Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 76: A Friendly Spar [3]

Cedric had been watching Kyle for a while now.

Not in an obvious way. He wasn’t the type to stare.

But ever since that first day at the entrance exam. Something about Kyle had caught his attention.

It wasn’t just skill.

It was something deeper.

His blessing.

The divine gift he’d received from Goddess Solmora, the Lady of Sun and Judgment.

It had stirred when he first saw Kyle.

Just a faint pulse, like a distant bell ringing.

At first, Cedric thought he had imagined it.

But then he saw Kyle fight.

The way he moved in the ranking match against Kaelith.

Effortless, precise, like he already knew every move his opponent would make before they made it.

Kaelith was higher-ranked, stronger on paper.

Kyle dismantled him like it was nothing.

Then came the VR exam.

That lightning construct. The one Kyle had summoned at the end.

He had nearly ended Cedric. He’d barely survived that lightning spell.

Most Bronze-ranks couldn’t produce that kind of power.

But Kyle had.

And now.

In this spar, seeing him pull out ice on top of lightning?

Cedric couldn’t help the grin spreading across his face.

Cassian was strong.

But Kyle?

Kyle was something else.

And Cedric wanted to see how far he could go.

That’s why he had pushed him in this fight.

Not to humiliate him.

Not to prove he was stronger.

But to test him.

To see if that flicker of potential he had sensed was real.

And now. Watching frost curl off Kyle’s fingertips, seeing the way his eyes burned with defiance even as he wiped blood from his lip—

Cedric knew.

He had found another rival.

———

The moment Kyle’s ice shield shattered. The entire atmosphere in the training hall shifted.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with raw energy as both combatants reassessed each other.

Cedric wiped the thin trail of blood from his forehead.

His blue eyes alight with something fierce.

A slow grin spread across his face as he flexed his sword hand.

"Ice, huh?" His breath came out in visible puffs in the suddenly chilled air.

"Guess we have both been holding back."

Kyle exhaled sharply, watching his breath mist in front of him.

Every muscle in his body ached. His ribs screamed from that last kick.

His arms burned from blocking Cedric’s relentless strikes.

But he wasn’t done yet.

Not even close.

Then Cedric’s sword began to glow.

A pure, brilliant light wrapped around the steel.

Turning the practice blade into something that looked more like a sunbeam given physical form.

The radiant energy pulsed in time with Cedric’s breathing. Casting sharp shadows across the training hall.

"Aw, crap," Kyle muttered under his breath.

Feeling the hairs on his arms stand up from the sheer energy radiating off Cedric.

Cedric moved first.

With a flick of his free hand.

[Flashbang]

A sphere of blinding white light erupted between them, brighter than the sun at noon.

Kyle barely had time to throw his arm up in a futile attempt to shield his eyes.

BLINDING WHITE.

Pain lanced through his skull like a hot poker.

His vision dissolved into swirling afterimages. Shapes and colors blending together in a nauseating kaleidoscope.

He stumbled backward, blinking furiously.

’Shit.’

Instinct took over before panic could.

Kyle slammed his palm into the floor with all his strength.

[Frost Surge]

A wave of jagged ice exploded outward from his hand. Spreading in a defensive circle around him.

The frost crackled as it expanded, forming a barrier of razor-sharp icicles pointing outward in every direction.

He still couldn’t see Cedric clearly. Just blurry shapes moving through the white haze.

But he could feel the heat of approaching flames as parts of his ice barrier began melting.

"Nice try," Cedric’s voice came from his left, closer than expected.

Kyle spun toward the sound.

Cedric’s glowing sword came down in a brutal diagonal slash aimed at his shoulder.

Kyle barely got his tachi up in time to intercept. The impact sending shockwaves through his arms that made his teeth rattle.

CLANG!

The force of the blow drove Kyle to one knee.

Cedric didn’t let up.

Flames erupted around his free hand.

The intense heat causing Kyle’s remaining ice barrier to melt rapidly.

Steam hissed and popped in the air between them as water met fire.

Creating a thick mist that made it even harder to see.

"Come on, Kyle!" Luna’s voice cut through the tension from the sidelines.

She was practically bouncing in her seat.

"Stop playing defense and hit him back already!"

Kyle gritted his teeth, tasting blood from where he had bitten his cheek earlier.

His vision was finally starting to clear.

But everything still had a fuzzy halo around it.

He needed to think.

Feinting left.

Kyle suddenly pivoted on his back foot—

[Lightning Steps]

Blue-white electricity crackled around his body as he vanished in a streak of light.

Reappearing behind Cedric in the blink of an eye.

His tachi lashed out in a vicious horizontal slash aimed at Cedric’s unprotected back—

Only for Cedric to twist mid-motion with unnatural grace. His light-infused blade intercepting Kyle’s strike with effortless precision.

The weapons locked together with a shower of sparks.

"Predictable," Cedric said. His breath barely labored despite the intensity of their fight.

Then he kicked Kyle square in the chest.

WHUMP!

The air exploded from Kyle’s lungs as he flew backward. Skidding across the wooden floor like a ragdoll.

His ribs screamed in protest.

Cedric didn’t give him a second to recover.

[Flame Whip]

A lash of concentrated fire snapped through the air with a sound like tearing cloth.

Aimed straight for Kyle’s legs.

Kyle managed to roll to the side.

But the edge of the flames still caught his ankle.

Searing through his combat boot and scorching the skin beneath.

"Gah—!" Kyle hissed through clenched teeth.

The smell of burnt leather filling his nose.

Cedric advanced like a predator. Light and fire dancing around him in alternating waves.

"You are good, Kyle," he admitted, rotating his sword arm.

"But you are still thinking small."

Kyle spat a mouthful of coppery blood onto the floor between them.

His entire body ached. His vision still wasn’t 100%, and now his damn ankle was burned.

’Fine. If predictable isn’t working...’

He slammed his hands together with a sharp clap.

[Lightning Chain]

Instead of aiming directly at Cedric.

Kyle sent a jagged bolt of blue-white electricity streaking toward the puddles of melted ice water surrounding them.

The effect was instantaneous.

The lightning conducted through the water.

Spreading out in a crackling web of electricity that lit up the entire training hall like a strobe light.

Cedric’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

He tried to leap back—

ZAP!

The shock jolted through his legs. Locking his muscles in a painful spasm for a split second.

Just long enough.

Kyle didn’t waste the opening.

[Glacial Lance]

A spear of condensed ice shot from his outstretched palm with the speed of a crossbow bolt.

Aimed straight for Cedric’s right shoulder.

Cedric gritted his teeth and somehow forced his body to move despite the lingering electricity—

CRACK!

The ice spear grazed his arm.

Leaving a deep gash that immediately began welling with blood.

"THAT’S MY BOY!" Luna shrieked at the top of her lungs. Jumping to her feet.

Her white hair bounced wildly as she pumped her fist in the air.

Cedric glanced down at the wound. Then back at Kyle.

Instead of anger, his grin only widened, showing teeth. "Now that’s more like it."

The air around Cedric’s blade shimmered as fire and light merged together.

Forming a golden flame that made the steel look like it was forged from sunlight itself.

The temperature in the training hall spiked suddenly.

The remaining frost on the floor evaporating in clouds of steam.

Kyle could feel the hairs on his arms standing up from the sheer power radiating off Cedric now.

This wasn’t just showing off anymore.

Cedric had stopped holding back entirely.

Kyle braced himself.

Lightning crackling along his arms as he shifted into a defensive stance.

Cedric moved—

[Radiant Cleave]

A crescent of condensed light and flame arced toward Kyle with terrifying speed.

The attack wasn’t just physical. The very air distorted around it like heat haze on a desert road.

Kyle crossed his arms and summoned every ounce of his remaining energy—

[Glacial Wall]

A thick wall of ice erupted from the floor between them. Its surface gleaming like polished diamond.

The two forces collided—

BOOM!

The explosion of steam and energy shattered Kyle’s ice defense into a million glittering shards and sent him flying backward.

He hit the ground hard enough to bounce.

The impact driving what little air remained in his lungs out in a pained wheeze.

Before he could even think about getting up.

Cedric was above him. His glowing blade descending in a final, decisive strike—

Kyle rolled at the last possible second, feeling the whoosh of air as the sword bit into the floor where his head had been a heartbeat earlier.

He lashed out with a desperate kick that caught Cedric square in the stomach.

Cedric grunted but didn’t falter.

His knee drove upward into Kyle’s ribs with brutal precision—

CRACK! frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

White-hot pain exploded through Kyle’s chest as at least one more rib gave way.

His vision swam.

The edges going dark for a terrifying moment.

When it cleared.

Cedric’s glowing blade hovered at his throat, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating off it.

Silence.

The training hall was utterly still.

The spectators holding their collective breath.

Then—

"Yield," Cedric said.

His voice firm but not unkind.

His breathing was heavier now, sweat glistening on his forehead.

But his sword hand didn’t so much as tremble.

Kyle stared up at the blade, then at Cedric’s face.

His entire body screamed in protest.

His mana reserves were almost spent.

His Lightning flickering weakly.

His ribs absolute agony with every shallow breath.

He exhaled slowly.

Letting the tension drain from his battered body.

"...Yeah. I yield."

———