The clearing had been carefully arranged for the series of duels, an atmosphere of tense anticipation settling over the gathered warriors. Lutrian stepped confidently forward, his posture effortlessly composed, a subtle glow beginning to manifest at his fingertips. Opposite him, Morileth sauntered forward with calculated slowness, eyes narrowed with sly confidence, lips curled into a faint, mocking grin that hinted at sadistic delight.
"Before you start," Zehrina called out clearly, her voice sharp enough to draw everyone's attention, "how about you dispel all those cowardly little traps you planted while walking over to meet us? Let's keep this fight fair."
Morileth chuckled darkly, feigning innocence. "Oh, those? Merely precautionary." With exaggerated reluctance, she extended her hand theatrically, causing a faint glow to ripple across the grass. Several hidden runes flickered, then faded out of existence. "Satisfied?"
Zehrina folded her arms, unimpressed but saying nothing further.
From the sidelines, Roy exchanged tense glances with Eryndra, Warrex, and Takara, all of them intently watching the unfolding confrontation.
Lutrian drew his hand up, and with a graceful sweep of his fingers, conjured a radiant blade composed of pure, brilliant light. The sword illuminated his calm features, emphasizing the strength and elegance of his stance.
"Let's begin," Lutrian said simply, his voice steady.
Morileth responded immediately, darting forward with blistering speed, a small dagger flashing from beneath her cloak as she aimed directly for Lutrian's throat. He twisted smoothly aside, deflecting her blade with a precise, fluid stroke of his own weapon. Sparks flew as light met steel, their initial clash resounding through the clearing.
In the next instant, both combatants blurred into motion, becoming near-indistinguishable flashes that darted and clashed with astonishing rapidity. Morileth feinted left, striking sharply from the right, her dagger a silver streak. Lutrian countered effortlessly, his radiant blade arcing gracefully to intercept. Their exchanges became a seamless dance of violent precision, Morileth's nimble footwork met Lutrian's elegant, fluid strikes, each attack perfectly parried, deflected, or sidestepped.
Lutrian pressed forward, attempting to corner Morileth, but she slipped through his grasp, taunting him silently with a mocking tilt of her head. As their skirmish continued, Morileth subtly touched her fingers to the ground during each evasive maneuver, unnoticed amid their dazzling movements.
After several tense exchanges, Lutrian thrust forward sharply, narrowly missing Morileth as she twisted away. Seizing this brief opening, Morileth pivoted to her side, eyes gleaming with malicious glee. With a sharp stomp, she triggered the first hidden rune. The ground erupted beneath Lutrian, forcing him to leap gracefully backward.
In midair, Lutrian responded immediately, conjuring a volley of shimmering arrows formed of concentrated light. Morileth twisted desperately away, evading most of the projectiles with acrobatic precision, yet several stray arrows detonated more hidden traps she had placed, neutralizing them prematurely.
Morileth hissed in irritation, though quickly masked it with a mocking purr. "Impressive," she taunted. "Who would've thought someone from such a primitive little world could possess such elegant movements? Unfortunately, without aggression, your grace is meaningless."
Without giving him time to reply, she dropped to one knee, pressing both palms to the earth. A ring of glowing runic inscriptions burst forth around he, half authentic traps, half illusory mana holograms designed to confuse and deceive. Lutrian hesitated briefly, analyzing her trap-laden battlefield, then vanished into a streak of light.
Reappearing instantly behind her, he slashed downward, but his blade crashed uselessly against a translucent trap barrier. Morileth turned, grinning viciously as she lured him further into her web of concealed runes.
Kaelor scoffed disdainfully from his seat. "That's all they've got?"
Back in the Nightshatter's brig, a Presidroid dutifully displayed the duel onto a large monitor.
Skelly Mom watched eagerly, her excitement evident as she leaned forward, eyes fixed on Lutrian's every graceful maneuver. "Oh, look at that posture! Lutrian's form is positively mesmerizing!"
Father Skeleton, dripping wet from his third shower of the day, turned sharply toward Riven and Sorrowclaw. His eye sockets narrowed menacingly. "Cheer… now," he growled.
Riven and Sorrowclaw instantly erupted into loud, forced applause and exaggerated cheers, their eyes nervously flicking toward Father Skeleton's menacing aura.
Back on the battlefield, Lutrian and Morileth continued their duel fiercely, their rapid clashes intensifying. Lutrian carefully maneuvered around the intricate array of runes Morileth kept subtly activating, each step and leap calculated to avoid traps and counterattacks alike. Morileth, for her part, remained in perpetual retreat, expertly guiding Lutrian into increasingly hazardous terrain.
Then, in a burst of decisive action, Lutrian lunged forward with unexpected aggression. His blade of radiant energy slipped past Morileth's defenses, leaving a deep, bleeding gash across her cheek.
Morileth recoiled briefly, eyes wide with genuine surprise before narrowing into fury. In a flash of rage, she hurled a small, spherical device toward Lutrian, yet another hidden trap. Instinctively, he vaulted upward to evade the blast.
As Lutrian soared skyward, he loosed another hail of radiant arrows, not aimed directly at Morileth, but at her carefully placed runes. Forced to evade her own activated traps, Morileth's expression hardened, frustration briefly clouding her composure.
Seeing a fleeting opening, Lutrian swiftly dove, blade thrust forward, attempting a decisive strike. Morileth ducked low, a wicked smile on her lips. Just as Lutrian passed over her, a hidden rune flared brightly behind him, activating with brutal force. Invisible tendrils of energy seized him midair, yanking him violently backward into a helpless position.
Morileth spun gracefully, driving her dagger into Lutrian's chest, not a lethal strike, but deep enough to decisively end the duel. She leaned closer, whispering coldly, "Took you long enough. You almost had me sweating."
Before he could reply, she triggered one final, explosive rune. Lutrian was engulfed by its fierce energy, his radiant blade extinguishing instantly as he collapsed heavily to the ground.
Morileth rose slowly, standing triumphantly above Lutrian's prone form, a chilling laugh escaping her lips.
Roy's heart clenched painfully at the sight, his fists tightening involuntarily. Eryndra scowled in annoyance, Takara grimaced with open frustration, and Zehrina observed stoically, offering a grudging, respectful nod to the victor.
In the brig, Father Skeleton and Skelly Mom exchanged jubilant cheers. Father Skeleton turned sharply, his empty eye sockets glowing faintly as he addressed the prisoners with clear authority, "Now cheer… for our comrade's honorable display of passion!"
The prisoners hurriedly joined in, their claps and cheers ringing through the halls.
Eryndra approached Lutrian swiftly, helping him gently to his feet as he recovered slowly from the blow.
"You did well," she murmured softly. Lutrian managed a weak, appreciative nod.
Morileth stepped back to her group, the first duel decisively hers, her smug gaze daring the next challenger forward.