Chapter 43: Duel
"Calm down, George. It is normal for people to be on edge in a dungeon raid."
Jonathan tried to calm him down.
"I listened to you when you said upper ups sent us someone with secret identity. I just thought he was a rich kid coming here to have fun or something. I couldn't care less if he killed himself. But he is trying to order us around!"
"I am not trying to order you."
"Your tone is a little bit bossy. Just a little bit."
Emma chimed in.
"We are hunters, kid. We know what we do. You can just focus on keeping yourself alive."
Did he really see me as a rich kid that sees dungeons as a game?
"I am neither rich, nor I am a kid. Want me to provide you that?"
I pulled my sword. A duel challenge.
"First blood."
I heard some gasps from crowd. Right now nearly everyone returned rounded us.
"I think that's a little bit too much."
Jonathan said.
"Don't worry Jonathan, I won't break him. I will just teach a lesson to him."
Jonathan sighed. He clapped his hands.
"Okay. If I don't allow you guys do this, you will be salty entire raid. Everyone form a circle. Healers be ready. You guys will stop when I say it. You will also stop when first blood is drawn. This will not happen again. Loser will not a sore loser and winner don't a bitch. You have 10 minutes. 10 minutes and I will stop both of you, even if I have to use violence. Do you understand?"
I nodded. George also nodded. I knew that what I was doing was immature. However, this could also be a chance. If I performed well I could be famous. Since I was a freelancer still, I needed that. I only got into this raid thanks to Elizabeth. I should give people a reason to pay me to join their raids.
"A sharpshooter trying to get into a swordfight."
"Kids are so arrogant nowadays."
I heard insulting voices from crowd. I didn't really minded them. If I won this duel they would shut up naturally.
"Be ready. 3,2…"
I looked at his stance. He was planning to rush towards me. A classic tactic againsts sharpshooters. I focused to see his muscles and bones. I saw mana gathering in his blade. It wasn't like mana blade. A projectile?
"1."
He swung his sword immediately. Blue mana shaped like an arc flew towards me. I just sidestepped it. It flew past me, nearly hitting people watching us. Seeing his attack miss, he rushed towards me. He was fast. As our swords clashed, I felt my bones shaking with impact. He was also strong. I couldn't use any mana, otherwise my blade would be exposed. Not that I could use mana very well. On other hand he used mana very well. It wasn't at level Edward, of course. His swordplay also wasn't on his level. I parried his attacks. He looked more and more frustrated everytime I parried or blocked another one of his attacks. He changed his expression to hide his mood but considering I could see everything in his body, he couldn't hide shit. On other hand I was calm. On a fight to death, I couldn't win against him. He was B ranked after all. However, if it was just first blood, it was different.
"Stop being a bitch and fight."
I was just defending. If I tried to attack the physical difference between us cause me to lose this duel. But if it was just defending, I could do it all day due seeing every muscle in his body. I just needed him to get angry. Impatiant. So he would make a mistake.
"Fight like a man!"
"Attack, stop being a coward!"
I really wondered what they would do if they were in my place.
"Enough."
I realized that he was winding up for a big attack. Time to counter it. He swung his sword horizontally. Speed and power contained in that strike was no joke. Still, I bended my body to back. I bended so far that my back was horizontal to ground. Dodging the strike, I thrusted my sword. Due my body's position my attack was slow. Despite being off balance he recovered and moved to block me. I released Domination and whispered one word.
"Stop."
He stopped, just for a moment. Tip of my sword touched his nose lightly. One small drop of blood fell down due his rapid movement.
"I won."
I lowered my sword. His hand went to his nose. He looked at the blood in his hand. He looked bewildered. A moment of silence overtook the entire area. Jonathan walked between us. He took my hand and raised it to air.
"He won. He said first blood and you accepted it."
"Booooo!"
"Unfair!"
"What the hell was that?"
"George won!"
Crowd exploded. Some of them threw stuff at me. I blocked it, of course.
"Enough!"
Both Jonathan and George shouted at the same time. When Jonathan realized George also shouted to same thing he looked back to him with confused eyes.
"He won. Fair and squire. That was a good dodge."
Despite his angry face, George's words praised me. I still could see that he was still angry.
"If it was a real fight this could have ended differently."
I said.
"It doesn't matter. You said first blood and I accepted it. I am not going to be a sore loser."
I moved towards him. I stopped just in front and slightly lowered my visor. Just enough for him to beginning of my scar.
"A dungeon raid I was in before had unusal things. Turns out there was a super strong monster hidden. 2 people I knew died and I survived with this. I just don't want it to repeat."
I put my visor back. I walked to my tent. People just moved aside as I walked. While none saw my scar, the things I said were probably enough.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
TheBarak
TheBarak Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone