The dueling platform was quiet.
Too quiet.
Alex stood across from Alicia von Crestvale, the renowned Student Council President of Zenith Academy. Her eyes were calm, her posture poised with lethal precision. But Alex… he was trembling.
Not from fear.
From strain.
He tightened his grip on the blade in his hand. The battle had reached a point where simple techniques weren't enough. And so, he did the unthinkable.
He reached deeper.
"Astral Void Rend..."
[System Alert: High-tier technique detected.]
[Warning: Current physical condition is not optimal.]
[Proceeding may cause permanent muscle damage or internal strain.]
[Use is not recommended at this time.]
System notifications blared like sirens inside his mind, flooding his vision. But Alex didn't even blink.
His gaze was locked on Alicia.
And as he invoked the fifth form of his sword art, his body screamed in protest. Muscles tore. Bones creaked and cracked.
