ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 177: THE TOP 10 VALEN STUDENTS

"Look!! Broadway is actually challenging that Kelvin guy!"

"How many times have that guy been challenged now? This should be the fifth one right?"

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"Well he deserved it, how can he just come out of nowhere and be the 3rd strongest student in the Academy?"

"Yeah right, just thinking about it right now is infuriating me"

The Valen Military Academy’s main platform was a scene of anticipation and tension, with hundreds of students gathered to witness the duel between Kelvin and towering figure known as Broadway. This was no ordinary match. Kelvin, wielding his ominous dark scythe and empowered by the ancient Orb of Chaos, stood against Broadway, a seasoned warrior famed for his mastery of the broadsword arts.

Broadway rested his massive broadsword on his shoulder, smirking at Kelvin. "You don’t look much like a soldier to me," he taunted, his voice booming across the arena. "What’s with the edgy scythe? Trying to scare me?"

Kelvin remained silent, his now crimson eyes focused solely on his opponent. His presence was chilling, an aura of chaos seeping into the air around him, making even the spectators feel uneasy. The Orb of Chaos, embedded within his chest, pulsed faintly with an ancient, ominous glow in rhythm with the dark scythe.

Broadway planted his broadsword into the platform with a loud clang, addressing the crowd. "Let’s make this quick. I’ve got better things to do than babysit someone pretending to be a warrior."

"Begin!" And just then, out of a blue did middle aged who hovered not too far away from the platform exclaimed with a dignified look on his face.

"I wonder if Commander Alaric is going to step in again?"

"I hope not"

Apparently, this middle aged man is named Commander Alaric Vayne who looks like a tall, broad-shouldered man with a chiseled jawline and piercing gray eyes that seem to cut through deception. His short, silver-streaked black hair is neatly combed back, and a faint scar runs from his left temple to just above his cheekbone, a testament to battles past. His dark military uniform, adorned with gleaming medals and the silver phoenix insignia of the academy, adds to his imposing aura. A black cape with crimson trim drapes over his shoulders, completing his formidable appearance.

And in an instant, The duel commenced as the two students pounced on each other.

Broadway was the first to move, dashing forward with surprising speed for someone of his size. He swung his broadsword in a diagonal slash, its sheer weight and force threatening to split Kelvin in half.

But Kelvin didn’t flinch. With a deft motion, he twirled his dark scythe, the Orb of Chaos emitting a sudden, eerie pulse. The blade of the scythe clashed with the broadsword, creating a shockwave that sent loose debris flying.

Boom!!

The crowd gasped as Kelvin held his ground against Broadway’s raw power.

"Not bad," Broadway grunted, stepping back and readying another strike. "But let’s see how you handle this!"

Broadway’s broadsword glowed faintly as he activated a mana-infused technique. He lunged forward, his weapon vibrating with destructive energy as he aimed a devastating horizontal slash at Kelvin.

Obviously noticing what Broadway is trying to do, Kelvin spun his scythe with deadly elegance, deflecting the attack with precision. The Orb of Chaos pulsed again, and a ripple of dark energy flowed outward, forcing Broadway to retreat several steps.

Kelvin’s voice cut through the stunned silence. "You think brute strength alone will save you?" His scythe began to hum with chaotic energy, the Orb in him glowing brighter as he infused it with his mana.

The ground beneath Kelvin cracked as tendrils of darkness erupted, snaking toward Broadway with malicious intent. Broadway roared, raising his broadsword high to sever the tendrils, but their speed and unpredictability kept him on the defensive.

"Hmph!!"

Kelvin lunged forward, his scythe arcing in a deadly swing. Broadway barely managed to parry, but the impact sent him skidding backward.

"You’re stronger than I thought," Broadway admitted, panting slightly. "But I’m not done yet!"

Broadway slammed his broadsword into the ground, creating a shockwave of raw mana that disrupted the tendrils and forced Kelvin to leap back. Seizing the opening, Broadway launched a barrage of heavy, consecutive strikes, each one aiming to overwhelm Kelvin.

But Kelvin was more adept as he moved like a shadow, dodging and weaving with calculated precision. His scythe’s dark blade seemed to glide effortlessly through the air, countering Broadway’s aggressive offense.

As the battle raged on, the crowd was left speechless by Kelvin’s composure and control. The chaos emanating from the Orb of Chaos grew stronger, creating an oppressive atmosphere that weighed heavily on everyone present.

"Enough playing around," Kelvin said coldly. He raised his scythe, and the Orb emitted a burst of dark energy that enveloped the platform. Within the sphere of chaos, Broadway struggled to maintain his footing, his movements growing sluggish under the overwhelming pressure.

Kelvin’s voice echoed ominously through the darkness. "This is the power of chaos. It consumes everything, including you."

"Ahh!!"

Broadway roared defiantly, pouring all his mana into a final attack. His broadsword erupted with light, cutting through the darkness in a blinding arc as he aimed for Kelvin’s position.

"Too slow"

But Kelvin was faster. Appearing behind Broadway with a burst of speed, Kelvin swung his scythe in a controlled motion, stopping just short of his opponent’s neck. The darkness dissipated as quickly as it had come, leaving the platform scarred and the crowd in stunned silence.

Broadway froze, realizing his defeat.

The instructor’s voice suddenly broke the tension. "Winner: Kelvin."

The crowd erupted in a mix of whispers and murmurs. Kelvin stepped back, lowering his scythe as the Orb’s glow on him dimmed. Broadway turned to face him, his expression a mix of frustration and respect.

"You’re strong," Broadway admitted, extending a hand. "Guess I underestimated you."

"Next time, don’t" But Kelvin coldly replied as he refused accept the handshake while he walked off the platform. Although this act stunned Broadway, he only made an awkward laugh as he stood up to his two feets.

As Broadway left the platform, Kelvin turned to the crowd, his gaze scanning the faces before him. He knew this was only the beginning. His fight wasn’t just for glory—it was for vengeance, for justice, for his sister.

Meanwhile, while a conclusion befell on the duel between Kelvin and Broadway, High above, shrouded in the clouds where mortal eyes couldn’t see, the man who brought Kelvin to the academy watched with a hint of satisfaction in his gaze. Arms folded, he observed the aftermath of the duel, his eyes tracking Kelvin’s movements across the platform. The Orb of Chaos, swirling with shadow and crackling with ancient, raw energy, pulsed faintly around Kelvin’s body as if alive, resonating with its wielder’s growing mastery.

A faint smile curled at the edge of the man’s lips. "He’s beginning to understand," he murmured to himself, noting how Kelvin had woven the orb’s dark power seamlessly into his attacks. Every strike of Kelvin’s scythe had been sharper, each movement swifter, and he had wielded the chaotic energy not as a burden but as an extension of himself.

For a moment, the man’s expression softened as if considering something far beyond the present. Kelvin’s skill and ruthlessness would be indispensable, he thought, his satisfaction mingling with a tinge of anticipation. In time, this young warrior would serve a purpose far greater than he could imagine.

"The next challenger should step forward!"

Commander Alaric Vhen scanned the crowd from his post as he announced, his sharp eyes searching for any brave enough to step onto the platform. The silence stretched on, unbroken by even a murmur from the watching students. Ten minutes ticked by, each one amplifying the crowd’s unease under his steady gaze. Alaric’s lips formed a tight line, his patience wearing thin as the weight of his unspoken expectation bore down on everyone present.

Finally, he let out a slow breath and nodded in a resigned but resolute manner. "It seems no one else is willing to step up," he declared, his deep voice carrying over the assembled crowd with quiet authority. "With this, we conclude the tryouts. Those who have proven themselves today will represent the Valen Military Academy in the upcoming convention."

With that, Alaric descended from his position, his boots striking the platform with a firm, unyielding echo. The students shifted uneasily as he passed, his gaze sweeping over them with one last look of judgment. They could feel the weight of his expectations settle onto those who had dared to fight that day, a reminder of the responsibilities each of them now bore.

"Nice performance everyone"

But suddenly, The air shifted as a faint hum filled the sky above the platform. In an instant, two powerful figures descended from the clouds, their presence commanding the undivided attention of every student. Darius, the second prince and Chancellor of the Valen Military Academy, landed with an almost ethereal grace, his crimson and silver robes flowing around him, projecting both elegance and undeniable authority. Beside him stood the headmaster, his expression calm yet sharp, as if he could pierce through the very souls of those watching.

Darius took a step forward, his gaze sweeping across the platform and resting momentarily on each of the top 10 strongest students who stood proudly behind it. "Today, I have witnessed the strength, resilience, and spirit that makes this academy a bastion of Aetheris. Each of you who stood upon this platform demonstrated not only your prowess but also the discipline that defines a true soldier," he began, his voice rich with both pride and purpose.

The students hung onto every word, feeling the weight of his presence and the strength behind his speech. "But know this," he continued, "your journey has only just begun. The Battle Convention is no ordinary tournament. It is a stage that will test your endurance, your cunning, and the very limits of your power."

He paused, letting his words sink in before his gaze fell on the top 10 students, Kelvin among them. "The ten of you," he said, "are the elite chosen to uphold our academy’s honor. Stand tall, fight with courage, and let no one doubt the strength of the Valen Military Academy."

With a subtle gesture, he beckoned the top 10 students forward. "Come," he commanded, his tone as firm as steel, "follow me. From this point on, your training will intensify, and your bond as comrades will become as vital as your own strength."

Kelvin exchanged a glance with his peers, each of them feeling a mix of anticipation and pride. Together, they stepped forward, their footsteps echoing on the platform as they followed Darius and the headmaster, aware that they were moving toward a future that would demand nothing short of their very best.