Mark's Turn

After a while, the first eight matches were all concluded, and once more the next students were randomly chosen to fight.

Mark was one of the people called to fight. He jumped down in the arena along with his weapon of choice, a scimitar. He slashed the air a few times, practicing his swordsmanship over the blade before reaching the middle of the arena where the fight will start.

He wasn't as afraid anymore, the first fights were an eye-opener to him. He thought that all of the opponents would be tough and that each would have a certain mastery over the basic breathing technique. He didn't know that in order to be granted the basic breathing technique he would have to be recognized by one of the practical hour teachers. After all, it was Max that shared his technique with him, he wasn't granted a book of his own.

He began using his breathing technique, circulating his magic particles around his body. He felt strengthened and along this strength even more confidence invaded his mind.

As he used his breathing technique, the change in aura was felt by his opponent. She was a good-looking girl, slender body, beautiful face, but Mark didn't care about that. She was his enemy, the one that will limit his future if he doesn't defeat.

The girl was equipped with a set of iron armor and her weapon was from the looks of it a silver longsword. She was tensed up, in fact, she was frightened but didn't back down. It was more likely that she couldn't, knowing that backing out would disadvantage her greatly in the future.

"Start!" Phil's voice resounded in their minds.

Mark rushed in, he was able to see the fact that the girl was afraid and would be hesitating. He wanted to finish his battle fast, just like Max. He reached her in just a few seconds and swung his scimitar towards her and the sound of metal clashing was heard.

'She was able to block it?!' Mark thought, looking at his opponent. His scimitar stopped moving right as it touched her blade. A strong vibration traveled through the weapon and into his arm, his hands stung with pain but he didn't let go of his weapon as that would mean giving his opponent an easy win.

He backed down while gritting his teeth, he couldn't feel his arms anymore.

The girl opened her eyes, when Mark slashed towards her, placing her weapon ready to intercept his blade, she closed her eyes out of fear. She looked at Mark that just backed down, the gritting teeth he was showing through his opened lips revealed what he was feeling, and that was pain.

She ran forward, closing the distance between Mark and herself. Mark looked at her dazed, she wasn't scared anymore and her eyes were fully concentrated on him. He maintained his breath and began helping her close the distance between them.

She swung her sword towards Mark and he dodged, closing on her a bit more. His scimitar's blade was shorter than her's, maintaining too much distance between them will be disadvantageous for him.

He was within blade's length of her when once again she slashed her sword towards him but this time he blocked it. Another clashing sound was heard and the wave of power traveling through Mark's weapon was felt once again but his blade didn't falter. They stalemated, neither of them wanted to retreat.

"You are extremely strong," Mark said through gripping teeth, his eyes looking as ones of a mad man's. Veins of his eye popped, shading his right eye in crimson color.

"You are also strong" She muttered but just then Mark smiled.

'She fell for it.' With that thought, Mark kicked the ground underneath him with force and a pillar of earth rose in front of where his foot was, going towards her stomach.

Concentrating her vision on Mark's hands and face she wasn't able to respond on time, she was flung away after the pilar hit her right in the stomach. Spit flew out of her mouth as the astonishing pain flooded her mind.

She wanted to scream in pain but couldn't, she wanted to curl up, do something to ease her pain but wasn't able to now. She bared the pain alongside the thoughts of giving up.

Her eyes were teary and her cheeks became rosy, grunting she was able to get back up. This was Mark's last glimpse of her. He swung his now-free hand and a clump of earth followed the direction he swung at, hitting her once again in the stomach and flinging her away.

She didn't get back up after that, the pain overwhelmed her senses, and finally passed out. Mark dropped his weapon after a few more seconds of watching her on the ground. He kneeled right after, looking at his shaking hands that induced pain into his mind.

'I did it,' The thought of victory occurred in his mind. "I did it!" He shouted, feeling the adrenaline boil the blood in his veins. He was sure that he wouldn't have been able to battle for more time, the pain in his hands made it impossible for him to concentrate his breathing anymore, if they were going to clash one again he was sure that he wouldn't be able to block attacks again.

Mark looked forward, recalling the impossible strength that his opponent possessed.

"Mark Howard defeated Syrah Byron in the third arena, congratulations!" The sound of Phil was heard once again, alerting him that he had won. Along with it, the stairs that led out appeared from the walls of the arena.

People wearing black clothing once again took the defeated, unconscious person away. They left but Mark was still standing there, kneeling on the ground, looking towards his hands that were resting on his calves.

"Please evacuate the arena Mr. Mark" Phil said once again while looking down the arena towards Mark.

"Mark?" After a few seconds he asked again but there was no response, not even a physical one. He nodded towards one of the individuals wearing black and he soon got to work, jumping in the arena and going towards Mark.

"Hey kid, are you alright?" The man asked while nearing Mark but there was also no response. He kneeled, checking his condition and noticed that Mark's eyes were closed. Mark fainted from the continuous pain that was felt throughout his body.