It was decided that the fight will be held in the training field for the knights - the large green area where Zero had seen the knights train with themselves, which is apparently called the 'fighting camp'.
And now, here in the fighting camp, Zero and Will stood in the middle while Zear, the captains, and the other knights watch quietly from the sidelines. The two fighters look at each others' eyes with much seriousness, holding their weapons tight; a sword for Zero, and a small rapier for Will.
Zero didn't really want to agree to the duel, but he wanted to prove his side and he can't be looked down by these people. And the fact is, he doesn't care for the reward, but he felt like he needed to really show them what he's capable of before he receives it, for them to realize he really deserves it - just as how he had proven his skills to the people in the game before.
And other than that, he also wants to see how his previous experiences will help him fight a real duel between a living, breathing, and conscious NPC.
[ Zero-san, just remember what our deal is: you lose, and you gain nothing; I lose, and you can wish for anything. Know that I won't back down on my words. ] she brandishes her sword as she came closer.
Zero stares at his enemy with confusion. It was said that Will is a girl, but as he looks at her, despite how much he knit his brows and try to think that she's a lady, he really just can't see her as such. That firm, straight back, that rod-like stance, and those focused eyes that are ready to prey at its enemy are nothing he had ever seen in a girl before. But... maybe it was because he had never really seen that many girls in his previous world before that he wasn't given the chance to see one.
Nevertheless, Will is a very different kind of woman, even different from the strong and dignified Alex. As a man, Zero is having second thoughts if he really needs to fight her. In the first place, this duel is his first, leaving his experience of fighting off players in the game aside.
This is a real battle, he or his enemy will definitely get hurt by their attacks and if accident happens, they might even get themselves killed. But then again... his enemy doesn't seem to care at all. She just stares at him continually as she moves closer.
[ Prepare your self! ] with a shout, she came dashing towards him.
Immediately, as she came close to him, only a meter apart, she outstretched her arm straight to his head, ready to pierce his skull with her sharp rapier - the typical way of using the long rapier.
With his instinct kicking in, he saw the weapon slowly gets thrown towards his face, straight to his eyes. If he does not dodge, it will pierce his eyes straight to his skull.
[ Tsk! ] a click of his tongue was heard as he dodges by moving his head to the side, escaping from the certain death that was the attack of his enemy.
( She's really serious! ) he looks at her and sees a sneer form on her face as he cowardly dodges her attack. Just as he thought, she was looking down at him. She thinks that he can defeat him easily and is confident of her victory - Zero can see that now with her attack. Unlike him, she's serious about her victory, and she will do it in the best way possible, by injuring or even killing him.
( This is bad! ) with his head leaning to the side, Will performs another swipe, shifting the direction of her sword to the side, towards Zero's temple. And in mere milliseconds, Zero leaps his feet away, throwing himself far from Will - he wasn't even given the chance to raise his weapon and his enemy had already almost killed him twice.
He needs to act.
And as he always does when he fights off monsters, he took his own stance and held his sword high.
It's now a battle where he either win or lose; gains nothing or receive everything. Even if the enemy is a woman, she's a threat and she's dangerous; if he doesn't act accordingly, she will impale him with her weapon.
And so again, they stare at each other; Will staring at him with blood shred eyes, ready to throw another one of her attacks.
[ What are you doing? Are you some kind of a coward!? ] again, with a shout, she came towards him with perfect coordination, without a single wrong move of a muscle. She stretches her limbs, reaching her weapons towards Zero, and with a speed unseeable to the other knights, she thrust her rapier for the second time.
But...
With a blink of an eye, the sound of two metals colliding pierced every single person's ears, forcing them to forcefully close their eyes; even Will did so.
[ [ ... ] ]
And after that single millisecond that she had her eyes close, a shock reflected her eyes.
She saw her sword stopped by the side of her enemy's sword. And she sees the eye of her enemy peeking from the sword with the kind of expression she had not seen in his face before.
He's ready to fight seriously. That was right, Zero had already committed himself to defeat this person, he had accepted the duel and he needs to fulfill its deal.
[ Hehe... It seems you've gotten serious... Didn't take long, really... ] Will backs off as she leaves those words behind. She slides her finger to the non-existing blade of her sword as if she's trying to brandish it.
[ Well, this is actually my first duel, I still don't have a clue of how I should deal with you. ]
[ Ohho~? Guess that's why it took so long for us to convince you... This is your very first duel... I don't know if I should feel ashamed or honored... ] making a tiny laugh, she lowered her guard. The atmosphere seems to have lightened up a little.
[ Zero-san, to be able to dodge my attack like that... You must really be skilled... I boast the fastest thrusts and attacks in the knights, yet you've managed to dodge it without much effort. I've truly underestimated you. ]
[ Me too, I never thought that I will get that cornered twice with your attacks. It was a first. ]
As if their early bloodlust for each other had disappeared, they pushed their remarks for each other.
[ I just now realized that I may have made a mistake. I will take my word back, you definitely have the chance to win against me... Fine... In order for that not to happen, I will now take you on seriously. ]
And just like that, the switch has been flipped again. She made her stance; a different one to the previous he had performed; now stretching her legs further for longer thrusts and dashes. And just like her, Zero also raises her sword, prepared for both offense and defense.
And within seconds, they both took a step and they swung their weapons towards each other -
The sword and the rapier meet each other into the air as their owner uses them for each attack; creating sparks and producing metallic ear-piercing sounds. The rapier made small thrusts towards Zero - but failed to make any hits as it gets blocked by the sword, and even if it does manage to past its guard, Zero himself will move his head to dodge it. The sword on the other hand completely failed to strike the enemy. Will's movements are really just too nimble for it to follow.
The spectators continue to watch their performance with mouths gaping in awe to each of their moves that are barely visible to their untrained eyes.
One of their captain, one of the strongest knights is having a completely close fight with an unknown guest. They are both on different levels and they could only wish to even get close enough to see their movements clearly.
The captains, too, have shock and surprised looks on their faces as they continue to observe, eager to see the result; who will leave the stage as the winner.
[ Haha! That's it! That's what I'm looking for! ] due to the excitement, the words were forced to escape Will's mouth. She made a long twisted smile as she continues to skillfully use her rapier while also dodging Zero's attack with perfection.
( Tsk! My sword can't get even close enough to reach her armor... How will I be able to defeat her!? )
For as long as the fight goes, Will had been on the advantage. Her weapon is light and can perform thrice as many attacks as Zero's sword. For now, Zero can only dodge and perform small attacks that are easily avoided by the nimble Will.
[ Zero-san! Give me all you've got! I don't care even if you use magic! Just give it your all! ]
( As if I will be able to! )
And with the trade of their weapons, they continue on, leaving metallic sounds with each meet.