When they reached the fighting arena, the soldier stepped inside and turned around to face AK. Mike stopped at the edge of the arena and crossed his arms, watching silently. AK walked into the arena and drew his sword, his expression becoming serious. The soldier raised his weapon and smiled confidently before saying, "Let's see what you've got." AK tightened his grip and replied, "You wanted a fight, so don't complain when I give you one." Around them, the soldiers began gathering to watch, and their fight was called the opening ceremony for the Promo ceremony, and what had started as an accidental bump had suddenly turned into AK's first real fight inside Mike's kingdom.
AK stood in his position for a moment before slowly approaching Crane with his sword raised. Without wasting any time, he launched his first attack, aiming his sword directly towards Crane. However, Crane remained completely relaxed, maintaining his confident attitude as if he wasn't taking the fight seriously. He easily dodged AK's attack by shifting his body to the side and immediately followed it with a kick that sent AK flying towards the right side of the arena. AK landed on the ground and struggled for a moment before getting back on his feet. Despite the pain and embarrassment, he tightened his grip on his sword and rushed towards Crane again, swinging his weapon with all the strength he could manage. But once again, Crane effortlessly dodged the attack. This continued for several attempts, with AK repeatedly trying different swings while Crane avoided each one without much difficulty.
As the fight continued, Crane began believing that defeating AK would be an easy task. His confidence increased with every unsuccessful attack, and he started treating the entire fight like a game. Meanwhile, AK slowly realised that he was making a serious mistake. He was panicking more than necessary and allowing Crane to control the pace of the fight. He stopped for a moment, took a deep breath and relaxed his body, trying to regain his concentration. He reminded himself that this wasn't the time to rush or become frustrated. Instead, he needed to observe his opponent and understand his movements.
AK then started recalling all the sword-fighting techniques he had learned from Mike. He remembered the defensive positions, counterattacks, footwork and different combinations that Mike had taught him during their training. He began applying those techniques one after another, hoping to find an opening in Crane's defence. However, none of them worked as expected. Crane was already familiar with those techniques because they were commonly taught to soldiers throughout the kingdom. Every move AK attempted was either easily dodged or blocked. AK gradually understood that simply repeating what he had learned wouldn't be enough to defeat someone like Crane.
"Did you really think those basic techniques would work against me?" Crane said with a confident smile. "Everyone in this kingdom learns those moves!" AK stepped backwards and looked at him carefully. He realised that repeating the same techniques would never help him defeat someone who had already mastered them. He needed something different, something unpredictable. For a few moments, AK remained silent, thinking about his next move. He knew that whatever he was about to try could either change the entire fight or cost him his victory.
AK slowly changed his stance and lowered the tip of his sword towards the ground. The soldiers exchanged confused looks, wondering what he was planning. Crane burst into laughter and said, "Have you finally given up?" AK raised his eyes and replied, "No. I've just decided to stop doing what you expect." Crane's smile faded slightly before he rushed towards him with another powerful attack. This time, AK didn't block the strike directly. Instead, he shifted his body sideways at the last possible moment, allowing Crane's sword to pass beside him. Before Crane could completely turn around, AK changed his position and brought his sword against Crane's weapon.
Their swords collided with a loud metallic sound. For the first time, Crane was forced to take a step backwards. The soldiers watching from the stands immediately became interested. AK continued moving, changing his rhythm and avoiding the predictable attack patterns he had been using earlier. He wasn't following any particular technique now. Instead, he was observing Crane's movements and reacting according to his instincts. Crane tried to maintain his confidence, but he was beginning to realise that AK was becoming increasingly difficult to predict.
AK noticed something unusual about Crane's fighting style. Whenever Crane missed an attack, he needed a brief moment to regain his balance before launching the next one. It was a small opening, but AK decided to take a risk. He deliberately moved closer, encouraging Crane to attack. Crane immediately took the opportunity and swung his sword with full confidence. AK shifted sideways and avoided the strike before quickly striking Crane's weapon. Their swords collided again, but this time Crane's weapon was pushed away from its original position. AK immediately stepped backwards, maintaining his balance instead of rushing into another attack.
Crane's expression changed. He could no longer treat AK as an inexperienced newcomer. "You little..." he muttered before charging towards him again. His attacks became faster and more aggressive. AK struggled to keep up as their swords repeatedly collided. The sound of metal echoed throughout the arena, attracting even more soldiers. One particularly powerful strike forced AK down onto one knee. Crane stood in front of him, breathing heavily, and raised his sword. "Enough playing around. You're finished!" he shouted.
AK looked up at Crane and tightened his grip around the handle of his sword. For a brief moment, he remembered why he had entered the arena in the first place. He wasn't there to impress the soldiers or prove that he was stronger than everyone else. He wanted to understand his own abilities and discover how far he could go. Just as Crane brought his sword down, AK felt something unusual within himself. His body seemed to react before he could consciously decide what to do. His light-blue eyes sharpened, and the movements around him suddenly appeared clearer.
AK moved at the last moment and raised his sword to meet Crane's attack. CLANG! The impact echoed throughout the arena, but this time AK didn't move backwards. He had successfully held his ground. Crane's eyes widened in disbelief as he tried to push forward, but AK maintained his position. Something had changed. AK was no longer blindly reacting to every attack. He was beginning to understand the timing and direction of Crane's movements.
AK slowly pushed Crane's sword away and took one step forward. "Now..." he said quietly, looking directly at his opponent, "...it's my turn." Crane immediately attempted another attack, but AK anticipated his movement. With a sudden change in direction, AK struck Crane's weapon with all the strength he could manage. KLANG! Crane's sword flew out of his hand and landed several feet away on the arena floor. The entire fighting arena fell silent. Nobody had expected such an outcome, especially from someone who had struggled to land even a single proper attack moments earlier.
AK stood in front of Crane, holding his sword but making no attempt to continue the fight. Crane stared at his empty hand, unable to understand how he had lost control of his weapon. The soldiers began whispering, and some even stood up to get a better look at AK. Mike finally uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. "That's enough," he announced. AK immediately lowered his sword and stepped backwards. Mike looked at Crane before turning his attention towards AK.
"Not bad for your first real fight," Mike said. AK looked at him and asked, "Was that actually good?" Mike gave a slight smile and replied, "Your technique was terrible, your timing was inconsistent, and you made more mistakes than I can count. But you did something most trained soldiers struggle to do. You adapted." AK looked down at his sword, trying to understand what had happened during those final moments. Mike placed a hand on his shoulder and continued, "Remember this fight. Strength alone won't make you a great swordsman. The ability to understand your opponent and adapt when everything goes wrong is what makes the difference."
The soldiers gradually began cheering, while Crane silently collected his sword and walked away with a frustrated expression. However, Mike's attention remained on AK. Something about that final movement had caught his interest. It wasn't a technique he had taught him, nor was it something Mike recognised from the kingdom's traditional swordsmanship. He looked at AK carefully, wondering whether the boy had simply acted on instinct or whether something deeper was beginning to awaken inside him. AK, meanwhile, had no idea what had just happened. He only knew that this was the first time he had fought a real opponent and managed to stand until the very end.
The fight was over, but something inside AK had just begun to awaken.