Leo, after hearing Caín's acceptance, unsheathed his sword with a fluid motion. The silver blade gleamed brightly under the light, while a delicate rose adorned the hilt, painted in a deep red. His stance was firm and arrogant, exuding a nearly palpable confidence.
With a determined gaze, Leo prepared for the fight, and a smile of pleasure spread across his face. The anticipation of the battle seemed to fuel his resolve. Every movement he made radiated certainty, as if he was destined to dominate the duel.
In contrast, Caín remained calm. His eyes held an unshakable firmness, and his breathing was concise and steady. Despite the tension in the air, his posture was relaxed, as if the imminent confrontation did not disturb him in the slightest.
He barely touched the hilt of his sword, which remained sheathed. There was no rush in his movements, no signs of anxiety. His calmness contrasted with the energy Leo emanated, creating a curious balance between them.
"Without a doubt, Leo is a prodigy," Caín thought as he watched his opponent begin to release red mana. The flames, emerging from Leo's body, danced with growing intensity, filling the air with palpable energy.
"He must be at least three stars by this age," Caín recalled a fragment of his own experience, as his mind reviewed old memories. He knew the confrontation would be challenging, but he showed no fear, only a quiet determination.
Leo, right? How about a bet?" Caín said with an arrogant tone.
"A bet?" Leo responded, a bit confused.
"Yes, a bet. If I win, you'll owe me a favor."
"And if I win?" Leo asked firmly.
"Then I'll owe you a favor or grant you a wish," Caín replied, narrowing his eyes confidently.
Leo was silent for a moment, weighing the proposal. Finally, he let the excitement of the moment take control.
"...I accept," he said impulsively, as he jumped towards Caín. From a low position, Caín watched him, holding his sword next to his neck on his right shoulder. His lips curled into an enigmatic smile.
Leo, convinced that he had already won by catching Caín off guard, prepared to strike. But just as he was about to do so, he felt a sudden urge to jump back and get away from Caín as quickly as possible.
Barely had he retreated when an invisible blade sliced through the air where his head had been, cutting off a lock of his hair. A shiver ran down Leo's spine. Caín hadn't moved his sword, but the danger was real. With his heart pounding, Leo realized he had underestimated his opponent.
"It's not that easy, Leo," Caín murmured, now looking completely serious. "This isn't just a simple bet; it's a game of life and death."
Leo gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, now fully aware of his rival's true nature. His pride had been wounded, but beyond that, something deeper stirred within him: fear.
"Nothing, really. Just a technique I developed myself," Cain replied, his voice calm and confident as he watched Leo's retreating figure.
"I see…" Leo muttered under his breath, but before Cain could even blink, Leo vanished, reappearing in an instant behind him, attempting to strike with a swift slash aimed at Cain's back.
However, Cain had already predicted this move. With a subtle turn of his body, he effortlessly dodged Leo's attack. Leo was left stunned, unable to comprehend the gap that existed between them. Each strike he launched was either blocked or evaded by Cain with an almost mocking ease.
Cain's movements were precise and graceful, his steps barely disturbing the snow beneath him. To him, the battlefield had transformed into a dance floor, where he led the steps with perfect mastery. Meanwhile, Leo felt the sting of humiliation, deeper than anything he had ever experienced.
"H-How? How?! How can he ignore me like this?!" Leo screamed in rage, his voice cracking with desperation. He felt as if Cain wasn't even acknowledging his presence, treating him as if he were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
"How could a genius like me be losing to this filthy bastard…?" Leo's mind raced, spiraling into despair as he struggled to accept the reality of his situation.
"That's what you must be thinking, isn't it?" Cain thought to himself, observing Leo's growing frustration with a mix of pity and cold indifference.
"There's no denying that Leo is a genius. In my past life, he was the only one in over a hundred years to reach nine stars, earning the title of a swordmaster. That was the very reason he ultimately decided to betray the empire—his pride," Cain reflected, a brief memory flashing before his eyes.
The memory was bitter, a stark reminder of the past. Cain could recall the day when Leo's pride led him down a path of destruction, a path Cain was determined to avoid this time.
Cain's eyes narrowed as he focused on Leo, who was now panting, his rage consuming him. "But pride… pride is a double-edged sword, Leo. And today, you'll learn the price of wielding it carelessly," Cain murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of inevitability.
"Stop underestimating me!" Leo roared, charging at Cain with renewed fury. But Cain, with a swift, almost casual movement, sidestepped Leo's attack once again, his expression unchanged.
"Your pride is your downfall, Leo," Cain said softly, his voice cold as ice. "And I've already seen how this story ends