Ron slowly stepped into the training arena, facing the legendary gladiator, Woris.
At the
This time, Woris wasn't fighting barehanded as he had before. He had witnessed Ron's swordsmanship—though it bore the mark of formal training, it was fluid and skillful, a clear sign of a true expert. Moreover, Ron possessed strength far beyond what one would expect for his age, forcing Woris to focus all his attention on the battle.
Ron, however, didn't give it much thought. As he drew his sword, he activated the [Power Loan] skill.
Instantly, a warm surge of energy flooded his body, making him feel strong enough to crush rocks with his bare hands.
Although the borrowed strength would only last ten minutes, Ron didn't rush to attack. Instead, he used only half his power, maintaining distance and probing with his sword.
Woris, too, refrained from launching a full attack until he could gauge Ron's true capabilities. The two cautiously tested each other, gradually gaining an understanding of the other's strength before beginning the real fight.
Woris struck first, having concluded that while Ron's swordsmanship was impressive—especially his blocking, which was near flawless, as he could perfectly deflect even the trickiest, fastest, and most concealed attacks—Ron's lack of power was a critical weakness. If he could exploit this, he could disrupt Ron's rhythm, and once that rhythm was broken, an opening would inevitably appear.
With this in mind, Woris devised a strategy: wear Ron down with sheer strength.
He began to put more force into his strikes, advancing aggressively, each blow faster and heavier than the last, all aimed at Ron's vital points.
Caught off guard by the sudden increase in power, Ron, though prepared, was still driven back by the sheer force of Woris's blows. He had no choice but to increase his own strength to barely maintain his position.
Woris, having suspected that Ron was hiding his true power—just as he had when defeating Lice—was not surprised when Ron's blocking suddenly became much stronger. This, Woris assumed, was Ron's real strength.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel at how much power the young, seemingly underdeveloped Ron possessed—almost comparable to his own.
But a difference is still a difference, and in a life-or-death duel, even a slight disparity in swordsmanship or strength could be fatal.
Now confident in his assessment of Ron's abilities, Woris unleashed the full might of a legendary gladiator. His strikes were not only powerful but also lightning-fast, coming one after another in an unrelenting barrage that surged toward Ron like a tidal wave.
Ron focused solely on defense, using his flawless blocks to absorb each of Woris's attacks, all while keeping his breathing steady and his footing sure.
Each successful block triggered his Counterattack Block, but he resisted the urge to strike back. He knew that while the Counterattack Block could be used repeatedly, the element of surprise would only be effective once. He had to end the fight in a single move, or else risk being drawn into a prolonged battle. If that happened and the [Power Loan] skill's ten-minute duration expired, he would be doomed.
Having mastered [Sword Block], Ron's understanding of the technique far surpassed that of ordinary swordsmen.
He could sense that, despite Woris's seemingly ferocious assault, each strike was measured, balancing offense and defense.
Aware of his precarious situation, Ron knew his strategy had to be equally clear: wait. Wait for Woris to reveal a flaw, then strike with a decisive counterattack.
But as time dragged on, no such opening appeared.
Ron grew increasingly anxious as the seconds ticked by, but he knew better than to let it show. Instead, he maintained a calm, composed demeanor, understanding that this duel was as much a test of patience as it was of swordsmanship. His resolve only grew stronger.
Woris, unable to break through Ron's defense, was both frustrated and astonished.
He had employed many of his signature moves—techniques that had sent countless opponents to their graves—but Ron deflected each one with an ease that seemed almost natural.
This made the battle-hardened gladiator more cautious, his instincts telling him that Ron was a dangerous opponent.
Yet despite his caution, Woris was still confident he could defeat Ron.
He continued his relentless assault, though with greater attention to his own defenses.
Thus began a grueling battle of wills and swordsmanship, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
The clash of swords rang out as sparks flew, each exchange more intense than the last, creating a spectacle both fierce and beautiful.
The spectators, though accustomed to watching gladiatorial matches, had never witnessed such a thrilling contest. They held their breath, eyes wide, unwilling to miss a single moment.
Even Kahn, who usually had little interest in gladiator fights, was captivated.
He regretted pitting these two against each other in a fight to the death—both could have been valuable assets to him, particularly in dealings with the nobility.
Next to Kahn stood a woman in a white mask, her eyes alight with curiosity and excitement as she watched the duel.
Not far from her, the Baron Knight observed with a grim expression.
…
As time passed, the duel between Ron and Woris grew more intense.
Woris's attacks became increasingly fierce, yet the distance between them only widened.
After nearly a hundred exchanges, Woris realized that a quick victory was impossible. He would have to take his time, slowly wearing Ron down before delivering the killing blow.
But then, a sharp whistle pierced the air.
Woris's expression changed involuntarily at the sound.
It was the Baron who had whistled. He knew Ron's abilities well—his swordsmanship might be decent, but there was no way he could have lasted this long against Woris. Suspecting that Woris was holding back, the Baron pretended to cheer at an exciting moment, using the whistle as a signal for Woris to end the fight quickly.
"That noble knight thinks I'm putting on a show, urging me to finish it quickly," Woris thought bitterly.
He knew he wasn't faking, but he couldn't ignore the knight's command.
With a grim resolve, Woris decided to use his ultimate move.
This technique was similar to the one where he had caught a blade with his bare hand.
First, he would strike with his sword, then predict where his opponent would block, swiftly closing the distance to grab their sword and prevent them from striking back, before spinning around and driving his sword into their abdomen.
It was a ruthless move that traded minor injuries for a killing blow, but it was incredibly risky. If the opponent anticipated his actions, Woris could lose a finger—or worse, leave his back exposed to a fatal strike.
Under normal circumstances, Woris wouldn't use such a risky move. But he knew that defying the will of the nobility was an even greater risk, one that could endanger his family's lives.
Without further hesitation, Woris stepped forward and unleashed a powerful strike.
Ron blocked the attack and was about to return to his stance when he noticed Woris suddenly charging forward without warning.
Relying on his instincts as a swordsman, Ron realized that the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
And just in time—the ten-minute duration of his [Power Loan] skill was almost up.
Without hesitation, Ron executed his Counterattack Block.
After deflecting Woris's blade, Ron's sword suddenly surged with power, slashing upward at a speed far beyond that of a normal charged attack.
A brilliant flash of sword light burst forth.
Woris, just about to grab Ron's sword, found that it had vanished. A searing pain shot through his neck, and his body collapsed to the ground, completely beyond his control…