Chapter 113: Back to School (4)

"I don't care if you've leveled up, Kyle. I'm still going to make sure you regret ever trying to outshine meKyle calmly nodded upon meeting Milo's heated gaze, with a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He had resisted the urge to respond, as found Milo's delusion amusing.

It was a familiar dance—Milo always seemed to believe that sheer effort could close the gap between them.

'Poor Milo,' Kyle thought, inwardly smiling. 'He doesn't even know how outmatched he is.'

As Instructor Layla walked up to the edge of the arena, her eyes shone with satisfaction. She raised her hand and called out, "Positions."

Both students moved into their fighting stances, Milo exuded raw lightning energy, his mana visibly crackling in the air around him while Kyle stood steadily with his hands relaxed but positioned, showing no sign of urgency.

Layla's gaze moved between the two before she signaled.

"Begin!"

At Layla's signal, both Kyle and Milo sprang into action, mana crackling in the air as they activated their first spells.

"Lightning Dash!" Milo shouted, his figure becoming a blur as he darted across the arena, leaving a trail of sparking energy behind him.

The spell enhanced his speed to unnatural levels, making him appear in multiple spots in quick succession.

Kyle watched Milo's movements with an almost casual focus, feeling the air pressure shift as Milo closed in.

Kyle smirked and matched Milo's maneuver. "Lightning Dash," he whispered, and in a heartbeat, he, too, vanished into a flash of light. The two collided at the center of the arena, sparks exploding like miniature fireworks as their mana clashed.

The sound of crackling energy resonated, echoing off the walls as the students leaned forward, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Lightning Bolt!"

Milo's first strike aimed directly at Kyle's torso, but Kyle shifted just a fraction to the side, causing Milo's punch to graze his sleeve.

The redirected momentum nearly caused Milo to stumble, but he recovered quickly, pushing off the ground to create some distance before throwing a quick glance at Kyle.

Milo's eyes narrowed. He had caught up to the spark of amusement in Kyle's expression.

"You're playing with me," he gritted out, charging up mana in his hands. His frustration was evident; he felt like he was fighting a ghost.

Without wasting another second, he extended his arm forward, veins of lightning crackling around his fist. "Let's see you dodge this!"

"Lightning Bolt!"

The shout rang out, and a bolt of white-blue lightning burst from Milo's palm, sizzling through the air with lethal speed.

The room erupted in gasps as the attack shot toward Kyle like a spear of raw energy.

Kyle didn't move until the last possible moment. With a graceful pivot, he summoned a controlled surge of mana, and his own voice rang out.

"Lightning Bolt." His bolt clashed with Milo's mid-air, and the collision produced a flash of light so bright that it blinded the onlookers momentarily. The sheer force sent ripples through the air, shaking the mats under their feet.

As the light dimmed, Milo's eyes widened when he noticed Kyle had already closed the gap. Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The clash of lightning had been nothing more than a smokescreen to conceal Kyle's movement. Kyle's speed was incomprehensible, even with the limits he placed on himself.

"Not bad," Kyle commented with a low and confident voice before he drove his elbow toward Milo's side.

Luckily for Milo, he had twisted just in time, resulting in the hit landing with less force than intended, but it still sent him skidding across the mat.

He felt pain through his body but still forced himself to keep standing, drawing heavy breaths of air.

Milo's heart was racing, not from exertion but from the shock that Kyle was so much more formidable than he anticipated.

[You're really holding back, aren't you?] Void's amused voice echoed in Kyle's mind.

"I have to, Void. Let's not end this too soon," Kyle responded silently with a small smile on his lips.

Milo's gaze hardened. He wasn't done yet. With renewed determination, he dashed forward again, zig-zagging unpredictably, then leaping high into the air.

He wanted to attack from above, a risky move but one that could potentially disorient Kyle.

Kyle's eyes followed Milo's trajectory as he mentally counted the spells he had cast. He had only used two so far, while Milo was at three. Perfect.

"Lightning Bolt!" Milo shouted mid-air, launching another attack aimed downward at Kyle.

This time, he poured more mana into the spell, increasing its intensity. The bolt crackled as it descended, fast and fierce. The spectators felt a pulse of mana wash over them as the spell struck.

Kyle summoned [Lightning Dash] just before the [Lightning Bolt] hit, dashing out of the way and letting it fall harmlessly onto the floor.

Kyle countered almost immediately after leaving the way. "Lightning Bolt."

His spell was clean and controlled, aimed at the spot where Milo would land. Milo, mid-descent, realized he was about to crash right into it. He twisted his body desperately, managing to avoid a direct hit but feeling the edges of the bolt graze his arm.

The pain seared through him, making him clench his jaw to hold back a scream.

The match continued with a relentless pace, with Milo refusing to back down. He unleashed another flurry of attacks, dashing and striking, each time with increasing force.

But Kyle dodged or parried with precise movements, not even breaking a sweat. To everyone watching, it was clear: Milo was giving it everything he had, while Kyle still had an air of effortless composure.

After some more movements in the fight, Milo was showing signs of fatigue. His breathing grew labored and his movements became less fluid.

The sweat that dripped down his temples wasn't only an evidence of his tiredness but also from the frustration of facing an opponent he couldn't pin down.

Kyle, on the other hand was standing tall with his breathing even.

"Keep going, Milo," Kyle said softly, just loud enough for his opponent to hear. It wasn't a taunt but an encouragement.

Despite everything, Kyle admired Milo's spirit. He knew what it felt like to push past limits, even when victory seemed unreachable.

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Milo glared at him. He raised his hand for his another spell, but his mana was almost done, signaling he was nearing his limit.

"Lightning Dash!" He shot forward again, aiming for a direct strike.

Kyle matched the move with his own [Lightning Dash] effortlessly sidestepping Milo's lunge and sweeping a leg out to unbalance him.

Milo had tripped and landed hard on the mat, before he rolled away and scrambled to his feet. But it was clear his strength was waning.

By the time Milo cast his final spell, another [Lightning Bolt] it was more sluggish and the light was dimmer than before.

Kyle countered it easily, his own spell intersected and dissipated Milo's and the air buzzed with the last remnants of energy before the arena charged with tension.

Kyle didn't even need to cast more spells to end this; he had only used seven so far.

But he decided to finish the fight decisively. He stepped forward and his body became a blur as he activated [Lightning Dash] again, appearing right behind Milo.

Before Milo could turn, Kyle placed a hand on his back, not attacking but showing that he had already won.

"It's over," Kyle whispered.

Milo's body tensed, then slumped. He knew it too. His mana reserves were depleted, and even standing was becoming a task.

Instructor Layla's voice cut through the silence.

"The match is over. Kyle wins."

A wave of murmurs swept through the remaining students, a mixture of awe and disbelief. Milo had put up an impressive fight, his resilience undeniable, but Kyle's dominance was clear.

"As usual, they didn't didn't disappoint," one of the students said, showing that they had truly enjoyed the clash.

"I know right. That fight was epic... Electrifying!" another added.

There were similar conversations going on in the classroom about the just concluded duel and all of them shared something in common. It was a good fight.

Meanwhile, admits all these discussions, Milo still had to face Kyle. His shoulders sagged as he turned to face him, his eyes filled with a complex mix of defeat and begrudging respect.

"I'll get stronger," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Kyle to hear.

Kyle nodded, offering a small smile. "I know you will."

Instructor Layla stepped forward, the echoes of the students' chatter dying down as her commanding presence drew all eyes to her.

"Well done, Kyle," she said with respect to Kyle. "You demonstrated control, precision, and strategy. This is what true mastery of lightning looks like—earned through dedication and effort, not just boasts or hollow promises."

Kyle inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the praise but maintaining a humble demeanor. He knew Layla's compliments were hard-won and didn't come lightly.

Turning to Milo, Instructor Layla's tone grew firmer. "Milo, you fought with tenacity, and that is commendable. But remember, raw power is only half the battle. If you wish to surpass others, it will take more than declarations.

Train harder, push beyond your current limits, and learn the discipline that will sharpen your skill."

Milo's jaw tightened, he wasn't happy from her words as forced himself to nod.

He swallowed his frustration and sat back on his mat, seething quietly.

With that, the class resumed. More students stepped forward, the arena becoming a whirlwind of charged mana and determined expressions as duel after duel took place.

The hour flew by in a blur of energy and shouts, the room pulsing with the thrill of competition and the sizzling hum of lightning magic.

Finally, Instructor Layla raised her hand, silencing the last echoes of battle. The room stilled, and the remaining students turned to face her, some still catching their breath while others wore the exhilarated glow of victory.

"Today has shown me much about your readiness," Layla began, her eyes sweeping the room. "You all have potential, but potential alone does not win battles. Remember to refine your techniques, control your mana, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your spells. Only then will you stand as true lightning mages."

The students nodded, absorbing her words.

"Now, return to your mats and cultivate. Dismissal will come soon. Let the mana of this space settle within you and replenish your strength."

Obediently, the students closed their eyes, breathing deeply as they began to draw in the ambient mana, their bodies still thrumming from the exertion of their matches.

The room settled into a peaceful quiet, broken only by the occasional crackle of residual lightning.

Minutes later, the bell rang, a soft chime that signaled the end of the session.