Chapter 125: Seraphina’s Battle

"Third Strike."

Lucien’s calm words cut through the silence like a blade, drawing the gaze of every student in the coliseum. All eyes turned to Zephyrion, waiting to see how he would respond.

But Zephyrion’s body was shaking. His arms trembled, his wings folded weakly against his back. His voice, when it came, was barely a whisper, hoarse, broken, carrying the weight of his defeat.

"I... yield."

The words hung in the air like a final echo.

The coliseum became eerily silent. No one moved. No one spoke. Zephyrion, the angelic prodigy, the pride of his bloodline, had admitted defeat. He had yielded victory to Lucien.

No one could understand what he had clashed with. They had seen the strike, but they hadn’t felt it, the overwhelming force, the cold certainty of destruction that had pressed against Zephyrion’s very soul. If he hadn’t admitted defeat, he knew his hands would have exploded into a cloud of blood. His arms, his pride, his very existence would have been shattered.

Lucien, hearing his words, slowly retracted his Originat. The dark silver energy around his sword faded, the pressure that had filled the arena dissipating like mist. He dispersed the force in the sword, the blade returning to its plain, unassuming state.

Zephyrion was finally able to breathe. His body gave out, and he knelt down, his palms pressing against the stone floor. His wings folded, returning to their normal form as the golden light faded from his body. He took deep, ragged breaths, his shoulders heaving with exhaustion.

The students watched in stunned silence.

Lucien glanced at Zephyrion. The reason why Lucien was confident that he wouldn’t be able to defend against the third strike was because of the skill he had, Blade Ascension. It had a passive effect, for every 3rd blade attack, it has 100% bonus damage.

Ryker let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. "He actually did it."

Seraphina’s smile was proud, her golden eyes gleaming. Lilith’s crimson gaze was fixed on Lucien, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

Lucien lowered his sword, his expression calm. He turned and walked back toward the observation platform, his steps unhurried. He didn’t look back.

Sylas stepped forward, his voice breaking the stillness. "Winner: Lucien Veyrion."

The students erupted into murmurs. Some were still processing what had just happened. Others were already discussing the battle, analyzing every move.

Zephyrion remained on his knees, his body still trembling. His voice was barely audible, but it carried across the silent coliseum.

"Who... who is he?"

No one answered.

But somewhere in the crowd, a few students exchanged glances. They had seen Lucien’s power, not just his strength, but his absolute control. They knew now that he was not someone to be underestimated.

Lucien returned to his position on the observation platform, his expression calm, his breathing steady.

Ryker turned to him, his voice filled with awe. "Mentor... that was incredible."

Lucien glanced at him, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I told you. Victory was already at my grasp."

Ryker shook his head, a small smile forming on his face. "You really are something else."

For a few moments, students glanced in his direction. Even Zephyrion, who had left the arena, paused and looked back at him. His golden eyes held no bitterness, only a quiet, burning respect.

But none of them felt fear at Lucien’s strength. Instead, they felt the urge to fight him. They were prideful people. Even knowing the gap between them didn’t mean they would cower.

Even Zephyrion, who had been defeated, carried such an expression. His pride had been wounded, but not broken. He had seen Lucien’s strength, and now he wanted to surpass it.

Lucien’s lips curled up into a smile when he sensed their battle will. He was impressed. Surprised even.

As expected of such geniuses.

The fourth group battle ended with Lucien and Lexa having three points each, a win.

And next came Group 5.

It felt as if Lucien’s battle had sparked something among the students. They fought with more intensity, attacking and moving in a more domineering manner. The spark of competition had been ignited.

But not everyone was like Lucien. The first match of Group 5 ended in a draw. Neither fighter had let down their guard, and the ten-minute time limit had expired before a clear winner could emerge.

The second match of Group 5 was the same, a draw. Both fighters had given their all, but neither could break through the other’s defense.

And for the sixth group, it was almost the same, but one of them won at a slight margin using intelligence and tactics effectively. It was a reminder that strength alone wasn’t everything.

Now, the Group 7 battle came.

Sylas stepped forward, his voice echoing through the arena. "The first match of Group 7 will be between..."

"Seraphina Drax and Valdris Drakonus."

Everyone fell silent, much like during Lucien’s match. Clearly, someone of high status was about to step onto the arena floor.

Lucien sensed this and glanced at Ryker, who felt his gaze and knew what he wanted.

"Valdris Drakonus," Ryker explained, his voice low. "Drakonus is the name of the clan of the Dragon Emperor. And Valdris is the fourth son of the Dragon Emperor, which means he’s the fourth prince of the Dragon Continent."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly. A prince. The fourth son of the ruler of all dragons. This was not an ordinary opponent.

The screen in the center of the arena flickered to life.

On the left side, a holographic portrait of Seraphina appeared. Her golden hair and golden eyes were captured in stunning detail, her expression calm and confident.

On the right side, a holographic portrait of Valdris Drakonus appeared. He was striking, with obsidian black hair streaked with silver and piercing golden eyes. His presence radiated power even through the image.

The students murmured as they saw the display.

"Seraphina... that’s one of Lucien’s wives, isn’t it?"

"And Valdris Drakonus... the fourth prince of the Dragon Continent."

"This is going to be incredible."

Sylas’s voice echoed through the coliseum. "Seraphina Drax and Valdris Drakonus, please make your way to the arena."

Seraphina stepped forward first. Her golden hair cascaded down her back like liquid fire, swaying gently with each step. Her golden eyes held a calm, almost bored expression, as if she had already decided the outcome of the match. She wore the standard Honor uniform, but on her, it seemed to carry an air of quiet authority. She moved with an effortless grace, her steps light and unhurried.

Valdris followed from the other side. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. His obsidian black hair was streaked with silver, catching the light like veins of lightning frozen in time. His golden eyes were sharp and predatory, carrying the weight of his bloodline. His skin had a faint, almost imperceptible sheen, as if scales lay just beneath the surface.

He wore the standard Honor uniform, but even in the plain fabric, he carried himself like a king. His posture was relaxed, but there was a coiled tension beneath it, like a dragon waiting to strike.

But as Seraphina walked, she paused mid-step. She turned her head slightly, her gaze finding Lucien in the crowd. A slow, possessive smile spread across her lips.

"Darling," she called out, her voice carrying across the coliseum. "Watch me."

The students turned their heads toward Lucien, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement. Some whispered among themselves, others simply watched.

Seraphina’s smile widened, her golden eyes gleaming with obsession. "I’ll be thinking of you the entire time."

She blew a kiss in his direction, her movements slow and deliberate, before turning back to the arena. Her steps became lighter, more confident, as if she had drawn strength from the gesture.

Lucien’s expression remained calm, but a faint flush crept up his neck. He could feel the stares of the students around him.

Ryker leaned toward him, his voice barely a whisper. "Mentor, is she always like this?"

Lucien didn’t answer. He just kept his gaze fixed on the arena, his expression carefully neutral.

They reached the center of the arena, standing opposite each other. The runes on the floor began to glow, signaling the start of the match.

Valdris’s golden eyes swept across Seraphina, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "A woman," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "I didn’t expect my first match to be against someone so... delicate."

Seraphina’s expression didn’t change. "Delicate?"

Valdris’s smile widened. "Forgive me. I meant no offense. It’s just that I’ve faced warriors, beasts, and champions. I haven’t faced many women in formal combat."

Seraphina tilted her head slightly. "You’re about to."

She paused, her golden eyes glinting with something sharp and possessive. "Oh, and also, let’s get this match done. I don’t want to keep my darling waiting."

Her voice was calm, almost casual, but there was an edge to it, a cold, absolute certainty that made Valdris’s smile falter for just a moment.

The students leaned forward, their attention fixed on the arena.