The Legendary Mage (Alavin)
Chapter 136

The Protégés below were both amused and curious, some urging Tarner to finish it quickly.

The presiding warrior raised his hand high in the air and clenched it forcefully. "The match begins now!"

With a loud shout, Tarner's eyes blazed with fury, and a fierce wave of energy burst forth, sweeping across most of the platform. His aura surged wildly around him like flames engulfing his body. His hair whirled about as if caught in a tempest. His fierce gaze was locked on Alavin from a hundred paces away.

"Tarner!" The crowd's excitement soared, many chanting his name.

"Alavin, brace yourself!" Tarner charged forward like a ferocious tiger. He was tall and mighty, with broad shoulders and powerful arms. His footsteps were so heavy that the very Arena thrummed with his approach.

Alavin stood unruffled at the edge of the fighting platform with his eyes closed, and his right fist clenched. Except for the slow, forceful tension in his right arm, his body showed no sign of readiness for battle. "Alavin, what are you waiting for?" Nikulas shouted from below, anxiety clear in his voice.

"Alavin, dodge Tarner; assess his strengths and weaknesses first," Myke urged, concerned for his friend. Why was he just standing there?!

With a mighty roar, Tarner's strong energy boiled over, not only was his momentum fierce, but his long hair and garments whipped around him in the turbulence. His aura was astounding, as a terrifying force was coursing through him, focusing especially in his right arm and fist. He threw his punch without any flourish, yet everyone felt the explosive power behind it.

"Bravo!" Many in the crowd felt their passions ignited by his display of strength.

"Move!" Mariela's brows furrowed.

"That's not right!" Cedrick suddenly murmured, sensing a strange power emanating from Alavin. Where was it? The fist!

Alavin could feel the blast of air rushing toward him. In a critical moment, he opened his eyes, and his tensed right arm shot out with precision, colliding with Tarner's in a fierce clash. Boom! Their fists met like two colossal stones smashing together, the impact sending a powerful shockwave exploding from the point of contact.

To the onlookers, the outcome seemed certain; Alavin would surely be sent flying, perhaps even with his right arm rendered useless.

However...

As their fists collided and Tarner's wave of energy threatened to engulf Alavin, a dark mist surged from Alavin's fist, like a black, gleaming dagger that pierced into Tarner's knuckles in a fleeting moment. Tarner's face twisted in shock, his pupils dilated as he heard his own heart pounding thunderously in his ears. In the next instant, as if struck by lightning, his assaulted arm was violently knocked aside. The force of their impact was so immense that Tarner lost control of his body, flipping backward through the air before crashing down onto the dueling platform, rolling several meters before coming to a stop. The Arena fell silent, and the fiery atmosphere was frozen as expressions of disbelief plastered the faces of all. The minds and visions of the spectators seemed to have slipped out of place, leaving them momentarily dazed.

Even the stoic and imposing Commanders above were taken aback by the turn of events.

Tarner lay on the ground, his right arm trembling uncontrollably, his skin an angry red from the subdermal cells that had burst under the force of the blow. As he lay there, his consciousness flickered, and his vision darkened as if he had been sucked into a vortex filled with sounds of slaughter, screams, and roars. Struggling to rise, he felt like his mind was a muddle of confusion.

Alavin's right arm was numb. His hand opened and closed as he tried to regain sensation. After a moment, he slowly approached Tarner amidst the silent crowd.

Tarner shook his head, his clarity returning. Without thinking, he sprang to his feet, his energy flaring once more. But in the next second, Alavin stepped forward, delivering a crushing blow to his chest with the force of eight thousand pounds, shattering the energy around him and striking Tarner's torso with a crisp crack of breaking bones, sending him flying once again.

This time, the force was even greater, and Tarner was hurled from the dueling platform, flying toward the ranks of the Earthbound Spirits.

"Tarner!" The crowd awoke from their stupor as one rushed to intercept, catching Tarner mid-air. However, the impact was so great that they nearly toppled upon landing.

The Arena fell silent once more, eyes shifting between the Earthbound Spirits and Alavin on the platform, mouths agape in astonishment.

What had just happened? That was the question on everyone's mind, and many couldn't help but voice their disbelief.

The eight Commanders in the stands furrowed their brows, their keen eyes having missed the unfolding events - not out of carelessness, but because none had truly believed that Alavin would survive Tarner's mighty blow, let alone with such a cunning move.