The ground shook as spikes erupted from different directions.
Tessa sprang into action, dashing toward Alex, using the sound of the tremors to increase her speed.
A spike burst from the ground where she had just been standing. She was already gone, moving toward Alex in a swift, zigzag pattern to avoid each emerging spike with precision.
The sound of spikes breaking through gave her just enough warning to adjust her steps.
She gripped her sword, closing in on Alex, who stood there grinning, blood running down his face as he watched her approach.
From the sidelines, Arin observed, arms folded.
"Seraphine," Arin called, eyes still on Alex.
"Master," Seraphine answered quickly. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more damage to him."
"No, you did well," Arin replied. "Especially against someone like him."
Seraphine had even exceeded Arin's expectations. He knew she was strong and would hold her ground, but she had done better than he anticipated. She'd earned his praise.
"Thank you, Master," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"But," Arin continued, making Seraphine go silent, "what did you notice while fighting him?"
Seraphine paused a moment before speaking. "I'm not sure... but I think he was holding back. Like he wasn't giving it his all."
Arin nodded slightly. Since Alex noticed that his spells were being countered, he'd used fewer spells — his strong suit — making it easier for Seraphine to keep up. The only spells he'd used since were defensive: coating his sword with a rock-like surface and with flames, shaking the ground, and creating gusts of wind.
But his Mana reserve was still largely intact. If he decided to let loose…
'Things would get tougher..…' Arin thought as he squinted his eyes.
Tessa was now nearly upon Alex, ready to strike. Arin's focus remained on her as he asked Seraphine, "Is that all you noticed?"
Seraphine hesitated before answering. "No. It was almost like…" She paused again. "Almost like he was letting himself get hit."
Arin raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure of it," she said. "I know I'm faster, but there were hits he could've blocked… he let them through."
"Like the last one," she added. "I was slower than usual, but… he let himself get hit."
Arin's lips curled into a smirk. "I see....."
Meanwhile, the system continued to display a particular message:
[An Unwritten Event is happening.]
Tessa pushed forward, lowering her sword before swinging it upward toward Alex's head with full force.
Sparks flew as Alex blocked the strike, but Tessa suddenly shifted her right leg further to the right. She raised it with full force and speed, catching Alex off guard, and then...
Her heel connected with his face, sending him stumbling back.
"Ugh..…" Alex winced.
Seeing through Arin's eyes, Seraphine gasped. "What was that?"
Arin gave a small chuckle. "Her first fighting style… something Alex knows nothing about."
Arin had always known that Tessa's first fighting style was incredible and valuable, as she had developed it through relentless practice. This was the main reason he advised her to use her second fighting style against Alex during the spar—so Alex wouldn't learn about her true fighting style.
Her first style was simple yet challenging. It allowed her to attack with both her sword and her body simultaneously.
The way she synchronized both attacks was remarkable, to the point that her opponent couldn't predict whether she would strike next with her sword or her body. This unpredictability left them overwhelmed and eventually caused them to make mistakes.
Before Alex could regain his balance, Tessa darted forward, moving with deadly speed. She raised her sword to strike, and Alex prepared to block.
In a split second, she swung — but at the last second, shifted to the left, aiming for his exposed side.
Alex's eyes widened. 'A feint.....'
He managed to step back, but her sword still grazed his side. Stumbling, he quickly recovered, but Tessa leaped into the air, spinning, and...
Her heel struck his face, sending him skidding backward.
Tessa didn't waste a second. She dashed toward Alex, who was already on his feet, sword raised.
Their blades met, sparks flying as the force of their clash pushed them both back. Tessa immediately sprinted toward Alex again.
Alex grinned, his grip tightening on his sword. "So, you're using sound to boost your speed. Fine. Let's make things interesting."
In that instant, he launched forward, his sword ready. They closed in on each other, and then it began.
Their blades blurred, clashing faster and faster. The air rippled around them as both fighters absorbed the sounds of their strikes, pushing their limits.
Even the nearby trees shook from the intensity of their fight. Seraphine watched, her eyes wide as she repeated the same words Tessa said before. "So fast..…"
Both fighters became mere blurs, sparks flying as their weapons met again and again. Finally, Tessa was sent flying backward, but she twisted midair, landing in a crouch before launching forward.
Without regaining full balance, she used the momentum from her slide to push herself faster.
Moving like a predator, she zigzagged toward Alex.
"Come at me!" Alex called out.
She didn't hesitate. The moment she got close, she leaped, bringing her sword down like a meteor.
Sparks flew as Alex raised his sword to block the strike, but then, while still in the air, Tessa spread her legs wide.
With incredible speed and force, she used her sword, still locked against Alex's, as a foothold. She swung her legs back, trapping Alex's neck between her thighs, now seated on his shoulders.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye as she swiftly placed her palms on either side of his head.
Alex's eyes widened as he realized what she was about to do, but it was too late, and he couldn't utter a word, held in place by her thighs.
"Don't tell me..." Seraphine gasped, while Arin watched with slight amusement.