Orin Alpheratz (15 years old) Location: Solaris  Date: Year 873 / Wolf Cycle (2) / Hermit's Day (3)

Both Professor Schedar and the audience couldn't hide their astonishment.

"Just a short while ago, Orin struggled to control the energy output of a single Solar Sword... and now, he's wielding the skill on two blades simultaneously," the professor murmured in awe. "Unbelievable."

But Orin wasn't listening. The cheers and murmurs of the crowd were distant echoes. His focus was locked entirely on Hector. He could feel the searing energy pulsing through both blades. This was his moment.

Without hesitation, he launched himself forward.

Twin blades flashed like streaks of sunlight. Orin struck with relentless force, each slash more precise and faster than the last. Hector, momentarily caught off guard, found himself on the defensive. Though his Longsword gave him superior reach, it became a burden at close range. Orin's blistering speed and sharp footwork forced him to fall back, parrying rather than striking.

For the first time in the duel, Hector was being pushed back.

Sparks exploded in the air as Orin's swords scraped against Hector's blade. Heat surged between their clashes. Bit by bit, Orin's attacks broke through his defenses, leaving glowing burn marks across Hector's arms and cheeks.

Cornered, Hector let out a sharp breath. In one fluid motion, he canceled Longsword and activated both Solar Sword and Solar Shield, raising them to intercept Orin's twin onslaught.

Even then, Hector smiled.

“Impressive, Orin! As I said before... the shield is a shackle on your true strength. You're not meant to be a knight,” he said, eyes gleaming. “But there's still time to embrace your real potential in the Warriors course.”

But Orin didn't answer. He had no intention of being distracted. Not now.

He pressed on, increasing his speed, tightening his strikes. Every time his twin blades clashed against Hector's glowing shield and sword, radiant sparks scattered into the air like a storm of stardust.

Seizing the moment, Perseus stepped back from the clash. With only his shield in hand, he turned toward the crowd.

“Draco, sword!” he called out.

Draco, who had been watching silently from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow before smirking. He picked up a nearby training blade, muttered an incantation under his breath, and handed it to Perseus.

“I've added a little enchantment,” Draco said with a sly grin. “Just something to spice things up.”

Perseus took the blade and looked it over. As if understanding the spell's nature instantly, he gave a crooked smile. The sword suddenly ignited, red-orange flames danced along its length, flickering like a living entity.

Still locked in combat with Orin, Hector caught the fiery glow from the corner of his eye. Without turning his head, he spoke, his tone laced with dry sarcasm.

“Perseus. I thought you were the one who demanded a fair fight?”

“I haven't mastered Solar Sword yet,” Perseus replied, raising the flaming blade. “But I will before the Trial. This is just a stand-in... a little preview.”

With that, he charged in.

Now facing Orin's relentless dual-wield assault and Perseus's flaming strikes, Hector began to lose ground.

His defense, once impenetrable, started to fray.

Gone was the controlled retreat. Now, Hector was forced to dodge, parry, and shift his weight just to stay on his feet. The air around them blazed with heat and energy as three blades battered against his shield and sword in rapid succession.

Hector was no longer in control. He was being overwhelmed.

Professor Schedar rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he watched the battlefield unfold before him.

"If Hector had more room to maneuver, he might be able to activate Total Defense to buy some time," he mused aloud to the group of students gathered around him. "But with attacks coming in so fast and from such close range... it's nearly impossible. At this rate, he's running out of options."

Back on the field, the clash of steel continued to echo through the training grounds. Sparks flew with each strike, and the air rippled with waves of heat as flame and light clashed violently in a chaotic rhythm. But after several minutes of relentless combat, the effects of prolonged skill activation began to show.

The brilliant glow that once enveloped Hector's sword and shield began to flicker, dimming with each passing moment. Similarly, the golden radiance surrounding Orin's twin blades faded until, at last, all three weapons returned to their normal state, stripped of their enchanted might.

“Leave him to me!” Perseus shouted, seizing the opening.

Orin, catching his breath, backed off just in time as Perseus lunged forward with a fierce overhead slash. His flaming blade crashed against Hector's shield, shattering it with a deafening impact. The broken fragments spun through the air before skidding across the scorched ground, trailing wisps of smoke behind them.

Now defenseless on one side, Hector was forced to fall back several paces, left with only his sword.

Professor Schedar narrowed his eyes.

“He's lost his shield... Total Defense is no longer an option. He might resort to Longsword, but even that may not be enough,” he murmured. “Against Orin's agility and Perseus's enchanted sword, he's running out of tricks.”

On the field, Perseus leveled his blazing sword at Hector, his breath heavy, his brow slick with sweat. Still, his expression was fierce. Confident.

“This is the end, Hector,” he declared. “Even with your Longsword, you won't stand a chance against three blades coming at you from every side.”

“Hector, surrender,” Orin said firmly, his stance unwavering. “I still have enough energy to activate Solar Sword one more time.”

But Hector didn't respond. His gaze was distant. Lost in thought. As if he were staring straight through them. Orin and Perseus exchanged wary glances. Just as they were about to step forward, Hector blinked slowly and whispered to himself,

“It's worth a try...”

A subtle shift in his posture followed. The air around him grew still.

“Thank you... for pushing me this far,” he said at last, his tone steady, almost reverent. “Orin. Perseus. But this is where it ends.”

Without another word, he raised his sword high into the air.

“ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Longsword!”

A ghostly blade burst forth from the steel, doubling its length in a flash of spectral energy.

Perseus exhaled in exasperation.

“We warned you, Hector,” he muttered. “It's time to finish this.”

But before he could charge, Hector shouted once more:

“ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Enhanced Sword 10%!”

A second surge of energy coursed through the ghostly blade, which glowed with an even greater intensity. The blade expanded again, pulsing with a force that made the ground quiver slightly.

From the sidelines, Professor Schedar nodded appreciatively. “A double-layered skill... impressive. But will it be enough?”

Orin and Perseus, however, both stiffened. Something was off.

That wasn't just a simple combo.

They knew Hector too well. If anyone could change the tide of battle with a hidden ace, it was him.

Without hesitation, Orin activated Solar Sword again, his blades flaring to life. He and Perseus dashed forward together, ready to strike... but they were too late.

Schedar's eyes widened in awe. “Impossible... Is he really—?”

Then came the final call:

“ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Solar Sword!” Hector roared.

This time, the already enhanced Longsword erupted in golden light. Heat shimmered through the air as the titanic blade glowed with divine energy, nearly blinding in its brilliance.

Orin and Perseus instinctively halted, shielding their faces from the blazing radiance. The very presence of Hector's sword warped the atmosphere around him, its power pressing down on the entire battlefield like the sun itself had descended into his hands.

Orin froze in place.

The overwhelming energy pouring from Hector was unlike anything he had ever felt. It wasn't just power... it was something else, something that clawed at his instincts and screamed at him to run. Even if his mind wished to charge forward, his body refused to move.

Beside him, Perseus stood just as still, his face locked in disbelief, caught in the same paralyzing awe.

At the center of the battlefield, Hector raised his sword high. Bathed in radiant golden light, he no longer looked human. For a brief moment, he resembled a divine figure, a warrior descended from the heavens.

Then his voice thundered across the field:

“COMBO SKILL: Rising Sun!”

A single, godlike slash tore through the battlefield.

It didn't just cut, it obliterated. Orin's twin swords and Perseus's flaming sword and shield vanished instantly, reduced to glittering fragments of light. The impact hurled them both through the air like leaves in a storm, slamming them onto the far end of the field.

The clash ended in an instant.

Hector's sword, its job complete, faded from its glowing form, crumbling to ash in his hand. Alone at the center, he stood tall. The audience, stunned into silence, could do nothing but stare.

And then, he raised a single arm.

The silence shattered.

The crowd erupted into wild applause and cheering, surging toward him like a tidal wave.

Elsewhere on the scorched ground, Orin forced himself into a seated position, groaning as pain pulsed through every limb. A few feet away, Perseus lay on his back, still conscious but wide-eyed with disbelief.

“What... was that?” Perseus muttered, still catching his breath. “What the hell was that skill?”

“I don't know,” Orin replied through clenched teeth. “But whatever it was... we never stood a chance.”

Professor Schedar stepped onto the battlefield, his voice rising above the noise.

“I declare Hector the winner of this training bout!” he announced proudly. “And mark my words, this display is only a glimpse of what's to come. In your final year at the academy, your goal isn't just to become a summoner... but to master Combo Skills.”

He paused, turning toward Hector with admiration gleaming in his eyes.

“High-level skills capable of overwhelming entire battlefields. Rare, powerful... and utterly game-changing.”

The moment he finished, the students flooded the field. Many swarmed around Hector, offering congratulations, asking questions, or simply patting his back in awe.

Orin, still trying to steady his breathing, saw his group rushing toward him: Sirius, Eridus, Cor, Gina, Pyon, Antilae... and even Draco, who made his way over to help Perseus up.

At that moment, the two defeated combatants exchanged a final look.

“It's still not enough, but... good fight, Orin,” said Perseus with a tired face, still sprawled on the ground.

“Likewise,” Orin replied, managing a faint grin. “In a different scenario... maybe the outcome would've been different.”

Perseus nodded in quiet agreement before Draco reached out and helped him up. At the same time, Sirius and Eridus knelt beside Orin and pulled him gently to his feet.

Their expressions were full of worry, but before they could say anything, Orin raised a hand weakly.

“Don't worry... I'm fine,” he said, forcing a chuckle. “I just burned through everything I had. I'm completely wiped out.”

“I have to say,” Cor spoke up, still wide-eyed with awe, “I've never seen a battle like that in my life. Combo Skills... they really are something else.”

“But don't sell yourself short, Orin,” Gina added, smiling softly. “Your double-sword skill was incredible.”

“Obviously!” Antilae chimed in, arms crossed proudly. “If you'd had a little more time, you could've even beaten Hector. I'm sure of it!”

Eridus, supporting Orin by the arm, gave a quiet nod. “Maybe. But let's be honest... defeating that skill? That's not something you overcome easily.” He glanced toward the center of the battlefield. “And Hector's only going to keep getting stronger.”

“It feels... almost unfair,” Sirius muttered. He stood on Orin's other side, helping support him, his gaze fixed on the crowd still surrounding Hector. “I always thought of him as the picture-perfect model student... but I never imagined he'd reach that kind of level.”

“Regardless,” Cor added, his tone steady, “it was a hell of a battle. You should be proud, Orin. You gave it your all.”

One by one, Pyon, Antilae, and Gina followed suit, each offering words of praise, encouragement, and admiration for Orin's performance.

But amid the warmth of their support, Eridus leaned in close, his voice quiet but serious.

“You need to focus, Orin,” he said firmly. “From this point on, your energy should go entirely into preparing for the Hero's Trial. Any distractions can wait.”

“I know,” Orin replied, lowering his head. “And I will. But... there's one last thing I have to do first.”

Eridus frowned. “What is it?”

Orin looked up, his eyes sharp with quiet resolve.

“Huxley,” he said. “Tomorrow... I'll find him. I need to settle things with him before I can truly move forward. Before I can defeat Hector.”