ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 173: THE FIRE IN FLAMES

With a defiant glare, Bane gritted his teeth, refusing to let his pride crumble. The inferiority in his flames only seemed to stoke his anger, fueling him to retaliate. Channeling his mana, he unleashed a powerful, azure fire spell, its flames roaring like a blazing inferno, sending waves of heat across the platform.

"I don’t think this will be considered as a warm up for me"

But Guinevere stood unfazed, her eyes cold and steady. With a casual wave of her hand, she summoned her own flames—a simple red fire, one she barely considered worth her focus. Yet, as her flames collided with Bane’s, the impact was immediate and devastating. Her red flames devoured his blue fire, swallowing it whole and erupting in a surge of searing heat. The air crackled with intensity as her flames surged forward, engulfing Bane and leaving a trail of scorched ground in their wake.

Boom! Boom!

The onlookers gasped in astonishment. The raw power in what Guinevere viewed as a basic spell outmatched Bane’s best, setting him ablaze in moments. Panicked, Bane stumbled back, frantically attempting to douse the fire clinging to his robes. Sylvester watched, his expression caught somewhere between shock and awe, as he signaled for Bane to withdraw if he needed, but Bane’s pride wouldn’t let him.

’How dare she disrespect me in such manner?’ Bane eventually thought with a maddened look on his face as he glare furiously at Guinevere

But Guinevere’s flames continued to dance around him, each flicker reminding everyone present of the stark difference in their abilities. She gave Bane a look, both apathetic and unyielding. "Still think you’re a match for me, Bane?" she called, her tone laced with calm authority, echoing the truth he didn’t want to admit.

"You will pay dearly for underestimating me"

In one desperate, defiant move, Bane gritted his teeth and activated his hidden trump card—the Flame Body Constitution. In an instant, his flames shifted from deep royal blue to a blinding, vibrant green. The flames pulsed with a raw, unrestrained power, radiating an intense heat that made the very air waver.

Up in the clouds, Vice Chancellor Reeves and the other academy pillars leaned forward, wide-eyed with shock. General Cao’s brows furrowed as he muttered, "An elemental constitution… I haven’t seen anyone awaken one in years."

Even Morris, standing among the top students, felt the surge in Bane’s flames, which danced with a force few could control. His own attunement to elemental power allowed him to sense the strength flowing through Bane, and he clenched his fists, quietly intrigued yet surprised by the intensity of Guinevere’s adversary.

But on the platform, Guinevere’s expression shifted. She could sense Bane’s resolve now, his intent burning through the flames that engulfed him. And for the first time in this duel, she acknowledged him as a worthy opponent.

"Fine, Bane," she said, a hint of steel in her voice. "If you want me to take you seriously, I’ll oblige." She raised her hand, summoning the Lehavot flame to her fingertips. Her flames flared to life, each hue—red, blue, and a glint of gold—responding to her call.

As Guinevere summoned the Lehavot, her flames ignited with a life of their own, casting an ethereal glow across the entire platform. Every flame in the area—from the torches lining the arena to the flickering embers scattered from previous duels—immediately gravitated toward her, pulled in by her command. The crowd erupted in awe and disbelief as flames bent to her will, defying their very nature to converge around her.

’No!! I refuse to yield!!’

Even Bane’s once-defiant green flames quivered, rebelling against his control as if yearning to join Guinevere’s all-consuming fire. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the invisible force, and narrowed his eyes with renewed determination. Summoning all his remaining strength, he cast a powerful fire spell, flames erupting and spiraling toward Guinevere with blazing intensity.

But as the spell neared her, something extraordinary happened. Instead of colliding, the flames twisted, as if charmed, spiraling into the Lehavot’s embrace. The spell vanished, devoured by her flame as if it had never existed.

The crowd gasped, stunned into silence, and even the Vice Chancellor’s face turned grim with awe. General Cao let out a low, admiring murmur, "This… is the true strength of the Lehavot."

Bane staggered back, disbelief flickering in his eyes. For the first time, he sensed the true gulf between them. And Guinevere, her eyes blazing with the Lehavot’s radiance, stood undaunted, the embodiment of flame itself.

After the Lehavot’s blaze had left its searing mark on the platform, Bane finally let his shoulders sag, the dejected look on his face speaking louder than any words. He extinguished his green flames with a slow, reluctant motion, watching as Guinevere did the same with her ethereal flames. The arena fell into an expectant silence, all eyes fixed on Sylvester, who cleared his throat before announcing Guinevere the victor.

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As Guinevere turned to leave, she paused, glancing back at Bane with a resolute gaze. "Power isn’t just strength," she said, her voice both soft and unyielding. "It’s also purpose. My brother knew that well—and he lived for something greater than himself. But since he’s gone, you’ve done nothing but scramble to fill a void without considering what he stood for."

Her words struck deep, leaving Bane rooted in place as if her flames had left him scorched once more. The weight of her statement settled on him, a haunting echo of all he’d done in his friend’s absence. Faces flashed through his mind—friends he’d disregarded, rivals he’d trampled, all to reclaim a status that suddenly felt hollow.

’What have I become?’

As Guinevere descended from the platform, Bane remained frozen, a revelation dawning over him. He’d lost sight of who he once was, blinded by pride and a need to prove himself. But in that moment, he suddenly clenched his fists as he vowed silently to make amends, to rebuild and honor the legacy of the friend he had betrayed in his desperation.