Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 266: Final Spar [2]

In a burst of speed, Lucas executed a series of acrobatic manoeuvres, avoiding Yato's strikes while launching his relentless assault. The azure glow of his sword illuminated the battlefield as if the very essence of the sky had descended upon it.

But time was running out. Lucas felt the strain in every swing, the toll of pushing his limits evident in his movements.

As Yato prepared for a decisive strike, Lucas summoned the last reserves of his energy. "I won't falter," he muttered under his breath, determination flashing in his forest-green eyes.

Their blades collided with each other again sending shockwaves to the entire area.

The shockwaves from the collision resonated through the mountainous terrain, causing a ripple in the air around Yato and Lucas. The intensity of their clash reached a crescendo, and for a moment, it seemed as if time itself had stilled.

In the aftermath of the collision, both combatants staggered back, the strain of their prolonged battle evident in their movements. Yato, though seasoned and composed, couldn't help but acknowledge the undeniable growth in Lucas's skills.

Lucas, breathing heavily, wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. The combined effects of mana coating, shadow manipulation, and the relentless sparring had pushed him to the brink.

Yato then placed his spear inside his storage ring and took out his katana, turning his attention back to Lucas, Yato Said:

"What are you waiting for? Come let's continue our dual."

Lucas gritted his teeth at the attitude of Yato, for him, it's this is a child's play.

Without a moment's hesitation, he bent his knees and let out a mighty roar, "Astral Dash."

Lucas disappeared from Yato's eyesight within a second.

In a sudden burst of speed, Lucas appeared right before Yato in the blink of an eye, Without missing a beat, Lucas unleashed a furious onslaught of sword swing towards the Yato.

Swish, Swish, Swish—!!

However, Yato dodged every single one of his strikes skillfully and placed his hand on the hilt of his Katana.

As soon as he got the chance, in one fluid motion, Yato unsheathed his Katana and used the swinging motion to carry out a slash towards Lucas.

Cling—!!

Lucas was quick to block Yato's blade with his sword.

From that position, Lucas deftly circled his sword around Yato's sword and executed a rapid sword slash towards his opponent's chest.

Yato swiftly sidestepped, evading Lucas' sword slashes with a calculated movement.

He countered with a lightning-fast spin, using the momentum to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Lucas' side.

"Arghaa!"

With a frustrated grunt, Lucas managed to deflect the kick with the hilt of his sword, but Yato didn't let up.

He regained his footing and raised his other leg in the next moment only to land a powerful front kick to Lucas' chest.

The impact of the kick sent the golden-haired boy stumbling back several steps, clearly feeling the force behind it.

However, Lucas quickly steadied himself, a determined glint in his forest-green eyes. The golden aura surrounding him intensified as he channelled the last reserves of his energy.

Yato, sensing Lucas's determination, acknowledged the young warrior's resilience.

As Lucas lunged forward once again, Yato matched his intensity. The clash of their swords echoed through the mountains, a testament to the skill and determination of both combatants.

The battle unfolded with a series of lightning-fast strikes, blocks, and counters.

Lucas, fueled by his resolve, unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, attempting to create openings in Yato's defence. However, Yato, with his years of experience, parried and countered with an almost effortless grace.

In a surprising turn, Yato disarmed Lucas with a swift manoeuvre, sending the young warrior's sword flying through the air. Yet, in the face of adversity, Lucas didn't falter.

Instead of retrieving his weapon, Lucas focused on his unique abilities. With a swift gesture, he summoned his shadow to envelop Yato, aiming to restrict his movements.

Yato, recognizing the threat, swiftly moved, his katana slicing through the shadows with precision. The battle between light and darkness unfolded with each strategic move.

In a bold move, Lucas utilized the distraction caused by his shadow to retrieve his sword. The azure glow of his weapon intensified as he prepared for the final assault.

The two warriors, locked in a battle of skill and determination, circled each other, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Suddenly, Yato's eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. With a swift motion, he vanished from Lucas's sight, leaving behind an afterimage. Before Lucas could react, Yato reappeared behind him, executing a precise strike towards his opponent.

Lucas, relying on his heightened senses, managed to evade Yato's attack narrowly.

Jumping a few steps back Lucas took out two high-grade mana potions from his bracelet and quickly drank it all.

He could feel that his mana coating and shadow skill was about to come to an end, He couldn't let that happen yet.

If that happened Lucas would lose the duel in an instant.

As Mana's recovery potion began to do his work Lucas felt that his mana core was filling with mana.

All of this action took a mere 2 seconds before Yato was at his throat again.

Dodging the Yato's blade in the nick of time Lucas threw himself toward the Yato, his body glowing in dark-shadow colour because of Mana Coating.

Without wasting a breath, Lucas quickly started attacking Yato with combinations of sword thrusts and slashes, swiftly transitioning between them.

Swish, Thruck, Swish—!!

However, Yato continued to sidestep or twirl his body to avoid the incoming attacks.

However, amidst the intense flurry of attacks carried out by his disciple, Yato couldn't help but notice a pattern.

Lucas seemed to be using his sword thrusts as a setup. He was using them to create openings for his slashing attacks.

Moreover, the force behind Lucas's slashes was immense.

Even when Yato managed to dodge, Lucas would continue his follow-through.

That's not how Yato thought him to fight. He had taught him the importance of control and precision rather than using all his strength in a single attack like a barbarian.

With a disappointed sigh, Yato dodged one of Lucas' horizontal slashes by crouching under it.

From that low position, Yato stepped in and delivered a forceful punch to Lucas' sternum.

"Argh!" the Golden-haired boy gritted his teeth and staggered back in pain.

But before Lucas could recover, Yato capitalized on the opening.