ONLINE: Blades of Eternity - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: THE END OF PRELIMINARIES

“How can someone be so merciless to such a pure soul?”

“Aren’t you guys in the same gender!? Why do you have to be so aggressive!?”

“It seems like that person has an unclean heart to do such a thing”

The spectators in the arena Sofia finds herself in began to bicker as they looked at Sofia coldly. But the Sofia herself didn’t seem to care as she casually and calmly walked off the platform getting lost in her thoughts.

‘Am still not strong enough to face the demons In this tournament’

But while the tournament preliminaries was still raging on, Morris is currently seen on the platform facing Charlotte in the arena he was designated to.

‘I just need one more win and I have cleared the preliminaries’ Morris thought with a determined expression on his face while he stared at Charlotte.

Prior to this time, Morris has lost two battles including his fight with Julian while he has win the rest apart from this one which is his last fight in the preliminaries. So if Morris loses this fight, he will automatically be kicked out of the tournament.

“Your time in this tournament ends here” it seems like Charlotte was closely observing Morris throughout the preliminaries as she suddenly said with an amusing smile on her face.

“That is not for you to decide” Morris suddenly replied as he looked straight into the eyes of Charlotte. But Charlotte was a type of girl who doesn’t back down easily as she said in a confident tone.

“We will see about that”

And so, Morris and Charlotte faced each other on the platform, the tension between them thick as the crowd watched with bated breath. Morris, with his trusty scepter in hand, exuded confidence. His eyes glimmered with determination, knowing he was up against one of the most formidable defensive fighters in the tournament.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was a wall of stoic resolve. Her large, intricately designed shield was almost as tall as she was, yet she wielded it with ease. The ornate patterns etched into the metal seemed to pulse with latent magic, a testament to its power. Her stance was firm, every muscle coiled and ready, her eyes locked onto Morris, analyzing every potential move he might make.

Without waiting for any signal to begin the fight, the battle commenced. Morris started with a barrage of elemental spells, his scepter flaring to life as he unleashed fireballs, bolts of lightning, and gusts of wind. The spells whizzed toward Charlotte with terrifying speed, each one a potential game-ender.

Bam!!

But Charlotte was prepared. With a swift motion, she brought her shield up, and a shimmering barrier of light spread from it, enveloping her in a protective dome. The fireballs exploded harmlessly against it, the lightning dissipated into sparks, and the wind was deflected away. Charlotte remained unshaken, her eyes never leaving Morris.

Realizing brute force wouldn’t crack Charlotte’s defenses, Morris switched tactics. He began weaving complex patterns with his scepter, casting a series of spells designed to weaken her barrier. Tendrils of dark energy snaked across the ground, aiming to drain the magic from Charlotte’s shield. At the same time, Morris sent out a wave of frost, hoping to slow her down.

Charlotte felt the pressure of Morris’s dual assault. The tendrils reached her shield and started to sap its strength, causing the barrier to flicker. Ice began to creep along the edges of the shield, and she felt the chill seeping through. But instead of retreating, Charlotte planted her feet firmly, channeling her mana into the shield to bolster it against Morris’s attacks.

Morris’s eyes narrowed as he saw the shield holding. He could sense the immense amount of mana Charlotte was pouring into her defense. It was impressive, but he knew that if this continued, it would become a battle of endurance—a battle he was confident he could win.

Morris began to ramp up his attacks, sending waves of arcane energy crashing against Charlotte’s shield. The platform beneath them trembled with the force of his spells, the air crackling with raw magical energy. Charlotte gritted her teeth, feeling the strain as she held her ground. Her shield was beginning to show signs of wear, the once-brilliant light starting to dim as Morris’s relentless barrage continued.

But Charlotte wasn’t one to be underestimated. With a battle cry, she pushed forward, her shield leading the charge. She barreled toward Morris, intending to close the distance and break his concentration. Morris was forced to go on the defensive, conjuring barriers of his own to fend off Charlotte’s powerful shield bashes.

Each time Charlotte’s shield struck Morris’s barriers, the force was staggering. Cracks began to form in the magical defenses Morris erected, and he had to pour more and more of his mana into maintaining them. The audience watched in awe as the two competitors traded blows—Morris with his relentless magical assault, and Charlotte with her unyielding shield.

The battle wore on, both fighters showing incredible stamina and willpower. Morris’s forehead was beaded with sweat as he poured more and more mana into his spells. Charlotte’s breathing became labored, but she refused to yield, her shield still firmly held aloft, though it now flickered ominously.

Finally, Morris decided to go all out. He channeled every ounce of his remaining mana into one final spell, a massive surge of arcane energy that crackled with power. The platform shook as he unleashed it, the force of the spell causing a whirlwind of energy to form around him. He aimed it directly at Charlotte, knowing this would either win him the fight or drain him completely.

Bang!!!!

Charlotte saw the attack coming and braced herself. She poured every last drop of her mana into her shield, reinforcing it with all the strength she had left. The massive wave of arcane energy slammed into her shield, and for a moment, it seemed like it might hold.

But Morris’s excessive mana capacity proved too much. The sheer power of his attack began to overwhelm Charlotte’s defenses. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of her shield, and with a final, thunderous crash, the shield shattered, the barrier collapsing in a shower of sparks.

The force of the explosion sent Charlotte flying back across the platform. She landed hard, her shield clattering to the ground beside her, now nothing more than a fractured remnant of its former self. She tried to push herself up, but the battle had drained her completely. She fell back, unable to continue.

Morris, panting and exhausted, stood victorious. His scepter glowed faintly, the last remnants of his mana flickering out. He looked down at Charlotte with a mix of respect and relief. The battle had been hard-fought, but in the end, his excessive mana capacity had carried him through.

“Woah!, this your brother have a really impressive mana capacity” at the edge right on top of the arena, Morris brother and the military prodigy were still there as the military prodigy suddenly exclaimed with a surprised expression on his face.

“Well that’s my brother for you, we don’t call him the Elven Human for no reason” Drake replied with a wry smile on his face.

“Now am tempted to recruit him” The military prodigy suddenly said with an intrigued look on his face. But when Drake heard him, a frown involuntarily appeared on his face but he quickly hid it as he kept his calm.

“Winner in Platform 2: Morris Grey!!” The sly looking middle aged man suddenly exclaimed after glancing at the outcome of the fight between Morris and Charlotte.

‘Yes, I have finally passed through this stage’

As the dust settled on the platform and the echoes of the crowd’s cheers faded, Morris stood panting as he thought, his scepter still faintly glowing from the intense battle. His gaze softened as he looked down at Charlotte, who was slowly sitting up, her shield lying in shattered pieces beside her.

Despite the bruises and the exhaustion that weighed heavily on her, Charlotte managed a small, weary smile. Her eyes, though tired, still held a spark of determination, but it was tinged with the acceptance of her defeat. She pushed herself to her feet, wincing slightly as she did, and took a deep breath before facing Morris.

“You fought well, Morris,” she said, her voice steady but with a hint of resignation. “But this is the end of the road for me in the tournament.”

Morris, still catching his breath, looked at her with a mix of respect and concern. “Charlotte, you were incredible out there. It could have gone either way.”

Charlotte shook her head gently, her smile bittersweet. “No, it was always going to end like this. I knew from the start that your mana capacity was something I couldn’t match, not in the long run. But I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m glad I had the chance to face you.”

Morris stepped forward, offering her a hand. “You gave me the toughest fight I’ve had in this tournament. You should be proud of yourself too.”

Charlotte took his hand, and as Morris helped her stand fully, she glanced down at her broken shield. “I’ve always relied on this, on my defense. But I think… I think it’s time I learn to push beyond my limits in other ways.”

Morris nodded, understanding the deeper meaning behind her words. “You’ve got the strength, Charlotte. With your determination, you’ll find new ways to grow.”

Charlotte squeezed his hand briefly before letting go. “Thank you, Morris. But for now, this is where my journey ends. I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines. Go on and win this thing.”

Morris gave her a firm nod, his respect for her only deepened by her words. “I’ll do my best, for both of us.”

As they walked off the platform together, the crowd’s applause surged once more, a final tribute to the fierce battle they had just witnessed. And right at this moment, the sly looking middle aged man suddenly slammed the pen he was holding onto the clipboard as he exclaimed.

“All battles should seize at this moment, we have reached the end of the preliminaries”