Hell's Jaw IV

|Alistair|

"Great job, everyone!" the voice announced. "Now that all of you except Gary are here, I will grant you the honor of witnessing his battle against his chosen opponent."

Excitement and anticipation filled the air as the seven of us gathered around the screens to watch Gary's battle. We were all eager to see what surprises he had in store for us this time.

As the screen flickered to life, I was greeted by the intense battle between Gary and his enigmatic golden-haired opponent, Alexis. Even through the display artifact's screen, it was clear that the adversary possessed a strength far beyond my own, and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of worry for my friend.

Alexis introduced himself with an air of confidence before the battle commenced. A strange golden aura enveloped him, and I couldn't quite decipher its meaning through the distorted transmission.

Pushing aside my curiosity, I focused on the fight, transfixed as the two swordsmen engaged in a dance of blades. They began with the basics of swordsmanship, showcasing their skill without resorting to advanced techniques just yet.

The two of them were completely equal in this measure, but the execution of their basics was far beyond my own. It was mesmerizing to watch as they clashed their swords, moving with such fluidity that it seemed as if they were dancing.

Their swords clashed with a loud metallic sound, causing them to create some distance between each other.

"Incredible," Alexis remarked, "Your mastery of basic swordsmanship is on par with mine."

"I could say the same about you, Alexis," Gary replied.

Their mutual respect for each other's skills was palpable, even through the artifact's display. But Alexis wasn't content with just exchanging basic techniques. He took an unfamiliar stance, and a strange golden aura started emanating from him.

"Shall we increase the difficulty then?" he asked.

Gary nodded, his own aura starting to flare up in response.

Both of their bodies vanished in a blur as they accelerated to their peak speed. My eyes managed to keep up with their movements as their swords clashed with a deafening clang. However, Alexis managed to get the upper hand in the exchange and delivered a slight injury to Gary.

"He was able to land a hit on him even at that speed?" Arthur muttered in disbelief.

I had to concur with him; their speed was so rapid that even though I was able to track their movements with my eyes, I knew I could never land a hit on them.

As Gary healed himself using vivum, Alexis wasted no time in closing in on him. Gary barely managed to avoid the attack by teleporting using spatium.

"His reflexes are lightning-fast," commented the Professor, "And what kind of beast is that he's using for healing and teleportation? I've heard of healing beasts, but never ones that can teleport."

Arthur and I remained silent to his query, not wanting to give up any information about aether.

Alexis's golden aura intensified, taking on a powerful glow that left everyone breathless.

"What is that aura?" Rachel exclaimed.

The others shook their heads, equally clueless. Alexis turned to Gary, who was looking at him with a curious expression.

"Curious about this aura? It's the physical manifestation of aether and mana working together, instead of separately like yours."

"Aether?" Tessia asked, tilting her head curiously. "What is that?"

"I'm not sure either," I said, hoping to deflect any suspicion away from Gary's true abilities. "But it might have something to do with Gary's beast will."

Arthur nodded in agreement, catching on to my attempt to cover up for Gary. "Yes, some beasts are known to have unique powers that may be related to this aether. Perhaps Gary's beast will is one of them."

All eyes were glued to the battle as Gary and Alexis clashed once more. Gary's Dover style, considered his best swordsmanship technique, was on full display, and the intensity of the fight increased exponentially.

To our surprise, Alexis's swordsmanship was on par with Gary's, matching his every move with perfect form and fluidity.

Arthur and I leaned in closer, trying to analyse their movements and gain insight into their techniques. The thrill of watching two skilled swordsmen battle it out was palpable, and we were all on the edge of our seats.

Despite being equal in skill, the difference in raw power was too great, and Alexis was gradually overpowering Gary. With each passing moment, Alexis released more and more of his power, suppressing Gary with his overwhelming strength.

The force of Alexis's blow sent Gary tumbling to the ground, clutching his chest where he had been struck. Even from a distance, we could see the shock and pain etched on his face. Alexis's aura had intensified, overwhelming Gary with its power.

"You were strong, Gary Whiteborn," Alexis said with a note of finality in his voice. "However, I am stronger."

We all thought the battle was over. Shock was written on everyone's face, as the strongest among us had been defeated so easily.

"We have a long way to go," Lancelot muttered, voicing the thoughts of all of us.

However, Gary had other plans. "I'm not so sure about that," he called out, as Alexis turned to leave.

Alexis paused, his back to Gary as he listened.

"Because I finally feel like I can go all out."

These words sent chills down our spines.

Everyone was stunned as Gary's words sunk in. Had he really been holding back during the tournament, and if so, to what extent? Was he really capable of beating Alexis, the opponent who had just soundly defeated him?

"No way, right?" Rachel stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "There's no way Gary still has another card up his sleeve."

The Professor couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Hahaha! That monster really has even more to show us!"

Arthur and I exchanged glances, both of us feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. What could Gary possibly have in store for us? Whatever it was, we knew it was going to be nothing short of extraordinary.

And then, the world itself seemed to stop as Gary unleashed a power from deep inside him. Suddenly, his grey hair turned a stark white, and his amethyst eyes transformed into a piercing blue. He exhaled, and with his breath came a sudden drop in temperature throughout the cavern.

"Is that... ice magic?" Kathlyn gasped, her eyes wide with amazement. "And such overwhelming power!"

As we watched Gary's display of magic, we all nodded in awe, fully absorbed by the sheer amount of power he was showcasing. His mastery of ice magic was on a whole other level, surpassing even his lightning and wind elements that we thought were his strongest.

As he continued to channel his magic, the ice began to transform into frost flames, infused with the power of vivum, enveloping his body in a crystal-like armour. Even his dark blade began to change, turning into a brilliant white colour from the infusion of his magic.

The fusion of ice magic and aether caused Gary's aura to transform into a brilliant cyan, its hues dancing together in a mesmerizing display. Though it lacked the same harmonious flow as Alexis's aura, it was still a sight to behold.

Alexis's lips moved, but the words were muted by an unseen force, only adding to the suspense of the moment.

"Come at me with everything you've got, Gary!" Alexis bellowed, his aura intensifying with unwavering determination.

The two combatants charged towards each other, their auras colliding with a ferocity that was palpable. The clash of their powers marked the beginning of an epic battle, one that would leave a lasting impact on all of us.

The intensity of the battle showed no signs of slowing down. Gary's lack of endurance was beginning to show, and it was clear that he was going to lose the battle if it continued at this pace.

Their auras clashed once again, creating a deafening sound as their swords met in a flurry of blows. As they stepped back, Gary's right hand was visibly shaking from the force of blocking Alexis's attacks, while Alexis's left hand was visibly damaged from Gary's ice magic.

Alexis broke the silence with a sudden statement, "We both know that we can't let this battle drag on any longer. I'll finish this now."

As the display artifact projected their battle, I could feel the aura of danger emanating from the intense explosion of power. It reminded me of the aura that had been present when my mother was killed, Alexis's power equalling his.

"This is the level you must surpass, Gary," Alexis said as he confidently strode towards him.

With a determined look on his face, Gary gritted his teeth and raised his aura to its maximum, channeling all his strength and magic into one last strike. His body was enveloped in ice magic, and the power of aether amplified it to a terrifying level.

[Fourth movement of the Frost Keiki Style: Glacial World Splitter]

With my visual acuity at its absolute maximum, I tried to keep up with Gary's swift and powerful movements. He was utilizing his ice magic in two different ways, one was in the form of frost flames coating his sword, and the other was the use of icicles to aid in the splitting of space.

It was a move that was hard to grasp, but it was undoubtedly stronger than the non-ice variant by a significant amount.

However, Alexis simply smirked before putting his golden sword in front of him, imbuing it with a large amount of mana and aether. He didn't bother with any fancy sword movements; he just brute-forced his way through Gary's attack.

The difference in power was so vast that even Gary's best efforts were stopped by Alexis with ease.

The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the arena as Alexis's golden sword clashed with Gary's icy blue blade. Gary had put everything he had into that last attack, but it seemed to have no effect on Alexis.

The clash of their swords continued for a few moments before Alexis overpowered Gary and sent him flying backward. The force of the blow shattered Gary's crystal armour, leaving him defenceless. The battle was over.

Everyone was left speechless at what happened.

|Vicht|

As I sat in my room, my hair falling around my face, Alexis appeared before me, having teleported there. "Mother," he said, addressing me respectfully.

I smiled at him and asked, "How was the battle?"

"I have to admit, I was mistaken about Gary," he replied, bowing in apology. "He was far more special than I thought."

Relieved that my son finally acknowledged Gary's abilities, I asked, "So you will follow what I say?"

"However," Alexis continued, "I refuse to concede the seat of the continent's hero until Gary surpasses me. I will not play second fiddle to him."

He then left the room without another word, leaving me feeling disappointed. I couldn't help but feel that my own son lacked the foresight to see what was truly best for the continent.

"Vicht," my friend said, her voice ethereal and soothing, "Aren't you being too harsh on Prince Alexis? From his perspective, he went through a lot just to become a supporting role."

I let out a deep sigh and leaned back on my throne. "That's how destiny works, my friend," I said. "Only those two, Gary and him, have the capability of being the hero of the continent. Not Arthur, not Rachel, and certainly not Alexis as a supporting character. Only those two possess the gift of reaching the ultimate goal. And I have chosen Gary Whiteborn to be the one."

"Now, my geniuses," I spoke to myself, the memories of their fierce battles flashing vividly in my mind, "Keep honing your skills and abilities, for the turning point is looming ahead. The point where the trajectory of your lives will shift, for better or for worse."