The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

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Name: Lycus Fenrath

Age: 20

Year Level: 3

Race: Human

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Stamina: 137

Intellect: 118

Mana: 129

Strength: 152

Speed: 149

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Overall Grade: S-

Growth Rate: A+

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Name: Lena Dravenhart

Age: 19

Year Level: 3

Race: Human

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Stamina: 101

Intellect: 168

Mana: 170

Strength: 98

Speed: 99

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Overall Grade: S-

Growth Rate: A+

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Lycus' and Lena's status were projected after their fight. Everyone were awe to see that they were already on par with most of the top professors.

Even Raye was slightly taken aback. He didn't expect this much growth from them in only a month...

Anyway—

"..."

The whole group became silent after greeting Lycus and Lena.

Actually… it's not just them.

The entire area was silent… and almost everyone had their eyes on the same thing.

Not Lycus.

Not Lena.

They were all looking at Raye and Leon.

Or to be exact—Raye versus Leon.

Only seconds had passed, but it felt like a whole minute. The tension was heavy… suffocating. It was as if the very air itself was holding its breath.

The students began whispering among themselves.

"Who do you think will win?"

"My money's on Leon… he's the prodigy."

"Yeah, but Raye's been acting really confident lately…"

"I heard he got insanely strong after disappearing for a while…"

"My ears can finally rest."

Whispers filled the stands, anticipation growing like wildfire.

Even the professors were watching more seriously now. Charles leaned forward from his seat. Sariel adjusted his coat. Ramiel squinted his eyes slightly.

Then, finally—after what felt like forever—

"Raye and Leon, climb up the arena."

Sariel called for the two.

And everyone went silent again.

The final duel was about to begin.

*****

After hearing their names being called, Raye and Leon stood up at the same time.

They were only a few steps apart.

"..."

"..."

They glanced at one another—and with a small nod and faint smiles, they started heading toward the arena.

"Do your best!"

"Good luck, both of you!"

Jerusha, Aria, Lena, Lycus, Devin, and Sofia cheered them on. But neither Raye nor Leon replied, they just waved their hands up in the air.

They kept walking forward, side by side.

Tap- Tap- Tap—

Each step they took echoed throughout the entire training ground. The atmosphere was thick. Everyone's eyes followed them, as if afraid to blink and miss something.

Silence.

Everyone held their breath.

Then—while walking up the stairs toward the arena—

Raye noticed Ramiel looking at him from the side.

He was his professor and master at the same time... Raye learned his electric attribute from him.

Ramiel's eyes were sharp, squinting slightly as if asking; 'Where have you been? What did you do?'

Raye saw it clearly.

But instead of answering—he just smirked.

Then casually brushed off his shoulders, as if saying; 'Just watch me.'

Ramiel frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

And with that—

TAP—

Raye stepped onto the arena.

TAP—

And Leon took his position on the other side.

Sariel looked at the two alternately and smiled.

"Are you two ready?"

He asked them.

And before responding—

FWOOOSH—

A black sword appeared on Raye's right hand, and then—a sword with a pristine white blade and golden hilt manifested in his left!

It was [Nyx] and [Imperial Edge].

And as soon as Raye got a hold of [Imperial Edge]—

FWOOM—!!

A majestic aura burst out of his body and scattered throughout the area like ripples in the air!

Golden wind started swirling around him!

"...!"

"...!"

The students gasped. Even the professors blinked in awe.

Their eyes quickly locked onto the sword in Raye's left hand, realizing that must be the source of it all!

"What sword is that?"

"That's not a regular weapon..."

They all whispered, curiosity rising rapidly.

But ignoring all of them—

Raye just took a fighting stance.

He didn't summon [Celestria] for now—it still remained as a ring on his finger.

Then, from the other side of the arena—

FWIP-

"Show off..."

Leon muttered with a grin, raising his blade.

"Already going all out in the beginning, huh?"

And in his hands—

A sword with a radiating white blade rested. It looked quite similar to [Imperial Edge]... but grander in design, without the golden glow effect.

It was clean, sharp—silent but noble.

'He already got the Holy Blade… now he just needs to awaken it.'

Raye thought to himself, narrowing his eyes at Leon's weapon... But immediately, he shook the thought away.

'Now's not the time.'

Then—

"I'm ready."

He told Sariel without looking away from Leon.

Following him, Leon calmly followed.

"I'm ready too."

Swoosh~

"..."

Silence engulfed the entire area once again.

The tension was suffocating.

All eyes were on them.

Raye and Leon—both locked in, focused entirely on each other. No movement. No blinking. Just silence.

And then, finally—

"BEGIN!!!"

Sariel's voice boomed across the training ground!

BAM!

Leon immediately kicked off! His figure blurred and vanished from his spot! Though, just then—

"[Flash.]"

Raye muttered that!

SWOOSH—!

He disappeared too!

The two of them were nowhere to be seen!

But in a split second—

TIIIING—!!!

They reappeared right in the center of the arena with a thunderous metallic clash! Their blades locked—and before anyone could even react—

CLANG! TANG! TING! SHIIIING—!!

The sound of metal ringing echoed like rapid gunfire!

They moved like streaks of light!

SWISH—

FWISH—

Again and again, they vanished and reappeared across the arena! Every time the students caught a glimpse of them—

T I I I I N G—!!!

Their blades would already be clashing!

The students were speechless, eyes wide open, jaws hung in disbelief. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

No—they couldn't even follow what they were watching!

Even the professors were having a hard time keeping up!

Only a few—

Jerusha.

Lena.

Lycus.

Allen.

They could follow the movement to an extent. But even then—they frowned, eyes sharp and jaws clenched.

They couldn't believe what they were watching.

'This is… on a whole other level.'

Devin and Aria were only seeing blurs and flashes.

As for Sofia—

She couldn't see them at all.

Only sparks.

Only flashes of light.

C L A N G—!

Only when the blades clashed did she finally see them for a moment—before they disappeared again.

And in that moment, a question resurfaced in their heads;

'Just how strong Raye had become...?'

They know he trained for almost a year in a rift dungeon—but they don't know yet the result. They're only seeing it now.