Chapter 108 - The Winner Is . . .

"So, there are no races more perfect compared with Devarians?" Shin couldn't help but ask. "Are they even better than Elves?"

"More than you think," Aanya answered, "But if we talk about the race with the most affinity to the spirit and mental ability, then Dragons came top—not that there were many true dragons in the universe. But the few Old Dragons that still live held great power and intelligence."

"There are dragons?" Shin's eyes glittered instantly.

"There are, but it's almost impossible to see them," Aanya answered. "Even though they held great power, they are a crafty bunch, you cannot find them even if you seek them out for decades."

"Enough talk about dragons and whatnot," Elior sighed, hitting Shin on the shoulder. "Your match is coming in. Get ready."

"Oh, shit." Shin stood up immediately and saw on the screen that his match was up next. He slapped his cheeks twice and saw Leroy came in and got back to his seat nonchalantly. He did not have time to congratulate others when he was not ready for his match. Even yesterday against Lara, he was already on the verge of losing. He might have pulled through from there with the last-minute miracle. It would be immensely harder to do that today. Moreover, he still did not have full control over his waves—like how Elior taught him to use it, like how he used it against Lara.

"Brother, any last-minute advice?"

"Don't lose," was all Elior said and saw Shin, squinting his nose. "Think about the surprise. It is only a onetime offer. Moreover, I have already paid for it, but if you failed to deliver, I would not mind backing out. So, if you lose, you will never get to see it in your life."

"What kind of surprise you organised for me, that I'll never be able to see it if I lose this time?"

"The kind you will like the most." Elior smiled.

And Shin believed him. "Then, I guess, I have to do my best."

The wannabe delinquent left fast, while the screen showed the performance of the two participants from the other day. The one Shin was up against is called Feldan, a swordsman like Shin. Feldan had not reached the realm of true swordsman yet, but he's master at controlling flames. He even earned the nickname of Firesword from the press after his performance the other day. Well, he was not the only one that got a nickname. Shin got one too, though not as good as Firesword.

Shin narrowed his eyes at his opponent, who was already prepared with his bastard sword ready, reflecting Shin slightly on the shiny blade. Feldan curved his lips upwards, looking at his opponent, and Shin smiled in replay, not trying to lose out.

"For a moment, I thought my opponent would be tougher than this," Shin said with a lovely smile on his lips. Many goods can come from a nice trash talk. "But you don't seem to have even the half of a bearing the Firesword in the news."

"Funny," Feldan snorted. "You are exactly what is told in the news, Swordpunk."

"I prefer the swordcrusher," Shin snorted back. Unlike many who only got one nickname, Shin got two. Swordpunk was what the reporters that did not like his answer or behaviour in the press conference the other day, while the other name was given by the internet after his video of breaking the sword got viral.

Feldan was about to prepare for replay when Ford's stoic voice came in their ears.

"If the participants ready, we can start the match." Ford gave both of them another look, before blowing the whistle.

Shin unsheathed his new sword—the basic one that he had with him, because the other one got almost unusable yesterday. Though Elior had given him a far better sword than this, he had other plans for that. Then again, this sword was not a total waste either. For sealing the victory, it will play a vital role there.

As the match started, Shin dashed towards his opponent without any pretence. Feldan brought up his sword as it blazed in crimson glory, enlarging another half a metre. Shin's sword forced out water and met the firesword head-on.

In general, sense, if fire and water met it was an easy victory for water as it would put off the fire, but there the water could only dim the intensity of the fire, much less putting off the fire in the sword.

Shin raised an eyebrow as the steam cleared, within that time he withdrew from the incoming firesword. Even though Shin had an edge on the speed with manipulating waves and air, Feldan was not slow either. The upperclassman chased out Shin, bearing the firesword, shooting flames in his direction.

Shin rose in the air, but the flames did not leave his way. Without bothering Shin swung his sword, releasing a large wave of air, scattering away from the fire. But he did not have free time there, as Feldan lunged at him in the air, his sword had reached two metres in length currently, but it did not appear like he was having any trouble.

Gritting his teeth, Shin rose further in the air, trying to escape from the fiery sword.

"Are you going to run all the time?" Feldan yelled at him, not finding any way to chase after Shin.

"Not at all," Shin said and rose further in the air. He started to rise further and when he was a dozen metres in the air did he stop. Shin closed his eyes then and focused on condensing the waves again, like he did against Lara the other day. It was not coming after his success the other day. Well, he did not perfect it currently.

Before even his waves condense that could even threaten an ant, he started to fall, and he was falling towards Feldan. There was nothing to worry about, Shin did not stay closed-eyed for longer. As the wind hit his cheek, he narrowed his eyes, falling towards Feldan with a ready sword.

Feldan did not know what his opponent was trying. What appeared to him was nothing but Shin falling right into his sword. Still, he kept his mind busy with any potential moves. Never take any opponent lightly, or he might turn like Gaivan.

Both of the opponents had their eyes locked, sword in their arms. One with condensed fire, the other with air. Shin was only about two meters away from his opponent when he swung his sword in a high arc, shooting all the condensed air from it.

Feldan found it easier to dodge than block, so he took the easy road and withdrew sideways. Shin knew something like this would have happened. That was why he was condensing the waves in his palms—not that it was ready yet.

He got safely on the earth, and condensed air on it again, still preparing the condensation of thin, invisible waves.

Feldan came at him aggressively again; feinting his sword, he got a good move on his thigh. The two of them got busy in close quarters, disabling any way out for Shin—not that he was looking for. All he was looking for was an opportunity.

Feldan was not stupid to give him that opportunity he needed. The firesword pressed him harder, and a high curve appeared on Feldan's lips.

"Swordcrusher, eh?" he laughed. "It looks like it's only your sword that will get crushed today."

"Looks like it." Saying that, Shin let one of his palms form the sword as the two swords pressed hard against one another, pressed harder against his shoulder, crushing in. it broke his armament defence and made way towards his flesh, but Shin did not care.

On the other hand, the wave condensation was ready, but Shin did not shoot, even though his opponent's sword had almost reached his bone. He did nothing, until another sword appeared on the other arm, as shin infused all the thin invisible waves at the newly sleek blade, shoving it directly towards his opponent's gut.

Feldan had no idea where the sword came from, but he had no time to ponder either, he tried to twist his body sideways to dodge, and almost succeeded when a sharp piercing force invade him through the gut, disabling a large amount of armament defence, and then came to the sword, following his direction.

Shin knew he could not keep up the waves to his sword for longer, so he assaulted his opponent immediately after his sword come out from his inventory. It went just he had planned, but he lost his last cards here. There was no surprise elements in his hands, but he would not need any more for this match either. 

He pulled his body down from the fiery sword swiftly, and shoved it directly at the guts. Before it could reach a threatening level, he heard the whistle as Ford ended the match.

"The winner is Shin Olwyn."