"Ah!" Aaron cried out in pain, staggering and nearly falling to the ground.

  He felt a searing pain in his back, and blood instantly stained his clothes.

  "Aaron's injured!" the watching students exclaimed in shock once again.

  "My goodness, Reed's speed is incredible! I couldn't even see how he moved in that split second."

  "Yeah, it was like a gust of wind!"

  "Aaron's really in trouble this time. It seems like he's completely outmatched by Reed."

  On the arena, Aaron tightly gripped his sword, his face pale, and sweat pouring down his forehead.

  He never expected that even after reaching squire level 4, he would still be so easily overwhelmed by Reed.

  Or is Reed already at squire level 4?

  No, that's impossible!

  "How's it going, Aaron? How do you feel?" Reed's taunting voice reached Aaron's ears.

  Reed didn't press his advantage but stood still, as if waiting for Aaron's response.

  "You..." Aaron glared at Reed, gritting his teeth, his chest heaving and his breathing rapid.

  He wanted to say something, but his throat seemed blocked, and no sound came out.

  The wound on his back kept bleeding, the searing pain stimulating his nerves.

  If this continues, I might really lose...

  No, I can't! I can't lose!

  I've paid such a high price to improve my level; I absolutely can't lose to Reed!

  A flash of madness appeared in Aaron's eyes. He bit his tongue hard, forcing himself to stay awake.

  The taste of blood spread in his mouth, making him even more alert.

  "It's not over yet!" Aaron roared, suddenly unleashing the holy light within him.

  "Gale slash!"

  "Gale slash!"

  This was his white five-star skill, the only one he knew.

  Four or five sword waves whistled out, heading straight for Reed.

  However, this "gale slash" seemed more ferocious than before, the sword waves more focused, and its power noticeably increased.

  Has he been pushed to the brink?

  Facing the incoming "gale slash," Reed still didn't dodge. He raised his starfall sword and once again blocked the path of the sword waves.

  "Clang!" Another metallic clash echoed.

  As he blocked the "gale slash," Reed launched another counterattack.

  "Thunder roar!"

  Lightning flashed on the sword, carrying a stronger electric force as it slashed toward Aaron.

  This time, Reed didn't give Aaron any chance.

  Aaron wanted to block again, but he was already feeling weak.

  Taking Reed's "thunder roar" earlier had numbed his arm, and now facing an even more powerful "thunder roar," he felt like his arm was about to break.

  "Bang!"

  The two swords collided again, and this time, Aaron's sword couldn't withstand the immense power of the thunder roar.

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  "Crack!" A crisp sound echoed as Aaron's sword broke into pieces.

  The shattered blade fell helplessly onto the arena.

  "What? The sword broke?" The students watching were utterly shocked.

  "Aaron's sword was actually broken by Reed with one strike?!"

  "How... how is that possible? Aaron's sword, while not a fancy weapon, is still a standard academy weapon. Its quality isn't that bad."

  "Reed's sword must be extraordinary. It's definitely not a regular weapon."

  On the arena, Aaron stared at his broken sword, completely dumbfounded.

  He couldn't believe that his sword had been shattered by Reed's strike.

  This was from the academy's armory. While it's not a top-tier weapon, its quality is definitely reliable. How could it be broken so easily?

  "No, I can't keep fighting!"

  The voice in Aaron's mind screamed, deafeningly loud.

  Keep fighting? He's not stupid!

  That last strike nearly tore his hand off, and now his sword is broken. Without a weapon, what's the point?

  Humiliating! So humiliating!

  But more importantly, he knew being humiliated was better than being crippled by Reed.

  Aaron, the prodigy, destined to become a golden knight—how could he fall here, to Reed?

  Run! I must run!

  Aaron's eyes darted around, his mind racing to plan an escape route.

  The arena is so small; where can I run?

  Got it!

  His eyes suddenly lit up, and a cunning smile appeared on his lips.

  Aaron suddenly shouted, swiping his broken sword in a feint, pretending to counterattack, but it was just a distraction.

  He kicked off the ground with force, leaping backward, and turned to run!

  "Trying to run?" Reed had anticipated this move.

  Reed sneered inwardly, his "swift wind step" instantly activated, and his figure appeared behind Aaron like a ghost.

  Escaping? Not that easy!

  "Thunder roar!" Reed whispered, the thunder on his starfall sword exploding into a dazzling light.

  He swung his arm, and a thick bolt of lightning roared out like a furious thunder dragon, slashing toward Aaron's escape path.

  "What?!" Aaron felt a chill on his back, his hair standing on end.

  He turned and saw a blinding flash of lightning hurtling toward him at incredible speed, leaving him no chance to dodge.

  This... this power!

  He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. The lightning was right in front of him, sealing all his escape routes.

  It's over!

  Aaron's mind went blank.

  "Stop!"

  A sharp shout suddenly rang out, causing everyone's ears to tingle.

  A figure flashed like lightning and stood in front of Aaron.

  It was Joseph James, an instructor at the Knight Academy.

  Reed's thunder roar was forcefully blocked by Joseph, the tip of the sword almost touching Joseph's body.

  "Instructor, what do you mean by this?" Reed suppressed his anger.

  Joseph didn't even look at Reed, instead turning to Aaron first, his tone both scolding and soothing, "Aaron, step back. The outcome is already decided."

  Aaron, who was looking for a way to gracefully retreat, found the instructor's words like music to his ears.

  He immediately seized the opportunity, retreating in embarrassment to the side, his head down, his face looking terribly unpleasant.

  Only then did Joseph turn his head, his eyes sharp as he stared at Reed, reprimanding, "Reed, in a sparring match, you should know when to stop! Don't you think you went too far?"

  "Too far?" Reed was almost laughing in anger, "Instructor, if I hadn't reacted quickly just now, I would be the one lying on the ground! When he attacked my vitals with gale slash, why didn't you say he went too far?"

  "It's true, Aaron went straight for Reed's head as soon as he got on the arena."

  "Reed has a point."

  "Let's see how the instructor responds."

  Below the arena, a wave of whispers rose again.

  Joseph, hearing the students' words from below the arena, his face darkened, and he looked at Reed, his tone carrying a hint of threat, "Aaron is from the Aide family. You better know your place and quit while you're ahead."

  "The Aide family?"

  Playing the family card again? Reed's anger flared even more.

  "What about the Aide family? On the arena, does it matter where you come from? Instructor, where is your knight's spirit? Are you showing favoritism?" Reed didn't back down, directly questioning.

  Joseph didn't expect Reed to dare speak to him like this, his face turning even more unpleasant.

  "How dare you! I'm the instructor, who are you to question me?"

  "Question?" Reed sneered, "Did I say something wrong? Or is the Lake Knight Academy a place to open doors for the Aide family?"

  The surrounding students began to whisper, their eyes becoming subtle.

  No one is a fool; the instructor's favoritism is just too obvious.

  Joseph was left speechless by Reed's words, and in his humiliation and anger, he decided to lay all the cards on the table, "The Archer family has long fallen. Do you think you're still that young master? You're lucky to be alive now, what more do you want? Revenge? Are you even worthy?"

  As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place was in an uproar.

  Reed's head buzzed, and rage instantly surged to the top.

  He stared hard at Joseph, his voice almost squeezed through his teeth,

  He had always wondered why Aaron dared to attack him so recklessly, why Morris dared to accept money to assassinate students of the knight academy, why the academy turned a blind eye to this matter.

  Now he knew the root of it all!

  This instructor, no, this academy knew everything!

  And, they are condoning it, even encouraging it!

  "Did I say anything wrong?" Joseph's eyes were disdainful, his tone even more arrogant, "The Archer family is finished! Do you think you can make a comeback? Stop dreaming! If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your head down, otherwise..."

  "Otherwise what?" Reed, in the height of his anger, laughed, his eyes filled with madness, "Otherwise, you high and mighty people will team up to crush this 'ant', right?"

  He suddenly activated swift wind step, his figure flashing like a ghost, bypassing Joseph, and charging towards Aaron again.

  "How dare you!"

  Joseph moved, and a powerful aura burst from his body—the pressure of a bronze knight!

  ……