"Divine Destruction!"
Friea's voice rang through the forest as blinding white light gathered in her palm. A massive beam of divine energy erupted forward.
BOOM.
The ground split apart. Trees were torn from their roots. Smoke and dust swallowed the battlefield.
Friea panted. "Ahh… how is he unscathed?"
As the smoke cleared, Housen — the Sword Demon — stood exactly where he had been. Not a scratch on him.
Reas swallowed. "I doubt it…"
Harals glanced at him. "Doubt what?"
Reas forced a laugh that quickly broke into panic. "The fact that we can beat him. I think we are… we are most likely going to d-die!"
"Lightning Swing!"
Thorkel dashed forward, lightning crackling around his blade. He slashed with full force.
Clang!
The strike didn't even leave a mark.
"Damn it! That didn't even scratch him!"
Housen sighed, almost disappointed. "Alright. That's enough. You have done what you can. Now… it's time to die."
With a flick of his wrist, eight glowing swords formed behind him.
They shot forward.
Everyone reacted instantly.
"Shield Spell!"
Magic barriers flared around Friea, Thorkel, and Reas.
But Harals—
BOOM.
Friea screamed, "Ahhh! Did anyone get hit?!"
Thorkel coughed. "The three of us are fine…"
Friea's eyes widened. "Wait—Harals can't use magic. Where is he?!"
Reas turned sharply. "What? He can't use magic? Then why did you recruit him?!"
A figure stepped out of the settling dust.
"Relax, I'm fine."
Harals brushed dirt off his shoulder. A thin line of blood ran down his arm.
Friea rushed toward him. "You call that fine?! You're wounded!"
"It's just a scratch," he replied calmly. "We still have a demon to defeat."
Housen smirked. "Survived one attack. Barely."
Harals looked up at him.
"Since you are the Sword Demon… you must be good at sword fights, right?"
Friea stiffened. "Harals… what are you thinking?"
"Of course I am," Housen replied proudly.
Harals stepped forward. "Then duel me."
Reas's voice cracked. "No! It won't work! He can use magic!"
"Yes," Harals said calmly. "I'm aware. But tell me… why would a literal Sword Demon need magic to defeat me in a sword fight?"
He locked eyes with Housen.
"Am I right… Mr. Housen?"
Silence filled the battlefield.
Housen's grin slowly widened. "Even without magic… I am the greatest swordsman in this world. Are you truly sure about this?"
Friea grabbed Harals's arm. "Don't. You'll die."
Thorkel nodded. "You can't win."
Harals gently removed Friea's hand.
"I'll be fine."
He faced Housen fully.
"One condition. If I win, you let us go. You will never enter this forest again. And you will never harm the village beyond it."
Housen considered it.
"…Very well. I accept."
His magic aura vanished. He drew a single sword.
"Let us begin."
The duel started instantly.
Steel clashed against steel.
The sheer skill of Housen was overwhelming. Each strike was precise. Perfect. Heavy enough to shatter bone.
Yet Harals blocked.
Deflected.
Stepped aside at the exact moment.
Thorkel's eyes widened. "Damn… Harals is good."
Friea bit her lip. "But he can't win…"
Reas watched carefully. "In times like this… we trust him."
The tempo increased.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Housen frowned.
What is this?
How is he deflecting my strikes so cleanly?
Harals moved without panic. Without wasted motion.
Then—
One final clash.
A sharp metallic sound rang through the forest.
Housen's sword spun into the air…
…and landed several meters away.
Silence.
The Sword Demon stood unarmed.
Thorkel shouted, "He did it! Harals won!"
Friea stared in disbelief. "How…?"
Reas whispered, "Who is this boy…?"
Housen looked at his empty hand.
"How… can I be defeated? Impossible…"
Harals lowered his blade.
"It may seem impossible. But it happened. You lost."
He met the demon's gaze steadily.
"I hope you remember the conditions."
Housen slowly closed his eyes.
"…I do. Harals, was it? I will fight you again someday."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"This is farewell."
Dark wings formed behind him as he rose into the sky and disappeared toward the Demon Lands.
Friea turned to Harals in awe.
"You're better with a sword than the Sword Demon…"
Reas crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"A great victory. But… something feels strange. He should have been physically stronger. How did you overpower him?"
Harals simply smiled.
"Luck, perhaps."
Friea exhaled. "Let's return to the village. The other alliance members should be arriving soon."
As they began walking back through the forest, Harals glanced once toward the distant Demon Lands.
His expression changed.
Just for a second.
Then it returned to normal.
To be continued...