The Next Day,
Aizel and Shelly returned to the familiar lands of Xelgar.
Aizel's unwavering commitment took him back to the remote training island, where he spent a lot of time practicing hard and getting stronger.
Meanwhile, Shelly remained at the grand mansion.
As the sun rose and set, the days went by like grains of sand in an hourglass. There was only one week left until the much-anticipated Interkingdom Tournament.
Across the vast lands, the kingdoms buzzed with electric energy, but the central kingdom, where the big event was going to take place, pulsed with unmatched excitement.
The air crackled with anticipation as people prepared themselves for the clash of mages, eager to witness the spectacle that would determine the mightiest among them.
Under the Balthazar noble house, in the depths of a huge underground dungeon hall, there was a thick feeling of tension.
Yongiri and Soren looked at each other with their eyes locked in a silent fight of will. The flickering torches cast spooky shadows on the cold stone walls, which made the upcoming fight seem even more important.
Only Soren's loyal personal maid bore witness to the scene. As the weight of their fight fell on her shoulders, she nervously bit her nails and looked back and forth between the two people who were going to fight.
Yongiri quickly reached into the depths of his storage ring and pulled a strange box out. It looked normal, but there was something mysterious about it that couldn't be denied. Soren's neck shivered as he looked at the box, giving him a spooky feeling.
"This is a special artifact; come close and put this strip near your stomach area. With this, we both won't be able to use our magic core.
Soren's eyes were fixed on Yongiri as he carefully took a thin strip of paper out of the mysterious box. With deliberate precision, Yongiri brought the paper in close proximity to his own abdomen.
Astonishingly, as if guided by an unseen force, the strip adhered itself seamlessly to his skin.
Soren watched in awe and growing unease as Yongiri's connection to his magic core seemed to vanish in an instant.
It was as if the magic in him had been snuffed out, leaving him without the strength that used to flow through his veins.
Yongiri tore off another piece of the mysterious paper and held it out to Soren.
He took the paper, just like Yongiri had done, and applied the strip to his own abdomen. The paper strip stuck perfectly to Soren's skin.
"Now we both can't use the magic core. You won't have any disadvantages.
"Remember kid, you can still back out. Once the battle starts, one needs to die. I don't want to kill my own son."
"Don't worry, I won't beg for anything. Don't waste time; start the battle." Soren replied, walking away from him and taking the position.
His eyes settled on the gleaming sword embedded in a humble boulder, its significance resonating deeply within him.
It was the magic artifact that was the very reason for this battle.
"My sword is waiting for me," Soren said.
"I hope you are ready, kid," Yongiri said.
They moved in a coordinated way toward the magical sword. Yongiri took out a small knife from his pocket.
He moved the blade carefully across his hand, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the surface of the sword.
Soren did the same thing. Once the ceremony was over, they went back to where they were standing.
Soren disappeared from view and then miraculously reappeared in Yongiri's path. His right fist clenched, flew at Yongiri's face.
With a confident smirk, Yongiri effortlessly intercepted the attack, his left hand gracefully redirecting the punch with practiced ease.
And just as quickly, his right hand struck back with a strong blow that hit Soren right in the nose.
"Kid you...
Soren quickly turned on his heel and kicked straight at Yongiri's face with a powerful kick from his right leg.
That strike caught Yongiri off guard, causing him to stop for a moment before continuing.
"Yongiri, you're losing your concentration in the middle of the fight," Soren said.
*Tsk*
"Don't get ahead yourself kid; the battle has only started."
Yongiri's movements became a blur as he sped up with incredible speed, closing the gap between him and Soren in an instant.
Like a relentless storm, he unleashed a flurry of punches, aiming to overwhelm Soren.
Soren's eyes, on the other hand, glowed with a bright light as he channeled mana into his body and his eyes. This made his senses sharper and unlocked years of practiced fighting instincts.
He dodged and deflected Yongiri's attacks with the skill of a skilled warrior. His moves were like the graceful dance of a skilled mage.
Soren was quick to avoid Yongiri's attacks, but Yongiri kept hitting him over and over, and each blow was stronger and more powerful than the last.
Despite his best efforts, the unrelenting barrage finally found its mark, with a devastating punch crashing against his face and shattering his concentration in an instant.
A triumphant grin spread across Yongiri's face as he seized the opportunity, launching a merciless onslaught of strikes, targeting Soren's vulnerable visage.
Soren quickly grabbed both of Yongiri's hands and held them tight in his grasp.
He then gave Yongiri a strong front kick that was aimed right at his chin.
The force of the blow temporarily stunned Yongiri's senses as the impact resounded.
Soren's one-two punches hit Yongiri's head so hard that it jerked backward. This shows how powerful and accurate each punch was.
Soren directed a powerful punch at Yongiri in a quick, planned move. He was determined to end the fight.
But, to his surprise, Yongiri's head automatically moved away from the full force of the blow, causing the punch to glance off his cheek.
Yongiri retaliated with an uppercut, landing a solid hit directly on Soren's chin.
Soren was launched into the air, and his body twisted in midair before he crashed down hard, his back making contact with the cruel ground.
"Young Master," the maid murmured, fear erupting on her face.
