I could sense the transformation in my body after awakening the Beastmaster Path.
I wanted to see how I compared to a genius.
I decided not to utilise it until I was confident that I could deliver a winning blow.
After I was done with my preparations, I refocused on Ivory.
"Are you ready?" Fredric's voice resonated from the outer edge of the training ground.
"I'm ready," Ivory responded with a firm nod.
"I'm ready," I responded.
Witnessing that awaiting battle was about to transpire, the three boys who had been discussing among themselves became silent.
Not even a whisper was heard.
"Begin," Fredric announced.
I unleashed my aura.
Instantly, a crimson wave surged from my body with momentum, enveloping my entire form like a burning flame.
My hair danced wildly as though controlled by an ethereal wind.
I controlled the flow of aura towards my blade.
As a thin layer of crimson surge coated my blade, the momentum of the aura around me decreased.
"Impressive. I heard that your aura proficiency was only at the beginner level during the last ranking exam; now, you are at the apprentice level. But if this is where your confidence lies, then it will not be enough to defeat me," Ivory said.
In an instant, a golden aura coated her entire sword.
The golden aura looked more stable and radiant than the crimson wave coating my sword.
Mana Edge!
This was a Magical Swordsman Path trait that could only be awakened after an awakener had reached the Second Rank.
With this trait, anything could be a sword from a branch, a pole stick or a piece of paper. Its sharpness wouldn't lose out on that of a magic-enhanced sword.
She could cut through spells and be a significant threat to others on the other rank.
It was nearly impossible for an awakener to master a trait that ranked higher than them. It couldn't be accomplished through hard work—only one's talent.
Most Magical Swordsmen only train their aura rigorously at the first rank, and when they reach the Second rank, they begin to depend on their Mana Edge trait.
Why would they put their bodies through countless hardships when they could be training in other areas to increase their strength?
This was why Ivory was considered a genius even within the Zahara Clan.
Aura users could also replicate the same effect when mastered to a considerable degree.
"I will allow you to make the first move before I cut you down. So go ahead," Ivory said, her tone as cold as her blade.
I nodded. Knowing that the possibility of my victory was slim, there was no reason to hold onto my pride and refuse such an offer.
I charged towards her, my sword slashing towards her left thigh.
Clink!
Ivory swiftly blocked my attack and retreated backwards with fluid grace.
"You have a strong physique," she muttered.
I saw her hand shudder briefly from blocking my strike before settling.
Without wasting a moment, I lunged forward with a thrust at her lower abdomen.
Ivory parried my swing away with some effort.
I pressed forward and twisted, using the momentum to drive my kneel into her gut.
The attack made her retreat several steps until she halted and let out a sharp cough.
"Cough!! Cough!!" She clenched her stomach, gasping for breath.
"Despicable. Are you a Magical Swordsman or a Fighter?"
"How shameless for you to try this in a duel?"
"Even if you have a strong physique, you obviously have no skill to be a Magical Swordsman. No wonder you got the 20th position in the ranking."
The three boys at the outer ring screamed, their voices filled with immense hatred.
Yet my eyes remained on my opponent, Ivory.
She wiped out her lips dry with her sleeves before focusing on me. Her hateful gaze filled with the intent to kill.
I didn't care what anyone said. In a genuine battle, I would use any part of my body to fight if it meant staying alive or emerging victorious.
Despite the blow that I had dealt against her stomach, she hadn't lost her calm. With such a mindset, it was easy to see why she was ranked a genius among her peers.
Nonetheless, in terms of physique, I had the upper hand.
I just needed to maintain my pace until I found the right time to deliver the final blow.
"I am going to attack this time. Better prepare yourself," Ivory said, narrowing her gaze at me.
An icy blue hue radiated from her sword, crystalising into ice. The ice-coated steel of her blade.
This was one of her attributes - Ice.
Ivory lunged, her sword slashing downwards.
Clang!
I blocked her strike.
Ding!
My hand shuddered under the vibration of my steel clashing against her ice-coated steel.
I saw that a layer of frost had coated my blade, disrupting my aura flow.
I forcefully exerted more aura on the blade, skinning up the frosty layer, and swiftly countered with a thrust.
Ivory deflected the attack and swiftly responded with a slash at my neck.
Left, right. Thrust, parry, block. Steel met steel, creating a resonating "Clink!" in the air as we met head-on, neither retreating.
Suddenly, Ivory's blade shone with a brighter, icy hue as she slashed forward.
A powerful frosty layer surge coated my blade, spreading towards my hilt and almost touching my palm.
I swiftly retreated several steps away from her.
I exerted my aura once more to halt the spread of the icy frost, dispelling it.
I breathed in and exhaled softly.
At this moment, I could sense the effects of the transformation within me. If it was before, exerting my aura for this long would have tired me out.
Yet, I felt I could continue utilising aura at this output for up to an hour.
Was this because I had awakened another Path, thereby increasing my physique once more.
I was unsure. I pushed the matter to the back of my mind to deal with it later.