It took a second for Indra to respond, shocked by what the Grand Marshal had said. "Pardon?"

"Yes, you are right.." Reginald continued. "It would be good for their morale."

"But we would be taking a large risk, something that may go on to affect our kingdom."

Indra’s expression was stoic, but Reginald did not need to be able to read his cold features to know he was confused.

"What do you mean?"

Reginald turned to stare at him, his arms folded across his chest. "What do you think would happen if Zora were to lose?" His voice was lowered, his tone stiff.

’Zora, lose?’ Indra thought. He could understand the grand marshal’s concern.

While the king was the strongest man in Donia, well, excluding the enigma that was the Archmage since he was not a citizen... Zora was the strongest person in Donia.

Having a saint in their kingdom was a great deterrent to other kingdoms that coveted Donia’s wealth.

If news of their saint losing a battle to an unknown warrior was to get out, it would be sure to spark trouble.

People who feared her would begin to get a little more adventurous. But that was only if she lost.

The thought of Zora losing, it was not something Indra could fathom. Even before she became a saint, he had fought her several times, and not once had he been able to come close to winning.

Indra stared intently at Eliron. ’Just what about him is making the grand marshal so tense?’

From what Indra could see, his mana core was likely just at the Commander stage. The match would not last long...

"Place your bets, place your bets!" What must have been the most beautiful woman Indra had seen was walking from person to person, collecting gold coins with a sparkle in her eyes.

"The odds of Zora winning are off the roof, be wise when you make your decision!" She sang, snickering whenever anyone would place money in her bowl.

Indra spotted Eliron give her an exasperated look, but she ignored him and walked up to him.

"Want to place a bet, little guy?" She smiled so innocently that it nearly covered the mischievous glint in his eyes.

Normally, Indra would have told her off, told her he was far older than her, but something stayed his tongue.

"Hello?"

"Oh s-sorry."

Indra stuffed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. He stared at it for a long second before handing it to her.

She smiled. "So? Who are you betting on?"

Indra’s eyes moved between the two fighters, a crease forming on his brows as a nest of thoughts danced in his head. "The elven lord..."

The elf continued smiling at him. This close, it was too easy to see her perfectly sculpted face, her silver hair that seemed to swallow the moonlight, and the warmth in those golden eyes.

Indra contemplated taking a back.

"Listen, kid. I cannot let you make such a financially irresponsible decision. Are you trying to waste your money?"

She was even kind in addition to her beauty. Failed bets were how they made their money, and yet she was being considerate.

"I was just trying to—"

"No no no..." She interrupted him, her voice soft and with the patience of a mother. "You’re going to make me look like some sort of scammer." She laughed, but it sounded like a melody.

Indra had no doubts about it, this woman was meant to be an Angel.

"Be more responsible with your money."

Indra nodded reflexively, as though his body had already agreed before his mind. He was just going to bet on a whim, but now that he thought about it, there was really no point.

"Alright..." He smiled. "I’ll bet on Zora."

"Of course you will..."

"Sorry?"

"Oh, nothing..." she coughed. "A f-fine choice! But why go with one coin? Do you lack faith in your commander?" She slowly shook her head and leaned closer.

Indra felt his heart pick up the pace, as though it was running a race with his lungs.

"You really think that pretty boy elf can beat her?"

"Alright, alright!" He put his hand into his pocket and handed her a sack of gold coins.

He was going to get more ways, this was free money.

"Excellent choice, young man. This type of mindset will make you rich some day." She bowed politely.

Then she glanced at the grand marshal and smiled. "How would you like to make a bet??"

<•••>

"Alright, let’s get this party started or I’ll die of boredom!" Zora growled. She raised her hand and a sleek, blood red odachi flew right into it, its edge dangerously sharp.

There was a faint hum of mana around the blade, the golden runes on the sword lighting up as she raised it.

Eliron walked into the center of the stage with a confident gait, then he grabbed his sword and pulled it out, a peerless black blade that seemed to eat the light.

There was something off about it, almost as if alongside the blade was a presence. ’A spirit sword?’

Zora smirked. "Nice sword, you get more desirable with each passing second. What else are you hiding?"

Eliron smiled. "Impress me enough and maybe I’ll show you,"

Zora chuckled. "You have the arrogant part of a swordsman right. I just hope your fighting is as good as your boasting."

Eliron glanced around. "It would be bad if our attack attracted the wrong type of attention, don’t you think?"

He snapped his fingers, and suddenly, a black veil of mana swallowed the area around them. It moved like a liquid mass of black, rising up to form a dome, just before it became transparent, as though it was not there.

Zora stared at the clear skies, but unlike others, she could see past the illusion.

As a saint, she was far more sensitive to mana, that was why she could see what stood above them— the adamantine veil that covered them like a fortress, oozing wisps of blue-black mana.

There was no doubt about it. "An SSSR Spell?"

The oracles glanced at themselves and then at Zora. "What are you talking about?" One of them asked, looking skeptical. "Surely, he couldn’t have casted one so easily, especially since he is about to have a sparring—"

"No, it actually is." Indra cut in. "And it is not just one spell, I can’t tell what they are, but he has already activated more than five SSSR spells already." He said coldly.

"Five?! Surely you must be mistaking—"

Indra glanced at the man, and when the man saw the confusion in his eyes, he swallowed his words, muttering ’impossible...’ as he watched.

Zora’a smile broadened, that same crazed look appearing on her eyes as she gripped her blade tighter.

"You are really something...."

"Hmm?" Eliron watched her with an aloof expression on his face.

And then Zora’s body blurred.

There was a blur of red, a sharp hiss and a wash of sparks as both blades met, creating a shockwave that overturned the earth.

Their first strike, and the earth was already in shambles. Zora smirked, "not bad, let’s kick things up a little."

She tried to shove Eliron’s blade back, but he was like a mountain, his feet firmly planted on his floor. So she distanced herself, just before she flung her blade with the grace of a martial master.

In an instant, more than a dozen slashes carved into the air, all in the space of a second.

Eliron adjusted his footing, still expressionless as he swung, countering every single strike.

’So he also knows that technique?’

Tzzzzs!

Dark blue lighting began dancing around Zora’s body, her hair turning spiky, currents dancing in those electric blue eyes.

[SSSR Technique — Howling Lighting Step]

Her body was swallowed by the currents, her eyes glowing vibrantly as she vanished. A thunder

clap followed, and the impact blew a crater in the earth.

Booom!

Dust flew up to the sky and inside that dust, lights flashed, sparks of lighting racing through the space.

Yellow lighting met blue, the two painting beautiful patterns in the dark tapestry night, as they thundered through the forest with horrifying sounds.

Zora’s blade cut in an upward arc, but lightning charged Eliron’s body and he dodged swiftly, flinging his body to the side, just before his sword lashed out, slicing a mark right through her right arm.

It was a shallow cut, but it drew blood no less.

’He’s so young, yet his blade carries the weight of a swordmaster.’ How long did he practice to reach such heights?

Most people were finding it hard to follow their battle, they were too swift, the lighting too blinding, but the clang of steel, and the destruction that followed its wake was enough to tell them what was going on.

The two of them created some distance, and Zora heaved a breath, a dark look in her eyes as she watched Eliron.

And then the next words that left her mouth shocked everyone present.

"My technique... how do you know my technique?"

But Eliron gave her no answer. His azure blue eyes shimmered with sparks, his hair lighting up at the edges as lightning coated his body.

"That my dear..."

He vanished, appearing in front of her. There was a rush of wind, and a bite of the cold stung her skin, his sword cleaving down like a hammer.

"...is a secret." He winked.

The world was bathed white, a thunderclap resounding seconds after.