Chapter 158: Blade vs Stick - Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord - NovelsTime

Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord

Chapter 158: Blade vs Stick

Author: Red_Hood69
updatedAt: 2025-08-18

CHAPTER 158: BLADE VS STICK

The arena had fallen into a hushed silence as Laura and Jayden stood facing each other on the stone platform. The tension was electric, the air thick with anticipation.

Laura bowed slightly, her dark eyes sharp and focused. "Jayden Starrk. From what I’ve seen so far, I can tell your skills in martial arts are proficient."

Jayden returned the bow, a rare show of respect. "I could say the same thing for you." he smiled. "And I think it’s an honour to fight the best martial artist in the school."

A faint smirk tugged at Laura’s lips. "Then let’s make it worth the wait." She turned to Mrs. Valerie. "I request a weapon selection."

The crowd murmured in surprise.

Mrs. Valerie nodded. "Granted."

The holographic weapon menu appeared beside the arena. Laura didn’t hesitate—her fingers brushed the interface, and in a flash of light, a sleek katana materialized in her grip. She spun it once, the blade singing through the air with lethal grace.

Then she turned to Jayden. "You should pick one too. It’s only fair."

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "I don’t need a weapon to fight."

Laura’s smirk deepened. "And yet, you’ll take one anyway. Unless you’re afraid of losing to a blade." she teased.

A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. Jayden exhaled through his nose, then glanced at the weapon menu. After a moment, he selected a simple wooden bo staff. It appeared in his hands, polished and unadorned.

Laura tilted her head. "A staff against a blade? Bold choice."

Jayden twirled it experimentally before settling into a stance. "I like a challenge."

Mrs. Valerie’s voice cut through the tension. "Combatants—ready?"

Laura raised her katana, the tip pointed toward Jayden in a flawless iaido stance. "Always."

Jayden spun the staff once before gripping it firmly. "Let’s go."

"Begin!"

Laura moved first—a flash of steel as her katana sliced through the air in a blinding arc.

Jayden twisted, the staff intercepting the blade with a sharp crack. The impact reverberated through his arms, but he held firm, countering with a sweeping strike toward her legs.

Laura leapt effortlessly over the attack, her katana descending in a vertical slash.

SHING!

Jayden pivoted, the staff deflecting the blade just enough to avoid a direct hit. The edge still grazed his sleeve, leaving a clean cut.

The crowd gasped.

First blood to Laura.

But Jayden wasn’t fazed. His golden eyes gleamed with newfound intensity as he adjusted his grip.

Laura reset her stance, katana held low. "You’re fast. But speed alone won’t save you."

Jayden smirked. "Good thing I’ve got more than that."

He lunged, the staff whirling in a blur of motion—high, low, diagonal, each strike precise, each movement fluid. Laura weaved between them, her katana flicking out like a serpent’s tongue, deflecting, parrying, countering.

CLANG! CRACK! SHING!

The sound of wood meeting steel echoed through the arena, a rhythmic dance of destruction.

Laura suddenly feinted left, then dashed right, her blade lashing out in a horizontal slash aimed at Jayden’s ribs.

Jayden dropped low, the staff sweeping her legs, Laura flipped over it, landing lightly before thrusting her katana forward like a spear.

Jayden barely twisted in time, the tip grazing his side.

A thin line of red appeared on his shirt.

The crowd roared.

"She got him again."

"Laura’s unstoppable."

Jayden touched the cut, then grinned.

Laura’s eyes narrowed. "You shouldn’t be. You’re still holding back."

Jayden’s grin faded. She was right.

He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Then, his stance shifted.

His grip on the staff tightened.

And for the first time in the fight, he attacked with intent.

The staff became a blur, strikes coming faster, harder, each one carrying the weight of a battering ram. Laura’s blocks grew tighter, her movements sharper.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The sheer force of Jayden’s assault pushed her back, step by step.

Then—

Jayden feinted high, Laura raised her katana to block but the staff whipped low, sweeping her feet out from under her.

Laura twisted midair, landing on her hands before kicking off the ground to regain her footing, only for Jayden’s staff to slam into her ribs, sending her skidding back.

The crowd erupted.

Laura steadied herself, breathing slightly heavier now. A smirk tugged at her lips. "Finally."

Jayden adjusted his grip. "No more holding back."

They charged at the same time.

Laura’s katana flashed.

Jayden’s staff whirled.

CLASH!

The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, dust kicking up around them.

For a moment, they stood locked in a deadlock, blade pressed against staff, neither yielding.

Then—

Laura twisted her wrist, the katana slidingalong the staff aiming straight for Jayden’s throat.

Jayden leaned back, the blade missing by millimeters and slammed the end of his staff into Laura’s stomach.

Laura staggered, but she didn’t fall. Instead, she spun, using the momentum to deliver a roundhouse kick straight to Jayden’s jaw.

CRACK!

Jayden’s head snapped to the side, but he dug his heels in, refusing to go down.

The crowd was on their feet, screaming.

Laura reset her stance, katana raised. "You’re strong. But strength alone won’t beat me."

Jayden wiped blood from his lip, then smirked. "Good thing I’m not just strong."

He exploded forward.

Laura met him head-on.

CRACK!

Jayden’s staff slammed against Laura’s blade, the force sending a shockwave through her arms. She skidded back, her boots grinding against the stone floor.

For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

He was adapting.

And not just adapting—he was learning.

Every block, every counter, every shift in her stance, Jayden was reading her, adjusting, evolving mid-fight.

Laura exhaled sharply, resetting her grip on her katana. "You’re better than I expected."

Jayden smirked, spinning his staff once. "And you’re just as good as they say."

She narrowed her eyes, then dashed forward again, her blade aimed in a flawless thrust. Jayden twisted, the staff sweeping low to disrupt her balance.

Laura leapt over it, flipping midair.. only for Jayden to anticipate her landing, his staff already whipping upward to meet her.

THUD!

The strike grazed her ribs, knocking her off-course. She landed roughly, rolling to her feet, but Jayden was already there, his staff poised at her throat.

The crowd erupted.

Laura froze.

For a long moment, the arena was silent.

But then Jayden lowered his staff and motioned for her to get up. "Come on, I’m not ready to end this fight just yet." he said, already taking a stance.

Laura stood up with a chuckle, brushing dust off her clothes. "Neither am I." she muttered, her eyes locked on Jayden."

"But..." she added, lowering her katana. "I yield."

Gasps rippled through the stands.

Jayden blinked, lowering his staff. "What?"

Laura straightened, sheathing her blade with a calm flick of her wrist. "You won. No point dragging it out."

The crowd was in an uproar.

*"Laura just gave up. That’s unbelievable."

"No way! She never surrenders!"

"Well technically, Jayden already had her at gun point so he was already the winner anyways."

Mrs. Valerie stepped forward, raising a hand. "Miss Kenshin, are you certain about this? I could have called Jayden in as the winner earlier but since he was willing to go on, it’s fine to continue the fight." she stated.

Laura shook her head. "No, it’s better to accept defeat with honour. I lost, and I accept that."

Mrs. Valerie exhaled. "Alright." she said, before turning to the large holographic screen. Then she snapped her fingers once and instantly the screen displayed the results.

[Winner: Jayden Starrk— 3-C]

The other students erupted in cheers and commotion. Some were praising Jayden while some were complaining that the match was unfair.

Jayden stared at Laura as they walked out of the arena. "You could’ve kept going."

Laura shrugged. "I could have. But I saw enough." She met his gaze, a rare glint of respect in her eyes. "You’re not just strong. You’re skilled too. And I would like to have a duel with you again sometime."

Jayden nodded. "Me too." he said.

Laura turned to walk away, then paused, glancing back at Jayden with a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Just so you know... next time, I won’t hold back."

Jayden smirked. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

As Laura exited the arena, the crowd still buzzing in disbelief, Jayden looked up at the holographic screen, already displaying the next match.

He exhaled and made his way back to the stands, settling into the seat beside Cassandra, who was grinning.

"I really hope we get matched up before the tournament ends," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I’d love to fight you again... and actually beat your ass this time."

Jayden chuckled. "You wish."

Cassandra nudged him playfully, and they both turned their attention to the arena as the next match was announced... an ability duel between a wiry boy with water powers and a pale-blonde girl wielding earth.

"Who do you think’s gonna win?" Cassandra asked, her gaze locked on the fighters.

Jayden furrowed his brow. "Hard to say. They’re both elemental types. Could go either way... depends on who attacks faster, or who’s better at defending."

Jessica, sitting a few seats down, scoffed. "The girl, obviously. Earth beats water. It’s solid. You can’t beat a wall with a puddle."

Jayden smiled faintly as the match began. The girl struck first, sending sharp earth spikes barreling toward her opponent. But the boy moved with ease, leaping over the projectiles without breaking a sweat.

"True," Jayden said, "But I’m still betting on the guy. I think he has a higher chance of winning."

Cassandra raised a brow. "How do you know that?"

Jayden shrugged. "You’ll see."

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