Chapter 198: interference in training
Jae’s Dragonfire Blade erupted to life, molten flame burning along the edge as it met the spear with a sharp clash. Sparks jumped, arching toward the stands in miniature fireworks that drew gasps from the crowd.
Each blow reverberated across the ring, ringing against the stones in a rhythm that could have been mistaken for music if one ignored the tension in the air.
The other three on Veylan’s team coordinated without hesitation. One lifted his hands, projecting shimmering barriers that pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
Another sent jagged wind projectiles hurtling toward Elise and Tirel, twisting unpredictably to make them difficult to intercept. The third flanked from the side, blades tipped with a faint green sheen that spoke of poison and intent.
Jae met Veylan’s spear head-on, arms coiling as he countered the momentum. But then he felt it: a subtle drag against his movement, like water suddenly thickened into syrup around him. It wasn’t crushing, but enough to register, a whisper of interference he didn’t need.
"Something’s off," Elise gasped behind him. Her healing pulses faltered mid-cast, thin threads of light flickering as she tried to stabilize them.
Tirel’s low groan followed. "Mana’s heavier... like swimming through tar." Her fire pulse dimmed slightly, the energy she normally wielded so easily now requiring extra effort.
Jae’s red eyes scanned the stands briefly. Sun was there, standing near the edge of the barrier with arms folded, calm but precise in his observation.
The faint tug on Jae’s mana was unmistakable, Sovereign Veil, subtle but effective. A quiet challenge, but one Jae acknowledged without hesitation.
He shifted his weight slightly, activating Ember Step to reposition himself, phantom flames leaving trails along the stone. Byun didn’t waver, shadows unfurling like living things around his feet.
They struck with precision, intercepting the flanker’s poisoned blades midair, twisting them harmlessly aside and snapping back to shove the attacker off balance. "I’ve got your sides," Byun called, a grin tugging at his lips despite the tension. "Focus on the front."
Jae’s smirk deepened faintly as he shoved against Veylan again, Dragonfire Blade blazing in a controlled streak. The spear clanged against the molten edge, but the noble was forced backward two steps, eyes narrowing in frustrated calculation. "Not bad," Veylan hissed, teeth clenched, "but let’s see how long you last without your healers."
Elise struggled to maintain even minimal support, sweat beading on her forehead as she forced shallow bursts of mana toward Jae.
They flickered out like sparks, fading too quickly to make a lasting difference. Tirel’s fire felt unnatural in her hands, energy sputtering like coals under ash.
"Damn it," she muttered, jaw tight, "I can’t even keep a shield up."
Jae didn’t hesitate. He adjusted his stance, ignoring the fleeting sense of resistance, focusing instead on timing, spacing, and pressure. "Then don’t," he said, voice calm and commanding. "Stay safe. We’ll handle this."
Veylan lunged, spear darting like a viper across the ring. Jae sidestepped, Dragonfire Blade flashing low, the heat from the tip searing the floor beneath him. Flames leapt from the strike, forcing Veylan to pivot sharply.
Each clash rang like hammer against anvil. Fire and mana streaks twisted through the air in arcs and flashes. Every movement was precise, deliberate, and controlled; there was no recklessness in Jae’s motion, only unyielding command of the battlefield.
On the other side, Byun was relentless. His shadows surged and spread across the arena floor like a living river of black, curling around ankles, wrapping around wrists, and seizing weapons before the students could react.
Each movement was precise, calculated to control the battlefield, dragging opponents into disadvantage before they even realized it. One of Veylan’s defenders raised a shimmering barrier in desperation, but Byun’s tendrils pressed against it, spreading like cracks across glass.
The structure trembled, buckled, then shattered under the persistent, fluid pressure. His low, sharp laugh rang out, carrying a mix of exhilaration and mischief.
His blond hair clung to his forehead from sweat, his eyes glinting with delight as he moved effortlessly between offense and control.
The audience had grown quieter now, murmurs rippling as they realized the match was far from ordinary. Jae and Byun carried the fight almost entirely on their own, their movements coordinated, deliberate, and devastating.
Sparks from Jae’s Dragonfire Blade licked the arena floor in arcs of orange and red, trailing behind him as if the fire itself were part of the choreography. Every step, every strike, every Ember Step left smoke curling along the polished stone rings.
From the sidelines, Sun’s jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed as he watched the battle unfold, the corner of his mouth tugging into a faint scowl. His subtle interference, the faint pull of Sovereign Vein to weigh down Jae’s mana, wasn’t working. Jae adapted too smoothly, Byun too focused.
Their coordination negated the subtle handicap Sun had imposed, and a flicker of irritation passed over his features.
The prince’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t move closer; the display of competence, dominance, and control was exactly what he needed to observe for later.
Jae pressed Veylan back, driving the noble into retreat step by step. Each swing of the Dragonfire Blade was sharp, precise, and calculated, leaving streaks of fire that seared the arena floor, consuming any residual barriers that tried to block it.
Sparks showered upward with every contact, the heat visible even from the stands. Veylan gritted his teeth as he tried to recover, his spear arm trembling under the strain. He moved to flank, hoping to force Jae to overextend, but Byun’s shadows intercepted with uncanny timing.
A tendril snapped at the noble’s ankle, another coiled around his wrist, forcing him off balance. Every escape was closed off before it could begin.
Behind them, Elise’s hands shook, but she kept her focus. Threads of healing mana laced toward Jae and Byun, though the interference made them flicker and fray mid-cast. She let out a small gasp of encouragement. "You’re... holding them off..."