Chapter 291: Lessons In The Heat of Battle


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    Axel and Blitz''s auras began to intensify, radiating energy that rippled through the arena. The previously murmuring crowd grew louder as they took notice.


    "What''s happening to them?"


    "Their mana... it''s going wild!"


    L''s wide eyes darted toward Beatrice. "What''s going on with them?"


    Beatrice crossed her arms, a slight smile on their face. "That''s their talent kicking in. Rush."


    L redirected her gaze to Axel and Blitz, her green eyes wide with curiosity. "So... this is Rush," she whispered, watching the siblings as their auras swirled more fiercely.


    Anzo stood at the edge of the arena, his arms crossed, grinning. "Hah! Doesn''t look all that shy to me," he said, though his tone gave away his curiosity.


    Axel wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow, his lips curving into a smirk. His aura glowed with a faint emerald hue, pulses of energy visible with every breath he took. Blitz, beside him, exhaled slowly, her aura shimmering like pink threads woven into the air.


    They locked eyes with Alister, their expressions intense. Axel took a step forward, pointing a broken dagger at him.


    "We don''t know how you''re this strong, especially for a Summoner. But let me tell you something-"


    Blitz interjected, her tone sharp. "Power alone won''t win fights. You''ve got strength, sure, but your movements? Theyck refinement. No skill. No real footwork."


    Axel''s smirk widened as he twirled the hilt of his broken dagger in his hand. "Now, we''ll show you how a true Physical Enhancement Awakened fights."


    BOOM!


    The crowd gasped as the siblingsunched themselves at Alister with explosive speed. Their movements were sharper, faster, and more precise than before.


    Blitz closed in from Alister''s right, aiming a rapid series of strikes with her dagger, while Axel circled to his left, aiming a heavy blow with his elbow.


    Alister''s eyes glinted as he raised his wed hands to intercept their attacks.


    "So..."


    "...it seems my effort paid off."


    The arena echoed with the sh of strikes as Axel and Blitz''s attacks grew fiercer, their teamwork was seamless. Axel feinted to Alister''s left, his aura ring, forcing Alister to shift his guard.


    In that same moment, Blitz darted in low from the right, her dagger shing like a silver streak aimed for Alister''s ribs.


    Alister twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack. His ws crackled with mana as he parried Blitz''s dagger, the sheer force of the sh sending a shockwave through the arena.


    The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, spectators leaning closer to watch the intense disy.


    "Did you see that?!"


    "They''re pushing him back!"


    "Not bad," Alister admitted, a small smile appearing on his face as he deflected Axel''s follow-up strike.


    "Your coordination is far better now... so this is the power of your talent?"


    Axel''s smirk widened as he disengaged and flipped backward,nding nimbly on his feet. "You''ve seen nothing yet."


    Blitzughed, her voice loud with adrenaline. "Hope you can keep up, boss.""


    Both siblings charged again, their auras colliding mid-air like two zingets aimed at Alister.


    Axel went high, his dagger shing downward, while Blitz swept low, her strikes aimed at Alister''s legs.


    Their movements were faster now, each strike aimes to corner their opponent.


    Alister remained calm, his every motion was smooth and seamless. He dodged Axel''s overhead sh by a hair''s breadth, countering with a sharp knee kick that Axel narrowly avoided. Blitz''s sweeping strikes were counted with swift parries from his ws, sparks flying with every collision.


    "Your footwork is better now," Alister said, stepping back to dodge a particrly fiercebination.


    His eyes gleamed with pride, though his tone turned sharper. "But you''re relying too much on speed. What happens when someone outpaces you?"


    "Let''s see you outpace this!" Axel roared, his aura ring even brighter as he lunged with blinding speed.


    Blitz followed instantly, her movements a perfect replica to Axel''s, their synchronized attack creating an almost inescapable pincer.


    The crowd erupted in cheers as it seemed the siblings mightnd a decisive blow.


    Then, in an instant, the tide turned.


    Alister''s mana red... a deep golden light bursting forth as he moved with terrifying precision. His ws caught Axel''s wrist mid-strike, twisting the dagger from his hand in one fluid motion. Before Axel could react, Alister spun, his leg sweeping Blitz''s des away with a sharp kick.


    Blitz gasped as she felt the force of her daggers wrenched from her grip, the weapons spiraling through the air and embedding themselves in the ground several feet away.


    Both siblings staggered backward, their hands empty and chests heaving. Alister stood tall, his aura crackling, the siblings'' disarmed weapons lying on the ground around him. "You''ve done well," Alister said, his tone firm yet approving. He lowered his guard, letting the tension in the air dissipate.


    "Your coordination, your adaptability... It''s impressive. But there''s always room for


    improvement."


    "First both of you will need to gain control of the activation of your talents."


    The training grounds fell silent for a heartbeat before the crowd erupted into thunderous


    apuse, they were amazed.


    "Did you see that?!"


    "He disarmed both of them in one move!"


    "What a monster!"


    "How did he even manage that?"


    "Some of us here wouldn''t be able to pull that off even if we tried!"


    Axel wiped the sweat from his brow, a crooked grin forming on his face. "Damn... guess there''s a reason the guild master picked you to be a team leader."


    "He must have known you were this skilled."


    Blitz huffed, brushing dirt off her pants as she picked up her dagger. "Don''t think this means


    you''ve won, Alister. Next time..."


    Alister smiled faintly. "Next time, huh? I look forward to it."


    L watched in stunned silence, her green eyes wide. "So that''s... the power of a summoner


    like him?"


    Beatrice chuckled softly. "No. That''s Alister."


    Anzo grinned, folding his arms as he leaned against a pir. "Ha! I expected nothing less from


    my rival!"


    Beatrice and L rushed forward, their faces practically glowing with excitement.


    "That was amazing!" L eximed, her green eyes sparkling as she approached Alister.


    "Are we next? Will it be our turn to face you?"


    Beatrice, a yful grin on her face, nudged L gently. "Don''t forget, you''re still learning, L. But I wouldn''t mind taking him on either." She turned to Alister, raising a challenging eyebrow. "Think you can handle my precision?"


    Before Alister could respond, Anzo strode forward, an eager grin on his face. "Forget that! I want another round!" he said, pping a hand against his broad chest. "We''ll make it more


    intense this time. No holding back!"


    Alister raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Didn''t get enough the first time, Anzo?"


    "Not even close," Anzo replied with a boomingugh. "Next time, I''m taking you down!"


    Alister chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We''ll see."


    Meanwhile,


    Watching that little banter with a smile, Ren stood at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed as


    he observed. His sharp mind recalled every detail... Alister''s fluid movements, his ability to anticipate and counter with precision, and the effortless way hemanded the attention of everyone present. A small, rare smile appeared on Ren''s lips.


    "Impressive," he muttered softly, turning away before anyone noticed him.


    He slipped silently through the dispersing crowd, his expression unreadable.


    Inwardly, though, he acknowledged the truth:


    ''You always tend to surpass expectations... Alister. I now know why the Guildmaster favours


    you so much.''


    He momentarily nced back as he spoke softly. "I''m sure you''ll continue to make all of us


    proud."


    With that he turned away and left fully.


    Back with Alister and his team mates, before the conversation could continue, a soft voice


    echoed.


    "You were absolutely stunning, my lord," Cinder said.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She walked gracefully onto the stage, her expressionposed as she handed Alister his


    coat.


    Alister turned to her, surprised by thepliment. His gaze softened as he noticed the small smile on her lips. He felt a faint warmth creep up his neck, a rare blush appearing on his


    cheeks.


    "Thanks, Cinder," he said, a small, appreciative smile forming on his face. He slipped his coat


    on, his confident look returning. "I''m d you think so."


    Cinder tilted her head left slightly, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "I don''t just


    think so, my lord. I know so."


    The brief exchange didn''t go unnoticed.


    "Whoa, boss is blushing!" Axel teased from the sidelines, causing Blitz to smirk.


    "Guess even boss has a weakness," Blitz quipped, mischievously.


    Alister sighed, running a hand through his hair as the faint blush lingered. He gave Cinder a


    grateful nod before turning back to the others.


    "Alright," he said, his tone authoritative but light. "If you''re all so eager, let''s save that


    energy for tomorrow''s training. You''ll need it."


    The group groaned collectively but couldn''t hide their grins. The crowd began to disperse, still buzzing with chatter about Alister''s performance.


    Yet, in the back of everyone''s minds, one thought was clear: Alister''s strength wasn''t just physical... it was the powerful presence of someone who inspired respect, and awe.


    As the lively atmosphere began to settle, Alister felt a faint vibration in his chest pocket. His


    brow furrowed slightly, and he reached in, pulling out a sleek ck cube. With a quick tap, the cube unfolded and shifted, revealing a high-tech phone. The screen lit up, disying an iing call from an unknown number.


    Alister narrowed his gaze, his instincts on high alert.


    Before he could answer, he felt a gentle tug at his sleeve. He looked down to see L, her


    green eyes wide with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.


    "You can''t be tired already, Alister," she said softly, though her voice carried a yful edge.


    "I haven''t even had my turn yet! I was hoping you could help me learn a trick or two." Alister blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her earnestness. He managed a forced smile, trying not to let the ringing phone distract him.


    "Not now, L," he said.


    He held up the phone, showing her the screen. "I have to take this."


    L''s expression calmed down for a moment before she quickly masked it with an awkward


    smile. "Oh... okay. I understand." She stepped back, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "Maybeter, then?"


    Alister nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Yeah,ter."


    As L stepped away, he turned his attention back to the phone. Pressing the screen, he


    answered the call.


    "This is Alister," he said.


    The line crackled for a moment before a familiar voice responded.


    "I want to have an after spar, to let loose a little, let''s meet up." The call was from none other than Guildmaster Anya of the Berserkers.