"There aren't many rules in the duel," Juliet explained calmly. "The first round is barehanded combat. The second involves weapons and it only ends when one of the fighters dies."
Henry frowned, trying to hide his unease. "I don't want anyone to know I'm carrying the last Whisperfang. What if I use my slingshot in the second round instead?"
Juliet shook her head. "That's risky. You'd be at a disadvantage at close range. I can lend you a sword, it's safer."
She turned and walked into her room. A moment later, she returned holding a silver sword with a red handle, its surface faintly gleaming through light reflection.
"Take it," she said softly. "It was among my reward from my last fight."
Henry hesitated but took the weapon. A faint chime echoed in his mind as a blue notification appeared.
[Weapon Acquired: Silver Blade]
[Warning: Weapon damage reduced – Class mismatch: Shooter]
Henry stared at the glowing words and sighed inwardly. 'I'm a ranged fighter. I can't use this'.
He handed the sword back.
"What's wrong, Henry?" Juliet asked, her brow furrowing.
"I'm no good with swords," he said. "I fight from a distance. The slingshot suits me better."
Juliet's shoulders sank, her voice growing faint. "I just… don't want anything to happen to you. You're slowly turning into my family."
Henry froze. The weight of her words sank deep into him. 'She cares about me… this much?' His chest tightened as he looked at her.
"Why are you living alone?" he asked quietly. "What happened to your family?"
Juliet took a deep breath and lowered her gaze. "I lost them all in a single day."
She paused, her fingers trembling slightly as she continued. "Fifteen years ago, my father was teaching me how to control my ability. Then the Dinos came. Their ship descended over our village like a burning storm. Everyone who could fight raised their weapons. I wanted to help… but my father stopped me."
Her eyes darkened as the memory took her.
.
.
.
.
Fifteen Years Ago
The sky cracked open with thunder as a colossal Dino ship tore through the clouds. The ground trembled when it landed. Flames consumed the horizon, and the once quiet village erupted in chaos.
Juliet stood beside her father and spoke, her voice trembling. "Father, I can help! I can fight too!"
Her father's face was streaked with soot and blood, but his eyes remained firm. "No, Juliet! You're not strong enough yet. You'll only get in the way. Now go!"
Before she could argue, a sharp spear pierced through his chest.
"Father!" she screamed, her voice echoing above the cries of battle. Rage welled inside her as she raised her hands to cast a spell but before the magic could form, a strong arm grabbed her from behind.
Her father's friend carried her away, running through the burning streets. "Don't look back!" he yelled, but Juliet did. Through the smoke, she saw her father collapse.
The defenders fought desperately. Only three Dinos had come, but they were monsters in every sense. One alone crushed houses with its bare claws, while another sent fire roaring across the rooftops.
Bodies fell. Screams echoed. The ground was painted red.
By nightfall, almost everyone who could fight had died. The survivors managed to bring down one Dino, but two still raged on until the sky roared again, this time with human aircraft.
The military arrived. At their front was a woman dressed in black, her long hair flowing behind her like a shadow.
She leapt from the carrier, landing lightly on her feet, sword in hand. Her movements were silent—almost ethereal. Every strike she made cut with precision, her blade clashing against the Dino's claws in bursts of sparks.
Juliet watched, trembling, as the woman danced through the chaos—her strikes graceful, yet merciless. The battle raged for minutes that felt like hours until, finally, the two remaining Dinos fell to the ground, lifeless.
The silence that followed was unbearable. Juliet dropped to her knees beside the ruins of her home. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered her father's name again and again.
The woman in black approached her. Her presence was calm but heavy, her eyes sharp as steel.
"Little girl," she said.
Juliet looked up, expecting comfort. None came.
"If you don't want to see your loved ones die again," the woman said coldly, "you must become stronger. Be the best, so no one can take what's precious from you. Because tears won't bring back the dead."
The woman extended her hand. After a moment's hesitation, Juliet took it. The woman pulled her up.