Shattered Destiny : Fate

After Ajax agreed to the duel, Berry immediately suggested they seek permission from the school authorities. They were granted approval on the condition that a professor would supervise, and the match would take place in the school's auditorium. It was scheduled for three days later.

As the duel approached, Storm grew increasingly anxious. "Ajax, you should back out," he urged. "Berry's strong and experienced. She could crush you."

Ajax simply smiled, unfazed. "I appreciate your concern, Storm, but I have to do this. I won't back down."

When the day arrived, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The only spectators in the vast auditorium were Storm, who had arrived long before anyone else, and Rushford, the teacher assigned to referee the match.

For the first time since acquiring Art, Ajax chose to wield both Ax and Art. As he and Berry took their positions, Lucius's voice echoed in his mind.

"Use this strategy, and it'll be over before she even realizes what happened."

Ajax shook his head. "No. I want this to be a fair fight. I'll fight without my ultimate skills."

The duel began.

Barely a minute in, Ajax stumbled and fell. To any observer, it looked as though he was struggling, giving his all against Berry's relentless attacks. But Berry saw through the act.

She narrowed her eyes, her frustration flaring. "Ajax, stop insulting me. Either defeat me or quit, but don't hold back. It's disrespectful."

Storm, watching anxiously, clenched his fists. He's going to get himself killed…

Ajax, still on the ground, looked up at Berry and nodded. "You're right. The last thing I want to do is insult you." He exhaled. "From now on, I'm giving it my all. And I expect the same from you."

Berry's expression hardened. "Good."

The duel restarted with a renewed intensity.

The sound of clashing swords echoed through the auditorium. Sparks flew as metal met metal, and waves of magic crackled in the air. Ajax, now fully focused, moved with a precision and grace that seemed unnatural for an eight-year-old. His strikes were calculated, his footwork refined—each movement honed through years of experience that no one in this world should have had at his age.

But Berry was formidable. Her control over water magic was exceptional, extinguishing Ajax's flames with ease. Without his ultimate skills, he was at a disadvantage. Lucius's strategies couldn't help him now.

If he wanted to win, he had to stop holding back.

"It's time," Ajax murmured.

In a split second, he activated his water and earth magic.

The ground beneath Berry softened as his earth magic turned it into a mud trap. Simultaneously, a burst of fire magic filled the air with dense steam, clouding her vision.

Then, Ajax unsheathed Art.

The sword shimmered and shifted in his grasp, its transparent edge flickering blue as he channeled water magic, then glowing red as fire surged through it. The blade stabilized, amplifying his power.

With a swift motion, he unleashed a three-element assault.

A flaming mud projectile shot toward Berry, followed by a high-pressure water jet from Art. The attacks struck in rapid succession, overwhelming her from multiple directions.

In less than ten seconds, it was over.

The shift in the atmosphere was immediate.

Berry, who had been steadily gaining the upper hand, suddenly found herself on the ground, staring up at Ajax in shock. He stood victorious, his breathing steady, his grip firm on Art.

The auditorium fell into stunned silence.

Storm's jaw dropped. Even Rushford, the seasoned professor, was speechless.

Berry, still sitting on the ground, stared at Ajax with wide eyes, her expression a mixture of disbelief and admiration.

But Ajax knew his victory had come at a cost.

Storm and Berry had seen too much.

They had been his friends for a while now, yet never once had he mentioned the extent of his abilities. Berry had suspected his affinity for water, but now she knew the truth—he had earth magic as well.

Ajax exhaled, his grip tightening around Art.

There was no hiding from the truth anymore.