Ch. 15 Clash of Paths

Alex leaned forward in his seat, his eyes fixed on the arena below. The view from the private room was perfect, offering an unobstructed vantage point of the glowing battlefield. Mana lamps suspended high above cast a shimmering light on the circular arena, the obsidian floor gleaming like glass.

Alfred broke the silence, his voice calm yet instructive. "This is the tenth floor. Advancement floors mark the peak of each set, where only the best fighters of the lower ranks compete. The battles here determine whether a fighter is ready to move to the next level."

"Peak F rank fighters, huh?" Alex murmured, his excitement growing. "So, what kind of fights can I expect?"

"Expect to see techniques honed to near perfection for their stage," Alfred replied.

"And pay attention. There's more to learn here than just brute force."

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, "The first match! A battle between two peak F-rank mages! Begin!"

Two combatants stepped into the ring, each exuding a visible aura of mana. One was a young woman with fiery red hair, wielding a staff engraved with flame-like patterns. Her opponent, a tall man with a gaunt face, carried a wand that pulsed with icy blue energy.

The woman moved first, raising her staff as fire erupted around her. She swung it forward, launching a barrage of fireballs toward her opponent. The man countered by conjuring an ice wall that rose swiftly, the flames colliding with a hiss of steam. Without missing a beat, he retaliated with sharp icicles that flew like arrows toward the woman.

"Classic elemental mages," Alfred commented. "Fire and ice often clash, each seeking to overwhelm the other."

Alex watched as the fire mage dodged the icicles with surprising agility, her staff weaving intricate patterns in the air. A roaring wave of flame surged from her position, engulfing the ice wall and forcing the ice mage to retreat.

"She's good at keeping the pressure on," Alex said.

Alfred nodded. "Her style relies on maintaining an offensive. If her opponent can't counter quickly, he'll be overwhelmed."

The ice mage wasn't deterred. He planted his wand into the ground, causing frost to spread rapidly across the arena floor. The fire mage's movements slowed as the frost encroached, her footing precarious on the slippery surface.

"Clever," Alfred noted. "He's controlling the terrain. This is a hallmark of experienced mages—using the battlefield to their advantage."

The fire mage slammed her staff into the ground, creating a burst of heat that melted the frost around her. But the ice mage capitalized on her momentary distraction, casting a spell that formed a massive spear of ice, which he hurled toward her.

With a swift motion, the fire mage raised her staff, summoning a blazing shield that shattered the spear mid-flight. She counterattacked with a swirling vortex of flame, forcing the ice mage to his knees as he struggled to maintain a barrier of ice.

"Notice their spells," Alfred said. "They're using F-rank spells, but you'll occasionally see unique techniques. Some fighters can cast higher-tier spells if they've expanded their mana pools with advanced cultivation techniques."

The fight ended when the fire mage unleashed a concentrated beam of fire, piercing through the ice mage's defenses and sending him sprawling. The crowd erupted into cheers as the announcer declared her the winner.

Alex leaned back, processing what he'd seen. "That was intense. The way they used their spells—it was like watching a chess match with fire and ice."

"Exactly," Alfred replied. "Mages rely on strategy as much as power. A well-timed spell can turn the tide of any battle."

The second match began shortly after, with a swordsman and a spearman entering the arena. The swordsman was a wiry man wielding a longsword with precision, while the spearman, a broad-shouldered woman, carried a gleaming spear that seemed almost too large for her frame.

As the fight began, the spearman struck first, her spear thrusting forward in a blur. The swordsman parried with his blade, the clash of metal ringing through the arena. He darted to the side, trying to close the distance, but the spearman's reach kept him at bay.

"She's using the spear's range to her advantage," Alfred explained. "Spears are ideal for keeping opponents at a distance, but they require strong control to avoid being outmaneuvered."

The swordsman changed tactics, feinting to the left before rolling to the right. He managed to slip past the spear's arc, delivering a shallow cut to the spearman's arm. She retaliated with a sweeping strike, forcing him to leap back to avoid being skewered.

"They're both quick," Alex observed, his eyes darting between their movements.

"Speed is critical for body path cultivators," Alfred said. "Every strike and dodge is a test of reflexes and precision."

The fight reached its climax when the swordsman executed a daring maneuver, leaping over the spear's sweep and bringing his blade down in a powerful arc. The spearman raised her weapon to block, but the force of the strike sent her sprawling. With a swift movement, the swordsman placed his blade at her throat, ending the match.

The final match was announced as a mixed battle between a mage and a swordsman. The mage, a young man clad in robes, carried an ornate staff, while the swordsman, a towering figure, wielded a massive broadsword.

The mage opened with a spell, summoning shards of earth that shot toward the swordsman. The swordsman dodged with surprising agility for his size, closing the distance with alarming speed.

"This is where paths clash," Alfred said. "The mage must keep his distance to cast effectively, while the swordsman excels in close combat."

The mage conjured a barrier of stone, but the swordsman shattered it with a powerful swing of his blade. The mage retaliated with a blast of wind that sent the swordsman skidding back, buying him time to cast another spell.

"Mages are versatile," Alfred continued, "but they're vulnerable in close quarters. Swordsmen, on the other hand, lack the range but dominate up close."

The swordsman pushed forward relentlessly, his blade moving in wide arcs that kept the mage on the defensive. Despite his best efforts, the mage couldn't maintain the distance he needed, and a well-placed strike from the swordsman sent him sprawling. The match ended as the swordsman raised his blade in triumph.

As the crowd roared, Alfred turned to Alex. "That's enough for today. Once you reach F rank, you'll begin training in the Tower to gain real combat experience."

Alex's eyes lit up with determination. "I'll make it to F rank as fast as I can."

[You'll have some help with that,] Nova chimed in. [New side quest: Reach F rank and the tenth floor of the Obsidian Tower. Good luck, Host.]