"Hello, I'll be straightforward—I won't sugarcoat things. The chapter before the line break was solid, but I have serious issues with what comes after it. I must admit that, after the line break, it's subpar. The battle scene just isn't up to par, and I say this as the author. I am utterly dissatisfied and disgruntled with it.

I realize now that I made Guel and Aiden fight three times in less than three weeks within the story's timeline. In contrast, Guel and Suletta only fought twice in the show, and those fights were back to back. I altered the story timeline to create divergences from canon, but writing Guel vs Aiden repeatedly has become tedious and uninteresting. While I successfully handled social and dialogue conflicts, the battle scenes have lost their appeal.

I expect some readers will have issues with this chapter, and truthfully, I have issues with it too. However, it had to be included to progress beyond chapter 16. On the bright side, the next chapter will be the end of ARC 1 and will feature a light and relaxing day with Miorine, Suletta, and the Harmony boys swimming and enjoying themselves. There will also be more romance between Suletta and Aiden.

Just to clarify, this story is not going to be a harem tale. Aiden's romantic path is clear, and his interactions with other girls won't detract from the main relationship.

I apologize for delaying reviews; life has been hectic, and exhaustion has been getting the better of me. With chapter seventeen, we reach the end of ARC 1. It's funny how I realized I named the ARCs after seasons: 1 - Fall, 2 - Winter, 3 - Spring, 4 - Timeskip (I know, 4 isn't a season). Regardless, thank you all for your immense support and love. We've seen a significant increase in readers on both websites.

If you're on fanfic-net, please consider following, favoriting, and reviewing the story. For those on Wattpad, add this story to your reading list, vote, and comment. Your engagement greatly encourages me to write and update regularly. Also, on Wattpad, the Q&A is still ongoing, but it will end with the submission of Chapter 18, which marks the start of ARC 2 - Fall. There will be another Q&A midway through ARC 2, just like in ARC 1.

Lastly, I wish everyone safety and hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters!"

Chapter 17

The air in the Academy's hangar was thick with tension as Aiden's squad made their way through the maze of machinery and mechanics. Deacon led the group with his usual confident stride, and Suletta followed closely behind, her eyes wide with awe at the sight of the Titans being repaired and readied for battle.

The engineers of Harmony, a dozen strong, scurried around, working frantically to prepare Aiden's titan for the impending duel. Some were drafted and lacked the skills to be pilots, but they found their place as mechanics or standard foot soldiers.

Suletta marveled at the surroundings, the hangar reminding her of old Earth transcripts of wartime hangars. Now, they stood relatively empty, with only a few titans scattered about. Many of them had been stripped and cannibalized for parts, fueling the Sons of Harmony's war effort.

Aiden's gaze shifted towards Suletta, taking note of her observing him in his new uniform. Gone was the familiar pilot attire and armor. He had chosen not to wear Daniel's helmet for this duel.

Aiden's trademark smile was ever-present on his face as he looked around at his surroundings. "So, same as last time?" he asked, his voice exuding a laid-back charm that seemed to come naturally to him.

Miorine, always the practical one, raised her fingers and began listing the stakes for the upcoming duel. "The Holder Position, Suletta's attendance, and her mech being scrapped," she explained.

Aiden's scoffed in response. "So, pretty damn high," he said with a wave of his hand, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation.

Suletta and Miorine both paused, and Suletta's hands clasped together as her gaze settled on the back of Aiden and Deacon's heads. She mustered her courage and spoke, her voice small but carrying through the hangar. "Good luck!"

The engineers stopped their work, their attention drawn to Suletta's words. Her face flushed with embarrassment, she wished she could hide away, but Aiden and Deacon turned around, their focus on her.

Aiden smirked at her, a confident response on his lips. "I don't need luck," he declared, his self-assurance evident.

"Oh, I think you do," Miorine shot back, her hand pointed at Aiden.

She walked up to him, her finger pressing firmly against the rich ivory linen of his Holder uniform. Aiden loomed over her, and his eyes locked with her silver ones. His half-smirk sent a shiver down her spine as she found herself mesmerized by the blue depths of his gaze.

She scoffed, her finger still pressed hard against his chest, feeling the beating of his heart—steady and true. "You have me, as well," she said, her tone filled with a mix of annoyance and vulnerability.

"Oh, me as well," Aiden responded with false romanticism, prompting a chuckle from Deacon.

Miorine sneered, swiping her hand away from his chest. "Don't tease like that," she spat. "You have to honor the deal, my deal. Win these duels long enough to keep Jetturk and the other houses at bay for me to escape, and I'll make it worth your while."

Deacon was about to interject, but Aiden was quicker, already parting his lips to respond. "I know, Miorine," he assured her, his gaze unwavering. "I won't lose," he shot back confidently.

Miorine took a step back, her heart fluttering for a moment. That gaze, that confident gaze. How infuriating it was for her, but...there was something about it. She thought back to their time in the greenhouse, that unexpected moment they had shared. Why did she give him so much grace? Why did she listen to him and even give him some flowers? Was it charity, or maybe something more?

Aiden chuckled. "Look, my beautiful bride is doubting me," he teased, laughing at her reaction.

She sneered and clicked her heels away from him, turning her gaze back to Suletta. Deacon and Aiden made their way toward the titan, and Aiden called out to Suletta.

"Suletta!" he called.

"Y-yes!" she stuttered in response.

Aiden climbed the reins of his titan, clicking the cockpit open as Suletta and Miorine watched him enter. He clicked his restraining strap, and Deacon clutched onto the side of Aiden's titan.

Poking his head out, Aiden locked his eyes with Suletta's anxious expression. She stood there, heart pounding like a drum in her chest, her social awkwardness on full display. Her teal gaze darted around nervously, and her fingers fidgeted along each other.

Aiden leaned against the chair of his cockpit, feeling the worn and rugged wool beneath him. He observed Suletta with a small, affectionate smile on his face. Her genuine and unfiltered nature, her stumbling words and flushed cheeks, only made him find her more adorable.

"Suletta is more scared than me!" he burst into a chuckle.

Her blush deepened, and she couldn't meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on her boots. Miorine scoffed, interjecting, "Can you not tease her and focus on winning this duel!"

"Fine," Aiden replied, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"Insufferable, arrogant, over-confident man thing, you..." Miorine muttered in frustration.

"Your groom," chuckled back Aiden, observing Miorine's disheveled hair and wide, narrowed eyes with arched eyebrows. A vein throbbed along her features as her fingers clenched and unclenched.

Deacon let out a sigh, attempting to ease the tension. "Can you guys all join me in the dueling committee lounge?"

Suletta and Miorine both nodded, the latter emptying a heavy breath as she tried to suppress her frustration with Aiden.

"Suletta!" Aiden called out one last time. Suletta sighed but turned back to him. Aiden's smile caused a flutter within her heart as he waved wildly, his grin childlike and infectious. "I am going to win this for us, so don't you worry a second!"

In his words, there was something that struck a chord with Suletta. Her heart fluttered, and a warm feeling spread in her stomach. Her gaze drifted back towards Aiden, cheeks still flushed cherry red. She smiled wide and closed her teal eyes, brightened by the heavy hanger lights. "Y-yeah!" she cried out, pumping her fist. "Win this!" she yelled, a surge of encouragement flowing through her.

Aiden pumped his own fist. "Let's go to the river tomorrow, a little party to celebrate!"

Suletta nodded with the same smile. "Bye, Aiden! I'll see you after!"

"Also, Suletta!" Aiden called out again.

Both Suletta and Miorine paused as that daring smirk returned to Aiden's features. "Protect my bride for me!" he said with a playful tone.

"Shut up!" snapped Miorine, and Suletta wrapped her arms around her. "I don't need Suletta or anyone to protect me!"

Aiden chuckled, nodding as he settled back into his chair, his fingers dancing along the cockpit's controls. He flipped, twisted, and adjusted the dials and doodads of his mech's interfaces. Deacon's gaze was still fixated on the fading figures of Suletta and Miorine.

"What was that?" Deacon finally asked without looking at Aiden.

Aiden shrugged. "Well, I asked out Suletta, and I flirted with her," he explained nonchalantly, clicking on the main power of his titan as it whirred to life. He tapped along the controls like musical notes, a wide smirk on his face as he leaned closer to Deacon. "...and she accepted."

"That's nice," Deacon muttered, trying to act uninterested. "Good for you."

"How's Nika?" Aiden asked, changing the subject. "Did things get better?"

"Nope," Deacon replied, his tone indicating he didn't want to discuss it further.

Aiden eyed him curiously. "But don't you guys sit together in, like, two classes?"

Deacon nodded along with the words, still not facing Aiden. He groaned, "She swapped with one of her friends from Earth House, so, she really isn't messing with me anymore."

"Woah," Aiden replied, his gaze going down to his shoes. "That's really bad, Deacon."

"No shit," Deacon shot back, finally turning his attention to meet Aiden's. "But that's not what I want to talk to you about right now," he gestured towards where Miorine and Suletta had disappeared. "What's that with Miorine?"

"What's what?"

"Aiden," replied Deacon incredulously, raising a hand in complete disbelief. "You were like... flirting with her."

Aiden shot him a look. "I was playing around," he said as he went back to his titan.

"Aiden, you can't do that," Deacon shot back.

"What are you talking about?"

This time, Aiden paused as his gaze drifted back to Deacon. Deacon's emerald eyes bore into Aiden's shimmering blue ones. Deacon wrapped both arms around himself, groaning, "You're calling her your bride, I thought you were into Suletta?"

"Oh, I really am into Suletta," shot back Aiden, with Deacon scoffing, fully aware that Aiden was way too busy daydreaming about Suletta in a bathing suit to focus. "I was just playing around."

Deacon scoffed. "You can't be doing that," he shrugged his shoulders as he paused. "We're technically working with Miorine right now. She's promised to help us recover relics from Harmony using contacts and her father's wealth. You're working with her now, and Suletta... she's a different thing altogether. All I am saying is you don't want to get caught between these two."

"Oh, Deacon," Aiden raised an eyebrow, his leer stretching from ear to ear. "Maybe I do want to get caught between Miorine and Suletta, I think it'd be a pretty enjoyable experience."

For a second, Aiden's mind drifted to Miorine. He momentarily forgot about her attitude and annoyance, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

His mind drifted to the intoxicating thought of her white hair, cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall of fresh snow, a captivating contrast to her flawless, porcelain doll-like skin that seemed to glow in the faintest light. But what truly ensnared Aiden's senses were those mesmerizing silver eyes, peering into his soul with an irresistible allure, filled with a captivating determination that stirred something primal within him.

She possessed a unique allure, different from the curves of Suletta, but no less enticing. Aiden found himself drawn to her petite figure, a mysterious magnetism pulling him closer. His heart pounded in his chest, its rhythmic beats echoing the tempo of his desire.

"Aiden!" snapped Deacon.

"W-what..." Aiden spoke with wide eyes, now alert. He wiped the fatigue from his vision and turned back to his president, now fully perched into the cockpit of the titan.

In the dimly lit cockpit, Aiden's mind swirled like a storm, torn between the demands of strategy and the distracting allure of two intriguing women. Deacon's voice cut through the mental haze, sharp and impatient.

"What are you doing, man?" Deacon asked, frustration evident in his tone. "I was talking to you for a solid minute, and you gave me no response."

Aiden stammered, feeling the pressure of the moment. "I-I was thinking of strategy," he blurted out, trying to regain composure.

"Thinking of strategy," Deacon repeated with a weary shake of his head. "Whatever, man. You already know about Miorine, and you've got to be you. But don't play with both of them. If you're going to pick one, pick one."

"Gotcha," Aiden replied, the weight of the decision settling in. But his mind was still drawn back to the massive titan before them, the earlier talk with Deacon already fading to the back of his thoughts.

Deacon's gaze shifted toward Suletta, and he couldn't help but emphasize the importance of the matter. "Especially when it comes to Suletta," he said, locking eyes with Aiden.

"I double-checked," Aiden assured him. "We're green and ready to go."

With a surge of power, Aiden's titan came to life, the engineers stepping back as he gripped the controls with determination. Deacon held on to the railings, watching closely.

"Everyone is watching this," Deacon remarked, raising his hand and extending each finger to emphasize his point. "The Benrett Group, the faculty, our peers... even our sponsor is keeping an eye on us."

"The sponsor," Aiden mused, his curiosity piqued. "I've been hearing more about her lately."

Deacon snorted. "Yeah, she's been more active. That's why I'm telling you to commit to Suletta."

"I'm pretty invested in Suletta," Aiden retorted. "Sure, I joke around, but I really like her."

Deacon nodded, his expression softening. "I know, and you'll have the chance to learn more about each other tomorrow."

Aiden grinned, excitement bubbling within him. "That's what tomorrow is for," he said eagerly.

Deacon's serious gaze locked onto Aiden's eyes. "She's been through a lot," he confided. "Give her time. There's more to Suletta Mercury than meets the eye, and I wish I had the chance to learn more about her."

"Like what?" Aiden asked, genuinely curious.

Deacon leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. "She comes from a family of all girls," he revealed. "She's got an older sister a couple of years older than her, and..."

"What?" Aiden interrupted, surprised by Deacon's knowledge. "How do you know so much about her?"

Deacon smirked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Oh, the benefactor told me," he admitted. "She's been tight-lipped ever since that day. But with Suletta around, she's opened up a bit. Maybe she knows I don't trust her, and maybe she senses that we won't betray her confidence. Whatever it is, it's a start."

Aiden's curiosity gnawed at him like an insistent itch. "What's her name?" he asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.

"Prospera..." Deacon's voice carried a hint of mystery, his eyes narrowing as he revealed the information. "Prospera Mercury, to be exact."

Aiden's grip faltered, the cigarette slipping from his fingers and landing on the cockpit floor, forgotten in the shock of the revelation. "Wait," he stammered, his eyes widening as they locked onto Deacon's gaze. "That's..."

"Our benefactor. It's Suletta's mom," Deacon confirmed, the weight of the revelation settling upon them like a heavy fog.

Suletta and Miorine sat on the dueling couch, facing the members of the dueling committee—Cecilia, Elan, and the strange boy with the orange ball. To Suletta, the ball seemed to wear an odd expression on its features.

Nervously, Suletta fiddled with her fingers along the couch. Miorine stood by her side, tapping her heel erratically on the wooden floor.

"Miorine, you really can't stay still," Shaddiq's voice filled the room.

"I'd be able to relax if the duel was going to start soon," Miorine scoffed.

"Just give it time," Deacon cut in.

All eyes turned to the young president, who didn't take a seat but kept a headset tight on his features. "Just give him a second, meanwhile," he stammered.

His hand went to the window, peering outside. "Come on, Aiden," he mused to himself, watching as the titan and mech rose from the floor. The blank dueling ring started to sputter and whir as the main window displayed Aiden and Guel within their cockpits.

"Okay," Aiden looked into the camera, his gaze wandering. Guel, on the other hand, seemed annoyed.

"So, are you ready to do the oath?" questioned Guel.

Aiden shrugged. "I don't really remember it."

Guel scoffed, "You don't remember it?" he snapped.

"Uh," Aiden scratched his head. "It's... Victory is never..."

The dueling committee listened as Aiden clicked his lips, his hands going through his hair. Guel, unable to restrain his anger, burst out, "Decided by mobile suit performance alone! How did you forget? We've had like three duels together!"

"Decided by mobile suit performance alone!" Aiden fired back in rapid succession, his words like a machine gun being fired, his finger pointed at Guel's camera. "I was going to get to it," he snapped. "If you gave me a moment."

"You were going to ramble for minutes!" Guel retorted.

Aiden scoffed, and Shaddiq, resigned, sighed, knowing this was going to be a long and interesting duel. But first, they needed to get through this part.

"Fuck you," Aiden muttered under his breath, throwing insults at Guel. "Pink-haired bitch."

"What was that!" Guel erupted.

"Do your part now!" Aiden snapped back with a shit-eating grin. "Look who's taking too long now!"

The rest of the dueling committee sat on the couch, their eyes glued to the screen, even Deacon sighing to himself. Miorine asked, "What's going on?"

Cecilia sighed, waving a hand, her gaze drifting back to her phone. "They're arguing, the boys are arguing," she said. "We're gonna be here for a while."

"Nor by the skill of the pilot, alone," Guel said.

Aiden scoffed, waiting for Guel to speak his part. Guel sighed, knowing Aiden didn't know, but this was the part they needed to speak together. He tapped his finger along his hand, closing his eyes in annoyance.

Like two children in a play, one knowing the lines by heart, while the other merely repeated a lopsided version underneath his breath.

"The result itself is only the truth," they spoke together, Aiden's words lagging a second or two behind Guel's as they focused on each other, and the ring started to materialize into reality.

"That was a bit much," Shaddiq commented. "Is Aiden always like that?" he asked Deacon.

Deacon slowly nodded, the type of nod an exhausted father would give to their child. "We think he has undiagnosed ADHD," he said.

Miorine couldn't help but chuckle at that, all eyes turning to her. "Relax," she said with a wave. "I'm not laughing to make fun of him, but I've thought about it, a lot."

Miorine's snarky grin spread across her features as she rested her back along the sofa, her eyes going to the dueling ring that had finally materialized. However, everyone was staring now, even her, as they rose from their seats at the strange surroundings.

"What is this?" Elan questioned.

Shaddiq shrugged, his gaze shifting towards the console. "It randomized them a dueling ring, so I suppose this is what they get," he said.

It was an environment of nothingness. Desolate, like the shrubs of African deserts. The looming sands clouded their viewports as Guel and Aiden faced off against each other. "Fix release!" snapped Shaddiq, and both titan and mech powered onto the other.

Both boys pushed their mechs forward as they fixated on each other. The terrain was a rich desert, with mounds of sands that could've looked like mountains from far away. However, this place was undeniably flat. Nothing like their earlier duel within the urban environment with the cover of ruined buildings and foliage, or their first duel within the shards of a desolate moon.

No, there was no cover, no hiding, no running.

Aiden sparked a smirk. "Gotcha, fucker!" he shouted into his microphone, his voice booming as he geared his titan upwards.

Up, up, and moving through the sky, Oscar's stripped northstar rockets were now placed along his back.

"Aiden can fly now!" Suletta shouted, her teal eyes lighting up as she watched his titan move haphazardly within the ring.

Gripping the plasma railgun in both titan hands, Aiden stared down at Guel, the railgun humming within his grasp as a fully charged shot simmered the barrel. "Gotcha," Aiden muttered underneath his breath with a smile.

With a roar, Aiden unleashed a barrage of laser shots towards Guel's titan, intending to catch him off guard. However, to his surprise, Guel's mech moved with an uncanny grace, evading every single shot. The titan contorted in ways that seemed almost unnatural, bending and twisting its massive frame to dodge with astonishing precision.

"Huh!" Aiden blurted out.

Still hovering, he couldn't realize the expressions that were made from not only the dueling committee, but likewise his peers.

It was Deacon who spoke up. "Guel does not fight like that," he snarled, his gaze drifting towards Laude, the boy fidgeting with his hair, turning away from Deacon.

Shaddiq's eyes went wide at that. He had noticed it at first, but for a president from a disgraced world to pick that up, it was impressive.

Laude only sneered. "Worry about your own guy," he snapped. "We'll worry about ours."

Guel's titan closed in, taking advantage of Aiden's temporary distraction. The once-ferocious rivalry between the two pilots seemed to have evolved into a dance of skill and strategy. Guel's movements were unpredictable, almost ethereal, and Aiden found it challenging to keep up with the swift, agile mech.

Guel's mech sensed an opportunity and launched a mesmerizing display of precision and power. Rings of laser attacks emanated from its arm-mounted cannons, creating a breathtaking spectacle in the desert sky. The rings expanded outward, forming a deadly lattice of energy, leaving no escape route for Aiden's titan.

Aiden's heart raced as he saw the intricate pattern of laser rings closing in on him. With quick thinking, he activated the Viper thrusters, propelling his titan into the air, and began a high-speed aerial dance. The desert air rushed past him as he weaved and dodged through the rapidly shrinking gaps between the laser rings.

Guel's laser attacks were relentless, forcing Aiden to push the limits of his skill and the capabilities of the Viper thrusters. His movements were fluid and precise, guiding his titan with expert precision. Every microsecond counted, and Aiden's eyes focused solely on the deadly dance before him.

The Viper thrusters proved to be a game-changer, granting Aiden unmatched aerial maneuverability. He shifted left and right, twisted and flipped, performing acrobatic feats that defied the titan's size and weight. The desert sands below were torn apart as the laser rings sliced through the ground, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Suletta's teal eyes brightened at the display. "Aiden, I didn't know he could manage his titan to fly like that," she said in awe.

Deacon sighed heavily, a groan erupting from his chest. "Thank god that we installed them," he paused. "He would've lost if we didn't."

He moved towards Suletta, attempting to answer her question. "He learned during the war. Titans started to be more equipped during the later stages," Deacon explained, "shockingly, we have a bunch in stock, but we didn't..."

Laude interrupted with a narrowed glare. "Was that during the war for Harmony, or was that when you and your filth started to function as marauders along the frontier? Or was that when you started to enslave, or possibly..."

"Don't talk to them like that!" Suletta's yell erupted from her throat, her eyes fiery as she glared at Laude.

Laude was taken aback, but Deacon stepped in front of Suletta. "Don't look at her, look at me," he spoke with a chill to his voice, tossing his thumb behind him. "I ain't no fool," he snapped. "That's not Guel in there, is it, piloting?"

On the other side of the battle, Aiden was whirling through the air, sweat dripping down his forehead. He regretted his earlier calmness and relaxation, thinking that he was just going to win again. However, Guel had changed, or maybe, it wasn't Guel at all. Something was off, and Aiden had to figure it out quickly if he wanted to survive this deadly dance.

Aiden ignored Laude's taunting, his focus solely on the surge of power coursing through him and his titan. He could feel something stirring within, a connection to the supernatural forces that lay dormant in the world. It was a power he hadn't fully understood or tapped into before, but now, in the heat of the battle, it was calling to him like an ancient force awakening from its slumber.

The purple glow intensified, enveloping Aiden's titan in an eerie aura. The lightning crackled with a newfound intensity, as if fueled by the stormy skies of another realm. Guel's expression shifted from arrogance to uncertainty, sensing that something extraordinary was unfolding before him.

In the dueling committee lounge, Suletta's eyes widened in amazement. She felt a strange energy emanating from Aiden, a mixture of fear and fascination. Miorine, too, was intrigued, a small smile curling on her lips as she watched the unfolding spectacle.

Deacon, always the skeptic, was taken aback. He had seen his fair share of duels and supernatural occurrences, but this was unlike anything he had ever witnessed. He exchanged a puzzled glance with Shaddiq, both unsure of what was happening.

As the purple lightning arced across the desert sky, Aiden's movements became even more fluid and agile. His titan seemed to transcend its physical limitations, bending reality itself to its will. He danced through the air, dodging Guel's attacks with an otherworldly grace.

Guel, caught off guard by the sudden shift in power dynamics, struggled to keep up with Aiden's newfound abilities. His once-confident demeanor faltered, replaced with uncertainty and frustration. Aiden had tapped into something beyond the boundaries of their usual dueling capabilities, and Guel found himself at a disadvantage.

Amidst the chaos of the duel, Suletta's voice rang out, breaking through the tension. "Aiden, you've got this! Show them what you're made of!" Her genuine encouragement bolstered Aiden's resolve, strengthening his connection to the mysterious power surging within him.

In the dueling committee lounge, Miorine nodded in approval. "That's right, Aiden! Let 'em see what you're capable of!" Her support added to the energy coursing through him, like a mystical chant propelling him forward.

The strange ball-like boy, Laude, sneered, trying to dismiss the spectacle before him. But the undeniable truth was right there in front of him—the once self-assured Guel now struggling to keep pace with Aiden's newfound strength.

The desert battlefield crackled with energy as Aiden's titan defied the laws of physics, weaving through Guel's attacks with supernatural grace. The spectators held their breaths, gripped by a mix of awe and apprehension. None of them could have predicted the turn the duel had taken.

Meanwhile, in the dueling committee lounge, the atmosphere was tense, and everyone's eyes were glued to the screen. Suletta's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the intense battle unfold. She clenched her fists, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement for Aiden.

Miorine, always the cool-headed one, observed with a keen interest. Her lips curved into a knowing smile, recognizing the determination in Aiden's eye, a fire burning deep within him. She admired his tenacity, even in the face of such a powerful adversary.

Laude, on the other hand, was losing his cool. His smug confidence had dissipated, replaced by a sense of frustration and fear. He couldn't believe that Aiden had managed to tap into some supernatural power, and now he watched his prized student struggling to keep up.

Deacon's gaze remained unwavering, a proud glint in his eye as he witnessed Aiden's impressive display. He knew his friend was capable of great things, but even he was surprised by the extent of Aiden's newfound abilities.

The duel between Aiden and Guel had become a spectacle, a mesmerizing clash of strength and will. The spectators were caught in the grip of the supernatural, unsure of what would happen next.

As the titans continued their fierce battle, Aiden's movements became even more fluid and precise. His chainsword danced through the air, while Guel's laser glaive shimmered with a deadly grace.

The energy in the dueling arena crackled like a living thing, as if the battle had taken on a life of its own. The onlookers held their breath, captivated by the raw power on display.

And then, in one swift and decisive move, Aiden saw an opening. With a surge of psychic energy, he delivered a powerful blow to Guel's titan, sending it staggering backward.

The impact was so forceful that Guel's titan lost its footing, sinking into the soft desert sand. Aiden seized the opportunity, pressing his advantage with relentless determination.

Suletta and Miorine gasped as they watched Aiden go on the offensive. His movements were a blur of speed and power, striking with precision and skill.

Guel, despite his best efforts, couldn't regain his footing in time to defend against Aiden's onslaught. His titan's armor buckled under the force of the blows, and he was forced into a defensive position.

Aiden pressed on, the purple electric energy surrounding his titan intensifying with every strike. It was as if he had tapped into the very essence of the desert's mysterious power.

With a final, powerful blow, Aiden sent Guel's titan crashing to the ground. The desert sand erupted around them, forming a cloud of dust and debris.

The spectators watched in awe as the dust settled, revealing Aiden's titan standing tall, victorious. The once-confident Guel lay defeated, his titan disabled and unable to continue the fight.