The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 211: A Little Spar (Part 3)

Cecilia slumped to the ground, completely drained. Her body felt like dead weight as she sank into the earth beneath her, the impact of the battle finally catching up with her.

One of her teammates rushed to her side, offering his arm to help lift her from the field.

Still, despite the fatigue that pulled at her, Cole’s words echoed in her mind.

You’re not even close. This is nothing compared to what you’ll face."* The wisdom behind his challenge lingered. There had been something almost... pitying in his tone, as if he knew they were out of their depth.

Cole, meanwhile, stood off to the side, his mind already processing the situation. He tucked his blade back into its sheath, the quick fight leaving him with more questions than answers. The battle had been easy, almost too easy, and yet there was an unsettling sense that something was off.

’This can’t be the group that took down the Boss,’ he thought. His suspicions grew as he ran through the faces of the defeated in his mind, ’I’m sure of it, it was probably Rem,’

But just as he was about to turn and walk off, a voice called out to him, breaking his thoughts.

"Hold on a second," the voice said, smooth and melodic. It was feminine, but there was a steel edge to it that caught his attention.

He turned toward the Onio representative, the one who’d been standing quietly at the edge of the field. She was hard to miss — her long, flowing blue hair shimmered like a waterfall, cascading down past her shoulders.

Her features were sharp, almost sculptural, and her body was slender but strong. A set of daggers hung from her waistband, suggesting she wasn’t the type to wield a longsword like Cole, or anyone else on the field.

"Would you mind indulging me in a spar?" she asked. Her voice held a playful note, but there was something more in her eyes — a sharp, calculating look that piqued Cole’s curiosity.

Her crimson eyes sparkled, the kind of gaze that seemed to pierce through layers of reality and into something deeper.

He found himself gulping involuntarily, and for a moment, he debated turning her down.

His mission was urgent, the information he had was crucial, and he needed to report back to the mayor.

Yet there was something about her invitation that felt... significant.

"Sure," Cole replied, though his voice had an edge of caution. He raised both arms, preparing for whatever she might throw at him.

He didn’t expect her to hold back. After all, why would she? She was confident — too confident, and in this line of work, that usually meant trouble.

She moved a little away from him, getting into position.

Her stance was relaxed at first, but there was no mistaking the readiness in the way her muscles tensed beneath the fabric of her clothes.

Cole didn’t know exactly what kind of fighter she was, but her aura... that was undeniable.

He couldn’t sense magical or soul energy the way some others could, but there was an undeniable pressure in the air.

It wasn’t quite oppressive, but it was heavy — electric even.

It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and the ground beneath his feet almost seemed to hum in response to her presence.

Still, he remained unfazed. He’d faced things far worse than whatever she could throw at him. ’No way she’s stronger than Rem,’ he thought. ’That’s completely impossible, although Rem was still from Onio,’

With a swift motion, she dashed toward him, her body leaving a faint shimmer in the air behind her as her soul energy surged to life.

It was raw, powerful and tangible — a force that stirred the very air around her.

But Cole didn’t flinch. He couldn’t see it but he could feel it, yet he didn’t let it distract him.

He focused, his mind sharpening, every muscle preparing for what was to come.

She closed the distance quickly, and as they collided mid-air, the impact was deafening.

The sound of their clash reverberated through the field, creating a shockwave that rippled through the ground, leaving behind a network of red sparks where their energies collided. For a split second, Cole felt the force of her soul energy surge against him like a tidal wave, but his own will, his own control, anchored him in place.

The field trembled beneath them, the ground threatening to split open where they stood, but Cole remained steadfast, his body unyielding.

He didn’t use rely on soul energy like she did. He had learned long ago that there was more to combat than just power — there was timing, precision, and an understanding of the opponent’s weaknesses.

Her eyes flashed with recognition as they both skidded backward, creating distance between themselves. There was a moment of stillness between them—an almost mutual respect that lingered in the air. She didn’t seem frustrated, nor did she seem impressed. She was calculating, analyzing, waiting for the next move.

"You’re good," she said, the faintest hint of a smile curling at the corner of her lips. "I didn’t expect you to hold your ground so well. But this is only the beginning."

Cole raised an eyebrow, his guard still up. "I don’t have time for games."

"I’m not playing," she said, her voice firm now. "But I think you know something we all need to hear."

She was right. The tension in the air wasn’t just from the spar — it was the kind of pressure that only came when something much bigger was at stake.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Cole snapped, his eyes narrowing as he raised his blade. The tension in his stance was unmistakable, his grip tightening. "I don’t know anything."

The Onio Representative studied him carefully, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"There’s a certain look in your eyes, Cole. You’re hiding something, aren’t you? Something you don’t want to share..." She let the words hang in the air, her tone a little too knowing. "Is it about Re—"

Before she could finish the sentence, Cole made his move.

His body blurred as he launched himself forward with blinding speed, catching the young woman off guard.

She barely had time to react before he was right in front of her, his blade slicing toward her head.

"Finally getting serious, huh?" she teased, her voice laced with amusement, though her eyes gleamed with concentration.

She raised her blades in defense, her soul energy wrapping around them like a protective aura. But Cole’s strike was too fast, too precise.

His blade cut through both of her daggers with effortless force, the metal shattering like glass under the pressure.

The Onio Representative staggered back, surprise flickering across her features before she quickly regained her balance. She skidded to a halt, just as Cole’s blade came down again, inches from her face.

With a flash of movement, she pulled a third dagger from her waistband, the blade shimmering as she infused it with her soul energy.

The crackling aura around it was nearly as intense as Cole’s speed. With a swift, practiced motion, she parried his attack, the clash of energy reverberating in the air.

"Not bad," she said, her voice steady despite the close call. Her smirk never wavered as she tested the weight of her new stance, sizing him up.

Cole didn’t flinch, though a flicker of admiration passed through his eyes. He shifted, preparing for another strike.

The fight had only just begun, and if she thought she had the upper hand, she was mistaken.

Her daggers gleamed in the dim light, their energy crackling. "This will be interesting," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Cole’s lips curved into a cold smile. "I was hoping you’d say that."

They both unleashed a flurry of strikes, blades cutting through the air with explosive force.

Steel met steel with deafening clashes — one strike charged with soul energy, the other raw, unyielding power.

Yet, despite their differences, each blow hit with equal intensity. Sparks flew, lighting up the space around them as shockwaves rippled through the air.

"Your strength is... interesting," she said, momentarily pulling back to rest.

With a swift motion, she slashed forward again, her dagger glowing with energy.

Cole met her attack with perfect timing, his blade moving like an extension of himself.

The impact sent another shockwave through the air, shaking the ground beneath them.

Without pausing, Cole grinned and pulled the chains at his waist, sending his blade spinning in a fluid arc. Each rotation sent small shockwaves rippling outward, the air crackling with power.

The sound was almost musical, like the hum of a storm about to break out.

"Hope you’re ready," Cole said, his voice low, almost predatory, as he locked eyes with her. His body shifted, preparing for the next move.

Her smile remained, though there was a flicker of respect in her gaze. "Bring it."