The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

CLANG! TANG! TING! SHING! CLANG!

Raye and Leon clashed swords again and again.

S W O O O S H—!

Their figures blurred and vanished as they fought all around the arena.

The students watching couldn't believe it—

Their eyes couldn't keep up!

CLANG—!

Leon's sharp, precise sword swings came from every angle, each one refined and disciplined—

He was a true swordmaster.

TANG—!

But Raye was no slouch either. He wielded two swords, slashing in unpredictable patterns— Fast. Fluid. Unrelenting!

And with every movement—

"[Aero Blade!]"

FWISH!

A sharp arc of slicing wind flew out from his left sword mid-slash!

Leon barely ducked— The attack grazed his cheek, but he just ignored it!

CLANG—!

He countered instantly with a diagonal slash, but Raye twisted his body and blocked it with [Nyx]!

Then—

"[Flame Chain!]"

Raye muttered under his breath. His sword surged— A line of fire shot from the blade like a whip!

Leon spun and evaded!

SHING!

He slashed the fire chain mid-air and it shattered into embers!

Raye didn't stop there—

SWISH—

He vanished from his spot.

"[Gale Lance!]"

Then he reappeared above Leon!

He fired a high-speed spiral of wind from his fingertip!

But Leon reacted quickly, raising his sword above his head—

TWISH!

He deflected the spell and launched a strike mid-spin!

Raye dropped to the ground and swept his foot toward Leon—

But Leon leapt over him and slashed downward!

CLANG!

It was blocked.

Raye gritted his teeth, then—

FWOOSH~

A sudden force burst from his body! He used telekinesis!

"Wha—?!"

It pushed Leon slightly off balance—

Just enough for Raye to take a step in!

"Gurgh...!"

CLANG!

"...?!"

But Leon still managed to parry both of Raye's blades!

Though, before they could separate—

"[Flash]"

Violent winds burst from Raye's feet as he slid to the side, disappearing from Leon's view for a split second!

FWISH—

Then he appeared behind him!

CLANG—!

"Ugh!"

But Leon turned on instinct and blocked!

'That's just bullshit!'

Raye exclaimed in his head with a frustrated smile on his face.

They were both panting lightly now—

But their eyes were sharp. Smiling. Alive.

The arena was filled with aura, fire, and mana residue.

The students watching?

They didn't blink once.

They don't want to miss more than what they are already missing.

Moving on...

Raye's and Leon's swords kept on clashing, and each time—they released colorful bursts of sparks that lit up the arena like fireworks.

The white aura on Leon's blade and the raging blue flames around Raye's swords collided again and again, causing loud sharp metallic rings and bursts of pressure to ripple outward.

It was like watching a masterpiece being painted with violence—each swing left a glowing trail in the air, lines of blue and white flashing past before violently intersecting.

Their movements were fast and aggressive, yet graceful and sharp. A dance of pure skill and willpower. Neither one giving in.

They slashed, they parried, they dodged, they countered.

Their weapons moved in a blur—sometimes colliding head-on, other times narrowly missing each other's faces or limbs. They were both aiming to land a decisive hit...

But the best they could do was shallow cuts. Thin red lines marked their arms and shoulders, but neither flinched. Their footwork never broke. Their eyes never left each other.

Then—

TIIIIIIING—!!!

A powerful metallic crash echoed across the arena as Raye's [Nyx] and Leon's [Holy Sword] met once more in the very center. Sparks flew violently between them, blue and white crackling against each other.

The force of the clash cracked the arena floor beneath their feet.

"..."

"..."

The two locked eyes.

Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.

Both of them were breathing hard, sweat on their brows, but their eyes were still burning with excitement. They didn't say a word— only stared at each other.

BAM!

Then at the same time, they kicked off the ground and jumped backward.

Tap—

They landed on opposite ends of the arena. Back to where they started.

Swoosh~

Silence filled the air again.

And the tension around the air doubled.

Everyone watching; the professors, the students... They knew—

This fight between this two monsters, they were going to end it now!

Anyway, breaking the silence—

"I've already lost."

Leon said that as he stared at Raye. His voice was calm—but it carried weight.

Everyone heard it.

But no one spoke a word.

The whole area... fell into silence again.

Raye blinked, his brow slightly raised.

"What are you talking about? We're fighting on equal terms this whole time."

He tilted his head, confused.

Leon nodded, eyes locked on Raye.

"That's right... But two years ago, when we were both freshmen... I was levels ahead of you."

He said it bluntly.

"You were arguably the weakest and most talentless in the academy at that time."

He added.

The students watching gasped lightly, but Raye—his face didn't change. He just listened.

"But right now... we're fighting on equal terms."

Leon continued, a soft exhale escaping his lips.

"Just the fact that you caught up to me already made me feel like I lost."

He admitted with a small smile, not bitter, not proud—just honest.

"..."

Raye became silent.

He didn't know what to say.

But before he could even think of a reply—

"So to make it even..."

Leon took a breath, then smirked.

"I'll win this match against you."

He declared.

Raye looked up at him. Then... A smile slowly crept onto his face.

Swish~

He stored [Imperial Edge] back into his spatial storage.

"Too bad, I'm about to end it in the next strike."

He said, crouching down into a drawing stance. (Back Stance)

"That's funny... I was about to do the same."

Leon replied, lowering his body as well, his posture mirroring Raye's—but sharper, and more refined!

His white aura started to pulse quietly.

And just like that—

WHOOSH~!!

The air trembled.

"...!"

"..."

Everyone watching held their breath.

The two monsters... They were going to settle it in a single, final clash!

The whole arena froze.

The air shifted—no more wild clashes, no more magic spells or rapid movements.

This was it.

The final exchange.

One strike.

One winner.

"..."

Sofia, Aria, and Jerusha all leaned forward slightly. Lena, Allen, Devin, and Lycus tensed up. Ramiel's eyes narrowed. Sariel unconsciously held his breath.

Even the wind around the arena calmed.

But the tension was unbearable.

The two—Raye and Leon—didn't blink, didn't breathe. Both crouched down low, their swords still and ready.

Their gazes locked.

Their instincts sharpened.

The whole world slowed down...

SWAAAAAAASSHHH—!!!

The blue flames covering [Nyx] raged violently.

F W O O O O O O O S H~!!!

Then Leon's aura intensified. It was calm, but intense. The air around his sword trembled.

Then, not long after—

"..."

"[Flash]"

F W I I I S H—!!!

They both kicked off the ground at the same time, the concrete beneath them cracked... And they vanished from their spot.

"..."

The whole arena was silent.

But in a blink on an eye—

T I I I I I I I I I I N G — !!!

A blinding flash suddenly exploded in the middle of the arena as their blades met!

And in the next second—

B O O O O O O O M—!!!

A violent explosion tore through the air, followed by a shockwave so immense that it sent cracks along the edge of the platform!

WHOOOOOOOSH—!!!

The entire arena shook from the devastating collision!

"KYAAAAAAH!!!"

"GYAAAAAA?!!"

"UGH...?!"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!!"

"GAH?! MY EARS!!!"

"KEK...! MY EYES!!!"

The students screamed and covered their faces!

"...!"

"...?!"

While the professors narrowed their eyes!

The explosion was powerful enough to be felt outside the training dome artifact! It shook the whole training ground!

And also, because of it—the whole arena was covered by a thick dust cloud.