Extra's Ascent

"Mastering Spatial Art to complement his use of the bow and heavily reliant on his Clover Eyes to compensate for his lack of combat experience."

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

One glance was all Callum needed to grasp what was unfolding on the stage.

"Impressive," he admitted. "But we both know the second-year hasn't been taking this seriously with the Aldaman kid."

Mary, too, was reading the atmosphere, keenly observing the clash of techniques and the interplay of tactics between the two fighters. From the rhythm of their movements alone, she could instantly tell how much Kyle was holding back.

Or rather, it wasn't even a matter of restraint. Kyle simply didn't see the need to go all out. He believed he could end the fight without revealing his full strength.

"Even so, the Aldaman still managed to graze him. That should count for something," Callum pointed out.

Though he knew the vast gulf in ability between them, he couldn't help but acknowledge Aldrich's resilience. Holding his own even against a Kyle who wasn't giving his all was a feat in itself.

Mary, however, saw things differently. "Now that the second year has figured it out, things will change. The Aldaman kid won't stand a chance."

Callum smirked. "Well, my dear Mary… that remains to be seen."

---

A Fighter's Revelation

"I see it now," Kyle murmured, his right hand brushing his cheek, smearing away the trickle of blood from a shallow wound.

"Instant Exchange… was it?" He mused aloud, trying to recall if he had the name of the technique correctly.

A technique under Spatial Art. One that allowed the user to swap places with any object infused with their mana without limit, except for the constraints of their reserves.

It had taken Kyle a moment to pinpoint, not because he was slow, but because Aldrich had been employing it with remarkable subtlety. His exchanges were seamless, using arrows as a medium to teleport, slipping in and out of positions without drawing attention.

'Tch! He figured it out faster than I expected,' Aldrich thought grimly.

Losing his trump card before it could land a decisive blow, it was a failure on his part. A testament to Kyle's experience in Spatial Art.

"I have to give you credit," Kyle admitted. "Not many would think to use Spatial Art that way, and even fewer could learn it in just two weeks."

For a moment, a flicker of acknowledgement crossed his face. Even mastering a single technique in such a short time was impressive.

"But now that I know what it is… countering won't be an issue."

Aldrich tensed.

For someone like Kyle, whose expertise lay in Spatial Art, this was the worst possible matchup.

"No." Kyle's voice hardened. "You need more than just countering."

He reached for the sword at his waist, gripping the middle of the sheath as he raised it, making sure all could see.

"I need to utterly crush you. To show you the overwhelming gap between us." His eyes locked onto Aldrich with a chilling finality. "To make you understand how much of a disgrace you are to the Aldaman name."

Aldrich stiffened, unable to comprehend the depths of Kyle's hostility.

What was driving him to such lengths?

His allegiance to Dwayne Aldaman? The one seeking to restore the clan's lost glory?

Was his devotion so absolute that he refused to tolerate any member of the Aldaman clan who couldn't keep pace with Dwayne's vision?

Aldrich found himself the target of that judgment.

Kyle's grip on the handle tightened as he unsheathed the blade, revealing a pristine weapon, its polished steel reflecting the stage lights.

The sheath dropped to the ground.

With the sword raised, its tip aimed toward the sky, Kyle's entire presence shifted.

The temperature around him plummeted. A suffocating pressure filled the space.

Aldrich's instincts screamed in warning.

---

The Weight of Power

"Oh," Callum murmured, intrigued.

"Well," Mary sighed, already rising to her feet. "Guess it was fun while it lasted."

"You're leaving? When the real show is just beginning?" Callum asked, eyes still locked onto the stage.

She gave him a look, exasperation laced in her tone. "I only came because you insisted we check if something was out of place. Now we know, Dwayne Aldaman's reasons for taking on this fight are exactly what he claimed. There's no hidden motive."

She expected Callum to agree.

However—

"Hm?" He smirked. "Is that so? Suit yourself."

His gaze never wavered. He didn't follow, instead chose to remain where he was, eyes on the duel that had staggered from lack of motion from the two participants.

Mary hesitated.

What is he doing?...

Then, with a sigh of defeat, she sat back down.

'What exactly is it? What is he seeing that I'm not?'

Her curiosity compelled her to stay. She wants to know what he sees, what she isn't seeing.

---

A Shift in the Battle

Aldrich clenched his fists.

'He's taking this seriously now.'

Kyle's stance, his control over space, it all exuded absolute dominance.

'I need to be careful,' Aldrich thought.

A plan was already forming in his mind.

If he could just gain some distance, then—

Uhk!

A sudden, sharp pressure sent a jolt through his body.

Kyle had swung his sword.

The movement was deceptively simple, a clean horizontal arc.

But something was wrong.

The blade never touched him directly.

Yet—

Schrrk!

A thin, screeching sound tore through the air.

What was heard was only the sound of a metal scraping his skin, trying to get past the last layer of his mana skin.

A slow realization crept over him.

The strike hadn't travelled through the air.

It had skipped through space.

Kyle had sliced through the void itself, bypassing distance entirely. The attack had landed the moment the swing was completed.

Aldrich's mind reeled.

'How…?'

The implications were staggering.

Kyle wasn't just skilled in Spatial Art.

He had mastered it to the point where even his attacks defied conventional reach.

And now, he was using that mastery to completely erase the gap between them.

Aldrich grit his teeth.

This fight was about to take a dangerous turn.