Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Chapter 21: Sparring Match [ 2 ]

The crowd of students came down after listening to Ravi Harsh's voice and all.

Sparring matches continued in silence. By this time almost all of the matches had been completed, only the main characters and few others were remaining

I also had two matches after fighting with Kalu. Right now I'm sitting at a nearby branch to try and recover my mana and get some breathing.

Ravi Mishra is in the arena announcing the next match.

"So Far we have seen pretty common fights but it will be going to intense from now on."

He paused to build the excitement. "Now look at the screen and we can see who will fight".

We all look at the screen to see what happened next. Well, I already know who going to fight next.

'But hey I at least tried to pretend confused.'

Noah Blackthorn vs. Kael Darkwood

Lyara Morningstar vs. Emma Rivers

Isabella vs. Elara

Isla vs. Linnea Stoneheart

Evelyn vs. Leon

Adrian vs. Gary

Aric vs. Morelos

It's now time for the main figure to start.

"Now Noah Blackthorn and Kael Darkwood come forward."

As their name is called both party comes forward.

"Man I never thought I had to fight you"

"Me too man but don't cry when you lose though."

"Hey idiot that's my line."

Noah Blackthorn and Kael Darkwood faced off in the arena, their second-round weapons gleaming under the bright lights. It was a battle of agility and strategy versus raw power.

Noah, armed with twin short swords, moved with grace and precision. He knew he couldn't match Kael's brute strength head-on, so he relied on speed and tactics. He darted around Kael, striking with calculated precision, aiming for Kael's legs to disable his mobility.

Kael, wielding a massive warhammer, swung it with sheer force. His blows were thunderous, causing shockwaves with each impact. He attempted to predict Noah's movements and crush him with a single blow, but Noah's agility made him elusive.

The audience watched in awe as the battle unfolded. Noah's strategy seemed to be working as he landed several precise strikes on Kael's legs. However, Kael's endurance and determination were remarkable. He endured the pain, refusing to fall.

As the battle raged on, Noah realized that he couldn't defeat Kael through conventional means. With a burst of speed, he disarmed Kael by knocking the Warhammer out of his hands. It clanged to the ground several feet away.

Kael, now weaponless, stood his ground. He clenched his fists and prepared to continue the fight hand-to-hand.

Noah took a step back, recognizing Kael's resolve. He had a choice to make—press his advantage and potentially hurt Kael further or show mercy.

Instructor Ravi Mishra watched closely, ready to intervene if needed.

Noah extended his hand toward Kael, offering a truce. It was a gesture of respect for his opponent's unwavering determination.

Kael, sweat dripping down his face, hesitated for a moment before nodding and accepting Noah's hand. The audience applauded their sportsmanship, and Instructor Ravi called the match a draw.

It was a draw, but the fight was sure intense.

I'm sure that I'm not at their power level, Not right now at least.

"Cadets for not to waste time they are going to fight right now. There is not only this arena but you know it. There are 5 arenas free right now, so we can use these to speed up the time."

There was a mixture of surprise and shock but students did not say anything for fear of Ravi.

"Now all of you come forward." Hearing Ravi's Voice all of the students left their seats.

"Arean A will go to Lyara Morningstar vs. Emma Rivers. [ B ] to Isabella vs. Elara. [ c ] to Isla vs. Linnea. [ D ] to Evelyn vs. Leon. [ E ] to

Adrian~"

Before instructor Ravi could continue one student stopped him.

What is it? Cadet can't you see I'm here doing something?

"Yes sir that's why I stopped you, I want to withdraw from my match against Adrian."

Sir, I also want to withdraw from my match against Aric.

Seeing both of them Ravi opened his mouth " Are you sure"

"Yes sir." Both said at the same time.

Fine then, Gary and Morelos have been eliminated by default, the winner is Adrian and Aric.

Both of them withdraw from their matches well who can blame them Eric and Adrian are monsters after all.

"Now then all matches began."

***

In area A both Lyara Morningstar and Emma Rivers are facing each other.

Their not a word spoken between them as they just stairs at each other trying to find any weakness.

Then their match finally began.

Lyara Morningstar and Emma Rivers faced each other in the arena for their second-round match. It was a clash of ranged weaponry against close combat skills, promising an intriguing battle.

Lyara, known for her mastery of staff combat and healing magic, was a formidable opponent. She held her staff with confidence, ready to engage in combat.

On the other side of the arena, Emma Rivers, a skilled archer, had her bow and a quiver full of arrows. Her posture was steady as she notched an arrow and drew her bowstring.

Instructor Ravi Mishra signalled for the match to begin, and the arena fell silent in anticipation.

Lara wasted no time and charged toward Emma with impressive speed. She twirled her staff, attempting to close the distance and engage in close combat before Emma could aim.

Emma, however, remained calm. She was well aware of Lyara's reputation and had prepared for this moment. As Lyara closed in, Emma smoothly released an arrow.

Twang!

The arrow shot through the air with incredible accuracy, heading straight for Lyara. It was an impressive display of her archery skills.

Lyara, recognizing the danger, raised her staff to block the incoming arrow. With a resounding clang, the arrow struck her staff, and she managed to deflect it just in time.

But Emma didn't stop there. She rapidly nocked another arrow and released it with precision. This time, her target was Lyara's feet.

The arrow struck the ground near Lyara's feet, creating a cloud of dust and debris. Lyara was momentarily blinded by the dust, and Emma seized the opportunity.

As Lyara coughed and tried to regain her vision, Emma fired a series of arrows, each strategically aimed to keep Lyara on the defensive. She couldn't afford to let Lyara close the gap and engage in close combat.

Lyara, while skilled in staff combat, struggled to defend herself against Emma's relentless barrage of arrows. She desperately tried to find cover or close the distance, but Emma's accuracy was uncanny.

Finally, after a few minutes of intense exchanges, Emma's arrow found its mark. It struck Lyara's staff, knocking it out of her hands. With her weapon disarmed, Lyara was defenceless.

Instructor Ravi declared Emma Rivers the winner of the match. The audience erupted into applause, impressed by Emma's archery skills and precision.

Lyara, though defeated, showed sportsmanship by congratulating Emma on her victory.

In Arena[ B].

Isabella and Elara faced each other in the arena, their determination evident in their eyes. They were both top-tier students, and this battle promised to be interesting.

Isabella was known for her agility and quick reflexes. She wielded a slender rapier, its blade glinting under the arena's lights. Elara, on the other hand, was a master of earth manipulation. She wore gauntlets that enhanced her control over the ground beneath her feet.

The match began with Isabella darting forward, her rapier slashing through the air. She moved gracefully, her steps almost dance-like, as she closed the distance between them. Elara responded by raising the ground in front of her as a protective barrier. Isabella's rapier met the solid earth with a metallic clang.

Elara pushed back against Isabella's relentless assault, using her gauntlets to manipulate the earth defensively. She created stone spikes and barriers to fend off Isabella's swift attacks. Isabella, in turn, used her agility to dodge the earth-based assaults, narrowly avoiding being impaled by the stone spikes.

The audience watched in awe as the two top students displayed their skills. Isabella's strikes were precise and aimed at vulnerabilities in Elara's defences, while Elara's earth manipulation was strategic and adaptable.

Despite the intense battle, Isabella managed to find an opening in Elara's defences. With a quick feint and a rapid thrust, her rapier pierced through Elara's barrier, grazing her arm. Elara winced in pain and took a step back, recognizing the skill in Isabella's attack.

Seeing an opportunity, Isabella pressed her advantage. She moved with incredible speed, striking Elara's gauntlets and causing her to lose control of the earth beneath her. Elara stumbled backwards, her defences crumbling.

Isabella didn't waste a moment. She lunged forward, her rapier poised to strike. With a swift and well-aimed blow, she tapped Elara's chest lightly, signalling her victory.

Instructor Ravi Mishra announced Isabella as the winner of the match, and the audience erupted in applause. The battle had been a testament to both fighters' abilities, but Isabella's agility and precision had secured her victory.

As for Lilian and Ravi Mishra, they watched the match with keen interest. The top 10 students' battles always showcased the academy's finest talents. Lilian couldn't help but feel proud of the student's progress, while Ravi Mishra was impressed by their skills and determination.

In another part of the arena, where other students were fighting, Ravi and Lilian had varying opinions. Some students displayed potential and determination, while others struggled to keep up. Ravi was strict but fair, pushing the cadets to their limits. Lilian, as always, was nurturing and supportive, offering guidance to those in need.

In Arena[ C ].

Isla and Linnea Stoneheart, two of the top 10 students, faced each other in the arena. Both were known for their exceptional combat skills, making this match highly anticipated.

Isla was a swift and agile fighter, specializing in dual-wielding short blades. Linnea, on the other hand, was renowned for her immense strength and proficiency with a massive war hammer. The clash of styles promised an intriguing battle.

As the match began, Isla wasted no time and dashed toward Linnea with incredible speed, her dual blades glinting in the arena's light. She aimed to close the distance quickly, using her agility to her advantage.

Linnea, however, stood her ground, her massive war hammer at the ready. She had faced agile opponents before and knew the importance of timing her strikes. She braced herself for Isla's attack.

Isla lunged forward with a flurry of swift strikes, her blades a blur in the air. Linnea parried each blow with her war hammer, demonstrating impressive defensive skills.

The crowd watched in awe as Isla's blades clashed with Linnea's massive weapon. It was a battle of finesse versus strength, and both fighters showcased their mastery of their chosen weapons.

Isla's speed allowed her to land a few quick strikes on Linnea's armour, creating sparks upon impact. But Linnea's resilience was evident as she endured the blows, her armour protecting her from the worst of the attacks.

Linnea knew that she needed to create an opening to utilize her devastating strength. As Isla continued her rapid assault, Linnea focused on her opponent's patterns and timing.

Finally, after a few minutes of intense combat, Linnea saw her opportunity. Isla went for a powerful overhead strike with both blades, aiming to finish the match with a decisive blow.

With impeccable timing, Linnea swung her war hammer upward, meeting Isla's attack head-on. The collision of weapons sent shockwaves through the arena. Isla's blades were knocked from her hands, and she stumbled backwards, disarmed.

Instructor Ravi declared Linnea Stoneheart the winner of the match, acknowledging her expert use of the war hammer and her ability to counter Isla's agile assault.

In arena [ D ]

Evelyn Nightshade faced off against her opponent, a skilled archer named Leon, in the arena. Evelyn was known for her exceptional archery skills, and today's match was no different. She held her bow with grace and confidence, ready to demonstrate her prowess.

Leon was a competent archer himself, but he had the unenviable task of going up against one of the top-ranked students. He notched an arrow and aimed it at Evelyn, determination in his eyes.

As the match began, both archers moved with precision and grace, each step bringing them closer to their optimal firing range. The crowd watched in anticipation, knowing they were about to witness a display of archery skill.

Evelyn drew her bowstring with fluidity, her movements elegant and calculated. With a trained eye, she assessed the wind direction and her target's movements. Leon, while skilled, couldn't match Evelyn's finesse.

Evelyn's first arrow sailed through the air with incredible speed and accuracy, hitting the target square in the centre. The crowd gasped at the precision of her shot. It was a testament to her years of training.

Leon, not to be outdone, fired his arrow. It was a decent shot, but it lacked the finesse of Evelyn's. His arrow landed slightly off-centre from the target.

Evelyn continued her relentless assault, firing arrow after arrow, each one finding its mark. Her shots were like a symphony of precision, leaving no room for error. Her opponent struggled to keep up with her skill.

In a matter of moments, Evelyn had not only hit the centre of the target multiple times but also managed to split an arrow already embedded in the bullseye with one of her shots.

Leon, realizing the futility of the situation, lowered his bow in acknowledgement of Evelyn's superiority. It was a wise decision, as he had no chance of catching up to her level of skill.

Instructor Ravi declared Evelyn Nightshade the winner of the match, recognizing her exceptional archery abilities and her flawless performance during the contest. The audience erupted into applause, appreciating the artistry of her archery skills.

Evelyn's victory showcased why she was one of the top-ranked students in the academy, leaving an impression on all who witnessed her extraordinary talent with a bow.

***

"These are the students who will be going to fight next round. "

All of the students' eyes turn on the Screen waiting for who's going in the next round.

Aric, Adrian, Emma, Evelyn, Linnea, Breack, Thomas, and Lucas.

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