Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.
He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.
The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.
The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.
Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.
He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative.
“Nice form,” Dustin said.
As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush.
The broadsword whizzed by. It grazed his clothes and sent a rush of wind in its wake.
With a swift flick of his sword, Dustin moved like a snake dodging its prey. As he avoided Lycas’ attack, he thrust his blade toward his opponent’s shoulder.
Lycas reacted instantly. After a quick slash that missed its mark, the strike abruptly changed form and slashed out in a wide horizontal arc.
The broadsword edge glinted in the sunlight. A silver streak whipped through the air as it raced toward Dustin’s waist with blistering speed and bone-crushing force.
Lycas didn’t even try to block Dustin’s strike. Instead, he was going all-in on a brutal trade.
In his eyes, a stab to the shoulder would only result in a minor injury-nothing fatal. But if his blade landed, it would be enough to sever Dustin’s torso in half.
Lycas was sure Dustin wouldn’t dare take the hit. He would definitely avoid the strike.
And that was exactly what happened.
When Lycas swung his broadsword in a wide arc, Dustin instantly abandoned his attack. He pushed off the ground and launched into the air to avoid the deadly strike.
At the same time, he swung his long sword. He brought it down from above in a whip-like motion and aimed at Lycas’ arm.
The angle of the strike was tricky. Its speed was lightning-fast and was nearly impossible to defend against.
But Lycas was quick. He raised his broadsword and used the flat of the blade to block Dustin’s fierce thrust.
A sharp clang rang out with sparks flying in all directions. It was like the toll of a bell echoing across the training ground.
The force behind the collision made Lycas¹ arm slightly numb. He was taken aback.
He’d expected Dustin to rely on nimble, evasive tactics. But to his surprise, Dustin’s explosive power was equally impressive. He was far from ordinary.
There was no time for hesitation. Lycas swung his broadsword and launched another brutal attack.
The broadsword was built for power, with each strike coming down heavily and relentlessly. Every swing carried the potential to decide the outcome of the fight. If he found an opening, even a light slash could seriously injure his opponent.
The battle raged on. Dustin and Lycas alternated between offense and defense. Their movements were a blur as they clashed with intense ferocity.
Lycas had been through enough battles to know how to play to his strengths even when the odds were against him. That alone made him leagues ahead of Bryce.
The clash between Lycas and Dustin was a whirlwind of steel. It was too fast for most eyes to follow.
Both fighters made full use of their weapons’ strengths.
Lycas’ broadsword packed a punch and kept his enemies at a distance. Paired with his bold, sweeping strikes, each blow landed with explosive force.
Dustin’s longsword was quick and agile. It was perfect for switching up his attacks.
Combined with his unpredictable footwork, the two worked in perfect sync.
While it was still unclear who would come out on top, the fight had certainly been exciting. It left everyone watching thoroughly impressed.
But as time dragged on, Lycas began to feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him.
No matter how hard he swung or how aggressively he attacked, Dustin deflected every blow with ease and even countered with precision. At first, it wasn’t much of a concern, but now, Lycas could feel his stamina slipping.
His energy was draining, and the longer this continued, the more inevitable his defeat became. He needed to find a way to break the deadlock and throw Dustin off his rhythm if he wanted any chance of winning.
Drawing a deep breath, Lycas’ eyes hardened with resolve. He knew he’d have no chance of winning today if he didn’t use his ultimate move.
“Titan Breaker!” he shouted.
Gripping his broadsword with both hands, he lifted it above his head. A surge of raw, grandmaster-level internal energy was channeled into the weapon.
In that instant, the blade glowed in a brilliant golden flare that shone as brightly as the sun itself.
“Slash him!” Lycas roared.
He swung his broadsword down with all his might and aimed at Dustin. The strike culminated his entire strength, life essence, and energy.
As the blade descended, the surrounding air seemed to warp under the weight of an overwhelming force. It created a turbulent, almost unnatural current.
Air surged in the blade’s wake as it stirred into a prison of currents that locked Dustin in place. It momentarily trapped him and perfectly amplified the overwhelming force of the strike.
At that moment, everyone held their breath and their eyes locked on the battlefield. They all knew this decisive strike would be the turning point of the battle. If Lycas’ sword landed, victory would be his.
Despite the overwhelming force of the attack, Dustin remained completely calm, as if this earth-shattering blow was nothing more than a light breeze.
Just as Lycas’ broadsword was about to strike his head, Dustin made his move.
His longsword moved with incredible speed and angle as it carved an arc through the air. What seemed like a casual strike was actually a perfectly timed blow. It landed precisely at the point where the broadsword’s hilt connected to the blade.
The sword cut through the air with incredible speed and power. There was a sharp crack as Dustin’s weapon cleanly snapped Lycas’ broadsword in two. The upper half dropped to the ground.
Lycas lurched forward, almost losing his balance from the force of his own strike. What he had intended as a finishing blow was effortlessly countered by Dustin.
