Alad adjusted his stance, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his iron sword, flexing with anticipation. It was clear he could strike at any moment, and every muscle in my body tensed in response. I steadied myself, forcing my hands to stop shaking as I gripped the rough wooden sword in front of me, praying it could withstand what was about to come.
To be honest, I was terrified. My entire body trembled as I faced him, a fifth-year who was not only older but far more skilled. The way he held himself, how his smirk exuded confidence—it was like he already knew I didn't stand a chance.
I couldn't help but glance over at Crestia, hoping to find some assurance in her face. Instead, her wide, uncertain eyes seemed to scream the harsh truth: I was outmatched. She didn't believe I could win, and, deep down, I was beginning to doubt it myself.
"Here I come, little hero!" Alad's voice roared like a thunderclap, snapping me back to the present. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, each step heavy and precise, closing the distance between us in mere seconds.
"Vertical Slash!" he shouted, his voice ringing with a cruel enthusiasm. As he entered striking range, his blade sliced through the air in a brutal downward arc, aimed right at my head.
"Horizontal Slash!" I shouted back, feeling my own voice shake as I swung up to meet his blade. The clash of our weapons was sharp and jarring, vibrating painfully through my wooden sword. His iron blade held a clear advantage—my weapon splintered slightly under the force, and I almost felt it give way. But I managed to hold my ground, barely.
"Damn…" I murmured under my breath, leaping back just in time to avoid the full brunt of his attack. My sword was nearly broken, the wood cracked and splintered along the edge, but it had somehow survived. I steadied myself, trying to shake off the shock.
Alad straightened up, an amused smile twisting his lips. "Did you see that, little hero? Now you understand, don't you?" He laughed, pointing a taunting finger at me. "You don't stand a chance."
He was right. His movements were swift, calculated, and precise. Even the way he held his sword betrayed the years of experience behind each swing. I'd only just learned the basics, and I could barely keep up. He was no beginner, that was for sure.
But as I stood there, something unsettled stirred within me, a strange feeling that I couldn't quite shake. Was it dread? No, I was already terrified. This was something else—an odd sensation rising up from somewhere deep inside, like I'd done this before. Like I was… waiting for him to strike again.
Alad's smirk faded as he noticed my silence. He crossed his arms, looking almost bored. "I'll give you a chance, little hero," he sneered. "Beg for your life now, and maybe I'll consider letting you off with a simple punishment instead of killing you outright. Let's say…" He paused, pretending to think. "If you beg, Werk over there will only give you five slashes. Sound good?"
He tilted his head, watching me expectantly. But I held my ground, gripping my wooden sword as tightly as I could, not saying a word.
"So, no begging?" He let out a dark chuckle. "You're choosing death over your pride, huh?" His eyes darkened, and his smirk morphed into a twisted grin as he charged forward, swinging his blade like a hammer.
"Then I'll give you what you want!" His shout echoed off the walls, a fierce, intimidating roar that made my stomach twist. As he neared, I could see every muscle in his arm tense as he raised his sword. "Die right here, right now!"
"Sharp Nail!" he cried, his voice filled with a wicked thrill. His speed doubled in an instant, the iron blade thrusting forward like a bolt of lightning aimed right at my chest.
Time seemed to slow as I watched him close the distance. Every instinct in me screamed to move, to dodge, to do anything but stand there—but then something strange happened. As his sword neared me, my body reacted on its own.
Without thinking, I shifted to the side, raising my wooden sword to intercept his thrust. The blades collided with a loud crack, the force reverberating through my arms. But to my utter disbelief, I'd actually managed to parry him.
"What…?" Alad's expression twisted in shock, his sneering face replaced by a look of utter disbelief. He took a step back, his mouth hanging open as he processed what had just happened.
Not just him, either. Behind him, Werk's jaw dropped in surprise, and even Crestia's eyes went wide, her gaze flickering between me and Alad like she couldn't believe what she'd seen.
"Huh?! You… parried that?" Alad's voice was harsh, strained. I could see the frustration boiling in his eyes, his disbelief transforming into raw anger. A vein throbbed on his forehead, and he tightened his grip on his sword, the edges of his mouth twitching as he glared at me. He looked like he wanted to rip me apart.
He scowled, his lips pulling back in a snarl. "You think you're tough, huh? I'll kill you for real this time!" His voice dripped with venom, his body trembling with barely contained rage. He adjusted his stance, every muscle coiled like a spring.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I watched him. He was serious this time, and if I couldn't react fast enough, I'd be done for. Yet, somewhere deep inside, that strange feeling from before grew stronger, the sense that I'd been here before, that I knew how to respond to each move he made. It was like a buried instinct clawing its way to the surface.
Alad's lips curled into a sneer as he steadied himself once more, eyes blazing with anger and something else—frustration. He leaned forward, springing into a run toward me again, his movements even more fierce, and this time, there was no trace of mockery on his face. It was pure, raw intent.
"Sharp Nail!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the air. In an instant, his speed doubled, his body a blur as he closed in, his sword thrusting forward like a viper lunging at its prey.
My heart raced as I faced his oncoming attack. But there it was again, that strange feeling—like a slight vibration pulsing from somewhere deep within me, awakening something I couldn't quite place. My body moved on its own, reacting before my mind could fully process. With surprising ease, I parried his thrust, my wooden sword colliding with his iron blade in a sharp crack, redirecting the strike harmlessly to the side.
Alad staggered back, his eyes widening with a mix of confusion and anger. His jaw clenched, and his lips twisted into a snarl. The others—Werk and Crestia—stared, their expressions mirroring his disbelief, as if silently asking, "How did he do that?"
But even I didn't have the answer. I felt as surprised as they were. The rush of adrenaline blurred my thoughts, and for a second, all I could hear was my heartbeat pounding in my ears. This wasn't normal—I shouldn't be able to keep up with someone as experienced as Alad. My mind buzzed, reaching for an explanation, something that would make sense of the feeling inside me.
Suddenly, an image flashed in my mind—a face. Rough, familiar, and terrifyingly clear. It was Ruel. The man I'd fought before, at Carson's house. His face, his gaze, the brutal power he wielded—it all rushed back to me with a chill that rippled down my spine. I could still remember that fight, how close I'd come to losing everything. I'd barely escaped with my life. And now, without warning, the memory of that moment loomed in my mind, overshadowing everything.
Why was he showing up in my mind now?
I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought, but Alad's enraged face filled my vision again, his expression twisted with fury. He was practically shaking with anger now, and I could see it in his eyes—he genuinely wanted to end this, to end me. There was no holding back, no more toying with me.
He lunged toward me, his feet pounding against the ground with renewed fury. Yet, strangely, another image appeared in my mind—Ruel, charging at me, his movements smooth and deadly. Alad was running toward me, but it was like my mind was seeing someone else entirely.
And then, like a light switching on in the dark, it clicked. That strange feeling inside me, the sensation I couldn't shake—'that' was the answer.
Alad's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, his shout booming in my ears. "Sharp Nail!" His speed doubled again, and his thrust came hurtling toward me with ruthless precision.
This time, I didn't hesitate. "Horizontal Slash!" I shouted, pouring everything I had into my defense. I swung my wooden sword, intercepting his iron blade with a force I didn't know I possessed. Our blades clashed, the impact so intense it sent Alad reeling to the side. He staggered, losing his footing, and crashed to the ground with a stunned expression.
It was like time had stopped. My breathing was ragged, my muscles tense—but I felt different. The shaking in my hands had stopped. My heartbeat had slowed, and a strange calmness filled me. I'd finally realized the truth behind the discomfort that had plagued me since this duel began.
The fear… it was only in my mind.
My body, however, didn't feel that fear. It hadn't felt it from the start. I'd fought far stronger enemies than Alad—Ruel being one of them. My muscles, my instincts… they weren't afraid because they'd already faced worse. They'd survived the ordeal against Ruel, a man whose strength and skill dwarfed Alad's.
A small, almost amused smile crept onto my face as I stared down at my trembling hands. "How had I missed it?" I'd wondered how I managed to parry Alad's Sharp Nail, but the answer was ridiculously simple: Alad's attacks were slower, weaker, and less precise than Ruel's. I'd unconsciously compared them, and Alad fell short—so much so that my body had reacted to his strikes with barely a thought.
The trembling had stopped, and for the first time since we began, I felt steady, almost… confident.
All this time, I'd thought Alad was invincible. The very fact that he was a bully had convinced me of his strength, that he was someone I couldn't possibly overcome. It was backward thinking—just because he was cruel didn't make him strong. I had simply believed him to be powerful because he instilled fear in others.
But now, with my fear gone, I saw him as he truly was. He wasn't stronger than me. If anything, his strength paled in comparison to the real threats I'd faced. I couldn't help but feel a hint of shame for how I'd allowed myself to be shackled by my own perceptions, by the belief that bullies were inherently unbeatable.
It was all wrong. I'd convinced myself they were stronger, and in doing so, I'd given them power over me. But now, seeing Alad struggling to rise from the ground, I felt that weight lift off me, the chains I'd forged in my own mind breaking free.
In that moment, I realized something that would change everything: bullies weren't powerful because of any inherent strength—they were only as strong as the fear they inspired in others. And I was done giving in to that fear.
After piecing together my newfound understanding, I looked at Alad. Where I once saw a terrifying presence—a shadow that loomed over me—I now saw nothing more than a regular person, someone with fears and limitations like anyone else. Alad was no longer a monster; he was just another human being, flesh and blood, no different from me.
I'm not scared of him anymore.
His twisted expression faltered when our eyes met, the intensity in my gaze likely catching him off guard. Alad's sneer deepened, but I sensed desperation edging into his anger. He spat on the ground, frustration boiling over in a snarl. "Tsk! What the hell is happening?!"
He whipped around, pointing at his silent accomplice, Werk, who'd been lurking just out of reach, observing. "Werk! Don't just stand there like an idiot! Help me kill this little shit!" Alad barked, his voice laced with raw frustration and a hint of panic.
Werk, who'd been watching impassively, raised an eyebrow. With a smirk, he adjusted his stance and began to move toward me. His eyes held a glint of curiosity as he assessed me, as though he were sizing up a new opponent. "It surprises me that Alad is having such a hard time with you," Werk said with an amused grin. "So tell me, boy, what tricks did you use?" His tone dripped with mockery, as if trying to provoke a reaction.
But I was unfazed. His words meant nothing now; they were empty attempts to intimidate me, to break the confidence I'd only just discovered.
Alad ground his teeth together, clearly bristling at the way Werk addressed me. "Werk! Quit wasting time. Once I give my signal, we'll attack from both sides! There's two of us now, so your little tricks won't work anymore. You're dead," he spat, rising from the ground and glaring at me with renewed resolve.
I didn't flinch. Instead, I tightened my grip on my sword, feeling a surge of adrenaline pulse through me. My heart thumped steadily, but I felt no fear—only determination.
"Attack!" Alad shouted, and, like unleashed hounds, they both charged toward me from opposite directions.
Focus. My mind sharpened, noting every detail: Alad barreling toward me from the front, his eyes blazing with rage, while Werk circled to my back, positioning himself to strike. Their footsteps echoed in sync, closing the distance between us as each activated their skills in unison.
"Vertical Slash!" Werk's voice roared from behind me, filled with confidence and assured victory.
"Sharp Nail!" Alad's voice overlapped his, the same skill again, his speed doubling as he lunged, his blade glinting in the sunlight, aimed straight at me.
But I was ready. "Water Wall!" I shouted, pouring everything I had into the spell. A shimmering wall of water sprang to life behind me, forming a solid barrier between me and Werk's oncoming slash.
Werk's blade hit the wall with a splash and a dull thud. I felt a shock ripple through the water but kept my focus forward as Werk's face twisted in disbelief. His slash had been rendered useless, droplets flying back at him as he stumbled slightly, momentarily thrown off balance.
But Alad's attack was different. His skill was fast, and for a brief moment, I'd been distracted by Werk's assault behind me. I parried Alad's thrust just in time, my wooden sword meeting his with a sharp crack. But he'd gained ground, and the tip of his blade scratched against my left shoulder, leaving a thin, stinging line of pain.
I grimaced, gritting my teeth through the discomfort. Alad hissed with satisfaction, repositioning himself to strike again. His smirk had returned, though his eyes betrayed his impatience. He really thinks he has the upper hand.
Behind him, Werk's surprise shifted to a predatory gleam as he steadied himself, determined to make his next move count. His eyes darted toward me, more calculating now, a mix of irritation and amusement playing on his face.
I barely gave them a second to regroup. "Water Ball!" I shouted, summoning another spell as I turned toward Werk.
A dense sphere of water materialized, hovering for a split second before rocketing forward with a force like a slingshot. It smacked Werk squarely in the forehead before he could even register what was happening. His eyes rolled back, and his body crumpled, hitting the ground with a dull thud. He lay motionless, unconscious, sprawled in a heap at my feet.
Alad's eyes widened in horror. He took a half-step back, his confidence dissolving as he stared at Werk's fallen form, the water dripping from his hair and clothes. His mouth opened and closed, as if trying to make sense of what he'd just witnessed.
"What the—" he stammered, his face paling. He looked back at me, his bravado cracking, replaced by something close to terror.
"The water ball," I said evenly, letting a small, knowing smile tug at my lips. "It's hard as rock. So, naturally, it can knock someone out cold if it hits the right spot." My words cut through the silence, leaving Alad visibly shaken. His bravado, his threats—gone.
Alad's eyes flitted nervously around the field, desperately searching for some escape, some way out. His breaths grew shallow, and I could see the panic creeping into his gaze, his fists clenching and unclenching. His expression was the same one I'd worn at the beginning of this fight—a look of fear.
"W-who… who the hell are you?!" he shouted, his voice breaking, as if he were looking at something monstrous.
That face, that expression—how familiar it looked now. It was the exact fear I'd carried before, the same fear that once bound me, paralyzed me. Seeing him like this, reduced to a quivering mess, filled me with a grim satisfaction I hadn't anticipated.
The tables have turned. The thought rippled through me, and a twisted sense of justice flared within me, hot and insistent. "Now, it's time for your punishment," I said, a grin spreading across my face—something dark, almost predatory.
The sight of it was too much for Alad. His eyes widened even more, and then, without another word, he staggered back, tripping over his own feet. His face contorted as he stumbled, then he collapsed backward onto the ground. His expression—pale, frozen in terror—looked almost comical now, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
A dark stain spread across his trousers, and the sharp stench of urine hit the air. He'd passed out, fear reducing him to nothing more than a scared, trembling child.
For a long, silent moment, I stood there, staring down at Alad's limp form. The fear he'd wielded like a weapon was gone. I'd stripped it from him, and now, he lay defenseless, reduced to nothing more than the frightened person he truly was.
The power he had over me was gone, and I felt free.