Chapter 22: A Real Duel.
After saying that, Rayan continued, his voice calm but sharp like the crack of thunder. "Okay, now I will tell you about the spells of Lightning Mana Cultivators."
He straightened his back slightly, folding his hands behind him as his gray eyes flickered faintly with traces of lightning. "The first spell is Lightning Blast, which you just used now. It's the basic form of Lightning mana — raw, direct, and explosive."
He gestured toward the blackened spot on the ground where Aiden's earlier attack had struck as he said. "Then there's Blitz. This spell is used to gain high speed. You can use it by enforcing your whole body with Lightning mana — but do not release the mana outside your body. Instead, keep it compressed within yourself. When you move toward your opponent, release the mana only in the direction you wish to go. That will give you exponential speed — like becoming a streak of lightning itself."
Rayan paused, raising one finger, as if to emphasize the danger in what he was about to say next. "Then, there's Lightning Cage. To use this, you surround your opponent completely in Lightning mana and begin to shrink the cage inward until it touches their body. Depending on your control, this spell can injure, restrict, or even completely restrain your opponent. But be careful — if your control falters, it might kill instead."
His tone darkened slightly as he went on, "Next comes Lightning Sense. You can enforce all your senses and even your mind with Lightning mana. This lets you perceive things faster, react faster, and think faster — far beyond normal limits. In battle, this ability can mean the difference between life and death. However… you can only use it for a few seconds. If you try to maintain it for too long, you risk severely injuring your senses or even your brain. Your thoughts will overload, and you could lose consciousness."
He stepped forward and tapped Aiden's forehead lightly as he said. "So use it carefully. Lightning can be a gift — or it can burn your mind from the inside."
Aiden listened to every word intently. He could feel his heart pounding as he imagined all these techniques — the speed, the destruction, the precision. Lightning mana was different from the others. It was wild, beautiful, and yet deadly.
Rayan's voice broke his focus as he continued. "And finally, there's Lightning Rain. In this spell, you create countless small lightning bolts and unleash them together — a barrage of attacks that rain down on your opponent like a storm. When mastered, it can destroy entire areas."
He stopped speaking for a brief moment, letting his words sink in. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he said, "Your father told me that you can also use Wind mana. So, if you already know how to use it, I'll also teach you Wind mana spells."
He folded his arms and tilted his head slightly, the faintest smile forming on his face as he continued. "At your current level, you can use Wind Cutter. It's like a blade made of air — invisible, fast, and capable of cutting through solid objects. Your parents told me that you can already use this spell, so I'll help you perfect it. The second spell is Flight. You can use wind to propel yourself and move freely through the air, though at your level, you'll only be able to sustain it for a few seconds. Still, it'll be useful in combat. And the third spell is Wind Storm. You can create a storm or a tornado and trap your enemy inside it — the spinning wind can crush, disorient, or injure them severely."
He stopped speaking and gave a slight grin as he said. "Let's have a duel first, before we start training. I want to check your battle sense, your presence of mind, your ability to adapt — and how mentally prepared you are for combat. From the results of this duel, I'll plan your training session. And remember, I won't go easy on you. I'll attack as if you were an enemy. So, be prepared."
Aiden's eyes sharpened as he heard this. He nodded seriously, his posture straightening. His thoughts began to focus instantly, clearing like still water. So this is how it'll be… a true test.
He quickly assessed what he had. I can't use fire, water, or puppeteer mana right now, he thought. I can only use Lightning Burst and Wind Cutter — and maybe Self-Heal. That realization struck him hard. It meant he was going into a duel with almost no offensive or supportive elements, and their spells. But even so, he clenched his fists tightly, steeling his resolve.
I'll face him head-on.
He took a deep breath and assumed his fighting stance.
Sara, who was standing on the side of the garden, also realized that Aiden could not use any battle-related spells or elements. She could tell from Aiden's stance alone that he wasn't planning to back out of the duel — and she also knew that Rayan wouldn't hold back either. Her expression turned to concern.
She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Jonathan gently grabbed her hand and guided her toward the edge of the garden.
"Let them fight," he said quietly, his tone calm but firm. "Aiden has to learn how to face sudden pressure. You know this as well as I do."
Sara frowned but didn't argue. She reluctantly nodded, crossing her arms as she watched.
Jonathan then raised his voice and said loudly, "Start!"
The moment he said that word, the atmosphere changed entirely.
Boom!
In an instant, Rayan vanished. It wasn't teleportation — it was Blitz. The sheer speed at which he moved left only faint electric streaks in the air.
Aiden's eyes darted around in panic — but before he could locate Rayan, he felt something behind him.
"Too slow," Rayan's voice said coldly from behind.
A kick slammed into Aiden's back.
Wham!
The impact sent him flying forward. His body hit the ground and rolled, dust scattering around him. A painful grunt escaped his mouth as he forced himself up, coughing slightly.
His entire back burned with pain.
But before he could even regain balance, Rayan vanished again.
Aiden's mind raced. "Where—?!"
From the right side, another flash appeared. Rayan's figure emerged once again, already mid-kick.
But this time, Aiden's body moved on instinct. He planted his hand on the ground and twisted, bringing his arm up to block the strike.
Bang!
The kick landed hard against his arm, sending him tumbling again, but he had blocked it. His forearm felt numb, the skin stinging from the force of the blow. Still, it was a small victory — he had reacted in time.
Aiden's heart pounded wildly. He's testing me. I have to think. If I just defend, he'll keep overwhelming me.
His eyes scanned the surroundings rapidly. He's using Blitz — he can appear anywhere. Behind, left, right… Where will he arrive next? I have to be prepared.
He gritted his teeth and steadied his stance again.
The air shimmered faintly.
Rayan suddenly disappeared as he appeared again, but this time he appeared — not behind, or to the side of Aiden — but directly in front of him this time, his fist already clenched.
Before Aiden could react, Rayan's punch slammed straight into his stomach.
"Guh!" Aiden gasped, the air knocked out of his lungs as he dropped to his knees.
Rayan looked down at him and opened his mouth to say something — but before he could, Aiden's right hand shot upward. Lightning began to crackle from his palm.
Zzzzt!
A blinding flash erupted as Aiden launched a Lightning Blast point-blank toward Rayan.
Rayan's eyes widened — not because he couldn't dodge, but because he hadn't expected the boy to counterattack while still in pain.
He jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast. The lightning seared past him, scorching the ground where he had stood.
But before he could regain his footing, another flash appeared in his peripheral vision — a faint slice of air that shimmered like glass sliced through the surrounding air approaching him with high speed.
A Wind Cutter!
Rayan's pupils contracted as he thought. He predicted my movement?!
He twisted his body midair and barely avoided the invisible blade that sliced past him, missing his sleeve. The wind brushed the fabric as it missed its target.
As he landed on the ground, his eyes darted back to Aiden.
Aiden was already standing again. His breathing was heavy, but his body showed no visible wounds. He had already used Self-Heal to recover. A faint, pale glow faded from his skin as he steadied himself.
Rayan stared at him for a moment — then let out a low laugh, half-amused, half-impressed.
He relaxed his stance and said, "Okay, that's enough for today."
The tension in the air faded slowly as the faint hum of mana dispersed around them.
"You did pretty well," Rayan said, his tone now calm but approving. "At first, you were completely stunned — which is natural. You've never fought someone who attacked you instantly in a duel before. But then you adapted. You observed my movements and realized that I was left-handed."
He smiled faintly. "And the moment I struck you with my left hand, you counterattacked with a Lightning Burst, while simultaneously conjuring a Wind Cutter to my left — predicting that I would dodge in that direction. That was great thinking. It was truly Brilliant for someone your age. Well done."
Aiden stood there, his rugged training clothes slightly torn, his chest still rising and falling rapidly. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, a small smile appeared on his face.
He let out a long breath — a sigh of both relief and pride as he thought. He praised me…
Aiden bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, teacher."
Rayan nodded once, crossing his arms again, his expression turning more composed. "Get some rest for today. Tomorrow, your true training will begin."
Aiden nodded as he said. "Yes, teacher."
He slowly sat down on the grass, exhausted yet satisfied. The pain in his muscles was real, but the learning spirit in his heart burned brighter than ever. This was the kind of challenge he had been waiting for — a battle that forced him to think, adapt, and grow.
As Rayan turned to leave, the setting sun cast long shadows across the garden. The faint scent of flowers still lingered in the air — the sign of spring.
Aiden looked up at the sky, where clouds slowly drifted across the fading orange horizon. He thought that from tomorrow onwards, I'll master both wind and lightning. I'll become even more faster, sharper, and stronger than before.
He clenched his fist lightly, feeling the faint hum of energy still coursing through him. It was only the beginning of his harsh training.
Author's Note:Aiden's first duel under Rayan's mentorship marks the awakening of his true combat instincts. With lightning's destructive force and wind's agility, his journey enters a phase of harsh growth and relentless training. The storm has only begun to form — and soon, it will roar.