The Duke's relentless pursuit of his own agenda had become a familiar annoyance in my daily life.
From training sessions to mundane tasks, he seemed to delight in imposing his will upon me at every opportunity.
As both my employer and the father of my lady, as well as the husband of the Duchess, I was obligated to comply with his demands, no matter how tiresome they may be.
After all, loyalty to the household was ingrained within me, a core tenet of my identity as a butler.
The clash of our training swords filled the air as we engaged in a relentless battle of skill and strength.
Despite my best efforts to evade his onslaught, the Duke's imposing physique and brute force made it nearly impossible to gain any ground.
With each strike, I was forced back, the weight of his blows pushing me to the brink of exhaustion.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and fatigue creeping in as I struggled to keep pace with his relentless assault.
The sheer magnitude of his muscular frame seemed almost surreal, dwarfing my own comparatively slender build.
It was a daunting sight to behold, the sight of his powerful blows crashing down upon me with relentless force.
As the clash of our swords continued unabated, I found myself wondering just how much longer I could endure this relentless onslaught.
The strain of the battle weighed heavily on my shoulders, threatening to overwhelm me with each passing moment.
"Come on, is that all you've got, Taylor?" the Duke taunted, his laughter ringing out like a cruel mockery of my efforts.
Despite my best attempts to maintain my composure, his words grated on my nerves, fueling the fire of frustration that burned within me.
I couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment towards the Duke, his taunts only serving to exacerbate my growing discomfort.
His boisterous laughter echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of the power imbalance between us.
"Don't smile at me, you fucking gorilla," I muttered under my breath, unable to contain my simmering anger any longer.
The Duke's grin widened at my words, his amusement evident in the gleam of his eyes. It was infuriating how he seemed to revel in my discomfort, his childish antics only serving to further infuriate me.
As we continued to clash, the wooden swords we wielded seemed to take on a life of their own, each blow resonating with a subtle spark of energy.
It was a curious phenomenon, one that I couldn't quite explain.
The Duke had claimed that these swords were crafted from the gravita pinewoods of the north, but their exact properties remained a mystery to me.
All I knew was that they possessed a strength and durability far beyond that of ordinary wood, their surface shimmering with a metallic sheen that belied their true nature.
With a heavy blow, the clash of our swords sent shockwaves rippling through the air, pushing us both back with equal force. Despite the intensity of our exchange, neither of us showed any signs of backing down.
"Hahaha, as expected of my Taylor, your skills haven't gotten rusty," the Duke chuckled, his laughter ringing out like a booming echo in the training grounds.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his comment. "You say that as if you don't invite me to fight in random places like this at least once per week," I retorted, my tone laced with exasperation.
"Seriously, young people nowadays," he continued, his tone bordering on condescending. "You should be happy fighting and training with me right now, you know? The knights of our household would do anything just to have a single spar with me."
I couldn't help but scoff at his words. "You know I'm a butler, right?" I reminded him pointedly, my frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Even more reason you should be happy!" he insisted, his grin widening at my discomfort.
How exactly was I supposed to be happy with this situation?
The Duke's logic was beyond comprehension, his penchant for spontaneous sparring matches leaving me feeling more drained than exhilarated.
With a resigned sigh, I realized there was no reasoning with the Duke. His relentless enthusiasm for combat knew no bounds, and it was clear that he had no intention of letting up anytime soon. If I wanted this ordeal to end, I would have to take matters into my own hands.
Summoning what little resolve I had left, I steeled myself for the inevitable confrontation.
As the Duke continued to laugh, his guard momentarily down, I seized the opportunity to make my move.
With a swift motion, I lunged forward, determined to bring this battle to a swift and decisive end.
As I gripped the handle of my sword, a strange sensation pulsed through my heart, guiding my hand along a phantom white line that led directly to the Duke's most vulnerable points.
It was a sensation that had become familiar to me over time, a peculiar rhythm that seemed to dictate the best course of action in moments like these.
Whether this line was real or merely a figment of my imagination, I couldn't say for certain, but its presence was undeniable, guiding my movements with an eerie precision.
Clang…!
With a swift motion, I launched my attack, my sword connecting with the Duke's defenses with a resounding clang.
Though he managed to block it on instinct, the force of the blow left him momentarily off balance, his arms frozen in the air as he struggled to regain his footing.
"You little shit…!" he cursed annoyed by my surprise attack.
Seizing the opportunity, I followed the path of the white line once more, tracing its trajectory with unwavering focus.
This time, the line led straight ahead, indicating a piercing attack as the most effective course of action.
With a determined resolve, I raised my sword high, preparing to deliver a decisive blow aimed at the Duke's exposed defenses.
As I closed in on my target, time seemed to slow to a crawl, each heartbeat echoing in my ears like a drumbeat of anticipation.
With a final surge of energy, I thrust my sword forward, aiming to pierce through the Duke's defenses and claim victory in our ongoing battle of wills.
As I prepared to deliver the decisive blow, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, the strain of the battle finally catching up to my weary body.
Despite my best efforts to remain focused, the throbbing pain in my head intensified, threatening to overwhelm my senses.
With a grimace, I realized that I could no longer ignore the pounding ache that reverberated through my skull.
It was as if a thousand needles were piercing my brain, each jab more excruciating than the last. I groaned in agony, struggling to maintain my grip on the wooden sword as the world around me seemed to blur and distort.
And then, in a flash of searing pain, the scenery before me shifted and twisted, morphing into a nightmarish landscape of chaos and destruction.
Great fires raged in the distance, their flames dancing ominously against the darkened sky.
But these were no ordinary flames – they moved with a life of their own, towering over the city like malevolent giants.
My heart sank as I beheld the devastation before me.
Humanoid figures made of fire and ash roamed the streets, their fiery gaze fixated on their prey as they laid waste to everything in their path.
Buildings crumbled and fell, their structures reduced to smoldering ruins in the wake of the infernal onslaught.
And people were dying left and right screaming in pain.
Panic seized me as I struggled to make sense of the nightmarish scene unfolding before my eyes.
"S..So-phia…. Go…"
As the voice pierced through the chaos of the fiery landscape, I was jolted out of my daze, my eyes widening in shock as I recognized the familiar figure standing before me.
'Duke?'
It was the Duke, his once imposing form now battered and bloodied, his body bearing the wounds of a fierce battle.
Despite the haze of pain clouding my vision, I hurriedly made my way towards him, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and concern.
But before I could reach him, a sudden wave of dizziness swept over me, causing me to stumble and fall to the ground with a pained cry.
"Hey!" I called out, my voice tinged with desperation as I struggled to regain my footing. The pain in my head was unbearable, a relentless throbbing that seemed to consume my very being.
Through gritted teeth, the Duke uttered his final words, his voice strained with effort as he looked at me with a solemn expression.
"Tell my daughter I love her," he implored, his words echoing in the air like a solemn vow.
My mind raced as I tried to make sense of his request.
What did he mean by telling his daughter he loved her? And why was he asking me to do it?
The Duke had always been a doting father to Stella, showering her with affection and care at every opportunity.
It didn't make sense for him to ask me to convey such a message on his behalf.
Frustration welled up inside me as I struggled to comprehend what was going on around me.
"Wtf are you talking about?" I practically yelled. As I held my head in pain.
But it seems he couldn't hear me as he just tightened the grip on his sword.
"You…. Can-do that for me right Sophia?" he said while in pain.
The blood coming out of his mouth intensified as the spear that pierced his back glowed red.
He wasn't even listening to me, and why does he keep calling me Sophia?
"Wait!" I cried out, my voice filled with urgency as I reached out towards him, but it was too late.
With a final glance in my direction, the Duke hurled himself towards the fiery giants, disappearing into the inferno with a resolute determination that sent chills down my spine.
I looked at the duke one final time as he clashed with the fire giants before my body slowly turned around on its own.
WTF am I just going to leave him there?
I can't control my body as well….
Then suddenly.
Crack…!
My scenery changed once again.
This time I was looking at the sky. It was so peaceful?
I felt my body falling. Am I flying in the air?
Bam…!
As I landed on the ground, I couldn't even feel the pain as my mind was still processing what was going on.
As I lay on the ground, I struggled to make sense of my surroundings.
The peaceful sky above seemed to mock the chaos that had just unfolded moments before, leaving me disoriented and bewildered.
A sharp crack echoed through the air like ringing bells, jolting me out of my daze as my body was abruptly yanked back to the present.
Suddenly, I found myself coughing violently, the taste of warm liquid filling my mouth as I spat it out onto the ground below.
"Blood?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding around me.
"T-Taylor! Are you okay?" I heard the Duke's voice, filled with concern, as he rushed to my side.
"Man, what were you doing? Why did you suddenly pause in the middle of the battle like that?"
I blinked in confusion, my mind still reeling from the shock of the sudden transition.
Huh...???
Didn't the Duke just hurl himself into the midst of those fiery giants?
What the hell is going on?