The training grounds were filled with Ardentis knights, all gathered to witness the most anticipated match yet—Lucius vs. Commander Darius.
Until now, Lucius was dismissed as weak, someone unworthy of even learning proper swordsmanship. But today, everything was about to change.
Darius, a 3rd Circle Mage and an Advanced Elite-ranked swordsman, stood in the center, his stance relaxed but his aura sharp as a blade.
Lucius, standing opposite him, gripped his sword tightly. He had trained relentlessly for this moment, pushing his body beyond its limits.
The knights watching the match muttered among themselves.
"This is just a formality. He won't last five seconds.""Darius is too fast. The boy hasn't even trained in real combat.""He's still weak. He won't land a single hit."
Lucius ignored them. His focus was only on the man before him.
Marshal Reynard, the second most powerful figure in Ardentis after Duke Magnus, had taken an interest in this match and was watching from the side. Even he believed Lucius had little chance, but deep down, he was curious.
The Battle Begins
"Begin!" a knight announced, stepping back.
Darius moved first. A single step, and he was already in front of Lucius.
So fast!
Lucius barely had time to react before the first strike came.
CLANG!
He managed to block, but the force sent shockwaves through his arms.
Darius didn't stop. He launched a rapid flurry of strikes—each one precise, sharp, and aimed to overwhelm.
Lucius gritted his teeth and forced himself to move, parrying as best he could.
He dodged left. Too slow.Darius's blade grazed his side.
He ducked. Too late.A kick to his stomach sent him skidding backward.
Lucius coughed, his vision blurring for a moment.
"I can't win with power."
Darius's attacks weren't just strong—they were masterfully calculated.
"Then I won't fight head-on."
Lucius adjusted his stance. Instead of blocking, he started deflecting.
When Darius struck downward, Lucius tilted his blade, redirecting the force to the side.When Darius lunged, Lucius sidestepped at the last second.
The knights watching stopped laughing.
They expected Lucius to crumble immediately, but he was holding his ground.
Darius noticed the shift in Lucius's movements.
"He's adapting?"
Lucius suddenly dashed forward, closing the gap before Darius expected.
With a swift flicker of his sword, he aimed for Darius's shoulder—
CLANG!
Darius blocked, but for the first time, he was forced to take a step back.
The knights murmured.
"Did… did he just push Darius back?"
Lucius wasn't just defending anymore. He was attacking.
He feinted left, then spun, sending a slash toward Darius's ribs. The commander barely dodged, his expression tightening.
"He's learning during the fight?"
Realizing Lucius was no longer an easy opponent, Darius decided to end the fight.
His sword flashed like lightning.
Lucius's instincts screamed DODGE!
But he wasn't fast enough.
Darius's blade cut through the air—Lucius barely managed to block, but the force sent his sword flying out of his hands.
The sword landed meters away.
A moment of silence.
The knights smirked.
"It's over."
"He lost."
Lucius stared at his empty hands. He had failed. Or so they thought.
As Darius lowered his sword, he felt something strange.
A sharp sting.
A single scratch on his cheek.
A drop of blood fell to the ground.
Silence.
The knights froze in shock.
"Did… did Lucius land a hit?"
Marshal Reynard narrowed his eyes. Lucius had attacked even while disarmed?
Lucius, in the last second, had flicked a stone from the ground with his foot and launched it toward Darius with precise force.
It wasn't a sword strike, but… it counted.
Darius touched his cheek, looking at the blood.
Then, to everyone's shock, he smiled.
Darius turned to Lucius.
"I was wrong about you."
He sheathed his sword and walked up to Lucius.
"From now on, I will personally train you to become the best warrior in Ardentis Knight Order."
The knights erupted in whispers—
"Did he just acknowledge Lucius?" "Unbelievable! He actually won!" "No… he didn't win. But he proved himself."
Lucius, breathing heavily, clenched his fists.
He wasn't weak anymore.