ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 152: THE NEW UPSTART

The dueling grounds of Pacesetters Academy were alive with the hum of anticipation. A large crowd of students had gathered around one of the sparring platforms, their voices buzzing with excitement. Whispers about Kaelen’s challenger floated through the air, with many discussing the potential of the one who dared to challenge the academy’s rising star.

"I heard this guy’s been blazing through the ranks. They say he hasn’t lost a single duel since he enrolled," one student said, leaning in to his friend.

"Yeah, but it’s Kaelen he’s challenging," the friend replied skeptically. "Kaelen’s been through stuff that none of us could even dream of. The guy stood up to Carmilia herself—and threatened her."

Another student chimed in. "I remember that. It was right after he became an internal student. Everyone hated him back then, thought he was too cocky. But now... after what he did during the Dragonyx incident, he’s practically a hero. The second strongest swordsman in the whole academy."

The conversation turned into murmurs of respect, mixed with awe and curiosity about how the upcoming duel would play out. Some still couldn’t believe how far Kaelen had come—from being the academy’s most hated student to a savior who stood toe-to-toe with the terrifying Dragonyx twins.

But not everyone was impressed.

On the sparring platform, the challenger stood silently, radiating an aura of quiet confidence. He was a figure of solitude, standing tall with his back straight, a sword sheathed at his side. His expression was unreadable, and his eyes remained fixed on the horizon. Despite the surrounding chatter and excitement, he seemed completely unaffected by the reputation and legacy of Kaelen Grey.

His presence alone was enough to command respect. Though he gave off no flamboyant energy, the aura of discipline and mastery surrounding him was unmistakable. It was as if he existed in a different realm from the rest of the academy—calm, focused, and indifferent to the weight of Kaelen’s growing legend.

The students around the platform continued to speculate, some in awe of Kaelen’s recent accomplishments, others intrigued by this challenger who had remained mysterious yet powerful.

"This guy’s serious," one of the students whispered, watching the challenger closely. "He’s not like the others who challenged their upperclassmen before. He’s quiet, but there’s something about him..."

As the minutes passed, the tension in the air grew thicker, and the crowd eagerly awaited Kaelen’s arrival. The challenger’s solitary aura, his calm stance, and the blade at his waist seemed to draw even more attention with each passing second. It was as though the academy was on the cusp of witnessing a confrontation that would be talked about for years.

The only question now was: would Kaelen rise to the challenge and cement his status even further, or would this mysterious challenger prove to be his downfall?

"Look!! Kaelen’s here!!"

The crowd’s whispers suddenly quieted as Kaelen finally arrived at the dueling grounds. He descended gracefully onto the sparring platform, his presence instantly drawing the attention of everyone around. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as his boots touched the stone surface, and his eyes met those of his challenger.

The moment Kaelen landed, the challenger—Christopher—opened his eyes. They were brimming with an intense battle spirit, sharper than any blade. The calm and solitary aura that had previously surrounded him erupted into something fierce and fiery. Without wasting a second, Christopher unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight as it cut through the air. His stance was unique, a refined swordsmanship pose that immediately spoke of mastery.

"Enlighten me senior!"

Christopher’s confidence was palpable. His posture was perfect, his grip steady, and his eyes locked onto Kaelen with a singular focus as he spoke loudly. The aura of a sword prodigy radiated from him—his very presence on the platform seemed to confirm why he was considered one of the academy’s finest.

’Senior?’

Kaelen, though taken aback for a brief moment by Christopher’s aura, didn’t falter. He could sense the skill and power behind Christopher’s stance, but it only made him more resolute. Kaelen planted his feet firmly, adjusting his grip on the Blade of Eternity, its royal blue glow pulsating faintly as he prepared to engage.

"As you wish!"

The duel began with an explosive start.

Christopher launched forward, his sword moving in swift, precise strikes, each one aimed at exploiting any potential weakness in Kaelen’s defense. His attacks were fluid and relentless, each slash delivered with the precision and confidence of someone who had honed their craft for years. The crowd could barely keep up with the speed of his movements, their eyes flickering back and forth between the two fighters.

"What speed!?"

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"What precision!!?"

"Why does this fight look like a duel between two master swordsmen instead of two students!!?"

Kaelen, however, was no ordinary swordsman. He met each of Christopher’s strikes head-on, parrying and countering with his own calculated precision. His experience in real battles, especially against enemies like Aron and Selene, had sharpened his instincts. Each clash of their blades sent ripples of force through the air, the sound of metal against metal echoing across the dueling grounds.

Clank!! Clank!! Clank!!

Despite Christopher’s reputation as a sword prodigy, it was clear that Kaelen was no longer the same student he had once been. His movements were deliberate, and his strikes carried the weight of mastery. However, Christopher’s unyielding battle spirit pushed Kaelen to fight at his full strength. It was a duel between two exceptional swordsmen, each testing the other’s limits.

"The fight is about to come to an end" While closely observing the battle between Kaelen and Christopher, Eldric suddenly commented with a light smirk on his face.

"Huh? How do you know about that?" Lila quickly asked with a surprised and skeptical look mixed up on her face. But Eldric didn’t reply immediately as he first smirked more mysteriously before he replied.

"Because am also a swordsman"

As the fight continued, Kaelen could feel the rhythm of Christopher’s attacks, the cadence of his strikes. Christopher was good—exceptionally good—but Kaelen was beginning to see the openings, the slight hesitations in his form. It was time to end this.

Kaelen focused his energy, drawing on the power he had cultivated through his many battles. With a single, fluid motion, he prepared for a move that had become his signature: the Thousand-Fold Slash. His body moved with lightning speed as his blade seemed to multiply in the air, delivering hundreds of strikes in the blink of an eye, each one faster and more powerful than the last.

Christopher’s eyes widened as he realized what was happening, but it was too late. The sheer force and speed of Kaelen’s technique overwhelmed him. His sword was knocked from his hands as Kaelen’s final strike sent him stumbling backward.

"Urgh.."

In the end, Christopher was left standing at the edge of the platform, breathless and stunned, his eyes still wide in disbelief. The duel had been intense, but Kaelen had emerged victorious, his swordsmanship proving to be on another level entirely.

"Woah!! Kaelen won!!"

"I knew this would happen!! Sh*t, why didn’t I place a bet in this duel, damn it!!"

"Looks like this is the end of the sword prodigy winning streak"

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, both in awe of Kaelen’s victory and the ferocity of the battle they had just witnessed. Christopher, though defeated, bowed his head respectfully, acknowledging Kaelen’s superior skill.

"Thank you for the enlightenment senior"

Kaelen stood tall, the Blade of Eternity humming with power in his hand. He had taken the duel seriously, and in doing so, he had proven once again why he was one of the academy’s strongest. But their is one particular problem inwhich he is currently battling.

’Am now a senior?’