The Extra Villain: I Made a Contract With The Dragon Empress!

Chapter 358: Sparring with Catrine

On the right side of Classroom 1-A was a fairly large training ground. Wooden dummies stood in rows, along with wooden shields and spears, as well as various other weapons.

Celestia stepped forward and said, "Today's practice is very simple. There are thirty of you, so we'll split into two groups of fifteen. Each of you, find a partner to spar with."

All the students nodded and began searching for sparring partners.

"Merlin, let's spar together!" Luna clutched his hand tightly.

"No, it has to be me!" Margaret grabbed his other hand.

Caught between the two of them, Merlin smiled helplessly and gently pulled his hands away.

He patted their heads one by one and said, "Sorry, I can't pair up with you."

Then he turned to Catrine and smiled. "How about we spar? I want to see how far you've come."

Catrine looked surprised. Then her face lit up, and she nodded.

"Mm! Let's go!"

***

Merlin and Catrine stood three meters apart. Merlin looked relaxed, while Catrine's expression was serious.

This was the first time she had ever sparred with her brother. Even though their strength was equal, she knew Merlin was anything but ordinary.

Celestia stepped between them and looked at both of them.

"Remember—don't use lethal intent in any of your attacks. Understood?" she reminded them.

Both nodded. "Understood, Professor!"

Celestia smiled in satisfaction and immediately stepped away.

The other students, who were supposed to begin sparring as well, gathered at the edge of the field with curious expressions.

"Who do you think will win?" a male student asked.

"Isn't it obvious? It's Merlin Clay. That guy is way too strong. I'm sure he's on par with Rosaline from the second year."

"Pfft! You're overestimating him, aren't you? Rosaline is ridiculously strong. Even among the second-years, no one can beat her. Merlin Clay might be strong, but there's no way he's reached her level."

"That's just my opinion. Believe it or not."

A heated discussion broke out among the students. They had seen a glimpse of Merlin's abilities last night, and they had also witnessed Catrine's strength in the arena.

Both of them were strong, so no one could say with certainty who would come out on top.

"What do you think?" Margaret asked.

Luna stared at the two of them and replied calmly, "Merlin."

She wasn't being biased. The outcome felt obvious even before the match began.

Margaret didn't say anything, but deep down, she agreed.

"Alright," Celestia said, raising her right hand high. "The fight… begins!"

The moment those words left her mouth, Catrine vanished from her spot and appeared right beside Merlin.

"Big Brother, I'm going to be serious!"

She raised her fist and brought it down toward him.

Thud!

Merlin blocked the punch with ease.

Catrine didn't give up. She spun in the air, planted her left foot firmly on the ground, and kicked toward the right side of his face.

Merlin dodged effortlessly and took two steps back.

Catrine kept pressing forward, repeating the same movement as she attacked from every angle.

Unfortunately, Merlin seemed to anticipate every strike, dodging each one with ease.

Frustrated, Catrine suddenly leaped two meters into the air, twisted her body, and swung her heel straight toward his face.

The force behind the kick was terrifying. Anyone hit by it would instantly lose consciousness.

But Merlin blocked it with his right arm as if it were nothing.

"What!?" Catrine froze.

Before she could react, Merlin grabbed her ankle and yanked her down.

Catrine lost her balance and slammed into the ground.

Merlin didn't waste the opening. He clenched his fist and drove it toward her face.

Catrine panicked and quickly channeled mana within her body, then jumped backward.

Panting, she stared at her brother with wide eyes, full of awe.

"You're so strong, Brother," she said.

Merlin smiled. "So are you."

The two stared at each other, then vanished from where they stood.

Bang!

Bang!

They collided, disappeared, and reappeared two meters to the right—only to vanish again.

Their movements were so fast that the naked eye could barely follow them.

"T-They're both insane!" one of the female students exclaimed.

The others nodded stiffly, their bodies tense. Merlin and Catrine were evenly matched—neither gaining the upper hand.

The spectacle was unbelievably thrilling.

"Behind you, Brother!"

Catrine appeared behind him and launched a kick straight toward his neck.

But Merlin was faster. Without even turning his head, he blocked it with his left palm.

Catrine tried to pull her leg back, but Merlin grabbed it first and flung her into the air.

Catrine was startled and tried to regain her balance, but Merlin had already raised his right hand.

"High-Level Magic: Hellfire!"

Black flames erupted around Catrine and swallowed her whole.

Everyone froze, not expecting Merlin to use such powerful magic in a sparring match.

"C-Catrine's in danger!" Monica cried out in fear.

However, Luna patted her shoulder and reassured her. "Don't worry. Merlin wouldn't be cruel enough to burn Catrine. And you're underestimating her. She was the champion of the previous battle arena. How could she lose that easily?"

Right after Luna said that, something surprising happened.

The black flames engulfing Catrine suddenly vanished, and a cold, chilling aura spread in all directions.

"Brother, your magic is incredibly powerful. If I hadn't activated my bloodline immediately, I would've been burned to a crisp."

Catrine reappeared with a new look. Ice had formed across her cheeks and neck, like frost clinging to her skin.

Her silver hair turned blue, and her left eye became a deep, icy blue.

If she had always carried an aloof and indifferent air before, she now looked utterly captivating—like an ice queen descending into the world.

"Pffft!" Merlin chuckled softly. "You're overreacting, my dear sister. How could I possibly intend to burn you? I knew you could withstand my attack, so I cast that spell on purpose."

Hellfire was an extremely powerful flame, capable of burning anything it touched.

But Merlin wasn't foolish enough to use its full power in a sparring match.

He had reduced its strength by sixty percent. And he was certain Catrine could withstand it—which proved to be true.

Catrine landed on the ground and smiled faintly.

"I knew it. My brother wouldn't do something that cruel," she whispered.

Merlin smiled back. But then Catrine opened her palm, and an ice sword formed in her grip.

She took a fighting stance and shouted, "But today, Brother, I'm going to defeat you!"

Whoosh!

Her figure vanished, then reappeared right behind him.

She swung her sword sideways, aiming for Merlin's left neck.

Just as the blade was about to strike, a golden-red scale suddenly materialized and hardened in midair.

Scrash!

The ice blade shattered instantly the moment it hit the scale.

Catrine's eyes widened. "How is that possible?"

But she had no time to think. Merlin twisted his body and threw a punch straight at her chest.

Catrine hurriedly raised her sword hilt to block it.

Boom!

Her body was sent flying dozens of meters away before she crashed to the ground and rolled across the field.

Her clothes were stained, covered in dirt and grass.

"Defeated just like that?"

Everyone watching gaped in disbelief.

They knew this wasn't a serious fight, but Catrine's loss was far too decisive.

"Ahem!" Catrine coughed and pushed herself up. She brushed the dust, dirt, and grass off her clothes, then looked back at Merlin, who was still smiling at her.

"Come on, Catrine. Attack me!"

Catrine bent her knees and lunged forward. She leaped into the air, spun her body, and kicked at Merlin's face.

Merlin dodged easily, but Catrine didn't give up. Every strike she threw carried icy mist, cold and sharp enough to pierce the skin.

'Using the elements in her fists and feet, huh?'

Merlin narrowed his eyes as he continued dodging her attacks.

Elements could be infused into swords, bows, and spears. However, only those with exceptional control could channel them through their own bodies—through their hands, feet, or even their head.

The fact that Catrine could do this proved her control was truly remarkable.

"Don't just dodge, Brother! You might lose!"

The moment Catrine said that, her figure vanished and reappeared above Merlin's head.

Merlin quickly jumped to the side, and her kick slammed into the ground a second later.

Boom!

The ground beneath her froze instantly, and the ice spread outward for two meters in every direction.

Merlin couldn't hold back his laughter and praised her. "You're truly amazing, Catrine. It seems I underestimated you."

Catrine smiled proudly. "Glad to hear it."

Merlin snapped his fingers. In an instant, nine fire spears materialized behind him and shot toward Catrine at high speed.

Catrine didn't flinch. With her bare hands, she struck each spear head-on.

Boom!

Boom!

The spears exploded one after another, turning into steam that clouded her vision.

Suddenly, she sensed danger from behind. Catrine quickly jumped away and saw a flaming spear shoot right beneath her.

If she had been a second slower, she would've been injured.

"You let your guard down, Catrine."

Merlin's playful voice came from behind her.

Catrine's eyes widened. She immediately turned around and crossed her arms over her chest.

But the attack she expected never came.

"Danger! I've been tricked!"

The moment she realized it, she tried to drop her body downward, but it was too late.

A powerful kick slammed into her back, sending her flying ten meters away.

Her body rolled across the ground. But before she could regain her footing, Merlin had already appeared beside her and aimed his fist straight at her face.

"You… lost," he said with a gentle smile.