Chapter 111: Sparring(Part-2)

Chapter 111: Sparring(Part-2)(The name of the Ninth Prince is Leon; there was a mistake where it was briefly changed to Elias, but that has been corrected. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.)

Astonishing both young geniuses and even Fist King, who stood nearby with a twitching expression, he glanced at Master Aaron, who had a smile.

He wasn’t smiling because his disciple easily defeated the Ninth Prince, but because of how skillfully he did so while holding back. If he hadn’t known Apollo’s true strength, even he would have believed that was its extent.

Next, Seraphina stepped forward. Her eyes burned with determination as she drew her bow. "Let’s see what you’ve got," she said, her voice filled with challenge. Even after seeing him defeat the ninth prince, she didn’t back down.

Seraphina jumped into the ring, a flaming arrow materializing in her bow. She released it in one fluid motion. The arrow whistled through the air with deadly accuracy. Apollo dodged, barely missing the projectile. She quickly followed up with another shot and another, each one faster and more precise than the last. Apollo had to rely on his speed and agility to avoid the barrage.

Seraphina’s precision and speed were remarkable. Each flaming arrow seemed to hone in on Apollo with unerring accuracy, forcing him to stay constantly on the move. He could feel the heat from the arrows as they zipped past him, narrowly missing their mark.

Realizing he couldn’t stay on the defensive for long, Apollo decided to close the distance between them. He moved in a blur, his speed a match for Seraphina’s rapid-fire assault. As he darted towards her, he weaved through the onslaught of arrows, deflecting a few with his sword when dodging wasn’t possible.

Seraphina’s eyes widened in surprise at Apollo’s agility. She switched tactics, leaping back and firing a spread of arrows to create a barrier of flames between them. Apollo didn’t slow down. With a burst of speed, he vaulted over the wall of fire, landing just a few feet away from her.

She was a bit horrified, realizing the kind of monster she was sparring with. She was a second-rank Limit-breaker and hadn’t held back much, yet Apollo, a first-rank Limit-breaker, could easily keep up with her.

Not only that, but he seemed to be one step ahead, anticipating her movements. She had only felt this way when sparring with the elders of her clan, and now she was experiencing it with someone even younger than herself.

She wasn’t the only one who noticed this; Fist King and even Elias were equally shocked. The Ninth Prince was also very surprised, realizing that Apollo had been going easy on him.

Seraphina quickly materialized another fire arrow, but Apollo was already within striking distance. He swung his sword with precision, aiming to disarm her without causing harm. Seraphina’s reflexes were quick, and she managed to parry his strike with her bow, but the force of the blow sent her stumbling back.

Not giving her a chance to recover, Apollo pressed the attack. He delivered a series of rapid strikes, forcing Seraphina to defend with her bow. Despite her impressive skill, it was clear that she was more comfortable at a distance. Apollo’s relentless assault finally paid off when he managed to knock the bow from her hands, sending it skidding across the training grounds.

Seraphina paused, breathing heavily. She looked at Apollo with a mixture of frustration and respect. "Well fought," she said, her tone begrudgingly admiring. "You’re faster than I expected."

Apollo nodded, lowering his sword. "You fought well, Seraphina. Your archery is incredible."

As Seraphina retrieved her bow and stepped out of the ring, Apollo felt a sense of satisfaction. The sparring sessions with the two young geniuses of the royal and noble clans gave him valuable insights into his own strengths and weaknesses.

Next up was Elias, who stepped into the ring with a confident look. "My turn," he said. His voice was. "Let’s see how fast you are."

This time, they waited for ten minutes for Apollo to regain his lost strength from the previous two spars.

Elias stepped into the ring, a wiry young man with the swift, fluid movements of an assassin. His presence was like a shadow, silent and unassuming yet brimming with latent power.

The two faced each other, their swords at the ready. Master Aaron gave the signal, and the match began.

Elias moved first, vanishing from sight almost instantly. Apollo’s eyes widened as he realized he was up against a fighter who could seemingly appear and disappear at will. He strained his senses, trying to predict where Elias would strike from next.

A whisper of movement to his left—Apollo spun just in time to parry a swift, deadly strike aimed at his side. Elias was gone again, reappearing behind him in a heartbeat. Apollo twisted, their blades clashing with a metallic ring.

Elias’s attacks were relentless and unpredictable, coming from all directions in rapid succession. Apollo had to rely on his instincts and reflexes, his mind racing to keep up with the assassin’s blinding speed.

Finally, Apollo felt pressured as he faced Elias, whose assassin skills were formidable enough to hunt third-rank limit-breakers.

Apollo became serious, fully concentrating on Elias. He focused on every breath and movement, beginning to discern a pattern in Elias’s attacks—subtle hints that revealed his next move.

Elias lunged at him from the shadows, his blade slicing through the air with lethal precision. Apollo dodged, but instead of merely evading, he countered, striking where he anticipated Elias would reappear. Their blades clashed in a flurry of sparks, and Elias vanished again, only to reappear behind Apollo. This time, Apollo was ready, spinning around to meet the attack head-on.

The duel was intense, a game of wits and agility. Apollo was enjoying the spar, as this battle brought not only some difficulty but also a battle of observation and anticipation. Each move required him to think several steps ahead, to predict, and to react in the same breath.

Elias’s confidence began to waver as he realized Apollo was not only matching his speed but also predicting his moves. He attempted to outmanoeuvre Apollo with more complex feints and misdirections, but Apollo adapted swiftly. His keen senses and quick thinking proved to be a significant challenge for Elias.

Sweat dripped from their brows as the battle raged on. Apollo could see the frustration in Elias’s eyes. The assassin’s movements, once fluid and confident, now held a hint of desperation.

Not letting go of this change, Apollo’s speed suddenly skyrocketed, shocking Elias. It was as if Apollo had been holding back, and now he was revealing his true potential.

Elias struggled to keep up, his form blurring as he tried to evade the onslaught. Apollo pressed his advantage, his strikes coming faster and harder. The sound of clashing steel filled the air, each blows a testament to Apollo’s growing dominance.

In a desperate attempt to regain control, Elias executed a series of rapid, intricate manoeuvres designed to disorient and mislead. But Apollo was ready. He anticipated each move, countering with precision and power. With a final, decisive strike, he disarmed Elias, sending his weapon flying across the training grounds.

Elias stumbled back, breathing heavily. He looked at Apollo with a mix of awe and respect. "You’re incredible," he admitted, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I’ve never faced anyone like you."

Although he had faced many powerful warriors before, Elias had never encountered anyone who could so quickly adapt to his tricky movements and hidden breath, countering him with such precision. Apollo’s ability to predict his moves and respond with impeccable timing left Elias in awe.

Apollo nodded, sheathing his weapon. "You made me work for it, Elias. Your skills are exceptional. I had to push myself to keep up."

Elias managed a wry smile. "It seems I’ve underestimated you."

The tension on the training grounds dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. The spectators, including the Fist King, Master Aaron, and the two young geniuses, were visibly shocked and impressed.

Especially the Ninth Prince Leon and Seraphina, who both knew the strength and terrifying abilities of Elias as an assassin. Although open combat wasn’t his forte, he was still formidable, as they had seen him defeat third-rank masters. Seeing such a strong person defeated by young Apollo, even in just a spar, was shocking.

Master Aaron stepped forward, clapping a hand on Apollo’s shoulder. "You’ve done well, Apollo.

The Fist King approached and said, "Just good? It’s more than impressive. Even the geniuses from the Super Ancient forces wouldn’t be much better than this kid."

"Tell me truthfully, from which empire or Ancient force do you come from?"

Apollo and Master Aaron looked at each other and laughed.

"Sir Fist King, you think too highly of me. I’m not from any empire or Ancient force," Apollo replied with a smile. "I’m also from the Kingdom of Rrioweth. I’m just the son of a small baron of the kingdom."

"What!" The Fist King exclaimed, echoing the shock that rippled through the three geniuses.

The Ninth Prince stepped forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean to say you’ve achieved this level of skill and power without the backing of a major force? That’s incredible."

Seraphina, still trying to process what she had just heard, added, "Your talent is remarkable, Apollo. To think you’ve come this far on your own..."

Elias, still catching his breath from their intense sparring match, shook his head in amazement. "It seems we’ve all underestimated you. Your potential is extraordinary."