Ignis's sword blazed with fiery mana as it clashed against Evan's blade. Though Evan's weapon was also imbued with mana, it lacked any elemental affinity—his aura was a calm, pale blue, indicating pure, unmodified energy.
Their swords collided with a sharp clang, sparks flying. Evan's strike wasn't meant to harm; he was testing Ignis—to gauge the extent of his strength. At first, Evan only used the power of a 2-Star Knight. To his surprise, Ignis met his blow evenly.
Impressed, Evan continued to fight at the 2-Star level, and the duel intensified. Their blades danced with rising fury, each collision tearing into the earth beneath them, leaving small potholes scattered across the ground.
But soon, the tide began to shift. Evan found himself slowly being pushed back. Despite his controlled power, Ignis's superior swordsmanship was undeniable. Evan wasn't shocked—he had always known that Ignis was the better swordsman. In the past, Ignis simply lacked the mana and physical strength to back his technique. But now, he had both.
Left with no other option, Evan increased his power, channelling the strength of a 3-Star Knight. The moment he did, the balance shifted. Now, it was Ignis who began to struggle.
Ignis refused to be outdone. Without hesitation, he cast a spell.
"First-Tier Fire Magic: Ignite."
Flames erupted on Evan's shoulder, flickering and dancing across his armor. But Evan didn't even flinch. He pressed forward, swinging his sword at Ignis with relentless momentum. Ignis raised his blade just in time to block.
"You know," Evan said mid-attack, "there's a reason why magicians are considered weaker than knights in the early stages."
Their swords clashed again, sparks flashing.
"The spell you just used—Ignite—it's easy for a knight to shrug off. A trained knight can coat their body with mana. That layer is strong enough to resist low-tier spells like yours. It might sting a little, but it won't do much damage in the short term."
He launched another strike, forcing Ignis to step back.
"And that short time is all we need. While a magician is focused—trying to build up their spell, increase its range or power—we're already on top of them. A single attack is enough to break their concentration. And once that happens…"
Evan's eyes locked onto Ignis's, unwavering.
"They lose."
Ignis nodded, acknowledging the point. He understood perfectly. After all, he wasn't just a magician—he was a knight too. And he knew the harsh truth of close-quarter combat between the two classes.
Ignis's eyes narrowed with focus as he activated his next move.
"Draconic Flame Technique — Stage One."
In an instant, the flames around his sword roared to life, flaring with newfound intensity. With a powerful swing, Ignis launched an attack that forced Evan back several steps, his boots skidding across the ground.
The technique had doubled the strength of Ignis's strike—an explosive display of fire and force.
Not wasting the momentum, Ignis followed up with a spell.
"First-Tier Fire Magic: Fire Bullet!"
Multiple fire bullets shot through the air, slamming into Evan's body. Each hit exposed the shimmering layer of mana protecting him—especially around his abdomen and shoulders, where the flames struck repeatedly.
Though the impacts were direct, Evan remained unscathed. His mana shield held firm, absorbing the brunt of the low-tier magic without faltering.
Ignis grimaced. He's not even scratched...
Realizing the spell was ineffective, he vanished in a blur—using Shunpo, a high-speed movement technique, to close the distance in an instant.
In a flash, he reappeared right in front of Evan and unleashed another spell:
"First-Tier Lightning Magic: Static Shock!"
Electricity surged from Ignis's palm, arcing across Evan's entire body. The knight stiffened, his muscles locking up as the lightning paralyzed him for a brief moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Ignis prepared to strike again—flames flaring as he reactivated the Draconic Flame Technique: Stage One.
But at the last possible moment, Evan's body pulsed with renewed power. Tapping into his 3-Star strength, he activated the same technique:
"Draconic Flame Technique — Stage One!"
The force of Evan's counterattack was overwhelming. Ignis was sent flying across the training ground, his body dragging across the dirt before skidding to a stop—just short of slamming into the wall.
Ignis pushed himself to his feet, brushing off the dust. His eyes locked onto Evan, whose sword was now engulfed in fierce, blazing flames. Earlier, it had only been coated in neutral mana—but now that Evan was fully channelling the Draconic Flame Technique, his weapon radiated intense heat, pulsing with fire-elemental energy.
Evan glanced at him and asked, "Can you continue?"
Ignis nodded firmly. "Yes. I still have half of my mana left."
Evan returned the nod but didn't press forward. Instead, the flames around his sword vanished, and the mana dissipated entirely.
"Alright," he said. "Let's end our sparring session here. I've seen enough. Would you like to hear my assessment of your strength?"
Ignis nodded again, more eagerly this time. He was curious to know how Evan viewed his performance.
Evan crossed his arms and spoke with a calm, analytical tone.
"After fighting you, I've come to three conclusions. First—your base attacks, when enhanced with mana, are on par with, and in some cases exceed, those of a typical 2-Star Knight. That's impressive, considering your physical strength and mana levels are both at the 1-Star level."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Second—when you activate the Draconic Flame Technique, your offensive power spikes. In those moments, your strength reaches that of a 3-Star Knight."
Ignis's eyes widened slightly at the confirmation, but he stayed silent.
"And third—you've clearly put in the work with your spellcasting. You've mastered several magic spells, and you integrate them well with your swordplay."
Evan looked him directly in the eye.
"In short: if you combine your swordsmanship with the Draconic Flame Technique effectively, you can defeat most 2-Star Knights. And against a 3-Star Knight—you might not win, but escaping would be well within your abilities."
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