"Wanna duel?"
A familiar voice made me stop and open my eyes.
Number 125 stood in front of me, holding a sword in his right hand while smiling.
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I watched him for a few moments before blinking slowly.
"No."
It would be better to focus on my mana training. The sooner I could fully use my mana, the stronger I would become.
Number 125's lips twitched for a moment before curving into another smile.
"Hey, come on. Just one duel, that's all. We never finished the last one."
When I still didn't respond, he continued.
"Or is it because you're focusing on your mana right now? You can train that later. But we can only duel while we're in the arena."
He casually waved his sword while talking.
"Besides, dueling will help you with your training. The more you use your mana, the faster you'll get used to it."
The talkative guy in front of me kept talking and talking.
"I could even show you some of my special moves. Don't you want to test your strength—"
"Just once."
Interrupting him, I stood up and dusted the sand off my clothes.
125's eyes widened slightly before he broke into a grin.
"Great. I knew you were a fighter."
Crouching down, I wrapped my fingers around the grip of my sword and pulled it out of the sand.
Step.
125 walked a few meters back to create some space, and I followed him as I stepped away from the wall.
Step.
He halted a few steps away from me, but his stance was strange. Instead of raising his sword in a proper guard with the sword in front of him, he let it hang loosely at his side while bending his knees and hunching forward slightly.
"Ready?"
I planted my feet shoulder-width apart and raised my sword into guard position before nodding.
The reason why I had accepted his duel request wasn't clear to me.
But if I had to name something—
It would be curiosity.
We had exchanged a few blows before my advancement. Even though it had been brief because of my breakthrough, I still remembered the feeling I had at that time.
He felt stronger than I.
Or more like—
His strikes had felt stronger than mine back then.
But now?
I didn't know.
That was why I had accepted his duel.
To find out.
Because if I wanted to survive in this hellish place—
I would need to be the strongest.
Only the strong survive.
That was the rule here.
The second reason would be that it didn't really matter.
I could continue my mana training after our duel or later in my cell.
"Good. Let's start!"
He announced the start of the duel and immediately stepped forward.
Step.
A diagonal slash followed, aimed at my left side.
Shing.
I pulled my right foot back for a better stance and tilted my sword to block his strike.
Clang.
Steel pressed against steel.
Our swords were locked together as he stepped in and pushed, making me take another step back. Then he pulled his sword back and lowered it into a stabbing position.
Swoosh.
Aimed straight at my chest.
Clang.
I shifted my sword to the right and flicked his blade aside and past my body.
He pulled his sword back while taking a step forward and used the momentum of the pull to spin around himself.
Step.
His right foot followed as he turned, delivering a backhanded slash toward my right arm.
Shing.
The movement was fast—
But not fast enough.
Step.
My eyes followed him, not letting him escape.
I took half a step forward and slashed at my right.
Shing.
My sword made a wide arc before clashing against his.
Clang.
Just as our blades collided, I tilted my sword ever so slightly, making his sword slide across it and over my head.
I followed the parry with a counter.
Swoosh.
Twisting my wrist, I pushed my sword forward, aiming a stab at his unguarded chest.
He didn't have enough time to shift his sword into a block and just jumped backward.
Swoosh.
My stab struck air.
Smiling, he spoke.
"You're better than last time. I thought your advancement would slow you down a bit."
Lowering his sword loosely to his side again, he continued.
"Let's see how you handle it when I use a little more mana."
The moment he finished speaking—
Step.
He charged at me again.
A quick step brought him within reach before he aimed another stab at my chest.
Step.
I pushed my left shoulder back while sliding my left foot behind me until I stood sideways.
Swoosh.
His stab cut past my body, just inches away from my chest.
Then I countered.
Swoosh.
My blade shot forward toward his chest while his sword was nowhere near for a block.
He crouched down while pulling his sword back, letting my stab pass above his head.
"Got you."
Was everything I heard before his sword swung upward.
Clang.
His strike knocked my blade aside.
My arm was pushed away, leaving me wide open. He used that chance to strike again, turning his wrist before delivering a slash toward my side.
Shing.
He got me.
But—
Clang.
I blocked the strike with my left wrist. The metal shackle around it took the blow and knocked his blade aside.
His eyes widened at once, and he stepped back.
Step.
I pulled my arm back and returned to guard position.
"Wow," he said. "That was a good move."
He lowered his sword again and pointed with his free hand toward the shackles around my wrists.
"I wouldn't have guessed those plain-looking shackles were strong enough to block attacks from a True Awakened. It's a good way to use them, but..."
Then he bent his knees again and leaned forward.
"If you're using tricks…"
A small chuckle escaped him.
"…then I'll show you one of my own."
I blinked once—
Step.
And he was already upon me again.
Shing.
He slashed diagonally toward my left side.
I shifted my sword and blocked easily.
Clang.
But to my surprise—
There was almost no weight behind his attack.
His blade bounced off mine before he pulled it back.
Step.
He took half a step back before pushing forward again.
Shing.
Another slash, but this one was different.
He lowered his entire body, bending his knees until he even needed to use his free hand for support on the ground. The slash wasn't aimed at my upper body like before, but at my legs.
Step.
Surprised, I stepped backward, dodging his slash.
But he didn't stop.
Shing.
Continuing the slash, he made a wide arc and spun, standing up while turning until he was in position to attack again.
Step.
His feet shifted through the sand as he completed the turn and delivered another slash aimed at my waist.
Shing.
I lowered my sword to block—
Fsshh.
My vision suddenly went dark.
It didn't take long to realize what he had done.
Sand.
He picked up some sand with his free hand and threw it at me.
But—
I have already seen his sword aimed at my waist. Blinded, I shifted my sword downward, blocking his attack.
But—
There was no impact.
No clashing of steel.
When I opened my eyes again—
I froze.
125 stood in front of me, smiling as he pointed the tip of his sword at my throat.
"I won."
Seeing the clear stab, I could only accept the result.
"I lost."
I glanced at him.
"I didn't think you'd use a cheap trick."
Swoosh.
Chuckling, he pulled his sword back.
"A cheap trick?"
He chuckled again before abruptly stopping, his voice cold.
"29… there are no rules here. The only rule we must obey is to win. Everything else is allowed. Spitting. Throwing sand. Anything."
He let his sword hang loosely at his side as he continued.
"You can't complain about unfairness or fighting dirty if you are dead."
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
Then—
"Rash."
He stopped and turned toward me again.
The frown on my face made him continue.
"My name is Rash. Not 125."
Then he extended his hand toward me with a small smile.
"Your name?"
For a moment, I just stared at his hand in silence. Then I reached out and shook it.
And once again, I told another person my name.
"Adonis."