Blade Over Magic

Xander VS Zachary

The other students made way for Xander and Zachary on the training field, and Xander couldn’t help but purse his lips.

’Something tells me that this fight is gonna make or break my school experience.’ He had that thought not just because of the drill sergeant and the students here that would spectate. He was also keenly aware of the fact that this training field, as well as the rest, were positioned in such a way where they were within visual range from many parts of the school.

As such, whether it was the students acting as guards on the walls or those in nearby buildings, this duel was gonna be visible.

’Then again, I’m not arrogant enough to think that every single person is gonna be watching. But regardless of the result, rumors are bound to spread. Damn... Avoma really doesn’t cut you any slack, huh?’

When he and Zachary entered position, the sergeant stood some distance away from the two the two of them and said plainly.

”The duel ends when you either subdue your opponent, knock them out, or they forfeit. And if you try some bullshit like preventing them from forfeiting while you torture them or try to kill them, I’ll kill you myself. Other than that, everything is on the table. Clear?”

”Yes sir!” Xander and Zachary called out at the same time.

”Good. Get ready.” With that said, Xander pulled out his sword while Zachary took out a black wand.

After a moment, Xander once more took an Alber sword stance. Other than being good for counters, it was also great defensively.

’I have no clue what type of magic he practiced or what his combat style is. So I’ll let him make the first move and probe him.’ He thought as Zachary held out his wand, and the sergeant spoke.

”Begin!”

BZZT

Xander’s pupils shrank, and his sword snapped upwards just as a bolt of deep blue electricity as thick as a finger zapped towards him.

The bolt was deflected upwards and into the distance harmlessly, but Xander was startled internally.

’H-Holy shit! I was only able to deflect that because I focused on where his wand was aiming, and I swung on instinct. That was way too fast! Is this what a lightning mage is like?’ He frowned.

’But not just that. His chanting. That wasn’t just silent or rapid chanting. It was also shortened. Is he already on the path to negate chanting as a whole?’ Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Zachary seemed barely flustered at Xander’s successful deflection. Instead, he aimed his wand to the sky, spoke softly, and behind him, several glowing blue magic circles appeared with electricity crackling behind him.

From them, chains of electricity with sharpened tips emerged, all aimed at Xander, who could only give a wry smile.

”Now that’s just ridiculous.”

The chains shot out, and to his dismay, each of them was just as fast as the lightning bolt from before.

His eyes opened wide as he focused purely on aim dodging, because there was simply no way for him to outspeed any of them with raw speed.

He barely avoided the first few and deflected the rest, then cursed as he arched his body to the side and did a cartwheel as one of the chains changed direction and tried to pierce his chest.

Despite his successful avoidance, he felt his hair stand on end, and he looked up to see a magic circle high above him.

’Crap!’

RUMBLE

A bolt of lightning struck where he was, unleashing a cloud of dust from his position.

”Yeah. That tracks. I honestly don’t know what sergeant was thinking.” One of the spectating students shook his head.

”Yeah. Though his instincts are great. Did you see how he dodged the first few attacks?” Another said in genuine praise.

”Yeah, it was— Hey, hold on...” Everyone attention suddenly snapped back to the dust, and the sergeant raised a brow.

”Huh. Guess he has an okay head on his shoulders.”

The dust cleared, and Xander’s from was revealed. He was crouching on a single foot, and in front of him, his sword had been stabbed into the ground with the hilt, the blade pointing up as residual electricity cracked around it before dissipating.

’Fuu. I wasn’t sure that would work, but it seems like elements made with matter still follow basic science sometimes.’ He thought as he grabbed his sword from the ground and brandished it.

As for what he had done? Well...

He used his sword like a lightning rod. Making it catch most of the lightning. And he squatted on one foot so that he wouldn’t accidentally create a circuit with his body, allowing the electricity in the ground to travel through him.

Opposite him, Zachary showed a look of genuine surprise for the first time.

”Hey, you’re not half bad.” He praised, and Xander managed a tight smile.

’My entire right side is numb.’ He grumbled inwardly. While most of the attack had been mitigated, the residual electricity still zapped through him. So now his right side was tingling uncomfortably, and his hair was standing straight, making him look funny.

’It’s still manageable, though.’ He hummed as he fixed his gaze on Zachary who was already preparing another spell.

”Here goes.” He mumbled.

Then he breathed.

Almost everyone noticed the change instantly.

Before anyone could question it, though, Zachary had already unleashed his next attack.

Four magic circles appeared around Xander in a radius of over ten meters, and a string of electricity connected each of them before a large pyramid of lightning formed with Xander in the center.

”Lightning cage so soon?!” Someone exclaimed and many shared the sentiment. It was clear the spell was one of Zachary’s iconics.

But before anyone could pull on it, a while light in the shape of a crescent suddenly cleaved straight through the cage, and the whole thing fell apart.

’Crescent Moon.’ Xander exhaled as his attack ended, and everyone gaped.

”Hey... look at his sword.” Someone suddenly pointed out, and many squinted as they focused on the blade.

At first glance, nothing seemed strange about it. But upon closer inspection, one would see that, around the blade, the air seemed to distort slightly, almost like a heat haze. But it wasn’t heat, it was...

”Mana... Is... that channeling...?”

’That was dangerous, that cage would have electrocuted me if I hadn’t slashed through it.’ Xander gripped his sword tightly and stared at Zachary who finally seemed a bit serious now.

He cast another spell, this time, more lightning chains appeared and shot at Xander from different angles and different times, leaving Xander with no path to escape.

’Bladed Net!’ His sword flashed, and a dome of slashes surrounded him as he accurately sliced through each chain, defending himself perfectly.

’Great! I can react somewhat while using mana breathing!’ With that, Xander moved again.

Flowing Tide

Feather Steps

With incredible speeds, Xander dashed towards Zachary. It wasn’t as fast as the lightning, but...

’You’re not as fast as your attacks, are you?’ He thought as he reached Zachary in a moment, the latter having already casted a spell on himself to increase his speed.

As he began to avoid it, the haze around Xander’s sword suddenly intensified, with real heat this time.

’He’ll miss and I’ll counter—’ Zachary’s eyes widened as the blade, which he thought would miss his side by a few inches, suddenly shimmered and appeared near his neck at rapid speeds.

’Incandescent Haze!’ Xander pressed on with the attack.

Of all the moves he had created, this one was especially tricky to create. His moves were based on actual movements and sword techniques, just with the added magic flavor.

This one was created as a feint. The heat haze would distort the incoming light, making the position of the sword seem shifty, but to the opponent, still follow the original path of its strike. When in reality, Xander had changed the path of his strike.

Simple in theory, deadly in execution.

Suddenly, his hair stood on end, and he ducked his head just as lightning burst from a magic circle that had been behind him, barely missing.

Unfortunately, that movement caused him to change the trajectory of his strike, making his slice Zachary’s shoulder instead of his neck.

Several people exclaimed as Zachary started to retreat, but Xander did not let up at all.

’Solar-Edge Thrust.’ He stepped down and thrust his sword. Heat bled along the edge and focused in the tip before firing out in an extremely condensed ray.

At the same time, Zachary countered with a lightning bolt, and the two attacks clashed before ultimately canceling each other out.

Xander clicked his tongue as Zachary once more got distance on him, the wound in his shoulder doing nothing to prevent him from unleashing a barrage of lightning arrows that left Xander cursing.

The good thing about Flowing Tide was that Xander could theoretically keep it active indefinitely as it was a movement technique. However...

’No matter what, I can’t outspeed lightning, not as I am right now.’ He dodged another attack and deflected a few more.

’Also, I can tell he’s preparing something. In that case...’ He raised his sword high.

’Let’s do something drastic!’ He swung his sword at the ground, and in an incredible show of strength, blasted it apart and created a massive dust cloud that quickly spread over the surroundings.

’He’s trying to obscure my vision and get a sneak attack in.’ Zachary noted instantly as he waved his wand and casted a lightning barrier around himself, then he closed his eyes, focusing on his mana sense.

”Where are you...” He mumbled as he casted a few more spells around himself as traps while silently chanting for one especially powerful spell. If Xander didn’t show himself, he would bombard the area viciously.

Just then...

’There!’ His eyes snapped open as he directed several of his traps to activate within a certain spot close to his barrier, and an explosion of electricity rocked the field.

However...

Zachary’s eyes narrowed when he saw the thing he struck was a shirt that had now been reduced to ashes from his bombardment.

’From above!’ His head snapped up just as Xander descended from above, parting the dust as he thrust his sword downwards.

”None of your traps covered the top of your barrier, which is the weakest spot!”

SHATTER

The barrier exploded into shards of electricity, and Xander landed right in front of Zachary who, due to his surprise, was a moment too late in his casting.

Instead of re-entering a sword stance, he arched his body and smashed his leg right into Zachary’s ribs, knocking the air out of him as he fell to the ground on his back.

He tried to get up, but a blade stopped right in front of his neck. Zachary looked up to see Xander staring down at him, the sun casting a shadow over his face which caused only his eerie green eyes to be visible.

”You lose.” He declared decisively.