The gate opened and I walked out onto the dirt-covered hard ground.
Stone walls surrounded the arena on all sides and up in the stands, I could see many nobles from the wedding ceremony. Likely wanting to see if I really could wield Vengeance as well as I claimed.
Among them, I also saw Isabella with an incredibly worried expression on her face.
Don't worry, It'll be fine. I'll try to make this quick.
I stood facing Arvild.
Neither of us had our weapons drawn.
Both of us already had shields, however. We were waiting on Walter to start the duel.
"Arvild, you are a despicable human being. I hope you know this," Walter said angrily.
"Just start the duel, old man. I can't wait to tear this foolish bastard limb from limb!" Arvild said angrily. There was a slight twitch in his eye as he spoke.
Yeah, he's definitely lost it.
"By the power of Honor, I will judge this duel. This is a duel to the death. Arvild Darius versus Mizik Iratus. The rules are simple: use whatever means necessary to kill your opponent. Calling for help is forbidden as this is a one on one duel. Are these terms acceptable?" Walter said.
"Yes," I said.
"More than acceptable!" Arvild shouted.
"Then without further ado, let this duel commence!!!" Walter lept back towards the wall and immediately Arvild rushed me.
As soon as the blade left his inventory the pink runes shone dimly.
Vengeance was in my hand as soon as he charged and I blocked his first attack with my shield.
I really felt it, though.
The impact of Arvild's blade reverberated through my arm and hurt my shoulder.
"ASSASSINATE!!" I shouted and teleported behind Arvild, my blade was instantly at his throat.
Arvild ducked forward and swung his sword around to hit me in the chest. Once again, I blocked the attack.
This time, however, the blow sent me back a few feet.
This guy is strong!
"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with, Mizik? I'm a level 95 Arcane Crusader. I'm not some average nobody with a blade that you can kill quickly!"
Level...95!? Arcane Crusader!?!?
"Shield wall!!!" Arvild said as he raised his shield and was cloaked in a magical barrier. Bravery flashed as the barrier formed.
"Fine then. Sword Enchant, Lightning! Chain lightning!!!" My blade became cloaked in electricity as a powerful bolt flew and hit Arvild directly in his chest.
Unfortunately, he didn't even flinch.
"Ha! Is that it!? Some measly electricity!? You're so weak, it's hilarious! Why did that sword even choose you?"
"Shut up and fight, you bastard!! VANGUARD STRIKE!!!" I shot forward like an arrow and slammed my shield into Arvild, causing him to take a step back, then delivered several stabs and finally an overhead slash to him.
Unfortunately, he blocked every attack with little effort.
"Shield Enchant! Fire!" Arvild said as his shield became cloaked in flames. "Shield Bash!"
Arvild slammed his flame-covered shield into me and sent me tumbling backward.
I stood up immediately and readied myself.
I could feel some of my hair may have been singed from the flames, but I was otherwise fine.
Now would be a very good time to help me, Vengeance!
No response, still.
"Tch. Arcane Ballista!" I shouted and fired a bolt of magic power from my sword.
The bolt slammed into Arvild's shield and disappeared as quickly as I had made it.
"What the hell is going on here!? Is that some kind of magic shield?" I asked.
"It's enchanted by my sword, but no. It isn't a magic shield. It's a normal adamantite shield. Are you stupid or something?" Arvild said mockingly.
I narrowed my eyes at him and readied my sword.
"If you must know, Bravery augments defensive abilities and counterattacks. Despite this, it is still devastatingly powerful when used as an offensive weapon. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll be able to use it much on someone so weak," Arvild said.
I suddenly recalled very similar words from Sir Gordon.
Nevertheless, I decided to attack again.
I charged straight at Arvild and feinted an attack to his side, he jumped back and his sword began to glow intensely.
I began to wonder if I would truly survive this fight...
I raised my shield as Arvild attacked.
"SUNLIGHT BLADE!" Arvild's sword extended into a blade made of pure light and he brought it down over my head.
"GAH!"
I could feel incredible pressure on my arms and legs as the shield protected me from the blade of light.
Immediately after the attack was done, I heard Arvild laughing at me again.
"Is this really all Vengeance can do!? Just a few pathetic sword swings and a couple of spells? Hilarious! I can't believe I risked everything for such a worthless sword! It's like you aren't even using it at all!"
"Keep laughing, you bastard, I can do more than just a few tricks!" I said.
I lunged at Arvild again and he barely moved. Preferring to parry my strikes or block them completely with his shield.
It seemed like he fought defensively. Attacking only when he saw an opening.
If I refuse to give him an opening, he can't attack, right?
I decided to test this theory with a few skills that would be perfect here.
"Greater Dispel!!" I said as my blade impacted his shield.
Immediately, the flames cloaking his shield dispersed, and the barrier around his body shattered.
"What!?" He said.
"ARMOR DESTRUCTION!!!" I shouted as I slammed the hilt of my blade down onto his shoulder while he was in shock.
His armor cracked and shattered.
"Gah! Sunlight blade!!!" Arvild shouted as his sword extended again.
I leaped back and held up my shield.
Arvild's swing caught me in mid-air and sent me flying backward.
I slammed into the ground and tumbled until I stopped moving.
Arvild was glaring at me. I could see the rage boiling in his eyes.
I scrambled to my feet and tried to ready my shield.
But...my arm had gone numb.
No...what's happening!?
My shield arm had been sprained from the impact of Arvild's sword and hitting the ground.
It was painful to even hold the shield.
But if I didn't use it...
"Sunlight blade!!!" Arvild lunged forward in anger and slammed his sword into me again.
I just barely managed to block it.
Pain shot through my arm as it fell limp to my side.
I jumped back to get some distance and placed Vengeance on my arm.
"Grand Heal!" I said while panting.
The magic flowed out of the sword and seemed to move past my arm. Ignoring it completely.
Excuse me? What kind of bullshit is this?
"Grand heal! Grand heal! Grand heal!" I used the spell over and over and each time the magic would fizzle out around my arm without actually doing anything.
"Aww, is someone injured? Why dont you just give up? It'll save you the embarrassment," Arvild said with a half-crazed expression on his face.
"You piece of shit... What did you do to me!?" I shouted.
"Do? I haven't done anything but attack and defend. I have no idea what's going on here, but it sure is funny to watch!" He laughed.
Why can't I heal then!? It makes no sense!
I thought about dropping the shield, but I couldn't trust myself to dodge all of Arvild's attacks.
I stood up straight and tried to ignore the pain in my arm. I held my shield at the ready and poised myself to strike.
In the stands, I could see Isabella's expression. It was covered by fear.
Among the crowd, I saw several nobles looking condescendingly at me. Some of them were laughing.
Bastards...is this just a game to you!?
"So that's how it is then? Very well. Let's dance!" Arvild shouted.
"ASSASSINATE!!" I said just before teleporting behind Arvild and trying to decapitate him again.
This time, he was much more ready for it.
Arvild swung his shield around and effortlessly caught my sword with a wide smile on his face.
"Got you! BLAST NOVA!!" Arvild shouted as his shield was enveloped in white light.
My eyes went wide and Arvild's shield exploded.
At point-blank range, the explosion blasted me straight back into the air. I flew at least twenty feet up before I finally fell to the ground.
My entire body ached horribly.
I glanced at my health and I was now down to less than a quarter left.
I struggled to get back to my feet and shakily stood up.
As far as I could tell, I didn't have any broken bones...
Unfortunately, my arm had only gotten worse from that explosion.
"Wow. I have to say, I didn't expect you to survive that. I don't think I've ever seen someone live after taking that attack point-blank. I was wrong about you, Mizik. You're actually a decent punching bag!" Arvild said.
I shook my head and gasped for breath.
"Thanks...for the compliment...you dense piece of trash..." I managed to say.
I glanced at Isabella and she had a horrified expression on her face. I could almost see the tears in her eyes from here.
I knew I couldn't let myself die here, though.
Thankfully, I still had a couple of tricks up my sleeve.
I lunged at Arvild again, my movements were much more sluggish than before, but I didn't care. I was going to break that stupid shield of his.
"ARMOR DESTRUCTION!" I shouted as I slammed the hilt of my sword into Arvild's shield.
It glowed for a moment and then...nothing.
"Hahahahaha!!! NICE TRY! BLAST NOVA!!!"
SHIT!!!
The explosion sent me flying straight backward this time instead of upwards as it had before.
I slammed into the ground and tumbled a bit before coming to a stop.
My health was dangerously low now. I could feel my consciousness fading in and out.
I didn't want to die here... Not to this bastard...
"MIZIK!!! NOO! PLEASE DON'T KILL HIM!!!" I heard Isabella scream and I forced myself to my feet.
"Wow, you really are something, Mizik. Surviving two blast novas from point-blank range? That's truly impressive. Go on and attack me again, maybe you can do three!"
I...seriously doubt that...
I had only one more trump card that I could use here. If this failed, I was dead. No doubt about it.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself.
"RAGE OF IRATUS!!!!" I screamed.
My vision turned red and adrenaline began rapidly filling every part of my body. Suddenly, all of my pain disappeared and I could only focus on Arvild.
Something felt off though...
I felt so much angrier than normal... It was like before I first got Vengeance.
I glanced at my sword and it remained in its normal blue and black state.
What the hell is happening!?
"What the...?" Arvild said.
"Assassinate!" I said.
I teleported behind Arvild and made sure to move my sword around his shield before slashing his shoulder.
"Tch! Blast-"
"FIREBALL!"
I leaped back before his attack could go off and shot an explosive ball of green flames at him.
Arvild hid behind his shield and prepared his sword.
"Sunlight blade!!" He said as he swung his sword down at me.
I stepped to the side and prepared to strike.
I want to tear him limb from limb!!!
"Vanguard strike," I said as I shot forward. I didn't have time for the full attack, so instead, I aimed for his shoulder again.
He missed his block and my sword cut into the wound I had made beforehand.
"Chain lightning!" I said just as my blade made contact.
Instantly, Arvild was electrocuted and he screamed in pain.
Yes! More!
"GAAAAHHHH SHIELD BASH!" Arvild screamed.
I managed to raise my shield just in time to block the attack and was sent backward again. This time, however, I landed on my feet.
However, as soon as I did...
I collapsed on the ground.
What!? What happened!?
My vision returned to normal and all my strength disappeared.
I couldn't even stand up now...
I could see in the distance that Isabella had come down to the floor of the arena and Walter was holding her back.
She was screaming for me but I couldn't hear her anymore. Walter also seemed to be fighting the tears in his eyes.
Arvild clutched his shoulder and glared at me.
"You....weak...."
He said something, but I could no longer hear him.
I don't want to die here... I want...I want to live... I want to be with Isabella...
{Kill them all.
Burn it down.}
My status menu glitched again...I was certain I was losing my mind, but that didn't matter anymore...
I saw Arvild smile at me and start laughing.
I could only kick myself for trying to complete such an impossible task.
Kill Arvild? The guy was an awful human being but I couldn't deny his strength.
The legendary swords were really powerful...
My consciousness began to fade as I reached out to grab my sword.
I saw a message flash before my eyes as I did.
{PlEaSe No!!! We WeRe So ClOsE!!!}
{RuN aWaY!! DoN't DiE aGaIn!!!}
What...? Am I going to die...?