42: Elvis Vs Logan (2)

The dueling ring transformed into an arena of electrifying tension, with the air practically crackling with anticipation.

The two combatants were locked in a riveting standoff, each with their sword pointed at their opponent. Every eye in the dueling unit was fixed upon them, and the spectators collectively held their breath as the stage was set for the continuation of the exhilarating duel.

Elvis stood poised like a coiled spring, his sword illuminated by the fierce blaze of white lightning. His face was etched with determination. Across from him, Logan exuded an aura of nobility and grace, his sword emanating a serene, light blue glow from his spiritual energy.

A palpable silence enveloped the arena as seconds seemed to stretch into an eternity.

This time, it was Elvis who made the first move. With an intensity that matched the lightning dancing upon his sword, he lunged forward like a bolt, leaving a tangible blur in his wake. His nimble form covered the distance between them with remarkable speed. Infusing his sword with lightning sure had its pros.

Logan's eyes narrowed slightly as he saw Elvis dash from his previous location. Yet, his response was a display of poise. As Elvis swung his blade in a determined slash, Logan's sword met the strike with the skill of a seasoned master.

The resulting clash reverberated through the arena like a thunderous echo. At that moment, time seemed suspended as Logan's sword, infused with blue-tinged spiritual energy, collided with the crackling white lightning of Elvis' strike.

These two combatants grappled with their swords still interlocked, employing every possible means to disarm each other.

However, Logan's mastery over his spiritual energy infused his sword with an undeniable force, pushing Elvis back despite his valiant effort. Elvis, who was pushed back, gritted his teeth and furrowed his brows as he staggered backward.

Unyielding, he dashed off again towards Logan. His goal was clear this time: he was going to knock out Logan's sword. He had to win this duel. He seriously needed Mr. Ronald to be his master, so he pushed on, becoming the offensive attacker now.

His speed had greatly increased due to the infusion of elemental energy into his sword. He continuously charged at Logan with slashes and thrusts, but Logan always managed to deflect all his attacks and send him staggering back toward the edge of the ring.

Flurries of sword swings, flashing with either blue or white energy, engulfed the dueling ring as the dust began to rise from the floor.

Elvis was relentless in his attacks, which began to look desperate to the other students.

'I can't sustain this lightning sword for much longer... My spiritual energy is depleting rapidly, so I must quickly devise a plan to disarm Logan.' Elvis thought after his sixth attack was successfully deflected by Logan.

***

"What is he doing there, just standing? Has he depleted his spiritual energy?" Zoya asked from outside the ring where the others were gathered, fully engrossed in the duel.

Initially, when they saw Elvis' sword dancing amidst flickers of lightning, their hope that he would stand a chance was ignited. But what about now? He appeared tired to them, which isn't a good thing.

"I don't think that's the case. Remember, fighting someone several times more powerful than you requires tactical scheming. And I think that is what Elvis is doing now. He might have noticed that, even with increased speed, he stood no chance against Logan's mastery of swordsmanship." Cedric explained, fully engrossed in what was about to unfold, as they watched Logan slowly take calculated steps toward the pensive Elvis.

"It is over now. I have been waiting for Logan to make a move ever since he infused his sword with his spiritual energy." Troy indirectly spoke to Evelyn, who was observing the duel with a serious expression, as if she were analyzing the fight. She simply rolled her eyes at Troy and returned her gaze to the ring without uttering a word.

In another section of the dueling unit, on a separate elevated platform, there was a guy with dark green hair who was also observing the fight. He seemed to be analyzing the fight as well. After all, Logan was also a genius from one of the great families, just like him.

If possible, he would like Logan to showcase all of his tricks in the ring so that when they eventually clash, he will have an advantage over him. This guy was Wilson, the Zeccamons' genius, and sitting next to him was Ivory Dwight.

"The Logan guy is truly skilled with swords. And the other guy from my family seemed to have improved since our fight. He could even last this long and use his lightning in such a manner." Wilson analyzed before clicking his tongue. "It seems the duel is about to end. Logan is making his move."

***

"You know, when I saw you confidently charging at me first. I changed my mind because I wanted to have more fun. Anyway, I would say, you are truly great with your lightning." Logan said aloud as he swung his sword horizontally, still a few feet away from Elvis.

A streak of light blue, condensed spiritual energy shot out from the tip of his sword, aiming directly at Elvis' sword, clearly intending to disarm him.

With his sword held upright, still crackling with lightning, he blocked the attack, which sent him skidding and almost crashing onto the hard floor of the ring. Fortunately, he didn't fall.

As Elvis regained his footing, the determination in his eyes intensified. He was not just a spectator to his own destiny; he was its author.

With renewed determination, he once again brandished his sword. The white lightning now pulsated with a renewed fervor. He raised his weapon, gathering every last bit of his spiritual energy, as if he intended to perform a downward cleavage slash when he saw Logan approaching him even closer.

Logan, ever perceptive, observed Elvis' subtle change. His sword crackled with a flash of even fiercer lightning this time, and he could sense that the impending attack would be unlike any before.

With a gesture that exuded both elegance and power, Logan's sword cleaved through the air in a graceful arc as he engaged in swordplay. This time, the light blue energy coating his sword dimmed, and dust and sand particles converged, spiraling around his blade in an otherworldly manifestation.

Logan has finally activated his earth elemental ability with his swordplay. While Elvis seemed ready to unleash his own attack in the next millisecond.

This was supposed to be the crescendo of their duel, as if it were in a movie because both of them appeared to have prepared their final attack.

Silence, tension, and anticipation hung among the spectators as if time had momentarily frozen.

[Lightning Sword Slash]

[Tremor Quake]

Elvis and Logan swung their swords simultaneously. Elvis seemed to have finally succeeded in unleashing the Lightning Sword Slash he had been practicing all night. The lightning dancing around his forearm and his sword blade all seemed to be pulled towards the tip of his sword, and when his sword was finally swung down. A thick, condensed lightning bolt shot out towards Logan, discharging flashing currents.

Whereas, Logan had also swung his sword sideways. Instantly, a tremor began to violently shake the ring as the dust and sand particles he had gathered earlier filled the entire ring. Creating a dusty haze over them, which obscures the spectators' views.

All they could see was the brilliance of the lightning slash that slowly disappeared into the dusty haze. The question on everyone's mind now would be: Who won?

However, it might not even end in a win. Because, if both of them were still holding their swords after the dust had cleared. Then, it means that the two combatants would have another showdown.

The dust particles dispersed, leaving in their wake an arena bathed in an iridescent glow from Elvis' lightning slash. However, the lightning slash brilliantly zapped a certain brown-haired guy, causing his hands to twitch and his sword to fall from his grasp. The spectators saw Logan first because of the brilliance of the lightning slash that illuminated where he was standing.

Then, the spectators' eyes shifted to the opposite side of the ring. However, they didn't see Elvis. That was because he had fallen face-down onto the floor of the ring during the tremor, after losing his balance. His sword was also lying a few inches away from his hand.

He quickly sprang to his feet and dusted himself off before picking up his sword. By then, Logan had somehow nullified the effect of the lightning shock with his elemental ability. Logan also picked up his sword.

The duel referee rang his bell once again, signaling the end of the duel. Elvis and Logan bowed to each other upon hearing the sound of the bell.

"The duel ends in a tie. Since we didn't see exactly whose sword was knocked out first." And neither Logan nor Elvis saw whose sword was knocked out first because they were both grappling at the time.

One was struggling with the zapping effect of a lightning strike that hit the hand gripping his sword. While the other was struggling to maintain his balance during the tremor in the ring.

Actually, both of their final attacks were aimed at disarming opponents. Elvis directed aimed his lightning slash towards Logan's hand, while Logan used the tremor quake to destabilize Elvis. However, in normal circumstances, Elvis wouldn't have stood a chance of dueling Logan, if he hadn't been taken less seriously at the start...

Now, as Elvis walked out of the dueling ring and sheathed his sword back into its scabbard, a smile adorned his face. If someone had told him that he would be able to last a few minutes against Logan or even somehow execute the Lightning Sword Slash, he wouldn't have believed it. But thanks to his friends and his sister, he no longer had to cower in defeat.

However, the smile vanished from his face as he raised his head towards the elevated platform on the right side of the dueling unit…