The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

BOOOOM—!!!

Flames and golden energy clashed violently, the sheer force shaking the entire arena.

TANGG—! TINGG—! SWISH—!

Raye and Elias’ swords met again and again, neither side giving an inch. Sparks flew, the heat of Raye’s flames colliding against the overwhelming power of Elias’s golden aura.

FWOOSH—

Elias launched a thrust, holding his sword with both hands, aiming at Raye’s heart.

TIINNK—!

Raye deflected it upward with [Nyx].

Fwish—

The blade of Elias’ sword brushed past the left side of his face.

"..."

But Raye didn’t flinch or even showed any fear.

His eyes remained focused on Elias.

And instead—

SLASH—

He swung [Celestria] diagonally upward, trying to cut off Elias’ right arm!

"?!"

Elias realized what Raye was planning to do.

"Urgh...!"

He forcefully twisted his body to the left, and in doing so—

Fwoosh—

Raye hit nothing but the air.

Then, as his sword was beside Raye’s face—

Swish—

Elias followed a quick horizontal slash!

"Ugh!"

Fwip—

Raye crouched down as a response.

And from there, with his [Nyx] that is engulfed in flame—

SWOOSH—

Raye heavily slashed horizontally toward Elias’ waist, he was trying to cut him in half!

Though...

TINGG—!

Elias’ hands flowed smoothly, he immediately moved his sword down and blocked Raye’s attack!

"Keuk...!"

He groaned as the force behind the attack transferred to his arms.

’Ugh, he can still keep up?’

Raye thought, his brows furrowing.

Elias’s defense was airtight, his movements too precise, too refined. Every attack Raye threw at him was met with a perfectly timed counter.

But—

"[Flash]"

Swish—! 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Raye vanished once more!

SCHWING—!

Then a flaming arc cut through the air, targeting Elias’s exposed right side of the body!

"...!"

Elias was shocked seeing that, but immediately responding—

FWOOOSH—!

Golden aura exploded from his body, creating a powerful shockwave that pushed Raye back before he could land a clean hit!

"Tch—!"

Raye skidded across the ground, flames flickering wildly around him.

And before he could stabilize—

FWOOSH—!

Elias closed the distance in an instant, his sword glowing even brighter.

And opening his mouth—

"I admit that I would’ve lost if you were in your perfect condition."

He muttered.

SWOOOSH—

And then he swung down his longsword!

BOOOOM—!!!

"GARGH...!?"

Raye barely managed to cross his blades in time, blocking the devastating strike—

But—

CRACK—!

The sheer force cracked the ground beneath him!

’Damn it… I’m losing strength!’

Raye gritted his teeth, his arms trembling from the impact.

He had to move.

Now!

FWIP—

He twisted his body to the side, slipping out of Elias’s pressure range—

Then—

FWOOSH—!!!

Raye intensified the mana he’s using on his skill, [Blaze]!

SWAAAAAAAAHH—!

A massive burst of flames erupted from his swords, engulfing the space between him and Elias!

WHOOSH—!

Elias jumped back, his golden aura flaring to shield him from the scorching heat.

Tap-

And when they recovered their proper stance—

"..."

The two of them locked eyes again.

Both of them are breathing heavily.

Both are also refusing to fall.

"…Still standing?"

Elias muttered, rolling his shoulders.

And with a shrug...

"As you can see, you’re not strong enough to make me lie down."

Raye replied to him.

Elias got annoyed by his words, he decided to shut up for now.

Then, after a while of staring at each other...

FWOOOSH—!!!

They both vanished.

TIIIIINGG—!!!

A deafening impact shook the arena as they clashed once more.

TANGG—! TINGG—! SWOOSH—!

Blow after blow, faster and faster, their weapons became blurs of light and fire.

And then—

FWIP—

Raye suddenly dropped low, spinning on his heel—

FWOOSH—!!!

A sweeping strike aimed at Elias’s legs!

But—

Bam-!

Elias leapt over it effortlessly, flipping mid-air—

And with a flick of his wrist—

FWAAAA—!!!

A golden energy slash tore through the ground below!

BOOOOM—!!!

The attack exploded upon impact, sending debris flying everywhere!

Raye barely dodged in time, flipping backward and landing a few meters away.

"Huff... Haaaaa..."

His breathing was a lot heavier and rough now.

His mana reserves were nearing empty.

’… I need to finish this now…’

Raye thought.

He had to end it.

His condition was just running worse.

And after seeing Raye like that—

"…I see."

Elias mumbled, his eyes narrowed.

"You’re running out of gas."

He said, looking at Raye.

Then, smiling—

FWOOOOOO—!!!

His golden aura intensified, wrapping around his entire body like a raging storm.

"I can still go on."

Elias confidently declared.

"..."

Raye just ignored him.

Fwip-

Instead, he fixed the hold on his weapons.

And just then—

BAM—!!!

Elias dashed forward, his sword cutting through the air like a golden comet!

Tap—

Raye planted his right foot forward.

And violently twisting his body—

SWOOOSH—!!!

He slashed both his swords horizontally, from his right to left!

Raye decided to meet Elias’ attack head-on!

BOOOM—!!!

Flames and aura exploded when their weapons clashed!

"Urgh?!"

"Gakk...?!"

Raye and Elias groaned in pain, their arms tingled.

But ignoring that—

TANGG—! TINGG—! CLANG—!

They just started clashing again!

A flurry of blows.

Each one faster, sharper, deadlier than the last.

Raye twisted—struck—vanished—reappeared—attacked again.

Elias countered—blocked—parried—responded with brutal precision.

Neither gave in.

TANG—!

"Gugh...!"

Raye just blocked a heavy downward slash from Elias with [Celestria].

Fwish—!!

"Ughh... Fuck!"

Elias just dodged Raye’s counter thrust with [Nyx], it was aimed at his head.

A small cut appeared on his cheek.

Neither of them backed down.

And then—

FWOOOSH—!!!

They both struck at the same time—

BOOOOOOM—!!!

A massive shockwave erupted, sending them flying to opposite sides of the arena!

"Ugh?!"

"Keuk?!"

Raye and Elias skidded across the ground.

Dust and smoke filled the arena platform.

And when it cleared—

"..."

"..."

Both of them were still standing.

Panting.

Bleeding.

Though, Raye was barely able to move.

The flames on his swords were flickering, weak—one could literally blow them out right now!

Tap—

Elias took a step forward.

Tap—

Raye did the same.

One last attack.

One final strike to decide it all.

They locked eyes—

And then—

BAAM—!!!

They charged at each other.

A golden streak.

A fiery blur.

And the moment their swords met—

BOOOOM—!!!

The entire arena trembled.

And then—

"..."

Swoosh~

Silence.

"…!!"

The crowd held their breath.

The outcome was decided.

Who had won?

Who had fallen?

The dust began to settle.

And after a while—

"..."

They saw Raye!

The flames on his swords had completely disappeared!

Both his arms were hanging down—he was barely holding onto his weapons!

Spish—

Blood gushed from his nose, ears, and mouth!

And soon enough—

"..."

It started dripping from his eyes too, staining his face red!

Right now, Raye looked like he was crying blood.

And as that was happening—

"..."

They saw Elias!

He was standing a meter behind Raye.

Motionless.

His posture frozen in place—his stance looked like he had just finished a slash!

His eyes are fierce, his expression intense.

"..."

Elias was gripping his longsword tightly with both hands.

Everyone thought Elias had won.

After all, just look at Raye—his flames were gone, his arms were down, and blood was dripping from his face like he was crying in crimson.

How could he still stand?

There was no way he had won.

And yet, as the students Zion were feeling a bit of despair because of that—

"Shit..."

Elias weakly cursed.

Then—

Thud—

His body collapsed forward, hitting the ground hard!

"...?!"

A pool of blood began forming beneath him.

And as the crowd gasped in shock—

They saw it.

A massive, deep cut ran across Elias’ stomach, fresh and gushing with blood!

It was from the last exchange against Raye.

The final clash had decided it.

And the result was clear!

"Raye won!"

Charles’ voice boomed through the arena.

"..."

Silence.

The entire stadium was quiet.

No cheers.

No claps.

Nothing.

Everyone was speechless, struggling to process what had just happened.

The one who looked like he was moments away from collapsing…

Had won.

And the one who looked victorious…

Had fallen.

A battle between two brothers—decided in a way no one expected.

Then—

"WOOOOOAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"WAAAAHHHHH!!!"

The silence broke.

The arena erupted!

Roars of excitement filled the air.

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The crowd screamed, cheered, and chanted Raye’s name.

"RAYE! RAYE! RAYE!!"

"WHAT WAS THAT?!!"

"THAT WAS AWESOME!!!"

"RAYE YOU SON OF A BITCH, I LOVE YOU!!!"

"FUCK MY EARS, THAT WAS INSANE!!! ACK...!"

Their voices shook the entire stadium.

And Raye—

"Haaaaaa..."

He let out a tired sigh.

Then, ignoring everyone in the crowd...

"..."

Raye looked at the system window that suddenly appeared in front of him just now.

=====

Sudden Quest: Blood versus Blood (Complete)

-----

Reward: +5 points to all stats!

=====

’Heh...’

A small smile formed on his face after reading that.

And slightly opening his mouth—

"Status."

Raye muttered.

Swoosh—

Then his status window appeared in front him!

"..."

Raye looked at it for a few seconds, then, nodding his head—

Fwish—

He put [Nyx] into his spatial ring.

And with a soft glow...

Fwoosh—

[Celestria] transformed into a staff.

And using it as a walking stick—

Tap— tap— tap—

Raye casually walked away from Elias.

’I want to sleep.’

He muttered on his head, his vision hazy.

Raye was really exhausted that he feels like passing out at any moment now.