Valdan's grip was tight, a little too tight. Certainly tighter than a swordsman's had any right holding a sword. Lightning coursed through his veins and muscles. He felt it in his gritted teeth as they served as conduits. It was in the air around him. His placid rage. His unbridled pride.

When he brought his sword down on Aiden, he thought he heard thunder in the air.

No one dies tonight.

The boom of his falling sword shook the air around him. Charged as the air was from the lightning running through him, Valdan felt a slight cold creep up his spine. He had spoken the soft words to Aiden as a confirmation.

Aiden was strong, Valdan had no doubt of that. The strongest child he had ever had the honor of meeting. But Valdan was a trained knight, seasoned by both his time as a knight and his time as a child trying to survive in the cutthroat world of the slums. He was far more than most people thought he was.

So, even though his whole mind continued to tell him that in a fight against the current Aiden, he would lose, there was still that small inkling that told him that victory would be his. It was his arrogance of existence. He had survived far too much to simply accept that he could not win. When you won against all the things the world threw at you from the day of your birth and still came out alive, it gave you a certain arrogance.

Valdan smiled when his sword made impact with the ground, and the result swallowed him in a ball of dust. It obscured his view, but he did not immediately step away from it. There is something about fighting that tells you when you need to be fast and when you are allowed to pause, to revel in the moment.

Valdan remained as he was, bent at the waist, sword partly in the ground.

"You," Aiden's voice came from the now dissipating cloud, "are very terrifying."

When the dust cleared, releasing Valdan back to the world, he turned his head to the side to look at the young lord that was called Aiden Lacheart.

For all Aiden's words, the boy had a smile on his face. He stood to the side, just in front of a tree, unharmed. His green coat was pristine if not for a small dust stain on one side of it. He held his sword down and away, tapping its tip gently against the ground. Valdan had seen him do it once or twice. The reason for it was a question he was yet to ask.

"You don't seem terrified, Lord Lacheart," Valdan replied simply.

He pulled himself back up to his full height and adjusted his hold on his sword. Only then did he notice that Aiden had actually not come away unscathed from the attack. In truth, while Aiden was not harmed, Valdan saw that his strike had taken away a portion of the hem of his coat. A large portion.

Valdan nodded to the coat. "Will we need to find a tailor to mend that?"

Aiden looked down at the coat.

"This?" He pulled at the coat so that the hem came up. "Don't worry about it. The coat repairs itself, even if it will take some time."

Valdan nodded, then took his stance once more. Lightning continued to crackle through him. It charged him, fueled him.

Most people gained their interface along with the blessing of two skills. A minute few were blessed with three. The most minute were blessed with one. Valdan had been among the gifted few with three, but his third skill wasn't an active skill.

[Knight's Rage].

He didn't even get to choose when it was activated.

Over the years he had learnt the trick to the activation, and it had felt like a double-edged sword. When he got angry enough or excited enough, both emotions often had the same effect on him, the skill came alive on its own. It filled him with the power and speed of lightning and forced him into bouts of explosive actions.

Aiden tapped the end of his sword against the ground once more, releasing the hem of his coat. He met Valdan's eyes, looked into the lightning that coursed through Valdan.

No one dies tonight.

Valdan had made that statement, demanding that Aiden acknowledge his ability to survive whatever he threw at him, and Aiden had answered. So, Valdan had given his best from the very first strike.

Aiden took in a deep breath and let it out. When he did, the look in his eyes was different. His eyes were somehow empty, unnerving. Valdan flexed his hold on his sword, readied himself.

"No one dies tonight." Aiden said the words as if the sentence was a mantra. As if he had made a decision.

Then he moved.

To Valdan's surprise, Aiden did not move in a blur of motion. He did not suddenly vanish from his sight. Aiden simply charged him, running at him with his sword held out to his side in one hand.

Valdan frowned, his mind looking for the trick. He'd seen Aiden fight enough times to know that there had to be one.

Meet him! He commanded himself. Pride for pride.

Valdan attacked.

Aiden's eyes watched him, taking all of him in. In its placid state, it was unnerving. Valdan swung his sword low, striking from below, when they met. Aiden stepped to the side at the exact moment Valdan initiated the attack.

Valdan cut an arc from bottom to top. It met air, missing Aiden by a few inches. Aiden's sword shot out suddenly and Valdan was forced back to avoid a cut to the thigh.

But he did not simply retreat.

The moment his feet steadied themselves on the ground from his escape, Valdan activated [Dash]. He blitzed through the darkness of the night between them. The sound of metals clashing rang through the air as Aiden parried his strike to the neck. Sparks filled the night as their blades met and Aiden turned Valdan's aside.

Valdan spun from the impact, showing Aiden his back for a moment far smaller than a second, and struck from the side. His blade swept through the air, meeting no resistance.

Aiden ducked low to avoid the blow and Valdan caught him out of his periphery. Moving quickly, Valdan raised his leg as Aiden stabbed forward. A risky move, it was simply instinctual—Valdan's reflexes moving to save him.

Steel cut through the darkness as Aiden's sword shot forward. The sole of Valdan's feet met the flat of the blade mid thrust and stamped it down to the ground. With Aiden's sword pinned between the sole of his foot and the ground, Valdan stabbed forward. His sword went for Aiden's face.

Aiden did not blink. His still empty eyes did not falter. Not once did theyt leave Valdan. In the same emptiness, his head slipped to the side. The edge of Valdan's sword drew a thin line along Aiden's cheek. Then Aiden's blackened arm shot out.

Sword still pinned to the ground, Aiden's blackened arm caught Valdan by the wrist and pulled him forward. The action was so sudden that Valdan was forced to obey.

Thrown off balance, Valdan fought to regain his composure. It was a little belated as he felt Aiden's sword slip out from under his foot.

He's going for a strike, Valdan realized. His eyes focused, his vision tightened as he tuned out everything that was not Aiden.

Valdan threw himself into Aiden's pull. It was the safer option. Being thrown did not hurt as much as being cut—at least not in this situation. So, he went tumbling through the air. When he hit the ground, he was ready. The impact did not knock the wind out of him, and he was already rolling out of the way, pushing himself to his feet and leaping back the moment his back hit the grass.

Aiden was already in his face, leaping after him. The distance between their eyes was less than the length of his hand. There remained something terrifying about the emptiness in the young lord's eyes.

Valdan swung his sword at an odd angle in a one-handed swing and Aiden's sword came up to parry the blow immediately. Yet, his eyes never left Valdan's. In its terrifying existence, it annoyed Valdan, angered him. His muscles tightened and lightning filled him.

The force of his swing doubled so that when his sword slammed into Aiden's, the sound was like the rumbling of a single thunder strike. It carried enough force to throw Aiden to the side, flinging him straight into a tree.

Speed, Valdan warned himself as Aiden was sent flying. Follow him. Do not allow him to use his skill.

Valdan landed firmly on his feet and knew that [Dash] would not get him to Aiden immediately. So, he attacked with something else.

[You have used Class skill Aura Strike]

He swung his sword in an arc, aiming for Aiden. Yellow light filled the air as his blade cut through it, and the light short forward as if fired from a long range weapon. The blast slipped through the air, crackling and charging the air around it.

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Only then did Valdan activate [Dash].

The skill put him right behind [Aura Strike] so that when it made impact, he would be right behind it.

To Valdan's surprise, Aiden's back slammed into a tree and he landed on his feet. His eyes did not wan or waver. They did not leave Valdan.

Aiden clapped his hands together, sword still held in his right hand. Whatever he did, when [Aura Strike] met him, it shattered against the air in front of him, and Aiden leapt forward, meeting Valdan.

Unwilling to lose, Valdan struck first once more, using the full speed granted by his higher level.

[You have used Class skill Resting Cleave]

If Aiden parried, he would still take damage. It was the glory of the skill.

Aiden didn't block.

Instead, he twirled his sword into a reverse grip and angled it diagonally. Valdan's eyes widened in shock as the edge of his sword scraped along the length of Aiden's blade. Aiden's response was timed well enough that the blade of his sword guided Valdan's swing.

Sparks leapt and bounced as steel scraped against steel and Aiden's blade guided Valdan's over his head.

The boy's skill was terrifying. How he had done this was almost beyond Valdan's comprehension. It wasn't about the skill itself but the ability to execute it in such a situation, at a moment's notice.

But Valdan would not let how enamored by Aiden's skill he was to kill him. With his missed swing, he was completely open to Aiden's attack. Taking an attack in his current position would be devastating.

[You have used Class skill Protected Sword]

Valdan felt the skill come alive just between them even before Aiden could think of following up with a strike. As close as they were, the skill forced them apart as it came to life. A massive sword, translucent and like an apparition appeared between two of them. It was slightly yellow and more than ten feet tall.

Forced away, Aiden landed on his feet but didn't let up. He was already moving once more, charging straight for the shield between him and Valdan.

This time Valdan couldn't help but balk at the unshaken emptiness of the eyes that were still focused on him. It was as if Aiden was some hunting beast that would not be deterred from his target, and Valdan was the target.

What is wrong with him?

Something had changed when he had repeated Valdan's words. With every swing and attack, Valdan was seeing less and less of a chance at victory. It was the problem with fighting against Aiden Lacheart. If it was someone else at Aiden's level, Valdan could say that he only had about five skills to look out for. With Aiden, the skills were nigh limitless.

Aiden clapped his hands before he got to the shield and, to Valdan's surprise, jumped over the almost fifteen feet tall projection in a single leap.

Valdan's jaw dropped as he watched Aiden scale the height of [Protected Sword], but he recovered immediately. In a fight, you always did your best not to go too high because it left you as an open target just as Aiden currently was.

[You have used Class skill Aura Strike]

With a swing of his sword, Valdan sent the skill flying at Aiden.

As had been the case before, it struck Aiden but shattered on impact, as if there was some kind of force protecting him. Aiden's finger moved along the length of his sword as he dropped and Valdan was caught wondering what enchantment he had bestowed upon the weapon.

If you can't anticipate, react.

Valdan raised his leg as Aiden came down and drove it into the ground, then he raised his sword to take Aiden's blow.

[You have used Class skill Knight's Stomp]

Aiden came down on Valdan like a falling boulder. His sword landed on Valdan's at the same time Aiden's foot hit the ground and it forced Valdan to his knee. The effect was jarring and it was all Valdan could do not to lose balance and fall over.

What the hell? Valdan thought as his skill came alive, sending a tremor through the ground like a ground surge, or as Ted had called it, an earthquake.

The weight of the attack didn't feel like the force of Aiden's blow. It felt as if there was something else. As if the very weight of Aiden's presence was a physical thing pressing down on him.

Aiden jumped back, but not far enough to escape the reaches of [Knight's Stomp]. He landed on the ground, staggered a little from the unstable ground, and clapped his hands once more. In the blink of an eye, the shaking ground seemed to have no effect on his balance any more.

Fucking [Weaver], Valdan snarled. He couldn't help it. It was as if Aiden had an enchantment in his arsenal for every instance.

But Valdan also realized something. While he didn't feel like he was winning, if this were a duel, he would actually be winning. He had inflicted damage while Aiden had not even scratched him.

He threw you, Valdan reminded himself.

Pulling himself from his mind, Valdan's eyes widened in shock as Aiden swung his sword. From its blade spilled a gust of fire.

Valdan dived to the side immediately, escaping the wave of fire.

You're fighting against a possible [Hero], he scolded himself. You don't get to play games and lose yourself in your thoughts.

Bringing himself back to the present, Valdan's grip tightened on his sword once more.

"Defend yourself!" he roared at an empty-eyed Aiden.

Then he charged him. This ends here.

[You have used Manifesting skill Knight's Judgement]

Unlike before, when Aiden charged him head on, Aiden did not do the same this time. Instead, he turned and ran to the side. He ran in an arc, trying to instigate Valdan to turn and follow him. But Valdan did not. The one thing Valdan had learnt about his manifesting skill was that he actually didn't have to go to you to attack you. As long as you were within the range of the skill, you could be attacked.

And how did he know if you were within range? It was simple.

Valdan turned and took up a stabbing motion. A yellow, transparent sword appeared right in front of Aiden, and Valdan stabbed forward.

The blade thrust at Aiden's face.

Aiden vaulted like an acrobat, evading the stab by a narrow margin. When he landed, he changed trajectory and came at Valdan.

Valdan swung his sword, cut the air.

[You have used Class skill Aura Strike]

In a display of flexibility, Aiden let his legs part beneath him, forcing him to drop beneath the arc of mana that came at him. He rolled along the ground and resumed his approach only to stop abruptly and step to the side in anticipation. A translucent yellow blade cut down on the air where he had been.

Valdan frowned.

He's anticipating my attacks, he realized. Am I telegraphing?

Unsure, he began moving through variations of sword strikes. With a single opponent it was easy for [Knight's Judgement] to work. But Aiden was slippery. Each sword strike, stab, and slash he evaded as if he was predicting them.

Valdan's frown deepened as Aiden drew closer.

Is he crossing the threshold? Is this the power of his Manifesting skill?

If it was, then it was dangerous. Still, it was a good thing. The ability to somehow anticipate your opponent's move. It did not mean that Valdan was simply going to surrender, though.

Valdan swung down four more times, each strike coming immediately after the next so that they seemed to stack upon themselves as a massive yellow blade when it came down on Aiden. Twisting to the side, Aiden leapt into the air again.

The boy had no fear, willingly placing himself as an open target, not just once but twice now.

Valdan prepared to strike when Aiden swung his sword, and an arc of fire spilled from it. Valdan's eyes widened and he swung his sword in response.

[Aura Strike] met the blast of fire and shattered on impact. It caused a bright explosion of fiery red and orange. Valdan kept his eyes out, watching, waiting. Unless Aiden had gained a skill that allowed him to move in the air, Valdan knew his trajec—

Another blast of fire shot out from the explosion, followed by another so that they came at Valdan in the shape of an 'X'. He ducked to the side, avoiding the blast as they scorched the ground beneath his feet.

How many enchantments does he have running? Valdan thought as he dodged another blast of fire.

When Aiden finally landed, Valdan saw him hit the ground.

Valdan had two more tricks up his sleeve for this fight. One of them was something he was sure would eliminate Aiden's enchantments and their effects. So he took a page from Aiden's book and charged Aiden head on. As they met, Valdan's eyes took notice of the cracks going through Aiden's sword.

Unlike most people, Valdan knew that Aiden carried normal swords. One of his skills simply worked to enchant them, leaving people to think the sword itself was enchanted. And the thing about swords not designed to be enchanted was that they could only hold up so many enchantments.

The cracks he saw were proof that Aiden's sword was crumbling under the weight of all the enchantments.

When they met, Valdan swung first. Aiden did not defend or parry. He evaded, weaving away from the swinging blade. Valdan swung again and Aiden weaved again. It was annoying to admit, but Aiden's footwork was impressive.

He wasn't just dodging, he was weaving, moving. His body acted as a single unit. At a point, Valdan swung and Aiden's feet carried him all the way to Valdan's side in evasion. Valdan had been quick to react, swinging his elbow into Aiden's face, only for Aiden to evade it as well. In an exchange of evaded swings, Valdan realized that while Aiden was quick to evade, he was not quick to attack. Maybe it was because he couldn't.

One did not simply go against a sword with their bare hands, after all. As for the weapon in his hands, Aiden was most likely keeping it for a decisive strike. The blow to end it all.

What Valdan didn't know was whether Aiden was actually paying attention with the empty look in his eyes.

Aiden's decisive moment came not long after. Valdan jumped back, creating space between them and Aiden followed after him only to stagger once. When he staggered, a touch of consciousness returned to his eyes. It was followed by a frown, then slight confusion.

Looking down at his sword, Aiden put his finger to it once more. Valdan cut a slash through the air and [Knight's Judgement] took effect, interrupting whatever he had been about to do. A yellow blade came down on Aiden's sword and he moved his sword away at the last moment.

His eyes moved to Valdan. Recognition appeared in them before they became empty again. Then recognition appeared once more. Then emptiness returned again.

Is the skill running its course? Valdan wondered. Ultimately, it didn't matter because Aiden attacked him once more. [Dash] carried Aiden across the distance and Aiden's blade went for Valdan's neck.

This time, he swung the sword.

Valdan moved to intercept it, realizing at the last moment that a decisive strike couldn't be so simple. The attack turned out to be a feint. Aiden spun, pivoting so that he carried himself to Valdan's side, almost at his back.

Then he swung again, going for Valdan's side, where his liver was.

Valdan moved his blade, intercepting the strike in time. Aiden's sword met his and shattered on impact. Shards of steel filled the air and Valdan knew it was his win. But Aiden was always a crafty opponent. He was not one to face you head on, there was always a trick, always a plan.

Something was off.

Valdan realized what it was a moment later.

Aiden's sword had shattered on impact but the shards had flown apart a little too much. Even now, in this split moment, a shard had flown high enough to be at Valdan's eye level.

What is—

Valdan caught a glow somewhere in his periphery. Then there was a glow in the opposite direction, on the other side of him, right where Aiden was.

Be faster!

The warning screamed in Valdan's head and he moved with all the speed he could muster, swinging his sword straight into Aiden. With the swing of his sword that had shattered, Aiden was left open, even if only for a moment. Valdan wished to capitalize on it.

His sword came down on Aiden in a single moment, just before consciousness appeared in Aiden's eyes once more. But Aiden wasn't looking at Valdan. He was looking past him.

Valdan realized what was about to happen as he caught the soft glow on Aiden's palm in the darkness.

He was too late.

Aiden disappeared, blinking out of existence.

Valdan recognized the effect of a blink dagger. Aiden had somehow managed to recreate the effect without the dagger.

Always so full of surprises, Valdan thought with a smile, as Aiden appeared falling right next to his face on his other side.

Unarmed as Aiden was, Valdan knew that a fist was coming for his face.

It was Aiden's victory against him at his current level of sixty-two…

… If he allowed it.

Valdan did not.

[You have used Class Skill Enraged Roar]

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