Noticing the chips at the side of my blade, I frowned.
Even if I had coated the steel with my aura, it couldn't stop her sword, perfectly infused with mana, from chipping away portions of mine.
With Mana Edge, it was easy for a Magical Swordsman to cast spells through their blades, such as the freezing spell she had just used to cover my blade and disrupt my aura flow.
I learned everything I needed about the 'Mana Edge' trait from books, the internet, and the rest from Instructor Fredric.
I knew that there were still various real-life limitations and applications that I wasn't yet aware of.
Even my sword techniques were self-taught and only became more refined when I joined the academy.
I looked at Ivory. Compared to me, she still looked relaxed, her gaze narrowed at me.
I knew that if the duel continued like this, I was bound to lose.
Despite being stronger than her, I never had the opportunity to get close enough to land a decisive attack.
I could emerge victorious by dropping my sword and throwing blows on her face with my fists, but letting go of my blade willingly was the same as admitting defeat.
I was a Magical Swordsman, not a brawler.
And even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be easy to disarm her, either.
I couldn't turn this into a duel of attrition as it wasn't a life or death battle, and stalling for time would only irritate her into becoming more aggressive.
My mind spun, thinking of a solution.
I was uncertain if my sword would be able to handle another attack, so I needed to end this battle as swiftly as I could.
Suddenly, Ivory spread her legs slightly apart and held her sword horizontally by the side of her waist. The blade's tip pointed behind her.
I knew that pose.
As a scholarship recipient considered a genius by the Zahara Clan, Ivory was given the privilege of utilising one of the Zahara Clan's most renowned techniques: the Mountain Snow Dragon, a High-ranked, Sky Grade Sacred Art.
An awakener didn't have to awaken a Path trait of a rank higher than one's own to be considered a genius.
As long as they are capable of mastering the Mountain Snow Dragon Sacred Art to a considerable level, they could also be considered a genius.
With her ice attribute, the effects of the sacred art were several times stronger than mine.
Ivory took a deep breath and exhaled a visible, chilling cold air.
Snowflakes formed in the air and gathered around her.
A layer of frost emerged from the ground and spread outwards with her at the centre.
"I've seen all you have to offer, so I am going to end this duel now. It would be embarrassing if it were to go on any longer," Ivory said, her calm voice infused with mana echoing across the training ground.
From what I knew about Ivory during the last Magical Swordsman ranking, she had other cards to ensure her victory.
For her to utilise the Mountain Snow Dragon Art, one of the Zahara Clan's renowned sacred arts, against me meant that she planned to make this a humiliating defeat.
If rumours about this duel spread across the academy, my reputation would surely plummet beyond salvaging.
But I didn't care.
Because I was confident that I was going to win.
I grinned.
"You must be confident about blocking my attack," Ivory said with a frown, obviously not liking my expression.
"I am," I nodded.
I couldn't help but imagine how she would feel to use the Mountain Snow Dragon Art against the Zahara Clan's Worst One and lose.
The shame wouldn't be easily wiped away.
Ivory's expression froze, stunned. Then, it twisted into immense hatred.
"I hope you also can back up your words because I will be putting in everything I have," she said, her tone spine-chilling.
SWISSHH!!
Without saying another word, she dashed forward.
Her footsteps weren't straight. They curved from side to side like a water stream flowing between steep curves. Each movement left a mirage that continued dashing the same way, intertwining with each other, making it hard to tell which one was the original.
This was one of the techniques within the Mountain Snow Dragon art, called Drifting Myriad Steps.
Ivory grasped the sacred art so quickly because she had been taught by tutors who paid attention to every detail of her training.
She was a genius who had been welcomed warmly and taken care of as a part of the clan.
Those were a few of the many things I had been deprived of.
My tutors were either too frightened or negligent to point out my mistakes or show me where I needed to focus more for improvement.
At some point, I realised that I was better off studying alone.
Fortunately, they also understood that I needed to be competent enough to pass the entrance examination and get into the Grand Avalon Academy. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make it this far even by diligently practising by myself.
The only difference between me and Ivory was that I had repeatedly pushed my body to the limit.
I opened up a path where there was none.
In an instant, the mirages all arrived before me.
I honed in on the one with the most potent magic signature and blocked.
My blade sliced through cold air.
"ARGHH!!" I let out an agonising scream.
Steel drove into my flesh, tearing open a wound on my shoulder.
A numbing, chilling pain spread through my arm, causing my body to shiver.
Gritting my teeth, I attempted to strike her with my knee.
Unfortunately, she swiftly noticed my attack, withdrew her sword, and retreated. She wasn't falling for the same attack twice.
I also retreated, widening the distance between us.
I switched my sword to my left hand and looked at the grim wound covered with layers of frost that prevented it from healing.
My right arm felt cold and stiff.