Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Fierce Battle, New Understanding, New Experience Package

On the training ground, the clash of metal on metal rang out, as crisp and sonorous as a blacksmith’s Hammer Forging, a sound that stirred the soul.

Vedri, who was standing at the edge of the training ground, had long since unfolded his arms. His hands now rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his fingers twitching incessantly as if he were imagining himself in the fight, wondering how he would fare against either of their onslaughts.

The guards were even more captivated, completely awed by the power displayed by both fighters.

Jon’s figure flickered between his normal state and one wreathed in flames. He was like a peregrine falcon swooping through fire, his attacks sharp and cunning, filled with an almost instinctual combat rhythm.

Evans, on the other hand, was as steady as a rock. Every parry was perfectly precise, his dense barrier of Battle Qi repelling the onslaught of flames time and again.

Each fierce collision between the crimson-gold flames and the pale yellow, rock-like Battle Qi kicked up a scorching wave of heat, instantly vaporizing the surrounding cold air and raising plumes of white mist.

But for Jon, who had not yet reached the Official Level, such a high-intensity exchange was bound to be unsustainable.

This was because every time he unleashed his Dragon Flame Dance, he was consuming his four basic resources.

With the 20% Life Recovery Bonus from [Blood of the Earth], he could rely on his substantial Life Value and [Heart of Balance] to sustain the consumption of his Magic Power Value.

However, his Qi Value and Will Value had no way of recovering quickly right now; he could only "steal" back a little when he found a moment to catch his breath.

Even so, after several more clashes, his condition inevitably began to decline.

After another violent exchange, Jon used the force of the impact to leap back several steps. He landed steadily, his chest heaving slightly.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead, only to be quickly evaporated by the residual heat radiating from his body.

"Huu..."

He exhaled a plume of white mist tinged with scorching heat. His ice-blue eyes looked directly at the still-composed Evans opposite him as he spoke frankly.

"Evans, I’ve expended too much energy. I can’t maintain this state for long, so—"

With a flick of his wrist, he pointed the tip of his sword diagonally toward the ground.

"How about we settle this with a single move?"

A sharp glint flashed in Evans’s gray eyes, and he nodded slowly.

He then sank into a low stance, gripping the wide-bladed Blunt Sword with both hands and holding it vertically before him, the tip pointing toward the sky.

An aura of Battle Qi—far more solid and heavy than before—suddenly erupted from his body!

Pale yellow light surged wildly toward the Blunt Sword in his hands like tangible rock. The blade hummed and trembled as the light rapidly condensed and took shape. In the blink of an eye, it formed the phantom image of a colossal, thick, and sharply angled greatsword of rock around the Blunt Sword!

This very move was the origin of Evans’s moniker, [Rock Sword]!

"Good!"

Facing this rock sword, condensed from pure Battle Qi and radiating an aura of invincibility, an intense fighting spirit ignited in Jon’s eyes.

He took a sudden step forward!

Power ignited, Dragon Flame Dance activated at full power!

BOOM—!

Crimson-gold Dragon Flame, far more violent and scorching than ever before, erupted!

The frenzied flames no longer coated his body but instead converged entirely on the Blunt Sword in his hand, forging it into a slender claw made of pure Dragon Flame!

This was the enhanced form of Dragon Claw Swing, empowered by Dragon Flame Dance!

"Come!"

Jon stepped forward, slowly swinging his sword.

The slender, sharp dragon claw swung down fiercely toward the heavy rock sword Evans had condensed, letting out a shriek that tore through the air. Wherever its tip passed, the very air seemed to twist and burn from the intense heat!

From the perspective of Evans, who was directly facing the attack, it felt as if Jon had transformed into a ferocious, enraged Giant Dragon, roaring as it brought an overwhelming claw down upon him!

’Is this... the kind of power that Evil Mage faced that day...? It’s terrifying...’

He didn’t know what level of Swordsmanship this was, nor how Jon had managed to create such a terrifying aura. All he knew was that he had to meet it head-on!

If he backed down here, he would never be able to advance further on the path of Swordsmanship!

And so, though fear gripped his heart, Evans advanced in silence, pouring all his strength into the phantom rock sword without reservation. He raised it to block the heaven-scorching claw!

BANG—!!!!!

The crimson-gold claw of destruction collided head-on with the heavy, solid, pale-yellow rock sword!

Immediately followed by two distinctly different, crisp sounds ringing out at the same time!

The first was the sound of the Blunt Sword in Jon’s hand shattering.

It had been infused with too much Fire Elemental Power and then subjected to the rebound force from Evans’s [Rock Sword] block, causing the blade’s very structure to completely disintegrate!

The second was the sound of Evans’s Blunt Sword being severed.

Although the sword in Jon’s hand had disintegrated, the extreme heat and penetrating power contained within the Flaming Dragon Claw still managed to bore through the dense Battle Qi forming the phantom rock greatsword, severing Evans’s sword along with it!

With both their vessels destroyed, the two forces collided, instantly erupting into a shower of scattered flames and motes of light that dispersed and vanished into the air.

The surrounding guards were speechless with astonishment, every one of them standing there slack-jawed.

No one had expected the final clash to end like this!

The center of the training ground was now in utter disarray.

Jon caught his breath and looked at the hilt of the Blunt Sword in his hand, letting out a wry laugh.

"It seems we’ll need to use better weapons next time."

Evans, meanwhile, stared blankly at the cross-section of his severed sword. After a long moment, he spoke in a low voice.

"Indeed."

After a slight pause, he added another sentence.

"This time, you won."

"We’ll do this again next time."

His words brought the thrilling spar to a close.

The onlooking guards finally snapped out of their stupor as if waking from a dream, bursting into long-suppressed gasps of amazement and cheers. A wave of applause erupted.

"The two masters are simply too strong!"

"Master Jon’s final strike was terrifying! Just watching from a distance made me feel like I couldn’t breathe!"

"Yeah... and Master Evans’s Rock Sword was incredible too. That heavy, imposing aura is something else..."

Meanwhile, on Jon’s end, a system prompt popped up.

—

[Swordsmanship Spar I (Excellent Daily Quest), Completed]

[You have completed a Swordsmanship spar with Evans Dean. He has acknowledged that your Swordsmanship is superior and has agreed to a rematch.]

[Completion Grade: S, Reward Multiplier: 6.0]

[Completion Reward: 4800 Battle Experience Points (800 base X 6.0), 300 Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce Reputation (50 base X 6.0)]

—

’An S-rank completion! Another haul of experience and reputation in the bag!’

Furthermore, sparring with Evans had given Jon himself many new insights into the use of his Skills.

Just like how, when he had used Dragon Flame Dance to enhance Dragon Claw Swing, he was able to roughly control the portion of Fire Elemental Power covering his body and concentrate it on his weapon in exchange for greater power!

This was undoubtedly another new way to use his abilities!

But the rewards from this spar didn’t end there!

The curly-haired, middle-aged man who had been silently observing from the edge of the training ground from start to finish finally moved.

He walked up to Jon, his eyes filled with both admiration and fighting spirit.

"You, you’re very strong."

"When you have time, come have a spar with me as well."

’Well, look at that! A new EXP pack has arrived!’

Jon put his hands on his hips, a corner of his mouth curling into a smile.

"I’d be delighted~"

However, just as he was about to say a few more words to Vedri, a new line of text popped up, causing him to pause.

[Wolf Shadow Mystery II (Ordinary Regional Quest), Completed]

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