Primordial Expanse: I have the Strongest Talent!

Chapter 173: Sparring

Seeing that he was caught, Alex embraced his shamelessness, his grin widening.

"I saw something beautiful, so I couldn't help but look."

Mira blushed deeply, but her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Well, keep your eyes on the prize, Alex. You don't want to get 'distracted' during our training, do you?"

"I don't mind being distracted by you," Alex shot back, winking.

He stepped into the arena, adjusting his stance. "But you're right. Let's focus."

Mira shook her head, still smiling as she joined him. "Alright, let's get serious. How about we restrict our strength, only relying on speed before we get to using my talent?"

"Sounds good to me," Alex agreed, settling into his stance. The atmosphere shifted as both of them prepared for the spar.

Alex watched as Mira moved gracefully, her uniform clinging to her body in a way that highlighted her agility and the toned muscles beneath. She wielded her training sword with practised ease, her eyes never leaving his.

"Ready?" Mira asked, her tone serious now.

"Ready," Alex replied, his voice steady.

They circled each other, the tension building. Alex could feel the energy in the air, feeling the anticipation. He focused on Mira's movements, watching for any sign of her next move.

Suddenly, Mira dashed forward, her speed impressive considering she hadn't reached D tier yet. Alex reacted instinctively, dodging her initial strike and countering with a swift jab. Mira deflected his attack, her movements fluid and precise.

"You've gotten fast," Mira remarked, a hint of pride and mockery in her voice.

She knew speed was Alex's weak point, especially against someone like Nikolas.

"Thanks," Alex replied, not letting up. He pressed the attack, using his agility to keep Mira on her toes. Their weapons clashed, the sound echoing throughout the arena.

Mira shifted her stance, her eyes narrowing. "Let's see how you handle this." She launched a series of rapid attacks, each one coming from a different angle.

Alex's mind raced, analysing her movements. He could see the subtle shifts in her posture, the way she telegraphed her next strike. He used his spatial perception to anticipate her moves, deflecting her attacks with precise blocks and counters.

"You're reading me well," Mira said, a note of challenge in her voice.

She had been waiting for a long while to get her own time in the arena with Alex, and she wasn't regretting it one bit.

Alex smirked. "I'm in first place for a reason.

They continued their spar, their movements a blur of speed and skill. Alex could feel himself getting into the zone, his focus sharpening. He was aware of every detail, every subtle cue that Mira gave off.

After a particularly intense exchange, they paused, both of them breathing heavily. Mira smiled, her eyes shining with excitement. "You're really pushing me, Alex."

"You're not making it easy either," Alex replied, equally breathless but with a confident grin on his face.

They circled each other again, the tension between them palpable. Mira launched another attack, her movements swift but graceful, but Alex was ready.

Mira struggled to keep up, her deflections becoming more desperate. Alex's perception allowed him to predict her every move, his speed higher than hers, overwhelming her. Finally, with a swift disarm, Alex sent Mira's training sword flying from her grasp.

Breathless and grinning, Alex pointed his sword at her, the tip hovering just inches from her chest. "Looks like I won this round," he said, his voice filled with triumph.

Mira panted heavily, her eyes blazing with a ferocity despite her defeat. "You got me this time," She conceded, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But don't get too comfortable."

Alex chuckled, lowering his sword. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Unhappy with her loss, Mira's expression shifted from frustration to something more sinister.

"How about we go again?" She suggested, her voice firm. "But this time I'll use my talent."

Alex's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is it time?"

Mira nodded, her eyes gleaming with an intent to win. "Yep. Isn't this what you wanted? To train against my talent so that you can better counter Nikolas?"

Alex couldn't help but see her point. "Alright, let's do it," he agreed, stepping back to reset their positions.

Mira took a deep breath, her posture relaxing as she prepared to tap into her talent.

Alex watched her closely, readying himself for what was to come.

He knew that Call of the Void was a powerful talent, allowing Mira to step into the Void dimension and become completely hidden from his senses.

Whoosh!

The moment she activated her talent, Alex felt a shift in the air. Mira's form shimmered for an instant before disappearing entirely. He could no longer see her, hear her, or sense her presence in any way.

'So this is how it works…'

"This is trickier than I thought…" Alex muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the arena for any indication of Mira returning.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in his side as Mira's training sword struck him out of nowhere. Alex grunted, swinging his sword in the direction of the attack, but he hit nothing but air.

Mira had already vanished back into the Void dimension.

'I see how she got second place now… In fact, how did I even place above her? She should be the one in first…'

Alex's mind raced as he tried to anticipate her next move. He focused on his spatial perception, but it was no use.

Mira's talent made her completely undetectable.

She was slipping in between the third dimension and the Void dimension. Her talent was a variation of the Space element, but it didn't affect the nearby space whatsoever, leaving Alex blind.

Whack!

Another strike landed, this time on his back, causing him to stagger forward.

He spun around, his eyes wide and alert, but again saw nothing.

Mira's attacks came in rapid succession and in short bursts, each one catching him off guard and pushing him further into a defensive stance. He swung his sword wildly, hoping to catch her by chance, but his efforts were futile.

"Damn it, Mira," Alex muttered through gritted teeth, frustration mounting as he struggled to keep up with her relentless assault.

Mira's laughter echoed around him, her voice seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Having trouble, Alex?" she teased, her tone playful yet confident.

Alex couldn't help but smile despite the pain. "You could say that."

The attacks continued, each one more precise and powerful than the last. Mira's mastery of her talent was impressive, and Alex quickly realised that he was outmatched. He could feel his energy draining, his movements becoming slower and more sluggish with each passing moment.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alex fell to one knee, panting heavily. "I concede," he said, his voice strained. "You win, Mira."

Mira reappeared in front of him, her form solidifying as she stepped out of the Void dimension. She looked down at him with a cheeky smirk, her eyes twinkling with victory. "Told you not to get too comfortable."

Alex collapsed onto his back, staring up at the sky. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You got me good."

Mira knelt beside him, her expression softening as she offered him a hand. "You did great, Alex. Even without your strength, you're still an amazing fighter."

Alex took her hand, allowing her to help him to his feet. "Thanks, Mira. You're incredible with that talent of yours. I couldn't even follow you."

Mira blushed at the compliment, but her smile remained. "I've had a lot of practice. And you're no slouch yourself. You had me on the ropes in our first spar."

Alex chuckled, brushing himself off. "Guess I need to train harder if I want to keep up with you."

Mira's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Or maybe I just need to reach D tier so we're on even footing."

'...'

Alex felt his brain short circuit when he remembered that Mira hadn't even become a D tier yet.

'I just lost to someone a whole two ranks below me…'

They stood in silence for a moment, both of them catching their breath and reflecting on the intense training session. The evening breeze rustled the leaves around them, the calm after the storm of their sparring match.

"Shall we head back to our dorms?" Mira suggested, breaking the silence. "We both could use some rest."

Alex nodded, feeling the fatigue settling into his muscles. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

They made their way back to their new dorms, the excitement of their training still fresh in their minds. As they walked, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Despite the challenges, he had proven himself and strengthened his bond with Mira.

When they reached their dorms, they paused at the entrance, giving each other a look that seemed like neither one of them wanted the other to leave.

"Good night, Alex," Mira said, her voice soft.

"Good night, Mira," Alex replied, smiling.

As they parted ways and headed to their respective rooms, Alex kept looking back at Mira's departing back, smiling.

And with that, he closed the door to his dorm, a sense of determination and anticipation filling his heart as he looked forward to the next training session.

'I won't lose the next time!'

'Actually I probably will… But with enough training and experience against her talent, the time will come where I will beat her!'

Alex slowly drifted into sleep on his new king size bed after his thoughts went through the day's events.