The clash at the center of the arena held everyone's breath. Jaek moved first.
Right after their swords collided, he dropped low and spun, his wooden blade sweeping in a wide arc aimed straight at Invanne's knees. She reacted instantly—her body lifted lightly off the ground, clearing the strike with ease. Mid-air, she twisted, her movements smooth and controlled, and brought her sword down in a sharp counterattack.
Jaek rolled to the side just in time. The moment he regained his footing, he lunged forward, thrusting his blade toward her midsection without hesitation.
Invanne deflected it with the flat of her sword. The sound cracked sharply as wood met wood. Without wasting even a second, she struck back—three fast slashes, one after another. High. Low. High.
Jaek blocked the first. Shifted and caught the second. The third barely missed him as he ducked under it, his body already turning with the motion. He spun and brought his sword down in a heavy overhead strike.
CRACK!
Their weapons collided again, the impact echoing across the field. The crowd roared.
Invanne pressed forward immediately. Her attacks came like flowing water—sharp, fast, and constantly changing direction. One strike came straight, the next curved at the last moment, the next twisted into an angle that was hard to predict.
Jaek didn't panic. He held his ground. Every strike she sent at him, he met cleanly. Not just blocking—guiding them away, shifting their force, turning her own momentum against her. When she drove forward with a rapid series of thrusts, he parried the final one and stepped in, slamming his shoulder into her.
The impact pushed her back several steps. A wave of shock ran through the crowd.
"He pushed her back?!"
"No way the commander is actually holding against her!"
Azrean leaned forward without realizing it, eyes wide.
"She's struggling?"
Sumi gripped the edge of her chair tightly as she watched.
Invanne didn't hesitate. The moment her feet settled, she spun, her leg snapping out in a clean kick while her sword swept horizontally at the same time.
Jaek blocked the blade. But the kick landed. A dull thud echoed as it struck his side, forcing a grunt out of him. Still, he didn't lose balance. Instead, he twisted with the force and drove his sword upward in a rising strike.
The tip grazed her shoulder. Her bracelet flickered—its silver glow shifting faintly toward pale yellow.
Invanne stepped back half a pace, her breathing steady. A small smile touched her lips.
"I might have underestimated you because of your age."
Her voice was low, meant only for him. But the crowd didn't need to hear it. They had already exploded into noise.
"Did you see that?! He hit her!"
"The commander actually landed a clean strike!"
Even the knights who had been training stood frozen now, watching with wide eyes.
Jaek didn't respond. He circled slowly, sword steady, gaze locked on her. Invanne moved again.
This time, her thrusts came faster—sharp, precise, and relentless. Jaek met each one, parrying in perfect rhythm. Then, without warning, he dropped his weight and swept his leg.
Invanne's footing disappeared. But instead of falling, she flipped backward, her body spinning through the air before landing lightly.
Jaek was already there. His sword came down in a heavy overhead strike. She raised her blade above her head just in time.
The impact forced her knees to bend slightly under the pressure. Her bracelet glowed brighter—yellow deepening.
Sumi tightened her grip on Azrean's sleeve.
"Big sis Invanne she's actually getting pushed..."
Azrean didn't answer right away. His eyes stayed locked on the fight.
"She's not losing but he's definitely hurting her."
Invanne twisted out of the clash and spun away, creating distance between them.
Jaek didn't chase. He stayed where he was, steady, watching. For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
The entire arena went quiet. Then—Invanne stepped forward again. Faster than before.
Invanne's blade came down in a sharp diagonal strike. Jaek met it without hesitation, knocking it aside with a clean parry that cracked through the arena. She followed instantly with a thrust aimed at his chest, but he angled his sword and redirected it, stepping off to the side in the same motion. His counter came fast—a horizontal cut that forced her to spring backward to avoid it.
She created distance with a smooth jump, landing several meters away without a sound. Jaek rolled his shoulders once, then gave his sword a light spin in his hand, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips.
"What happened, Ms. Invanne? Why are you backing away?"
Invanne stayed quiet for a moment, her eyes fixed on him. Then she spoke, her voice low but steady.
"I realized something. Even though I'm physically stronger than you, your sword technique reflects everything I throw at you..." Her gaze sharpened. "No... It's more than that. You're using a sword style skill."
Jaek's smile widened, and this time he didn't bother lowering his voice.
"So you figured it out. No point hiding it now. I have the advanced skill, Sword Style: Parry. I learned it only a few months ago." He let out a small breath. "Would've been nice to have this when I was younger."
From their seats, Azrean and Sumi watched closely. Sumi leaned a little toward him.
"Looks like magic and skills are completely separate things."
Azrean nodded slowly, eyes still locked on the fight.
"I don't really know much about skills…"
"I read that anyone can learn them," Sumi whispered back. "You just have to master the style."
Azrean frowned slightly, glancing at Invanne.
"Then why isn't Big Sis using any?"
"Because—" Sumi said in a small voice.
"All my skills are tied to magic," Invanne said, her voice cutting through as she looked at Jaek. "So I can't use them right now."
Before the words even settled, she moved again.
Her foot kicked up a cloud of dust as she dashed forward. She raised her sword high, feinting a heavy overhead strike—but at the last moment, her real attack came from behind, the blade spinning low in a hidden arc.
Jaek blocked the obvious strike, then twisted sharply, catching the hidden one just in time. Even so, the edge clipped his side. His bracelet flickered, shifting faintly toward yellow.
Invanne didn't give him space. Her attacks came faster—clean slashes mixed with sudden kicks, feints layered over feints. Each strike forced him to adjust, to read and respond.
"You need time to adapt to someone's swordsmanship before you can use Parry properly," she said between strikes, her movements never slowing.
Jaek grinned, deflecting another blow.
"I already adapted after watching your sword skill and body posture."
Her next strike hit harder. The impact pushed him backward, his boots dragging through the sand.
"Sir Jaek, you are really talented and skilled. If you are Lord Azrean and Lady Sumi's mentor, then they will surely become great swordsmen."
Her blade drove him back another step.
"But—"
"Magic is now allowed!" The shout cut through everything. The man with the flag raised it high, his voice echoing across the arena.
Jaek immediately dropped into a firm stance, feet planted, sword ready.
"I'll stop whatever you throw at me!"
Invanne raised her free hand and said. "Petals."
At first, nothing happened. Then softly red rose petals began to appear around her feet. They spun slowly, lifting into the air, circling her in a gentle spiral. The movement was almost peaceful and calm. The noise of the crowd faded on its own as everyone watched the beautiful display.
The petals rose higher, wrapping around her body in a quiet storm. She clenched her fist. Then punched forward in the air.
There was no visible attack. But the impact hit instantly. Jaek's wooden sword shattered in his hands with a sharp crack. His body lifted off the ground, launched high into the air.
Gasps tore through the crowd. Before he could fall, the swirling petals shifted. They gathered beneath him, forming a soft, floating cushion.
He landed on it gently. A second later, his bracelet flashed bright red—and shattered. For a moment, there was silence.
Then Jaek burst out laughing as he stepped off the petals, brushing dust from his clothes.
"Yeah, I was never going to win that."
The arena exploded with cheers. Sumi jumped to her feet, clapping with shining eyes.
"That was amazing! Thank you!"
Azrean stood up more slowly, still staring at the arena, something unsettled in his expression.
"That wasn't really magic..."
Sumi blinked and looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
He scratched his cheek, frowning slightly.
"She only used magic at the end to stop him from getting hurt."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Yeah... we've got a long way to go."