Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Varya's aura surged, her body glowing with a faint light as the skill she had just activated took hold. Her movements became faster, more fluid, and her strikes carried far more weight than before. Canna could feel the shift, the wind around him reacting to the sudden increase in her power. She was pressing forward, her attacks now coming at him with the intensity of a true transcendent warrior.

Canna, unfazed by the change, responded in kind. With a flick of his wrist, the water arrows that had been floating behind him shot forward, slicing through the air with incredible speed. The crowd, who had been watching in awe, could not understand why someone would use water arrows in such a high-stakes duel. It was a basic-tier spell, something even novice mages could summon.

What use could it possibly have against someone like Varya?

But the moment one of Canna's arrows struck the pavement, the answer became clear.

Varya had deflected the arrow with her sword, sending it crashing into the stone floor. Instead of dissipating like a normal spell, the arrow hit the ground with such force that it left a deep dent in the stone. Another arrow that Varya narrowly dodged collided with the floor, and to everyone's shock, a crack appeared.

The arena, specially designed to withstand the power of saints and disaster ranks, had just been damaged by what appeared to be a simple water arrow. The realization sent a wave of unease through the crowd. If such an attack could leave visible cracks in the arena's defenses, what would happen if one of those arrows hit a person?

They didn't need to imagine long.

Sera, who was watching the fight intently, felt a chill run down her spine. She had underestimated the arrows at first, just like everyone else. But now, she saw what made them deadly. The water arrows were infused with an immense amount of mana, far beyond what a basic spell should contain.

To make matters worse, Canna was using wind magic to propel them even faster, making each arrow as dangerous as a high-caliber weapon.

Sera's eyes darted between the arrows and the swordfight that was happening simultaneously. Canna was not only controlling the arrows with pinpoint accuracy but also engaging in a furious exchange of blows with her grandmother. The amount of multitasking required to maintain such precise control while also fending off Varya's relentless attacks was staggering. And yet, Canna made it look effortless.

Despite Canna's skill, it was clear that Varya was pushing him to his limits. She had the upper hand, her sword strikes coming faster and harder with each passing moment. Canna was parrying them well, but she was gradually forcing him backward, her transcendent power starting to overwhelm his defenses.

But that changed when Varya's sword found an opening. With a sharp slash, she cut across Canna's arm, and a thin line of blood appeared, trickling down his forearm.

Varya smirked, her voice low and confident. "Looks like you're not untouchable after all."

Canna chuckled, unfazed by the wound. "Touché. But we're just getting started." He adjusted his stance, and with a flourish, he summoned a second longsword from his storage ring. The crowd murmured in confusion—why would he need two swords?

But it wasn't just the swords. As the second blade appeared, the number of water arrows doubled, each one also growing in size. Now, twenty arrows floated behind him, swirling in perfect formation.

Varya's smile faded. She had already been struck by one of those arrows earlier, and though it hadn't incapacitated her, it had stung. Now, she was going to have to deal with twice the number, and they looked even more dangerous.

Without warning, the fight resumed. This time, the air crackled with tension as the two warriors clashed with renewed intensity.

Canna swung both swords in tandem, his attacks swift and unpredictable. Varya met his strikes with equal ferocity, her blade moving with lightning speed as she parried and counterattacked. At the same time, Canna directed his water arrows with astonishing precision. Each arrow shot toward Varya, perfectly timed to coincide with his sword strikes, forcing her to defend on multiple fronts.

The crowd could hardly follow the exchange. To their eyes, it was a blur of steel and water, the two fighters moving so fast that their forms seemed to flicker in and out of existence. Maggi, watching from the stands, shook his head in disbelief.

Despite Canna's increased offense, Varya's skill was on full display. Her swordsmanship was nothing short of masterful. She didn't just deflect the arrows randomly—she had learned to prioritize which arrows to block and which to dodge. She allowed some of the smaller arrows to graze her, taking minimal damage, while focusing on avoiding or parrying the more dangerous ones.

Even with twenty arrows and two swords coming at her, she remained composed, her movements sharp and efficient.

But Canna wasn't making it easy. His precision was impeccable, each arrow shot with a purpose, each sword strike calculated to force Varya into uncomfortable positions. He was testing her defenses, looking for openings while keeping up the pressure with his dual swords. The crowd couldn't believe what they were seeing—a mid-transcendent warrior matching blows with a true transcendent.

Varya, though clearly impressed, wasn't about to let up. She lunged forward, her blade glowing with energy as she aimed for Canna's chest. He parried the strike, but Varya followed up with a fierce horizontal slash, forcing Canna to leap back to avoid it. In the same moment, two of his water arrows shot forward, aiming for her legs.

Varya twisted her body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the arrows. She landed gracefully, but the moment her feet touched the ground, Canna was upon her again, his swords coming down in a flurry of strikes. She blocked one, then the other, but the force behind his blows was increasing.

The water arrows continued to rain down on her, each one more precise than the last. Varya was forced to move faster, her sword cutting through the air in an attempt to deflect the incoming projectiles. Her movements were flawless, but even so, a few of the arrows found their mark, nicking her robes and drawing thin lines of blood.

Canna pressed forward, his attacks relentless. He spun on his heel, delivering a sharp upward slash with his left sword while simultaneously firing a water arrow from his right hand. Varya barely managed to parry the sword, but the arrow grazed her side, drawing a sharp hiss of pain.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

For a moment, it seemed like the momentum was shifting in Canna's favor. His multitasking abilities were unmatched—he was controlling the water arrows with surgical precision while engaging in close combat with Varya, something that even the best fighters struggled to do.

His footwork was light and agile, allowing him to dance around Varya's more powerful strikes, and his swords were an extension of his body, moving with fluid grace.

But Varya was not one to be easily overwhelmed. She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she studied Canna's movements. His strength lay in his control—he was a master of manipulating his attacks to keep her off-balance. But now, she knew his rhythm.

With a sudden burst of speed, Varya closed the distance, her sword coming down with the full force of her transcendent power. Canna blocked the strike with both swords, but the sheer weight of her attack sent him skidding back a few feet. He quickly regained his footing, but Varya was already moving again, her blade flashing as she pressed the attack.

The crowd watched in awe as the two warriors continued their dance of blades, each one pushing the other to their limits. But as the battle raged on, it became clear to everyone that this was no ordinary duel. Canna, a mid-transcendent, was holding his own against a true transcendent—something no one had expected.

As they clashed again, Canna's eyes gleamed with excitement. He had tricks up his sleeve, and it was only a matter of time before he revealed them. But for now, he was content to test the limits of his opponent.

And so, the battle continued, with neither side willing to back down.