The tip of her spear closed in on me in a flash.

A thrusting attack with nearly perfect form.

I wouldn’t just stay still and make myself an easy target.

Dodge to the right.

Maintain my momentum and search for an opening–

Her spear held still.

–And strike from the angle of greatest opportunity.

My aura coursed forwards alongside my fist.

In a single, effortless motion, she changed her grip and allowed the spearhead to trace along the floor before the shaft rose to meet my attack.

Just like that, everything I had thrown into that punch was halted.

Her spear continued to rise, now fully deflecting my attack.

In that opening, she took a step forward, spear twirling between her fingers, before settling into a horizontal slash.

[ You have activated < Title Ability | Windshaper > ]

I released a gust of wind from my palm, propelling myself out of her reach.

Her eyes momentarily lit up in surprise.

Even so, she barely paused, lunging towards me, while readying her weapon for another strike.

I wouldn’t give her the opportunity of an easy attack.

With another gust of wind, I jumped high into the air, rotating my body to deliver a spinning kick.

Gravity would be on my side.

Yet, in another swift motion, she once again intercepted my attack with the shaft of her spear.

It bent under the strain, but didn’t even crack once.

She took another step forward, swinging the spear to launch me away.

Then, she held still, warily scanning my arms and legs. 

We both waited for the other to make a move. 

After those brief exchanges, it was clear where her strengths lay. Unlike how I relied on combinations of various mana-based techniques to augment my movements and attacks, her style relied solely on strength, speed, and martial expertise.

As unsavory it was to admit after my two years of training, I was clearly outclassed in those aspects.

So that was why she chose to fight without her attribute…

I closed my eyes.

Shut off all my senses…

…and allowed my “sixth sense” to kick in.

In that silent stillness, I could see it. Her aether became crystal clear.

If it weren’t for my shard, its refined density and quality would’ve surpassed my own.

The darkly-tinted mana streaming from it filled every portion of her body, yet not a single drop spilled beyond her.

On top of that, her mana perfectly occupied the spear in her hands, connecting with her aura as if it were merely an extension of her body.

That explained how it seemed to be unbreakable.

Perfect internal mastery and a disregard for external influence.

The next moment, her aether vanished from my sights with barely a trail to track her movements.

Two years ago, her next attack would’ve been my defeat.

Right now was a different story. Even with her behind me, I could still faintly sense it.

I opened my eyes, overlapping all my senses as I gathered a gale around my fist.

Twisting around, I swung directly at the spearhead rushing towards my neck.

With the wind to aid me, I wouldn’t have to worry about actually touching the point.

Neither of us could push the other back.

Before I could make my move to end the stalemate, she vanished again, reappearing several paces away.

Just like at the start of our bout, she widened her stance, shifting her weight onto her front leg.

Her aura began to flow faster and faster.

“Starting now, I’m gonna be giving this everything my 30% has got. Don’t let me down,” she said with a grin.

“I’m glad you’re starting to take this seriously.”

Fwoom!

I allowed my aura to erupt from all over my body, enveloping me in a blaze.

“Looks like I’ll be doing the same.”

The two of us stood unmoving.

Whoever acted first would reveal their intentions first, but would gain an advantage in having the earlier strike.

We leapt off our toes at once.

Strike for strike. Blow for blow. Guard for guard.

Each of our attempts towards victory were in perfect balance.

We were evenly matched.

She shifted her stance.

In a grand motion, she swung her spear at me from above, now treating it exactly as if it were a sword.

First Dance, Unarmed: Layered Snowstorm

I countered with a flurry of open-palmed strikes.

Her eyes widened.

Second Dance, Unarmed: Falling Thrust

A downwards strike as a feint followed by an uppercut. 

Thwack!

In a split-second moment of surprise, the spear was flung from her grasp, spinning into the air before landing out of her reach.

I continued pushing forwards. This time, I wouldn’t be the one who had to retreat.

I was almost certain she recognized this sequence of attacks.

The third dance, “Ice Pick.” The most logical progression following the first two dances that could fully capitalize on the momentum and positioning provided by the preceding movements.

That’s the next move she should be anticipating. 

Crimson Streak

Instead, I threw out a similar thrusting attack I managed to pick up from Seika herself.

The whiteness of the snow attribute began to fade as bright flames sprung to life in its place.

This was supposed to be the move to seal my victory, but something changed–

Something snapped.

As the burning light of my aura reflected in Aria’s eyes, all that stared back was a dull, terrifying bloodlust.

Like a candle snuffed out, I could no longer see the light of her aether nor aura.

Then, from that emptiness of her figure, all that vanished returned at the very tip of her spear.

Somehow, her spear was back in her hands.

Did she somehow pick it up in an instant..?

No… There was only one possible explanation.

She had left residual traces of mana within it, and through some miraculous level of control, managed to summon it back to her side.

“...full throttle,” she murmured almost inaudibly.

The concentrated energy at the spearhead was enough to rival Seraphim’s Heavenly Lance.

If I didn’t go beyond 30%, it was possible that I would be dead in the very next instant.

Clap. Clap.

A slow applause echoed from the back of the room.

Thankfully, that sound seemed to have snapped Aria out of her trance, the intensity of her aura slowly fizzling out as she froze mid-swing.

She didn’t look me in the eyes.

“Amazing! To think you two could do so much with auras! But, just for your knowledge, basic magic is possible, y’know?”

Unfortunately, the source of the applause was Kiel.

“What do you want?”

“Just letting my two favorite people know something that should be common knowledge. Consider it an act of kindness. You can never be sure how much those that live out in the boonies know.”

Before Kiel could finish his provocations, Aria had already turned away and begun walking towards the door.

“You’re not even gonna spare me the pleasantries of conversation? Hah, alright then. Have it your way.”

She still ignored him.

“Oh, before you leave, how’s your dad doing? I haven’t heard about him in a while… Really, it’s quite a shame…”

Aria suddenly came to a complete stop. Her hands were slightly trembling.

Then, without looking back, she sprinted out the door.

“Huh. Well, she’s never really been one for conversation. Anyways, care for a spar with me as well?”

“Oh piss off,” I spat, shoving him aside before hurrying after her.

As I walked past him, I could’ve sworn I saw a smirk creep onto the sides of his lips.