After the lightning struck down, the entire training ground shook as if the heavens themselves had just declared war!

The force produced by the explosion sent debris flying in every direction, and thick dust clouds immediately blanketed the whole area, obscuring everything from sight!

Pebbles skittered across the cracked floor while chunks of stone scattered through the air.

And while all of that chaos unfolded, Raven was already moving.

"Glad my plan worked..."

He whispered to himself in a low voice as he swiftly dashed backward, putting as much distance as possible between himself and Ruby. His feet scraped the ground as he slid into position, eyes never leaving the cloud of dust where she should be.

[Did you get her?]

Sariel's voice resounded in his mind, cutting through the aftermath of the blast. His tone was calm, but there was a faint hint of curiosity behind it.

Raven only shook his head lightly in response, his expression steady even though his body told a different story.

'She wouldn't get hurt just because of that.'

His internal voice carried both respect and certainty. He knew Ruby's strength.

A lightning strike of that magnitude would obliterate most opponents, but Ruby wasn't just "most opponents."

Despite his composed look, Raven wasn't without damage. His whole left arm felt heavy and numb, refusing to respond as quickly as he wanted it to.

"..."

A sharp ache lingered through his muscles, the backlash of channeling that much power. Still, he clenched his teeth and pushed the discomfort to the back of his mind.

Anyway…

Seconds crawled by, and the swirling dust began to settle, slowly unveiling the figure hidden within.

Ruby.

"..."

She stood exactly where Raven had left her, unshaken, her posture relaxed. In her hand was the hilt of the training sword she had been using— but the blade itself had been completely destroyed, leaving only the grip behind.

Ruby raised her eyes and met Raven's gaze. She formed a fake frown on her face and pointed directly at her broken sword.

"You always break my weapon whenever we spar."

Her voice carried a playful complaint, but her tone betrayed no real frustration.

Raven couldn't help but smile at that.

"Breaking your opponent's weapon is a good strategy after all."

He answered plainly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ruby's lips curled up too. His words amused her more than they annoyed her. With her broken weapon still in hand, she raised it slightly and then gestured toward her left shoulder.

"Well, you definitely got a lot stronger than before."

She stated it confidently, her voice filled with recognition rather than sarcasm.

Raven's eyes instinctively followed the spot she was pointing at. His gaze sharpened when he noticed what she was referring to.

A tear had formed in her top, and just beneath it, faint traces of burns lingered across her shoulder. The mark wasn't deep, but it was undeniable proof that his earlier strike had reached her.

"Huh, seems like I did get a lot stronger."

Raven mumbled those words with a tone that mixed both surprise and quiet satisfaction.

But just as that thought left his lips—

BAM–!

Ruby's foot suddenly slammed into the ground with explosive force!

In the blink of an eye, she propelled herself forward, her body vanishing from Raven's vision like a blur!

"!?"

Raven's guard slipped for a moment, and his eyes widened as Ruby reappeared in front of him almost instantly!

BAM–

Acting on instinct, he dashed backward in retreat, trying to create space between them once again.

SHHHH~

That's when he noticed it. Ice rapidly formed and spread from the hilt of Ruby's broken weapon, shaping itself into a sharp blade.

"SHIT!"

Raven cursed aloud.

SHING–

Ruby wasted no time. Her ice-forged blade swung toward him in a clean, precise arc!

Raven's left arm, however, was still useless. Completely numb, it couldn't lift to block in time. If he relied on it, the attack would slice through him without resistance!

Luckily—

FWOOSH–

The majestic wings of [Celestria] moved on their own, activating one of its automatic functions— <Auto Defence>!

The black wings extended forward in an instant, shielding Raven like a living wall. Their surface hardened, gleaming with a metallic sheen just in time.

TIIIIING–!

Ruby's ice blade slammed into them, sparks and shards scattering outward!

SHHHHK—!!

Even so, Raven couldn't fully negate the force behind Ruby's swing. Her raw strength blasted through the defense, flinging him backward violently across the ground.

"KRRGH...!!"

He groaned as his body skidded along, but his legs steadied him before he collapsed, allowing him to land firmly on both feet.

When he glanced back up, he expected Ruby to press the attack— but strangely, she didn't move...

"?!"

Instead, what he saw startled him.

Ruby stood casually with that same mischievous smile plastered on her face!

Around her floated several glowing constructs— <Ice Spears>!

They hovered in the air, sharp and menacing, each one locked onto him like predators ready to strike at the slightest signal!

"Haha, seriously?"

Raven muttered, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"Hey, at least I didn't attack you when you were blown away."

Ruby teased, her tone playful yet smug.

Raven gave a crooked grin in return.

"Well, thanks, I guess."

His words came out with sarcasm, but his smile didn't fade.

Then—

He suddenly sharpened his focus and increased the boost from <Thought Acceleration>.

At the same time, he activated one of his most useful traits, <Understanding>. He focused entirely on Ruby's <Ice Spear>, dissecting the flow of mana, the structure of its form, and the principles behind its construction.

<Thought Acceleration> and <Understanding> meshed together perfectly, amplifying one another.

In less than a heartbeat— Raven's mind processed the information, and he reached the result he wanted!

Then using Ruby's technique as a reference...

Bzzt– Bzzt– Bzzt–

ZZZZZZT–

"[Lightning Spears]"

Crackling electricity swirled around him as multiple glowing spears of lightning materialized in the air!

Their bodies vibrated with raw energy, humming dangerously as they pointed forward!

Ruby's eyes widened slightly.

"Wow..."

The word slipped from her lips before she realized it. She knew Raven was talented, almost absurdly so, and that <Ice Spear> wasn't exactly a complex spell— but for him to improvise and reproduce it in a single attempt left even her impressed!

"You're really something else."

Her voice carried genuine awe. But then her grin returned.

"But that's still just an imitation."

She added sharply, reminding him that he was playing with a copy.

Raven smiled in return, unfazed.

"Why don't we find out if it's any inferior to the real thing then."

His statement was provocative, daring her to prove him wrong.

Ruby accepted immediately.

"I'll accept the invitation."

SWOOSH—!!

Dozens of <Ice Spears> launched toward Raven in unison, whistling through the air at terrifying speed!

'[Insight]'

Raven activated another skill, his eyes glowing faintly as he predicted their trajectories. His mind calculated where each spear would fly, and in response—

"Go."

He gave a short command.

BZOOOOM–

His <Lightning Spears> shot forward like thunderbolts, intercepting Ruby's attacks!

BOOM!

BAAM!

One by one, explosions rippled across the training ground, shockwaves roaring as ice and lightning collided midair!

BZOOOM–!

Though Raven's <Lightning Spears> lacked the sheer destructive power of Ruby's originals, they were undeniably faster, darting through the battlefield like streaks of light.

"You're holding out pretty good. Looks like your mana capacity expanded."

Ruby's voice reached him through the chaos, casual and relaxed as if this was just another spar.

"Heh, this is nothing."

Raven replied with a mischievous smile, though his heart was pounding. In truth, he was bluffing.

His mana was burning rapidly, and his reserves wouldn't hold out much longer!

He knew it, but he refused to show any weakness.

Then—

SWOOSH–

One of Ruby's <Ice Spears> slipped through, bypassing his defenses and flying straight at him!

"Fuck."

Raven cursed under his breath.

SHING–

With a sharp motion, he swung [Emmeranne] upward, slicing the spear cleanly in two. The shards of ice scattered harmlessly around him, missing by mere inches.

'The difference in our rank is now showing.'

He admitted inwardly, eyes narrowing.

His gaze met Ruby's again, and he could see it— the smug smile that told him she knew exactly what he was thinking.

'She knows it too.'

Ruby had the advantage. Her experience with <Ice Spear>, her mana reserves, her control— it all outstripped his. If they kept this exchange up, there was no denying it: he would lose.

'And I know that.'

Raven confirmed in his thoughts, grinding his teeth.

Pushing the stray thought aside, Raven dismissed [Nyx] back into the [Quick Slot] and instead retrieved [Black Dagger].

And without hesitation—

SWOOSH–

He threw the dagger straight at Ruby!

TING–

But she deflected it effortlessly with her blade, batting it aside without breaking a sweat.

"Tsk."

Raven clicked his tongue in frustration.

Ruby frowned slightly at his move.

'Is he getting desperate now?'

She thought to herself.

BAM–

But before she could relax, Raven's feet struck the ground again. He surged forward, gripping [Emmeranne] tightly with both hands.

SHING–

SLASH– SWISH–

He carved through every <Ice Spear> that blocked his path, sparks and shards exploding outward with each cut.

Until finally—

TIIING–!

His sword clashed with Ruby's once again, the ringing sound echoing across the training ground.

"Let's start our second and last bout."

Raven declared, his eyes burning with determination.

"[Vicious Lightning Sword Technique—]"

"[Dance of the Lightning God]"

SWOOSH–

And with that... He unleashed his strongest technique yet!

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