Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1231: Bet
Previously on Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy...
The audience's collective intake of breath hung in the air briefly as Sora stood tall once more,
Rice's Spirit Strike had connected yet couldn't break through the protective Draconic Aura surrounding his frame.
Naturally, Sora remained on guard, uncertain about enduring multiple such strikes from Rice...
Nevertheless, a spark of thrill ignited in him over this fresh test of skill.
"Not bad," he commented.
Rice's face stayed impassive.
Though his form appeared nearly delicate beneath the glaring arena lights, his presence was anything but... It soon gathered densely around him, sharp as a knife's edge.
He'd anticipated the strike being nullified, but it wasn't squandered. Each action served as a probe, revealing deeper insights into Sora's capabilities.
"Taunting won't faze me, Sora." Rice declared, though the words fell on deaf ears.
Sora simply charged ahead once more...
Thud!
His footfalls echoed with immense weight, propelled by the sheer power in his build.
While the dragon blood coursing through him offered no scales or wings, it had toughened his sinews, reinforced his skeleton, and imbued his blows with a force far surpassing his age!
Bam!
His punch lashed out, seeking to shatter Rice's defense. The very atmosphere roared with the force!
Yet Rice pivoted smoothly, shifting into an advanced Combat Form passed down by Denise.
He tilted his posture, channeling the momentum via the Iron Guard Form!
In an instant, his aura glided over Sora's like liquid over rock!
Boom!
The collision splintered the ground, yet Rice had deftly evaded, using his subtler power to divert Sora's might elsewhere.
The spectators were stunned!
"Incredible... He redirected that assault perfectly!"
"That's the mark of a true Martial Artist!"
"Outstanding move!"
"No surprise he's the prized disciple..."
"But how often can he pull that off?"
True enough, Sora felt no concern as he intensified his assault.
This round, he leaned into his key strength—his robust physique!
Without pause, he kept advancing on Rice, maintaining the relentless pressure.
Blow after blow rained down, his fists pounding away, each infused with traces of Draconic Aura! Whether they landed off-target, were parried, or deflected, it mattered little to him!
"Haha! This is enjoyable!" Sora chuckled while Rice countered flawlessly or slipped away... His actions stayed sharp, his Combat Aura extending to sense Sora's every motion...
Before long, he began employing methods that flipped Sora's own power back at him.
"Too straightforward," Rice whispered to himself, gradually adapting to Sora's might and pace.
He transitioned into Flowing Counter, another Combat Spell from Denise's teachings. His aura bent like a river, snaring Sora's attack and shoving it off course!
With the same fluid action, he thrust a palm strike ahead, his aura sharpening to a pinpoint jab targeting Sora's torso!
Such precision was remarkable, as shaping Aura this finely lay beyond most students' reach!
It highlighted how Rice's—or his regimen's—rigorous practice had honed his talents!
Thud!
Sora reeled from the hit...
Evidently, the strike had just skimmed him!
Fortune favored him, as he wasn't an ordinary student. His draconic aura soaked up the pain, leaving merely a minor graze, nothing serious.
He let out a sharp breath and locked his gaze on Rice's hand...
"You're skilled," he conceded.
Rice cracked a smile at last and shot back, "And you're impulsive."
With that, the confrontation grew fiercer.
Sora dropped into a lower pose, his aura flaring more intensely.
Under Chad's strict tutelage, he'd forged his body without mercy, and now that discipline shone through.
His actions grew weightier, swifter, his frame surging with tremendous drive. He resolved to overpower Rice through sheer force and velocity!
Now, he unleashed Dragon’s Drive, a Combat Spell from Chad's lessons. It wasn't a shift in form, but a method harnessing his fortified physique to funnel aura into one devastating burst!
Rice's eyes flared wide as the assault approached.
He invoked his skill anew, his aura twisting into Redirecting Spiral, a Combat Technique built to seize superior power and whirl it harmlessly away.
Boom!
The clash rattled the arena, fracturing the stone beneath their feet. Still, Rice had steered the blow clear of himself!
The onlookers burst into cheers, some hailing Sora's brute strength, others praising Rice's impeccable skill.
It was a spectacular showdown without doubt!
Yet both fighters' reserves were finite. Their youth meant scant Arcane Energy for a prolonged struggle.
All the same, neither yielded ground.
Sora's breathing grew labored as he geared up for a decisive strike...
Meanwhile, Rice sensed the shift and adjusted his footing.
***
Meanwhile, far overhead in the exclusive balcony reserved for Immortals and veteran instructors, Chad rested against the balustrade.
Arms folded, he observed the skirmish with a grin...
Next to him, Denise perched with poised grace, her attention riveted on the pair below.
"They're exerting more than I anticipated," Chad noted.
"Sora's build is enduring nicely. He's headstrong, but that's dragon blood for you. It drives you to smash barriers instead of skirting them."
Denise let out a soft chuckle at the imagery... "What? Do you feel that pull to charge through obstacles? That's something... Anyway, Rice embodies the reverse, I suppose. He's mastered bypassing hurdles, diverting energy rather than meeting it directly. That's precisely why Vale assigned his training to me... and orchestrated this matchup."
Chad shot her a sidelong look, grasping Vale's intent as well.
"Well, Vale places his faith in you above all. At times, I question if it's merely camaraderie."
Denise held firm, denying it with a shake of her head. "Vale and I divide duties. That's all."
Chad let out a light laugh, tinged with skepticism. "Duties, eh? No need to fret, I won't dig deeper. But I've known Vale long enough to spot when he esteems someone past obligation."
Denise brushed off the tease, her focus shifting back to the bout. "Watch them now. I believe Rice is set to conclude this..."
Chad burst into laughter upon hearing that...
"You mean Sora's going to wrap it up? Care to wager?"