The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

The clash between Devin and Allen didn't let up—in fact, it only grew more intense by the second.

CLANG!—TANG!—TING!

Devin's fists moved like hammers, fast and unrelenting. He struck at Allen again and again, his fists glowing with raging mana, but—

SWISH—!

Allen was like water—slipping just out of reach with monstrous agility. His katana would flash with each dodge, launching precision counters that grazed Devin's arms, shoulders, and legs.

"URGH...!"

Devin parried each strike with the back of his fists, the gauntlet's toughened edges deflecting blade after blade.

CLINK—! SWISH—!

Another exchange—Allen's katana came in from the right, but—

TANG!

Devin blocked it with the back of his clenched hand, using the gauntlet as a makeshift parrying too!

SWOOSH—

Then he immediately twisted his torso and launched a heavy counterpunch to Allen's left ribs!

"...!"

FWOOSH—

But Allen quickly leaned back, just barely dodging, the punch cutting through air so close that it messed up his hair.

"Keuk..."

He groaned as his right ribs throbbed in pain from Devin's previous hit.

"Grgh..."

At the same time, a small cut opened on Devin's side again by a lightning-fast slash from Allen's blade before he retreated.

They were both bleeding now.

But neither of them slowed down.

In fact, their every movement became even faster than their last!

WHOOSH—

"Gurgh...!"

SLASH!

Allen ducked under a high kick, spun on his heel, and slashed upward!

CLANG!

Only for Devin to twist mid-air and block it with both gauntlets crossed!

FWOOSH—!

They broke away from each other. There was now some distance between them.

And then, as soon as he landed softly on the ground—

Allen's eyes glowed faintly.

"[CRESCENT SLASH!]"

Then he swung his katana in a swift arc—and from it, a concentrated crescent-shaped wave of sword aura and mana erupted, tearing through the arena like a blade of light!

SWAAAA—

The crescent raced toward Devin at blinding speed!

"[FIRE FIST!]"

Devin roared, and his left hand suddenly burst into brilliant crimson flames, engulfing his entire forearm!

The heat was intense—like a forge brought to life.

And with it, he launched forward—and met the crescent slash head-on with a fiery punch!

BOOOOM!!!

The clash of elements created a powerful explosion of wind and fire. Dust kicked up, sparks danced in the air, and visibility blurred for a second.

The spectators gasped—

"Did he stop it?!"

"He intercepted it!!"

They exclaimed.

And from the smoke—

SWOOSH!

The two fighters leapt at each other again!

Allen emerged first, his katana glowing with white-blue aura—striking downward like a falling meteor!

TANG—!

Devin met it mid-air, both fists ablaze now—he deflected the blade with a left punch and countered with a twisting elbow from the right!

WHOOSH~

Allen ducked under it—

SLASH!

Then swung his blade up across Devin's shoulder!

TSSSK—!!

"Keuk...!"

Blood sprayed from the cut, but Devin didn't let that stop him!

THUD!!

He rotated and kneed Allen in the gut!

"GAH!"

Allen grunted, flying back.

SHIIK—

He flipped mid-air, planted his feet, and skidded backward on the ground.

"Ugh..."

"Fuck..."

Devin and Allen muttered.

Both of them were bruised, cut—but their eyes never lost focus.

"..."

Silence fell again.

Then not long—

BAM!

They launched at each other again!

Their weapons were still glowing—fire on fists, aura on blade—but the flashiness was over.

CLANK—!

Devin's flaming knuckles met Allen's blade again, redirecting it with perfect timing.

"..."

Allen didn't retreat. He twisted the katana sideways and slid in with a diagonal slash—fluid, sharp, and clean!

SWISH—!!

But Devin ducked under it and lunged forward—throwing a straight right!

WHOOSH!

Allen leaned back, just barely evading the punch. The heat of the flame licked his face as he moved, eyes calm, body coiled like a snake.

TANG!

"..."

He slashed downward in retaliation—but Devin lifted his forearm and blocked with the back of his fist again, flames surging around the impact point.

TING—!

TANG—!

TANK!!!

They clashed like this again and again. Fast, tight movements. No wasted move.

CLANG—!

One of them would attack and the other would block.

Allen and Devin Blocked, dodged, and parried.

BAM!

"Gargh...!"

SLASH!

"Keuk...!"

Though, some attacks reached and grazed them.

But still, they didn't stop moving!

CLANG! — TANG! — TING!

Neither of them could land a clean hit. Each movement was matched—each feint was read, each angle was adjusted at the last second.

Until... One of them showed an opening.

Allen raised his katana overhead, going for a strong downward slash.

And in that split second—

BAM!

Devin's right hand shot up and slammed into the flat side of the katana!

CLANK!—!!

The blade jerked upward into the air, thrown off course by the sheer power behind his punch!

And before Allen could recover—

B A M—!

Devin's left fist drove straight into Allen's nose with no hesitation!

"GAH—!!"

Allen's head snapped back, blood spurting from his nose.

And Devin didn't stop there...

Fwip-

With the same hand that landed the punch, he seized Allen by the collar in one fluid motion.

His grip was tight.

Then—

TUD—!!

Devin's leg snaked behind Allen's!

He pulled forward with his arm and swept backward with his foot—

BAM—!!!

"GURGH?!!"

Allen was slammed onto the arena floor, back first, a sharp grunt escaping his lips as the air got knocked out of him.

His eyes opened wide. And in front of him—

"Good match."

He saw Devin with his already raised right fist!

And without beating around the bush—

"[AZURE FIST!!!]"

WHOOOSH—!!!

His right fist came down like a hammer, engulfed in raging blue flame!

It was aimed straight at Allen's head!

And seeing that, Allen desperately put his left forearm in front of his face to try and block it!

He doesn't want to let go of his swords.

And im the next moment—

B O O O M—!

Devin's fist landed, and a huge explosion followed.

CRACK-

Allen's forearm broke even though he reinforced it with his mana.

Then—

"FUCK...!!"

B A M—!

"GAAARGH!!!"

He was hit on the face. Allen exclaimed as he felt his nose and skull being crushed.

SWOOOSH~

A strong shockwave was produced because of the impact and the explosion earlier.

Debris flew around and a thick dust cloud covered where Devin and Allen were.

"..."

The students watching were speechless. It was dead silent.

"W-What happened...? Is it done?"

Then one of them asked that.

"..."

Nobody answered. They don't know too, after all.

They were all curious.

Then, as if answering the questions in their heads—

Fwoosh~

A figure started materializing outside the arena.

"...!"

"There!"

"Look, guys!"

Everyone immediately turned their attention toward it, and soon—

"Fucking hell... That bastard became stronger than me."

Tap-

Allen appeared and landed softly on the ground. He has a slight frown on his face and he was grumbling.

"...!"

Everyone's eyes widened after that, they all turned to the arena back again. The dust cloud was already disappearing.

And once it faded—

"..."

They saw Devin, smiling while holding his stomach.

The faces of the students lightened up, they were about to cheer for him!

But just seconds after that...

Swoosh~

Devin's body started disappearing too!

"Wha—?!"

"What the hell?!!"

"HUH?!"

The students were surprised, they didn't expect this.

What happened is...

Allen had actually stabbed Devin in the last second, but he died inside the artifact first.

So soon—

"Haha, I finally won against you for the first time."

He was ejected outside of the arena too, beside Allen.

"Ugh... You just got lucky."

Allen said.

"True, but still—a win is a win."

Then Devin replied.