Capture the Flag II

|Professor Glory|

My mind was overwhelmed with a single thought as I watched the battle between Arthur, Alistair, and Gary unfold - monsters.

Each of them displayed a level of skill and power that surpassed my own by an unfathomable margin.

Arthur and Gary, in particular, displayed a level of swordsmanship that was beyond their years. Their movements were fluid and precise, honed through countless battles that they couldn't possibly have fought yet.

As a seasoned adventurer and professor, I had seen my fair share of talented individuals. But these three were something else entirely, a breed of geniuses that would likely not come for a thousand years.

As one would expect, their mastery over mana was impeccable. The various particles of mana naturally gravitated and danced around them, perfectly in harmony with their movements.

Despite my fascination with the display of skill by the three of them, my attention couldn't help but be diverted to the other five participants.

In perfect harmony, Kathlyn and Rachel synchronised their water and ice magic, complementing each other's abilities as they defended against the onslaught of attacks from the three conjurers.

Despite their impressive display of prowess, it was inevitable that they would eventually succumb to the pressure.

Lucas had surpassed my expectations, exhibiting a remarkable mastery of domain spells at such a young age.

However, his Inferno's Cage paled in comparison to Rachel's domain spell, Sea Serpent's Realm, which was vastly superior and nearly negated the effects of Lucas's spell altogether.

The other two combatants were the princesses, who, though not quite as skilled in mana control and manipulation as the other Paladins, more than compensated with their exceptional technique and proficiency, particularly Kathlyn.

Watching her wield her bow with the ease and grace of a seasoned warrior, I couldn't help but be reminded of Gary's mastery over his uniquely curved sword - both seemed to have a natural affinity with their chosen weapons, as though they were extensions of their own bodies.

Then there was also Lancelot, a force to be reckoned with in his own right.

He exerted extraordinary control over the wind mana in the air, bending it to his will and integrating its various components into his attacks, rendering them even more devastating.

Air manipulation was a highly specialised subset of elemental magic, akin to the rare and elusive blue flames. It required an exceptional level of proficiency and sensitivity to break down and manipulate the various components of wind magic separately.

Yet, Lancelot performed these feats with an effortless ease that belied the true difficulty of his accomplishments. Although he had the assistance of a wind spirit, his mastery of air manipulation was still a truly remarkable achievement that could not be underestimated in any way.

It was clear to me that the uniforms of both Rachel and Kathyln were beginning to show signs of wear and tear, a testament to the intensity of the battle they were engaged in.

Despite this, I couldn't help but be awestruck by their tenacity and resilience, as they continued to hold their own against the combined onslaught of three powerful conjurers.

It was a truly incredible feat that they had managed to hold out for this long, a testament to their unwavering determination and exceptional skill in combat. Yet, even the most skilled warriors have their limits, and it seemed that Rachel and Kathyln were quickly approaching theirs.

|Alistair|

As our opponent swung his sword, his piercing purple eyes glinted with a dangerous intensity. The arc of his midnight-dark blade left only one thought in my mind - beauty.

There was no other word to describe the artistry with which he wielded his weapon. Each movement was perfectly fluid, each attack executed with a deadly precision that left us reeling.

However, as we continued to exchange blows, it became increasingly clear that his skill was more than just beautiful - it was deadly.

The power and speed of his attacks seemed to compound with each subsequent strike, increasing in strength with every swing of his sword.

At first, the rush of adrenaline masked this fact, but as the battle wore on, it became painfully obvious. Each of his attacks sent our swords flying, and it was only through sheer luck and his momentary slowing down that we managed to stay in the fight at all.

Arthur was once again beginning to falter, the weight of the immense power he was wielding taking a toll on his body after such a prolonged period of exertion.

But I refused to let the battle end just yet.

If even Arthur and I, two skilled warriors, couldn't overcome Gary in a 2v1 battle, then the gap between us was simply too wide.

With a steely determination, I cleared my mind of all distractions and focused solely on the task at hand - defeating Gary. Every fibre of my being was devoted to analysing his every move, anticipating his attacks, and finding any weaknesses in his defence.

|Arthur|

Despite the growing exhaustion that weighed heavily on my body, I refused to give in to my weariness, pushing myself to my limits and beyond. Each strike of my sword felt like it could be my last, yet I was driven by a fierce determination to succeed.

As I battled on, I began to sense something shifting within our ranks. Alistair suddenly stepped forward and took the lead.

His silver and emerald swords glowed with an intense light as he swung them with a precision I didn't think he was capable of, managing to push Gary back ever so slightly.

I was taken aback by this sudden display of skill and power from Alistair, but I knew better than to let my guard down.

As the battle raged on, my exhaustion finally caught up with me, and I was forced to exit the fight, collapsing onto the ground and deactivating my Realmheart.

As I lay there, gasping for breath, I couldn't help but wonder if what I was witnessing was the elusive state of Enlightenment - a transcendent state of mind and body where one is able to tap into their full potential and achieve greatness.

Could it be that Alistair was finally achieving his own Enlightenment, slowly closing the gap between himself and Gary? Only time would tell, but for now, I focused on catching my breath and preparing for whatever lay ahead.

|Glory|

"Torch, descend a bit lower!" I commanded my bond as he obediently angled his massive wings to keep us level.

I channelled mana to my eyes, carefully observing the movements of Alistair and Gary before taking in a deep breath.

"Enlightenment at the age of twelve?" I chuckled to myself, finding the idea almost comical.

Enlightenment was a near-mythical state of mind and body that only a select few were said to achieve. It was a moment of realization, when a martial genius fully understood their fighting style and their mana abilities, allowing them to make massive leaps in their skills.

It was rare to witness someone going through enlightenment and even rarer to experience it oneself. But now, I was one of the few people on the continent who could say enlightenment was a possibility and not just a legend.

|Alistair|

As I engaged in the exchange with Gary, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

It was as if we were speaking a language that only we could understand, the clash of our swords creating a beautiful melody.

My movements were no longer clunky, but smooth and precise. Every strike landed exactly where I intended it to.

It was as if I had unlocked a hidden potential within myself, something that had been dormant all along.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. If only I had realised this earlier, then perhaps the outcome of this battle would have been different.

But there was no time for regrets. I had to focus on the present, on defeating Gary.

As our swords clashed for the final time, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Even if I lost, I experienced something truly special.

|Gary|

The Professor declared the end of the battle, and I pulled out my sword, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

'As expected, none of the sword styles other than Dover Style feel complete,' I mused to myself, acknowledging the superiority of my own swordsmanship.

Alistair lay sprawled on the ground, drained from battling Levisha Style for so long. Despite his exhaustion, he had put up a good fight.

"Arthur Leywin, it was a good match," I said, offering him a smile as he gathered Alistair and took him for medical attention.

Returning the smile, Arthur replied, "Thank you for reminding me of the difference between our swordsmanship, Gary," before removing his armour.

'We still have a long way to go,' I acknowledged silently as I followed suit.

______________________________

|Kathyln|

As Professor Glory announced our defeat and the destruction of our team's flag by Lancelot, I couldn't help but feel bitter. Our plan had failed, thanks to Gary's overwhelming strength.

He managed to take on Arthur and Alistair at the same time, even defeating Alistair while the other members of his team attacked Rachel and me. It was a one-sided defeat, a complete humiliation.

Determination fired inside me as I clenched my fist, vowing to catch up to Gary soon enough. He may have been stronger for now, but I refused to let him stay that way forever.