Vera appeared in front of Rhys instantly, her speed almost teleport-like.

Her sword slashed down in a clean vertical line.

CLANG!

Rhys blocked, but the impact forced him back a full step.

Vera didn't slow down.

She stepped again—

Skill: [Moonstep]

— her form blurring as she reappeared at Rhys's side.

Her blade sliced horizontally.

Rhys ducked and rolled.

Puddle screamed,

"MASTER MOVE FASTER!!"

Rhys stood and countered with a quick strike.

[Swift Cut]

Vera parried without effort.

"Your blade is good," she said calmly, "but your timing needs work."

She attacked again.

Skill: [Twin Crescent Slash]

Two curved slashes crossed at Rhys's chest.

Rhys lifted his blade and activated—

[Whirlwind Slash]

Wind burst around him, knocking the attacks slightly off course.

Vera slid back half a step, surprised.

"Oh? You reacted faster than I expected."

Rhys exhaled.

"So you were testing me."

"Of course," Vera said. "I need to know if you're worth claiming."

"That was a joke earlier," Rhys muttered.

She laughed softly.

"I wasn't joking."

She dashed forward again.

Rhys raised his palm.

[Magic Missile]

Three bolts of mana shot toward her.

Vera spun her blade.

TING! TING! TING!

She cut each missile cleanly.

Rhys clicked his tongue.

"Of course she did."

Vera lunged, her sword aiming at Rhys's shoulder.

He activated—

[Mana Shield Boost]

The sword hit the shield, cracked it, but didn't break through.

Vera narrowed her eyes.

"Your shield is strong. Good. Otherwise this would be too boring."

Rhys stepped back and swung.

[Water Blade]

His sword was now coated in flowing water.

Vera smirked.

"Magic again? Fine."

She dashed in.

Their blades collided.

CLANG!

Water splashed outward from Rhys's blade on impact.

Vera twisted, avoiding the spray.

"Clever," she muttered.

"But not enough."

She flicked her wrist.

Her blade hit Rhys's side—

but his armor absorbed most of the blow.

Rhys hissed,

"…Fast."

"Of course," she said calmly.

"I'm the fastest in this entire qualifier."

She stepped in again—

but this time Rhys was ready.

He cast:

[Fireball]

A flame sphere burst to life between them.

Vera sliced it in half instantly—

—but Rhys snapped his fingers.

The cut Fireball exploded behind her.

BOOM!

Vera twisted mid-air and landed lightly, but the blast had pushed her off balance for the first time.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"I see. You're smarter than most."

Rhys pointed his sword.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was," she replied.

She tightened her grip on her sword.

"I'll show you something stronger."

Rhys braced himself.

Puddle clung to his head.

"Master careful! She about to go fast-fast!"

Vera lowered her stance.

Her mana flared silver.

Skill: [Moonshadow Line]

She vanished—

and reappeared directly behind Rhys.

Rhys's instincts screamed.

He spun and swung—

CLANG!

He barely blocked her strike.

Vera's eyes lit up.

"You blocked it? Good. Not many can."

Rhys gritted his teeth.

"You're trying to kill me?"

"If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead," she said again calmly.

She dashed forward for another strike—

—and Rhys finally countered properly.

[Vertical Slash]

A strong overhead attack.

She blocked it, but the force made her slide backward.

Dust rose around her boots.

The crowd roared.

Aria yelled, "RHYS! YES! KEEP PRESSURE!"

Sophia cupped her hands, "Don't let her steal the rhythm!"

Caria scribbled without blinking, "She's stronger than expected…!"

Lyra shouted, "Stay focused!"

Puddle screamed,

"MASTER HIT HER BUT NOT TOO HARD SHE PRETTY!"

Rhys took a deep breath.

Vera smiled.

"Now you're waking up," she said softly.

"Good. Let me raise the level too."

She shifted her stance—

her blade pointed down, body angled sideways.

Rhys felt danger immediately.

"That stance…"

Vera whispered,

"Nightfall Form — First Dance."

She disappeared.

Rhys raised his sword and shield—

The next moment—

CLASH!

Her strike hit him with twice the speed as before.

Rhys gritted his teeth, holding the block.

Vera smiled inches from his face.

"Don't die yet."

Rhys exhaled sharply, boots grinding against the arena floor as he pushed Vera back just enough to breathe.

He wiped the thin line of blood on his lip and muttered,

"…You're understanding, I guess. I need to go all out."

Vera tilted her head, amused.

"All out? You weren't already?"

Rhys lowered his stance.

"No. I've been using normal skills until now."

Puddle gasped. "MASTER FINALLY USING BIG-BIG SKILLS! YES!!"

Vera's eyes sharpened with interest.

"Oh? Then show me. If you don't, I'll end this right here."

Her mana shimmered silver again.

Rhys felt the threat intensify—real, sharp, lethal.

He closed his eyes for half a heartbeat.

Control your mana flow.

Don't let Ruinous Darkness surge too early.

Lyra's warning echoed in his mind.

When he opened his eyes again, his aura shifted—

like a storm waking up.

Rhys whispered,

"…Fine. Let's raise it."

He tightened his grip on his sword—

And activated:

[Mana Amplification – 30%]

A shockwave burst outward.

The ground cracked under his feet.

Vera blinked, her expression tightening for the first time.

"Oh…? So this is your real power."

Rhys didn't respond.

His blade ignited with swirling energy—

water, flame, and wind all stirring together around Ruinous Darkness's core.

Vera surged forward instantly—

—but this time, Rhys moved before she even finished her step.

[Augmented Swift Cut]

A streak of blue mana flashed—

Vera barely managed to guard.

Her arm trembled from the impact.

"…Faster," she whispered. "Much faster."

Rhys stepped in again, relentless.

[Whirlwind Slash — Amplified]

Wind pressure exploded outward, sending Vera skidding back across the floor.

Dust spiraled around her.

The audience roared.

Aria yelled, "THAT'S IT RHYS!! MAKE HER BACK OFF!"

Caria's pen dropped. "His speed jumped by nearly fifty percent!"

Sophia clenched her fist. "He finally stopped holding back."

Lyra quietly smiled. "Good… now he's fighting properly."

Vera steadied herself, eyes gleaming.

"Good. Hit me again."

Rhys didn't hesitate.

He thrust his palm forward—

[Quad Magic Burst]

A rapid-fire sequence of

Magic Missile → Fireball → Water Jet → Magic Missile

all chained in under a second.

The barrage slammed into Vera like a storm.

She blocked the first two—

The third hit struck her shoulder.

The last one forced her back three full meters.

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