Cybernetic Evolution System

The news was so shocking that it shook everyone it reached.

Neither had they heard of anything like this nor had they seen anything similar.

Many doubted the authenticity of the information.

The only ones who weren't present to observe the duel were those who had already gone to the dungeon to train.

No one wanted to miss what was about to transpire.

**

I stood near the edge of the inner circle.

Julian stood on the other side, facing me.

I looked around the crowd surrounding us in surprise.

I noticed Delilah-in-training, Milas, Julia and other classmates; however, the majority of them were from Class Three.

This was the most attention I have ever received outside of the classroom.

I refocused on the crowd as they parted, paving a path to the stage.

A young man with blond hair tied in a ponytail and fair skin, dressed in the Grand Avalon Academy combat uniform with an insignia of a scale of judgment with fire on one side of the scale and water on the other side, on the right side of his chest.

On the left side was the insignia of a blazing blood shoruded by a misty sky. The Magical Swordsman department insignia.

The Disciplinary Committee! Only they had that insignia.

Besides him was another person bearing an identical resemblance. The colour of his hair was deep black, but it was also styled in a ponytail.

Elric Lupindral, Fourth-ranked on the Magical Swordsman Ranking in Class Three, a descendant of the Lupindral Clan, a prestigious Clan of the Magical Swordsman Path.

Andre Lupindral, Fifth-ranked on the Magical Swordsman Ranking in Class Three, and also a descendant of the Lupindral Clan.

Anyone who looked at them would immediately understand that they were a pair of identical twins.

They were both enforcers of the Decplinary Committee.

The lowest rank within the Disciplinary Committee hierarchy.

Anyone could apply for a position on the Disciplinary Committee, but their acceptance rate was stringent. Only a few were accepted each year.

So, each department had two or more Decplinary Committee enforcers stationed.

Due to the unique nature of their tasks, they were exempted from attending classes. I can't remember the last time I saw them, except at the beginning of this term's class.

Their authority was equal to that of the Instructor Committee, and on most affairs, it was greater.

Since they were here, the other enforcers should also be present.

I pondered why they hadn't interrogated me yet.

If I had information about how they were working hand in hand with the Zahara Clan's descendants, then I would be reassured about completing the quest without being dependent on Choima and Sarafina in case things went south.

Although she had earned my trust by sending the storage bag she had promised the next day after our conversation, I couldn't risk putting all my eggs in one basket. Especially with my past experiences, where the eggs I entrusted to others were broken, and even the basket itself was destroyed.

I couldn't trust anyone more than I trusted myself.

They made their way through the paved road.

They halted at the inner edge of the inner circle and looked at Julian and me.

"As an enforcer of the Disciplinary Committee, we'll be overseeing this battle to ensure that there is no cheating and upholding the rules to the very end," Elric announced.

"Combatants, are you ready?"

I drew my iron sword and nodded.

Julian drew his sword and nodded as well.

My eyes were drawn to his blade.

It was a silver white longsword with emerald streaks running along the blades. The handle was carved in the shape of the wings of a folded together.

On the hilt was an emerald jewel from which all the emerald streaks were connected.

The Dove Whispering sword, a Rare Tier Two magic item.

According to the rumours, the Windcrest Clan had secured three magic swords for the leading figures of this generation, who had emerged victorious above their peers in their internal clans' competitions before joining the academy.

The three swords were the Dove Sealing Sword, wielded by Jaran.

The Dove Whispering Sword, held by Julian.

And the Dove Hurricane Red Sword, held by Kaelis.

It wasn't difficult to believe a prestigious clan gave their descendants a rare rank magic item as rewards.

Even the Zahara Clan did the same thing.

The Dove Whispering Sword had three skills.

First, it causes each strike to carry a heavy, compressed wind capable of extending the blade's range and increasing striking speed. Second, a surge of wind that propels the wielder in any direction.

Julian constantly used it for sudden acceleration.

Third, capable of releasing a sharp arc of compressed wind.

If these skills are combined with the first skill, it is capable of striking down opponents when they least expect it.

I'm not sure if the sword possessed any other abilities.

This information was something everyone knew about Julian as well, from observing his battles.

There were so many powerful individuals with magic items and unique abilities in the Magical Swordsman Department, so keeping track of all of them would only distract me while I improved my strength.

It was with this weapon that Julian had managed to hold his position as the Ninth-ranked Magical Swordsman on the Class One Magical Swordsman Ranking.

The fact that he had been unable to advance proved how competitive the ranking in Class One was.

Although the Dove Whispering Sword was on the same ranked as Jaran's sword and possessed an additional skill, it was still weaker than the Dove Sealing Sword, which possessed fewer but extremely potent abilities.

Regardless, the strength of a magic item was still dependent on the wielder's strength.

And Julian's strength, when compared to Jaran, was still arguable, as even Julian would have a difficult time against Ivory and Milas.

Not many could stand toe to toe with those monsters, so Jaran, despite being third-ranked, was highly respected among others, except when he was being ridiculed for losing to a commoner and a fallen noble with defective Spirit Veins.

I was tempted to use Spiral Fang, but I held myself back.

I couldn't reveal my primary weapon now because I wanted to test my swordsmanship against him to see the difference in skill between an adept-level Swordsman and an apprentice-level swordsman.

I also wanted to shatter their morale one by one.

"Begin!" Elric announced.

Julian lunged first. His sword shone with an emerald hue.

A gale of wind surrounded Julian's body, amplifying his speed.

In the next moment, he had arrived before me.

The hue on his blade shone, intertwining with a familiar azure glow.

I froze.

The blade had vanished.

Only the wind enveloping his hand could be felt.

For a weapon whose range could be increased and strikes enhanced, this was a killer move for any person.

All this had transpired before I could raise my sword.

I had thought that Julian had been sent to test my skills, but I was wrong.

He wanted to end the battle as quickly as possible.

Perhaps, because the Windcrest Clan's Descendants were already more afraid of me than I had imagined.

Their decisions hadn't been clouded with anger.

Well played!

I leapt backwards, crossing my blade to protect my chest.

CLANGG!!

My arm stung as a steel grazed my skin.

Before it could cut in too deep, I leapt to the side, putting a distance between me and Julian again.

"Is running all you can do?" Julian said with a mocking tone as he looked at me.

I looked at my injured arm and frowned.

The cut was deep enough to draw blood, but not enough to hinder my movement.

I shifted my attention to Julian's hand.

The invisible sword was revealed once more, glowing with an emerald light.

"What's wrong? Have you finally realised the precarious situation you are in and want to apologise?... Unfortunately, it's too late for you to do that. And you better not concede, or else.... you'll regret it."

I looked at Julian.

He was faster than Jaran

Speed was the speciality of the Windcrest Clan, and Julian clearly embodied it.

His breathing was steady, but his chest heaved up and down.

The strain of activating both the magic sword and his sacred art was already weighing on him.

I doubted he would be able to use it a few more times before he's exhausted.

"For someone who's about to lose, you're quite boastful. Perhaps it's embedded in the DNA of the Windcrest Clan bloodline. I advice you to use everything at your disposal now to fight me so you don't end up like Jaran, who doesn't believe that he had lost fairly."

I smiled.

I have figured out a clue on how to defeat him.

Julian's smile dropped. He trembled in anger.

"I wanted to play with you for a bit longer. However, it seems that I need to show you the disparity in strength between us. So I have no other choice but to end this quickly," he said.