria… he's reached level 80," William muttered, his tone a mix of respect and curiosity. "Despite his quirky personality, he's one of the strongest individuals in the empire."
[INDEED, HE IS STRONG, BUT I DO NOT LIKE HIS PERSONALITY.]
A voice echoed in William's mind—Wiz, his ever-sarcastic companion.
William smirked. "Really? But doesn't his personality match yours perfectly?"
[WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPEAKING, WILLIAM?] Wiz snapped, bristling at the comparison.
"I mean, he's noble, confident, and cool, just like you."
[HUMPH. MY PERSONALITY IS FAR SUPERIOR TO HIS.]
William chuckled quietly, his gaze drifting to his father and Count Archy, who were now stepping into the arena.
Count Archy had chosen a longsword as his weapon, its polished blade gleaming under the sunlight. His opponent, Marquis Medici, opted for a bow and three arrows, his stance poised and calculated.
The Duke raised his hand, his aura flaring slightly as a massive shield of essence materialized around the arena, shimmering like a translucent dome. "Let the show begin!" he declared, his voice booming across the crowd.
The tension in the arena thickened as the match officially commenced. Edgar turned to Count Archy, his cyan essence beginning to shimmer faintly.
"Are you ready, my lord?" Edgar asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Count Archy chuckled lightly, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Please, Edgar, go easy on me."
The two locked eyes, their expressions calm but determined. The crowd leaned forward in their seats, eager for the clash that was about to unfold.
Edgar smirked, his confidence unshaken. "I'll try my best, my lord," he said, tossing his bow and arrows high into the air. His entire body began to glow with a cyan aura as he infused it with his essence, the energy swirling like flames around him. Across the arena, Melios's own essence flared, a brilliant blue light enveloping him like a protective shield.
"Feet of Hermes," Edgar whispered, his voice barely audible over the roaring energy.
With a sharp "Fush", Edgar vanished, leaving behind a faint gust of wind. He reappeared instantly behind Melios, his foot slicing through the air in a devastating kick aimed at Melios's head. But Melios's reflexes were razor-sharp. He twisted, raising his sword just in time to block the strike, the clang of contact echoing through the arena.
Edgar vanished again, reappearing above Melios with his leg descending like an axe. Melios rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blow as Edgar's kick smashed into the ground, cracking the stone beneath him. Without missing a beat, Edgar used the momentum to spin on one hand, his legs whirling in a blur. A sharp kick connected with Melios's gut, sending him hurtling backward through the air like a ragdoll.
The exchange was so lightning-fast that no one below level 50 could comprehend what was happening. To them, it was a blur of cyan and blue, punctuated by shockwaves and the sharp clash of energy.
As Melios struggled to stabilize himself midair, Edgar leaped upward, catching his bow and arrows still tumbling through the sky. His movements were fluid and calculated, like a predator toying with its prey.
William, watching from the sidelines with his third eye, murmured, "Incredible... such precision and speed."
Melios landed on his feet, skidding across the ground. He clutched his stomach, his expression twisted in pain. "That kick hurt, Edgar," he admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth.
Edgar smiled, his tone almost mocking. "My apologies, Melios. I didn't mean to hold back."
Raising his bow, Edgar nocked three arrows, each one glowing faintly with green light as his essence coursed through them. He snapped his fingers, and the arrows blazed brighter, their glow intensifying. "Let's see how you handle this."
He released the arrows, and they streaked through the air, leaving trails of green light. Before they could reach Melios, Edgar snapped his fingers again, and the arrows split into dozens of glowing projectiles, all homing in on Melios.
But Melios wasn't fazed. He smirked and whispered, "Rain of Daggers."
The moisture in the air around him shimmered, condensing into countless dagger-like droplets. With a sharp snap of his fingers, the water daggers shot forward in a deadly barrage, meeting Edgar's arrows head-on. The two attacks collided, the arrows and daggers exploding into bursts of energy and water, filling the arena with a thick cloud of dust.
As the dust settled, Edgar was revealed standing amidst the chaos, a shimmering barrier of wind swirling protectively around him. "Wind Shield," he said with a grin, his voice calm despite the intensity of the battle.
Melios's eyes narrowed as he sensed movement behind him. Reacting instinctively, he spun around and caught an arrow mere inches from his face. The force of the arrow burned against his palm as he snapped it in two, tossing the pieces to the ground.
"You're fast," Melios admitted, his tone calm but his eyes sharp. "But let's see if you can keep up with this."
Melios raised his sword, essence crackling around him like a storm. The arena air grew heavier as the water daggers still hovering around him multiplied, forming a swirling wall of liquid blades. With a roar, he directed them toward Edgar, the blades forming a deadly spiral.
Edgar dashed forward, dodging each attack with impossible speed, his Feet of Hermes making him a blur. He weaved through the onslaught, the daggers grazing him but unable to slow his momentum. He leapt high, firing another volley of arrows mid-air. This time, they exploded into a green mist that temporarily blinded Melios.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Edgar reappeared beside Melios, his leg striking with a roundhouse kick. Melios blocked with his sword but staggered from the impact. Edgar pressed his advantage, launching a series of rapid kicks and punches, each infused with cyan energy.
Melios countered with his blade, parrying and striking in equal measure. The two fighters moved so quickly that the arena seemed frozen in time to the spectators, save for the shockwaves and flashes of blue and green essence.
"You're better than I expected," Melios admitted between strikes. "But this is far from over."
He raised his hand, and a massive wave of water surged from the ground, crashing toward Edgar like a tsunami.
Edgar planted his feet, his Wind Shield expanding to meet the attack. The water slammed into the barrier, the two forces clashing in a fierce struggle. Edgar gritted his teeth, pouring more essence into his shield until the wave dissipated.
Melios took the opportunity to close the gap, his sword descending in a powerful arc. Edgar sidestepped, the blade missing him by inches. Using his speed, he slipped behind Melios and delivered a spinning kick to his back, sending him stumbling forward.
"Enough games," Edgar said, his voice cold.
He vanished again, reappearing above Melios with his bow drawn. A single arrow, glowing brighter than ever, was nocked. The air around it warped from the sheer power.
Melios raised his sword, summoning his strongest water shield, a massive dome of swirling liquid. "Let's see you break this!"
Edgar smirked, releasing the arrow. It streaked toward the shield, piercing it with ease and shattering it in an explosion of water and light. The force knocked Melios off balance, leaving him open.
In a flash, Edgar appeared in front of him, his glowing fist slamming into Melios's chest. The impact shattered Melios's essence like glass, the blue aura dissipating as he crumpled to his knees.
The crowd fell silent as Edgar stepped back, lowering his bow. He looked down at Melios with a faint smirk. "A good fight," he said, his tone almost kind. "But you should've known—I never lose."
Melios, gasping for breath, managed a faint smile. "Next time… I'll be faster."
Edgar nodded before turning to the roaring crowd, raising his bow in victory as the arena erupted in cheers.
[YOUR FATHER DEFEATED YOUR FUTURE FATHER-IN-LAW. WHAT A SIGHT.]
[BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT, THEY WERE EXTREMELY POWERFUL DESPITE USING ONLY ONE ATTACK SKILL.]
[SO, WILLIAM, HOW WOULD YOU COMPETE WITH THEM?]
"I have something that everyone except me lacks," William said calmly. "And that is—"
[ME!] Wiz interrupted.
William smirked. "I know the future."
[WAIT! I THOUGHT IT WAS ME!] Wiz exclaimed indignantly.
William looked at Wiz, smiling gently.
[DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK, YOU BASTARD!]
Suddenly, William's eyes turned toward JACK. Jack's eyes sparkled with admiration and excitement as he watched the fight.
Edgar walked toward James and gently tapped him on the head. "Did you understand the marvel of essence, young mystic?" he asked kindly.
Jack nodded in affirmation, his expression serious.
Edgar smiled. "Best of luck, my dear child."
William observed the interaction when he felt the presence of someone behind him. Turning slightly, he saw a man with golden hair and sapphire-blue eyes standing next to Amanda.
"You are looking beautiful as usual, my lady," the man said with a charming smile.