Chapter 115: Fourth Group’s Battle Begins

The first battle of the Fourth Group began with Lexa Rosewood and Kante Grigg, who made their moves immediately after Sylas gave the signal.

Both of them didn’t rush to attack. Instead, they stood still, their eyes locked, measuring each other. The air between them grew heavy with anticipation.

Then, they summoned their Armaments.

Lexa raised her hand, and a soft, green glow bloomed around her palm. A bow materialized in her grip, elegant and curved, its frame crafted from living wood that seemed to pulse with a gentle, rhythmic light. Vines coiled around the limbs, and faint, golden runes were etched along the length of the bow. The string hummed with energy, responding to her touch. Leaves of silver and emerald fluttered at the edges, as if the bow itself was alive.

Her fingers wrapped around the grip, and the bow seemed to sigh, settling into her hand like an old friend. It radiated a natural, steady warmth, the presence of the forest distilled into weapon form.

Kante stretched his hand to the side, and darkness coiled around his palm, thick and alive. A saber materialized in his grip, its blade forged from condensed shadow, its edge gleaming with a faint, purple light. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and a single crimson gem rested at the pommel, pulsing like a heartbeat. The blade seemed to drink the light around it, leaving a trail of subtle distortion in the air.

He held the saber loosely, his stance relaxed, but his eyes were sharp. The weapon felt natural in his hand, an extension of his will and intent.

Lucien glanced at their Armaments. Even though they were suppressed by the arena, made to exhibit the prowess of ordinary armaments, they still gave off a powerful, unique aura that revealed their speciality.

He scanned both of them with his Obsessive Eye, and what he saw made his lips curl into a smirk.

Things are getting interesting. Very interesting.

Kante’s talent was S-Rank Dark Talent and S-Rank Saber Talent, with a physique called Dark Spirit Body. Two S-Rank talents. That was impressive, the first time Lucien had seen someone with such a combination.

But that was just a piece of cake compared to what he saw when he scanned Lexa.

Her talent was SS-Rank Wood Talent, S-Rank Wind Talent, S-Rank Light Talent, and S-Rank Bow Talent.

SS-Rank. Three S-Rank talents.

Lucien hadn’t expected to meet such talent so early, and she was in the same group as him. That made things even more exciting.

She also had a physique called Verdant Wood Physique. If Lucien had to guess, it was likely because of her physique that her Wood Talent had reached SS-Rank.

He glanced at Kante.

’If only he were smart and not just brawn, he might win this battle, or at least draw. But the talent gap between them is huge. And especially since she has Light Talent that directly counters his Dark Talent.’

Lucien leaned back, a faint smirk on his face.

’This is going to be good.’

---

Kante moved first. His saber held low, trailing a faint line of shadow across the arena floor. He was testing her range.

Lexa stood still, her bow at her side, her eyes tracking his movement.

He closed the distance and swung his saber in a diagonal slash aimed at her shoulder.

Lexa pivoted, the blade passing inches from her. She stepped into his guard, her bow swinging up to deflect his wrist. The impact redirected his strike, throwing him off balance for a fraction of a second.

She used that moment to create distance, her bow already drawn, an arrow of condensed wind forming at the string.

She released.

The arrow shot forward, fast and silent, aimed at his chest.

Kante twisted, his saber coming up to deflect. The arrow grazed his blade, leaving a faint scratch. He pressed forward, his saber slashing in a wide arc toward her midsection.

Lexa leaped back, her bow singing as she released another arrow aimed at his feet.

Kante jumped, avoiding the arrow, and landed in a crouch. His saber hummed with dark Originat.

He lunged.

His saber cut through the air, trailing a wave of shadow. The attack was fast and aggressive.

Lexa’s bow came up to block, but the force of the strike pushed her back. She slid across the arena floor, her boots digging into the stone.

Kante followed, his saber slashing again and again. Each strike faster, sharper.

Lexa deflected each one, her movements fluid and precise. She waited.

Kante overextended. His saber swung wide, leaving his side exposed.

Lexa moved. Her bow shifted in her grip, and she swung it like a staff, striking his wrist.

The impact was solid. Kante’s grip on his saber loosened.

Kante pulled back, creating distance. His chest rose and fell steadily, but his eyes were sharp, calculating. This clash had shown that neither opponent would be easy to take down.

Both of them channeled their Originat into their Armaments, planning to take things to the next level.

Lexa made her move first this time.

The Armament in her hands glowed as wind Originat began to gather, forming an arrow at the string. The air around the bow shimmered, the arrow humming with compressed Originat.

She pulled the string, releasing it in one fluid motion. The Wind Arrow burst through the air, fast and silent, leaving a trail of distorted air in its wake.

Kante’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t try to dodge. Instead, he raised his saber, dark Originat coiling around the blade. A basic application of his Originat.

He swung. A wave of condensed darkness shot forward, meeting the Wind Arrow mid-air. The two attacks collided, sending a shockwave rippling across the arena. The shockwaves felt like a breeze as both figures weren’t shaken but continued their fight.

Lexa drew her bow’s string again, this time pouring more Originat into it as a wind arrow formed. The air around the arrow shimmered, the pressure building as she held the draw.

She released.

A/N: Happy New Month! Thank you for all your support throughout the previous month. I will need even more of your support this month. Continue to support this author with golden tickets, power stones, and gifts. Your support is my greatest motivation.