Motivation to grow more! She must become strong!

It should have been an easy victory without a doubt.

Oliver should not have stood a chance against her sister.

To be honest, she was imagining a scenario similar to how Nadia's and Alphonso's match concluded.

A one-sided victory where her sister would easily overpower him in a matter of seconds.

But what happened next was contrary to her expectations. It was a scene that made her doubt herself and her training she had been undergoing so far.

That guy called Oliver was easily able to keep up with her sister's every move!

Not only that, as the fight progressed, she was able to notice how her sister was finding it difficult to even land a single blow on him.

He was able to parry each and every move. It was almost as if he was predicting her mind and technique.

She didn't believe that he had the knowledge of the secret martial arts techniques that they had been using from the Celestial Paradox Clan. That was impossible.

After all, it was one of the heavily guarded secrets of the clan.

So, he was actually able to decipher her moves in that fight alone, in that short period of time.

Although he was dodging or parrying by a hair's breadth, it was extraordinarily impressive to her.

Her sister, whom she could never stop despite knowing about the martial techniques, was being countered by an unknown guy.

She could not even believe it after seeing the fight with her own eyes.

She didn't know when, but her hands subconsciously curled into fists. She was finding it hard to understand.

Secretly, she was hoping that her sister could at least land a single blow on the guy who was so flexible he could dodge everything thrown at him.

She wanted her sister to at least land one attack on him, but why?

Was it because she would feel bad that her sister, who was a genius, was losing to this guy?

Or…

Was it for her own self-assurance?

Was it because she did not want to accept that someone of the same age as her could be on par with her sister while she could not?

Was it to satisfy her pride?

Would she feel that her achievements up to this point in life would not be worth it and she was a frog at the bottom of a well?

She didn't want to accept it, did she? Her ineptitude, that was.

She would feel good if Oliver got defeated easily just like she would when matched against Bella, would she not?

She could lie to herself then, saying, 'Look! Even the heirs from other great clans could not stand up to her sister! How could she, then?'

But as she kept watching the fight go on and on, and seeing the expression of struggle in her sister's eyes and Oliver's calm demeanor as if he was not bothered in the slightest by the fight, something awakened within her.

This guy was strong. Either stronger than her sister or on the same level as her.

She felt a strong surge of emotion at this realization. Biting her lip, she pondered what she had been doing so far.

Why was she not able to stand on equal grounds with her sister? She herself knew best that she did not lack talent, resources, or anything.

Was it because she was slacking off?

If so, then why were her dreams so big?

Did she not want to provide a comfortable life to others? How could she do that if she slacked off? It would be better to not dream this big when she was not able to put in the effort required for it.

She experienced all sorts of emotions in that moment.

Grief, for being like this.

Envy, for Oliver's calmness and strength.

Anger, at herself for being so pitiful to even think about dragging others down instead of moving up herself. For harboring such a toxic mindset.

And… some joy?

Joy? She felt some sort of happiness as well… why? Was it because she realized this when she still had the time to change herself?

She felt a newfound relief. She was relieved that she was able to understand this in time and have the opportunity to further correct herself in the future.

To strive for more in the future, to not think about dragging others down to her level just because she could not reach their level.

She wondered what this guy, who was currently fighting, would have done if he was in her shoes?

Would he have also thought about wanting to put others down to satisfy his ego? Would he have also harbored this toxic mindset like her if he was in her situation? Or would he have never borne such thoughts in the first place?

Maybe he might have gotten more motivated instead of feeling down?

She was curious to know, but alas it was not something that she could know just because she wanted to.

Just a small duel between her sister and this guy from the Mystic Purge Clan was able to leave her with such insights.

Looking at their fight in a new light, she wondered if the reason that this clicked within her was because of Oliver's strength?

Why did she think so?

Maybe it was because no matter how much she desperately wished for him to get hit even once, he did not.

It was as if there was a wide gap between her and his level that could not be breached just because she wished for it to crack.

It was because no matter how much losers try to wish, curse, or hope, a genius would not even notice them and keep reaching higher and higher.

And it would get to the point where the loser would either become numb to the success of the genius, accept the reality, and give up, or become influenced by the genius, trying to follow the same path.

Maybe she did become numb when, despite her hopes, Oliver managed to counter her sister's every move repeatedly.

Her sister was her role model, but despite seeing her struggle, she did not feel as bad as she thought she would before.

Now she felt a surging flame glowing inside her, becoming brighter and brighter.

Unknowingly, Oliver had established a place in her mind, serving as a goal that she must obtain!