Chapter 17 – The Duel of the Hero and the Novice
Moments before the battle
In a small guild room, Kael was preparing for the imminent fight. His cold, expressionless face contrasted with the restless tension that filled the air.
Lyra, on the other hand, was about to lose her patience. She paced back and forth, arms crossed, frowning.
—Kael! —she raised her voice—. Give up on this, there's still time! That idiot Arthus is way too strong. Even with wooden swords, he could seriously injure you.
Kael didn't answer. He simply stared silently at the pile of training weapons laid out on the floor. Finally, he picked up a wooden sword, tested it with a few swings, and calmly nodded.
—Don't worry —he finally said, his voice as cold as ever—. Take care of my daggers… and especially this bow.
He handed Lyra his weapons, including the dark elven bow with engravings, lacking both string and arrows.
Lyra held it in her hands, surprised.
—A bow without string or arrows? —she asked incredulously—. Why do you even carry this around, Kael?
The boy simply looked at her.
—Just take care of it. It's special to me.
Lyra pressed her lips together, frustrated.
—You arrogant idiot! —she exclaimed, almost pouting—. And you're going to fight with a sword when your style is with daggers.
Kael observed her for a few seconds, serious, before replying:
—I want to try something.
Lyra froze, biting her lower lip. She knew that no matter what she said, he wouldn't change his mind. Finally, she sighed and lowered her gaze.
—Tch… fine, do what you want —she replied, though her voice carried a trace of worry—. But if you lose, I'll kill you myself!
Kael merely inclined his head, indifferent, while she puffed her cheeks in a mix of anger and nerves.
—Always so cold… idiot —she muttered, looking away so he wouldn't notice her flushed face.
---
The beginning of the duel
The crowd had gathered in the guild's arena. Adventurers shouted, cheered, and placed bets with excitement. The anticipation was at its peak: not every day could one witness the hero Arthus face a rank F novice.
Arthus entered first, waving with an arrogant smile, basking in the cheers. In contrast, Kael walked in calmly, holding his wooden sword with an unsettling serenity.
—The duel shall begin! —announced the Guild Master, his deep voice silencing the crowd.
The air grew tense.
Both combatants charged at the same time. The first clash of their swords echoed loudly, the impact forcing them both to step back.
Arthus raised a brow.
—Well, well… I didn't think an assassin who only uses daggers could handle a sword this well.
Kael didn't answer, simply raising his weapon again.
—Heh, but I'll show you the difference between a novice and a true swordsman.
Suddenly, Arthus' body was wrapped in a burning red aura. His wooden sword glowed as if it were red-hot. The crowd erupted in astonishment.
—Amazing! —exclaimed the guild's vice-master—. He'll surely represent us in the tournament!
The Guild Master, arms crossed, watched silently.
---
Arthus' power
Arthus launched himself at Kael with ferocious speed. Every strike was a storm of force, and though Kael managed to block, he could barely keep up. A quick thrust grazed his arm, leaving a shallow wound.
—Ha! —Arthus laughed confidently—. Told you, you're nowhere near my level.
He turned toward the stands and shouted loudly:
—Lyra, my love! I'll protect you far better than this useless rank F!
The young woman clicked her tongue and looked away, annoyed. Her eyes were fixed only on Kael, worried about his movements.
Arthus clenched his teeth when he noticed.
—I'll crush you, damn novice! —he roared, his face twisted by jealousy.
Kael stood still for a few moments. Then he spoke, his voice low and icy:
—Are you done talking?
And then it happened.
---
The awakening of the aura
Kael's body began to shine with an aura never seen before. Dark shadows intertwined with flashes of green, red, blue, and gold. Each color merged into the next, creating an indescribable radiance.
His wooden sword vibrated, bathed in the same energy.
Absolute silence fell over the arena. No one dared to breathe.
The Guild Master narrowed his eyes, surprised.
—At last… I've found you —he murmured with a faint smile.
Arthus, on the other hand, burst out laughing.
—What is that?! You don't even know how to control your aura! It's supposed to be a single color, idiot!
With his flaming sword, he lunged violently.
Kael met his gaze.
—I agree… let's end this.
---
The epic clash
Their swords collided and the arena shook. The energy of both fighters exploded like a storm, making even the guild's walls groan. Several adventurers were thrown back by the shockwave, and some citizens on nearby streets felt the ground tremble.
—Incredible! —voices shouted—. They're going to destroy the city!
Kael's movements were cold, precise, as if he had trained his whole life for this very moment. Arthus, frustrated and sweating, found his every strike repelled with growing force.
Finally, Kael found an opening.
With a fluid motion, he struck Arthus' sword so hard it snapped in two. At the same time, the tip of Kael's wooden sword slammed into the hero's stomach, sending him flying against the wall.
For a few seconds, silence reigned.
Arthus dropped to his knees, gasping, unable to stand.
—I-impossible… me… defeated by a rank F…?
—Enough! —the Guild Master roared, raising his hand—. The victor is Kael.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
---
After the battle
Lyra ran toward Kael, her eyes shining with relief.
—I knew you would win! —she exclaimed, hugging him for a few seconds.
Kael raised a brow and muttered coldly:
—Liar.
Lyra instantly let go, blushing, and gave him a small kick on the leg.
—Arrogant idiot, shut up! —she retorted, though she couldn't help smiling, cheeks flushed with happiness.
Around them, adventurers crowded together, buzzing with excitement, wondering what that multicolored aura had been. Even Arthus' companions approached, silently acknowledging the boy's strength.
Arthus, still on the ground, turned away with wounded pride.
—Tch… I admit you're strong… but don't think this ends here.
His voice was haughty, yet carried a faint tone of respect.
---
The shadow in the sky
Suddenly, a chill swept over the place.
A monstrous aura descended upon the city, so overwhelming that several adventurers fainted instantly. The air grew heavy, impossible to breathe.
Kael narrowed his eyes, his body trembling slightly.
Everyone looked up at the same time…
And they saw it.
A gigantic dragon, its scales dark as night, soared through the skies with a roar that froze the blood. Its wings covered the horizon, and its mere presence instilled terror.
The entire guild fell silent, paralyzed.
The true trial was only just beginning…