Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 178: Quarter Finals [2]

[ Bonus Chapter N - 2 ]

With a swift, fluid motion, Ren adjusted his grip on his sword, his stance shifting slightly. The air around him seemed to vibrate with energy as he prepared to unleash his family's exclusive sword technique.

Adrian braced himself, recognizing the shift in Ren's aura. He had seen glimpses of this technique before, but facing it in a real match was an entirely different experience. He knew he had to be at his best to counter it.

Ren's eyes locked onto Adrian's, and he took a deep breath.

'Wintershade Family's Swordsmanship - First Form'

"Gale Edge!" he declared, his voice resonating with power.

In an instant, Ren's sword blurred with speed, leaving trails of energy in its wake. The technique was a combination of rapid, precise strikes, each one infused with the force of a gale. Adrian's mind raced as he anticipated the direction of the attacks, his body moving with practiced fluidity.

He parried the first strike, feeling the immense pressure behind Ren's blade. The second strike came faster, and he narrowly dodged, the edge of Ren's sword grazing his arm. Adrian winced but maintained his focus, countering with a swift strike of his own. Ren deflected it with ease, continuing his relentless assault.

The crowd watched in awe as the two combatants moved in a deadly dance of blades, each strike and parry a testament to their skill and determination. Adrian's Unseen Stance allowed him to move unpredictably, but Ren's Gale Edge was relentless, forcing him to constantly stay on the defensive.

"You're not bad," Ren admitted between strikes, his voice steady. "But can you keep up?"

Adrian smirked, his eyes glinting with determination. "I'll do more than keep up," he replied, his voice filled with confidence. "But is that all you got? Cause I'm bored. Wasn't you the one who said to go all out?"

"Don't worry, I plan to," Ren commented while continuing to attack.

'Wintershade Family's Swordsmanship - Second Form'

"Whirlwind Slash!"

Ren's voice rang out with fierce determination.

The air around Ren seemed to warp as he unleashed a flurry of even faster, more powerful strikes. Each swing of his sword created a visible trail of wind, forming a whirlwind of slashes that surrounded Adrian. The intensity of Ren's attacks forced Adrian to move with increased agility, his Unseen Stance pushed to its limits.

Adrian's mind raced as he analyzed Ren's movements, looking for an opening. He parried and dodged, feeling the force of each strike resonate through his body. The crowd watched in breathless anticipation, the clash of swords creating a symphony of metallic echoes.

"You're doing well, but let's see how you handle this!" Ren shouted, his eyes gleaming with determination.

'Wintershade Family's Swordsmanship: Third Form'

"Storm Barrage!"

Ren's sword movements became a blur, the speed and power of his strikes multiplying. It was as if a storm had descended upon the arena, each strike infused with the force of a hurricane. Adrian seemed to be barely keeping up, his body moving on instinct as he dodged and parried the relentless onslaught.

Many knew Adrian had to find a way to counter Ren's formidable technique if he wanted to get out of this situation. He couldn't rely solely on defense; he needed to create an opening and strike back.

"Your technique is impressive, Ren," Adrian said, his voice steady despite the intensity of the battle. "But I've seen worse. Remember? Either show me what you got now or let's end it now."

Ren knew Adrian was mentioning the Ironheart family's spearmanship technique. But that also hit his nerve.

"You are right," Ren muttered, and suddenly, the air surrounding him became charged with an even more intense energy. "But my family's technique isn't weaker!"

'Wintershade Family's Swordsmanship: Fourth Form'

"Tempest Fang!"

Ren's blade moved with a force that seemed to draw the wind itself, creating a vortex of slicing air around him. The technique was a devastating combination of speed, power, and elemental manipulation, designed to overwhelm any defense. Adrian's eyes widened as he saw the attack coming, knowing he had to brace for impact.

Ren's strike was swift and precise, cutting through Adrian's defenses with uncanny accuracy. The blade grazed Adrian's side, drawing a thin line of blood. Adrian gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of the cut, but he couldn't afford to lose focus now. Ren wasn't done yet.

"Not bad," Adrian muttered, feeling the rush of adrenaline. "But I'm still standing."

Ren's eyes narrowed, determination etched into his features. "Not for long. Watch this!"

Without stopping, Ren cast a control-type wind spell, the air around Adrian suddenly becoming a swirling maelstrom. The winds buffeted Adrian from all sides, making it difficult for him to maintain his footing, let alone dodge.

'Wintershade Family's Swordsmanship: Fifth Form'

"Hurricane Breaker!"

Ren's blade descended with the fury of a hurricane, the winds amplifying the force of his strike. The control spell ensured that Adrian's movements were restricted, leaving him vulnerable to the full power of the attack. Adrian's mind raced, searching for the best way to counter the onslaught.

In that critical moment, Adrian decided to use a technique he had been refining, one that combined the fluidity of the Unseen Stance with a burst of raw power. He took a deep breath, centering himself amidst the chaos.

"Unseen Stance x Echo Blade!"

'Shadow Glide'

As Ren's Hurricane Breaker descended, Adrian moved with lightning speed, his body slipping through the gaps in the swirling winds.

'Shadow Glide'

"BOOOM!"

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His blade met Ren's with a resounding clash, the force of their collision sending shockwaves through the arena. The crowd watched in stunned silence, the intensity of the battle reaching its peak.

Adrian's Echo Blade and Shadow Glide technique allowed him to create small afterimages, making it difficult for Ren to predict his movements. He struck from multiple angles, each hit landing with precision. Ren found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Adrian's relentless assault.

"Impressive," Ren admitted, his breath coming in heavy pants. "But I'm not finished yet."

Adrian's eyes gleamed with chillness. "But I am."

With a final, powerful strike, Adrian broke through Ren's defenses, his blade finding its mark. Ren stumbled backward, his sword falling from his grasp. He landed on one knee, breathing heavily, his expression a mix of respect and exhaustion.

"Want to continue?" Adrian pointed his sword at Ren who was struggling to stand up.

"O-Of course." Ren replied while his grip on the sword tightened.

"... I don't think you can..." Adrian muttered and looked at the judge.

The judge was initially confused but after careful observation, he noticed Ren had a deep cut on his arm that was bleeding profusely. The intensity of the fight had hidden the extent of his injuries, but now it was clear that continuing would be dangerous.

The judge raised his hand, stepping between the two fighters. "That's enough! This match is over. Adrian Lighthaven is the winner!" he declared, his voice echoing through the arena.

The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers filling the air. Adrian lowered his sword, taking a deep breath as the tension of the battle began to fade. He extended his hand to Ren, who accepted it with a nod of respect.

"You fought well, Ren. Your techniques are incredible," Adrian said sincerely.

Ren managed a tired smile. "Thanks, Adrian. You're a formidable opponent. Let's spar again sometime."

"Definitely," Adrian agreed.

As they left the arena, the announcers' voices filled the air with excitement. "What an incredible match! Adrian Lighthaven advances to the semi-finals after a thrilling battle against Ren Wintershade. Let's give them both a round of applause for their amazing performance!"

Adrian walked off the stage, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. Now, he was just two steps away from winning the championship.