The fight will begin in five seconds.
The announcer's voice echoed in my mind.
5....
I stood in the corner of the space cube waiting.
The space cube. The Devil's Den Asylum had numerous such cubes, all created by space mages.
They appeared like abnormally huge cubes from the outside, but inside they were enormous battle arenas, which hed all rge fights at tge same time.
Standing at the other end of the battlefield was my opponent—a middle-aged man with the stance of a veteran. If he was facing me, then he must have been of the same rank. This was not going to be easy.
3…
2…
With the countdown running out, I took a deep breath, calming my racing heart.
1…
"Battle begins!"
The moment the announcement was given, we charged at each other.
Our blades rang with a metallic crash. He didn't hesitate, striking me with a ferocious series of precise blows. Every strike put me on the back foot, backing me up step by step.
Then, in the flash of an instant, he went straight for my neck, a killer blow designed to put an end to things there and then.
"Shit—" I am just barely able to dodge it, the blade whizzing past.
He chuckled little"You're new around here, aren't you, boy?"
I met his gaze, gripping my sword tighter. "And what if I am?"
He pushed forward, our swords locking once more. "Nothing… it's just rare to see nobles in the Den these days."
My eyes narrowed at hus words.
His next strike came without warning. I barely managed to deflect it, the sheer force sending shockwaves through my arm.
Before I could recover, he moved again, this time launching a flurry of strikes, each one precise and ruthless.
I couldn't dodge them all. Sharp cuts tore into my skin, blood seeping from multiple wounds.
Then, with a single powerful slash, he sent me flying backward.
I hit the ground hard but u quickly forced myself to my feet.
"You're weak, kid," he said with a smirk. "Take my advice and go home. The Den isn't a place for someone like you."
I gritted my teeth, wiping blood from my lip. "This son of a." I growled in a low tone.
Rather than retreating, I launched at him once more, swinging my sword in a broad sweep. He easily matched my attack, parrying my blow and launching a quick stab. I sidestepped with just enough time, feeling the edge of his blade against my ribs.
His assaults did not cease. A slash downward—blocked. A swipe to the side—dodged. He was quicker, stronger, but I would not allow him to overwhelm me entirely.
I moved in, pretending to attack to his right, then suddenly changing to the left. My sword bit into his side, and he bled. He hissed but hardly stumbled, striking back immediately with a kick to my abdomen that sent me stumbling backward.
Not bad," he said, rotating his shoulder. "But not good enough, yet."
Seeing me ready for my next attack, he raised his sword high, calm and composed . "I see. you're still eager to fight, then?
You are an interesting kid. I'd love to dance with you a bit more, but unfortunately —" His eyes darkened. "It's time to finish it.
He closed his eyes for an instant, and when they opened again, his sword glowed with an incredibly bright blue light.
I cursed under my breath. "Shit…"
In the next moment...
I saw him move—no, disappear. He was moving too fast for me to track, his sword dancing through the air as he struck me again and again.
Each blow created new wounds, cutting deeper, weighing my body down. My blood spattered across the battlefield as he continued his relentless barrage.
And then he was before me, his sword ready to deliver that final, killing blow.
I took a breath, holding my blade firmly.
"Nightshade."
Dark energy flowed from my sword, seeping into the air between us. My opponent didn't notice it at first. He continued forward, confident the next strike will end this.
Then, his movement began to slow down.
His breathing became harder. His knife shook. His body was weighing down —not because of any exterior pressure, but because of his own mind .
The illusion had taken up hold. He was slowing, his energy appears to drain away, his body letting him down even when nothing in itself had changed.
That was Nightshade. A spreading darkness that caused its victims to think they were losing their strength, their power fading—until their own hesitation sealed their fate .
I moved forward, my figure blurred by the darkness around me.
His eyes widened. He tried to react but his body would not move quickly enough.
I struck.
My blade cut deep into his shoulder, dark tendrils of dark essence wrapping around him like a strangling vice. He fell onto the ground, panting, his grip on his sword weakened completely.
His gaze flickered between his trembling hands and me. "What… is this?" he groaned, fighting to breathe.
I brought my sword up again, my tone even, firm.
"The end."