"Last battle, No.1 Vs No.2!"

'Finally!'

After half an hour's worth of waiting, it was finally time for our ring's last match, which was also my match against the water halberd sect member…

As this last stage wasn't similar to the earlier ones where a ring would have to wait for the whole period of 30 minutes from the start of the match and even after its end before they start the next match, the time that it took us to reach the last match was merely 2 hours.

The other rings seemed to be doing good as well as they were also in the last few matches, but they were still a bit late compared to our ring thanks to me and No.1 taking quick actions...

As we moved to the ring, the atmosphere was quite calm, as we stood there for a few seconds with no one making any sound…

"Hey you… I know you haven't been showing your all so far, so you better get serious or you are going to regret it…"

"You don't need to worry about it."

"I really don't want to miss a good battle if possible, so I hope you will follow my advice…"

'Seems like he has quite the sharp eye…'

Since he wanted me to become serious, and knowing that he won't go down that fast, I decided to give him what he wished for…

My sword was already out of its sheath as I initiated both the wind vein and the fire vein, and using the 'Wind' concept of the sword to drive both elements, since I didn't incorporate the 'Fire' concept just yet, I already dashed towards the standing opponent who had his halberd in hand, almost leaving behind a static phantom from the speed!

Klang! Klang! Splash!

Not moving from his place, seemingly knowing that speed was one of my strongest points that he can't contend with, he span his halberd to the maximum as the water that was encompassing it formed a barrier that was able to shield him from the fire as my sword clashed with the halberd leaving a few marks on its pole…

'He really is a third stage water practitioner…'

Leaving aside how his halberd was in harmony with the water, which could easily be achieved by having a water element conducting weapon alongside 'Elemental Armament', the second might achieved in the second stage, the way how water just condensed out of nowhere and followed his intention to act as a strong shield even though normal water had no such ability meant that he had already crossed the barrier of the third stage…

'But he didn't go that far…'

He seemed to be in a similar situation like mine, having just broke through to the third stage less than a month ago, with his 'Elemental Domain' somewhat structured, however, he had yet to manage practicing an 'Elemental Control' manual that the usage of third stage powers depended on…

"This isn't all of it!"

Moving with steel like steps instead, his halberd which looked like it had a cover of solid water strengthening it was plunged towards me, but I obviously just dodged instead of receiving it like he did as that would have no actual meaning to it.

In my case, it wasn't that I didn't want to practice 'Elemental Control', but till the moment, it seemed that I was still adapting to the breakthrough before my initial control would reach the right degree to start practicing the starter manual in the 'Elemental Arts' that I had, and even then, it seemed like they weren't really that complete, especially the one that came with 'Lightning Cell'...

On the other hand, my opponent was unlikely to have been stumped by the point that he had nothing to train with, so judging from his limited control, he was most likely also a fresh third stage as well…

'I guess he wasn't wrong…'

Using what I have shown so far was unlikely to have an effect as him just like he said, so it seemed like it was time for me to reveal something more…

'I didn't plan to hide it anyway…'

I just didn't want to go overboard, using only the correct amount of strength to reach the first rank of this 'Show Off tournament', so him having this much ability was actually quite convenient to prove more of my worth…

After exchanging a few clashes with him, I finally took out my other longsword that I already duplicated beforehand as I activated one of its veins!

Using the same sequence I delivered my first attack with, I dashed towards the opponent once again as he stood in his place and tried to parry the attack…

"Nonsense, why do you keep using this useless attack of yours, using one more sword won't make that much of a difference, don't force my hand to just finish this all at once!"

'Alright…'

However, before the wind fueled fire sword in my right hand reached his water barrier, the sword in my left hand which had already turned white touched the water barrier…

"This is…"

Successfully managing to change the confident poker face of my opponent to one with some surprise in it, albeit changing into a serious one a second after as I pushed the sword further...

Crack... Crack…

`~~`~~`~~`

Somewhere within the high watch platform...

"He was a triple element holder?!"

"Not only that, he even holds such an element that easily contradicts the fire element he has been using to this point!"

"I guess we did underestimate him…"

"Hahahah, Great!"

"What are you laughing at, White"

"Nothing…"

'It must be a real fateful encounter to have meet him in the way, he also holds the attribute that our sect specializes in! I might be able to take him in if everything goes well accordingly!"

"I'm not quite sure about that, you seem to be planning sneaky once again..."

"Hahaha..."

"Yeah, doesn't seem right at all..."