Despite being knocked flat on his back in the dirt, Leonhart didn't show a single shred of shame. Most losers in his position would have had their pride shattered, retreating into a shell of bitterness or refusing any help out of spite, but he did the exact opposite. He looked up at me with a bruised grin and extended his hand, acting as if he hadn't just been a public punching bag.
"What'ya looking at, old man? Help a guy out, will ya?" Leonhart called out, his voice surprisingly steady for someone who had just taken a beating.
"Oh? What an amusing fellow. His spirit shows no signs of defeat whatsoever," Melchior spoke inside my mind, his tone colored with rare curiosity.
However, I knew better than to think this was just a simple request for a hand up. This was a classic Leonhart move, he would offer his hand to anyone showing pity or concern, and the moment they gripped it, he would use his deceptively high physical weight to pull them face-first into the mud. His Stats might have looked basic on the surface, but his natural physical composition was far denser than an average Ranker.
The crowds had long since dispersed, leaving us alone in the frosty corner of the square. I reached out and took his hand, bracing my feet as I tried to pull him up. He immediately felt like a grounded boulder, his muscles tensing as he attempted to yank me down to his level. I didn't budge. I anchored my stance, refusing to give an inch, and for a few seconds, we were locked in a stalemate. Small, static sparks of energy began to hiss around our joined hands as my 'Mana' and his 'Prana' collided in a silent, invisible friction.
After a short, tense struggle, he let out a booming laugh and sprang to his feet, releasing the tension. "Ahahaha! Hey, old man! You're strong, aren't you? Way stronger than that guy I just fought! Fight me!"
His eyes sparkled with a manic, fiery interest, his previous defeat already completely forgotten now that he had found a new, more interesting target.
"Old man? I'm only twenty-four," I replied, letting a small, sharp grin play on my lips. "I'm not sure if I'm stronger than the earlier guy, but..."
I let a fraction of my 'Mana' leak out, a cold, heavy pressure designed to let him feel the gap between us. "...I'm down for a fight anytime."
"[Notice: Leonhart Francis has requested a formal 'Duel' in the 'No Fight Zone'. Would you like to 'Accept' or 'Decline'?]"
I stared at the system window for a moment. As expected of a total fight-holic, he had jumped straight to a formal request without even knowing my name. I didn't accept or decline the prompt just yet.
"A 'Duel' already? Are you sure you can really fight with all your might against me with that injury of yours?" I asked, casually pointing toward his left side.
Leonhart stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he hopped back into a defensive guard. "Yo—You! How did you know about that!? Who are you, mister!?"
He was reasonably alert now, but his honesty was almost refreshing. Most people in this world would try to act suspicious or play mind games, but Leonhart was as straightforward as a spear.
"Well, my name is Arthur, and I happened to hear your name from the crowd earlier," I said, keeping my expression relaxed and honest. "How about this? I'm climbing this 'Tower', and if you accompany me on my journey, I'll duel with you whenever you want. Plus, I'll help you treat that injury of yours properly. Not a bad deal, right?"
"Tower? Journey? I don't really understand what you're talking about, but I'll get to fight you?" Leonhart asked, his interest immediately piqued by the promise of combat.
It was a strange feeling, looking at him. He truly had no idea he was inside the 'Tower of Trials', nor that he was originally 'Data' in a game called 'Nexus'. Or perhaps, I wondered briefly, were we humans from the outside the real data? I shook the thought away and focused on the present.
"[Activating 'Brand of Tribulation' Lvl 1!]"
"[Notice: Consent is needed to engrave the 'Stigma' from the Target.]"
"Yes," I confirmed, reaching out my hand once more. This time, my palm flickered with a warm, translucent blue flame, the light of the 'brand'. "And not just me. If you follow me, you'll get to fight people who are even stronger than I am to your heart's content."
"I don't have a family to go back to anyway, and I get to fight! Alright then, Hyung, you bet!" Leonhart replied with a wide, toothy grin, gripping my hand in a firm, decisive handshake.
"[Notice: Consent has been received!]"
"[The 'Stigma' is now engraved into the soul of Leonhart Francis!]"