The Moonlight Swordsman



As the tension rose, Katerud and Ragnath charged together, their movements perfectly in sync, while Aeris flew gracefully above, her wings giving her an edge from above. 

Behind them, Marina stood firm, her gaze focused on Aizel, prepared to launch her own attack at any moment. 

With a resounding thud, Ragnath's gauntleted hands struck the ground, causing a surge of magical energy to ripple through the ground.

In response, an array of deadly earth spikes, their tips gleaming with metallic sharpness, sprouted from the ground and hurtled relentlessly toward Aizel.

Katerud ran alongside the dangerous earth spikes while energy crackled and lightning danced around him. At the same time, he sent bolts of electricity toward Aizel.

Aizel's swift movements allowed him to evade the approaching spikes with acrobatic finesse, and he deflected the incoming lightning bolts with mastery over his own element. 

Ragnath, however, propelled himself like a rocket with the help of Aeirs wind magic and delivered a powerful punch straight at Aizel's abdomen just as Aizel's focus was on these dangers. 

The contact made him stumble back and lose his balance for a moment.

As Aizel recovered from the powerful punch, he found himself entangled by numerous water tendrils that coiled around his legs with a vice-like grip.

The aquatic restraints instantly pulled him off the ground and held him in midair. 

"AERIS, DO IT NOW," Marina shouted.

Aizel's heart raced as he felt the rush of wind carrying him higher through the air, lifted by Aeris's magical manipulation. 

He took a quick look at her wings, which seemed to turn into sharp, ready-to-strike blades.

Suspended in mid-air, he knew he had to act quickly to evade the impending attack.

In a split second, Sekki morphed into a massive, sturdy shield that intercepted the razor-sharp feathers. 

*Clang*

When the metal and feathers hit each other, they made a loud clang, and Aizel felt the pressure on his body ease as he was freed from the aerial hold. 

As soon as gravity grabbed him, Aizel began descending rapidly toward the ground. 

When he looked up, he saw that Aeris was gracefully changing her path. She was gliding downward with lethal intent aimed directly at him.

Sekki quickly changed into a shining black katana that Aizel held tightly in his hands. His focus remained fixed on Aeris, who was poised to strike. 

A burst of fire surged from his legs, causing him to shift his trajectory just enough to evade her attack. 

Seizing the moment, Aizel swung his katana with formidable force, successfully severing one of Aeris's wings.

*ARGHHH*

Aeris cried out in pain as blood shot out of her injured wing. With a strong will, she channeled her wind magic, using it to steady herself and slowly descend to the ground.

[Master, this is a good time to get rid of her.]

No, she is the weakest among them. We should head for the others."

As Aizel flew forward in the air, Ragnath summoned massive boulders, hurtling them through the air in his direction.

At the same time, Marina unleashed a barrage of water spears, aiming to pierce him.

Aizel deftly evaded the incoming barrage of boulders and water spears, using his fire-infused movements to dance through the assault. 

His katana sliced through the air, swiftly cutting down any obstacles in his path. 

With lightning coursing through his right hand, he hurled several small containers at them with lightning speed.

"Again?

"Move...

*Bup* *Bup* *Bup* *Bup*

The burst of the containers' blinding speed caught the trio off guard. 

The sudden explosion emitted a dazzling, bright light, engulfing them instantly and leaving them momentarily blinded.

Katerud's ears twitched, and his reflexes kicked in. He tried to avoid the attack, but Aizel was one step ahead.

With remarkable speed, Sekki's blade sliced through Katerud's neck, severing his head from his body in an instant.

  When the blinding light went away, the scene that greeted them was haunting.

Aizel stood beside Katerud's lifeless body, his head severed from his body, his eyes wide open and fixed on them with shock.

"Y..you.. I will make sure now we won't kill you easily," Marina said, her voice a little weak but her eyes burning in rage.

[Master, that chicken is getting ready to attack you from behind]

I didn't want to use that so early in the tournament. But if I need to save my mental energy, that is the only way now. 

With the grace of a darting arrow, Aeris soared closer to the ground, her injured wings aided by wind magic. 

  Aizel, on the other hand, didn't even care to turn his head.

Instead, he raised his arms and stuck out two fingers like a gun. 

Suddenly, a thin, well-directed stream of water shot out and pierced the air with deadly accuracy. The stream struck Aeris with brutal force, boring a small hole right through her head. 

In an instant, she plummeted to the ground, blood streaming from the fatal wound.

The water stream kept going in the same direction, puncturing holes in several trees along the way.

[Now 44 down]

"T-This... triple core...

As the scene unfolded before them, Ragnath and Marina stood frozen in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. 

In the Felgura Kingdom Balcony,

All attention on the balcony shifted towards Aquarian, who sat calmly with a serene smile on his face.

"So you knew?" Xavier Valtor asked.

"When I was teaching him, I noticed he has the talent, so I told him to try and create a water core," Aquarian replied.

"But what was that spell? He is only a Grade II mage, recently formed a water core, and you are telling me he can one-shot anyone like that in this tournament?" Raigun Redmont asked.

"About that... Hahahaha... even I don't know. When he showed it to me, I asked about it.

"He said something like a water jet cutter or something... "

"Water jet cutter? What is that?" Elric Crestfall asked.

"I am hearing this for the first time. Maybe the kid has made it on his own," Madam Evergreen replied.

****

[Nice one Master; let's finish both of them and left this place quickly. More mages will be on the way here]

Yeah,"

"Marina be careful," Ragnath said.

"I will rip him apart..." Marian replied.

With a little jump and a stretch of his arms, he disappeared in a flash of lightning.

As he appeared, his powerful kick clashed with Ragnath's gauntlet, creating a burst of energy. 

Marina skillfully launched a barrage of small water bullets, but Aizel adeptly evaded each one with agile movements.  However, her cunning didn't stop there. 

In a single second, she made a water ball that surrounded Aizel and trapped him in it. 

The watery prison held him firmly, restricting his movements and leaving him momentarily trapped.

Ragnath conjured up a huge metal spear that hurtled towards the watery prison, aiming to pierce Aizel within it.

With a surge of imagination-infused power, Aizel took control of the water prison surrounding him, bending it to his will. 

Multiple lightning-cracking tentacles grew out of the water as if they were extensions of his own body and headed straight for Ragnath and Marina. In the meantime, he deftly sliced the oncoming metal spear in half.

"How can he control my spell so easily," Marina murmured.

"FOCUS," Ragnath shouted.

As the duo of Ragnath and Marina deftly evaded the electrified tendrils, Aizel swiftly raised both hands.

"Time to end this,"

The air around Aizel turned into a burning inferno, and flames shot out in all directions, racing toward Ragnath and Marina.

Swiftly, Aizel manipulated the water tendrils, blending them with the fiery onslaught, creating a dense and scalding steam that enveloped the entire area.

"Keep your mana senses on high alert, he is creating distractions," Ragnath said.

In the middle of the steam and flames, a new element joined the battle: red and black smoke that swirled and mixed with the surroundings, giving the battlefield an ominous and mysterious feel.

"Damn it, we forgot about that," Marina said.

"Run backward, don't turn or stop."

As the area was filled with red and black smoke, Ragnath and Marina quickly realized the risk was getting worse and decided to leave. 

Their expressions showed concern as they swiftly turned away, attempting to escape the chaotic battlefield. 

Without notice, a chain of roaring flames appeared on the right side of Marina and moved quickly and precisely through the air. 

Its fiery embrace coiled around her waist, firmly holding her in place. The unexpected appearance of the flaming chain caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily stunned and unable to break free.

"Sekki give our fish some lightning treatment,"

*BUZZZZZZ*

*ARGHHHHHHHHH*

As the lightning rushed through the chain, its electric power ran through Marina's body, making her writhe and quiver like a fish caught in a lightning net. 

The relentless bolts of electricity seemed to fry her from within, making her struggle helplessly against the searing pain.

"Hold her, I will deal with the other one."

With lightning speed and precision, Aizel charged toward Ragnar, intercepting him with a swift and forceful kick. The impact sent Ragnar stumbling backward. 

Aizel unleashed a powerful water stream from his fingers, aiming it directly at Ragnath. 

He quickly made a metal wall to stop the attack in a last-ditch effort to protect himself.

However, his eyes widened in horror as he witnessed the water stream effortlessly piercing through the wall, and much to his dismay, it struck him in the chest, leaving a gaping hole.

In the blink of an eye, Aizel's hand went through Ragnath's chest and came out the other side, crackling with lightning. 

*Cough*.. P-please leave her... *Cough*

"Hmm, if she doesn't come after me, I will leave her. But tell me one thing...

Aizel moved a little closer to him and whispered, "Are you all dragon are this fucking weak? or are you a mixed breed?"