Lionel stepped into the center of the arena in silence. Despite the doubts around him, he was pretty much composed about the whole thing.
Across from him, Nathaniel looked perfectly confident about it. Everyone knew that Lionel was not good at his studies. They have heard of stories wherein Lionel always missed his class. Based on Cassian, too, Lionel was pretty much bad at everything.
The two stood a few meters apart as they waited for the signal.
"Begin!"
With that signal, the official battle began.
Nathaniel moved first. As soon as he heard the signal, he immediately dashed forward. There wasn't any hesitation in his eyes. His wooden sword cut through the air as he aimed it directly at Lionel's side.
He's fast
Lionel's eyes narrowed slightly, but he reacted calmly. He shifted his footing to the opposite side and raised his sword just in time.
Clack!
The sound of their sword hitting one another sounded.
When Nathaniel saw that his attack was blocked, he followed it up immediately with another strike, then another, pressing forward aggressively as if trying to overwhelm Lionel with his strength from the very start.
He swung his sword from left to right. Every attack of his came fast and heavy, pushing Lionel into one corner of the arena. However, despite that, Lionel was able to block everything.
Nathaniel clicked his tongue. "Are you just going to keep blocking?" he scoffed before pushing forward again.
Lionel didn't respond at that and just smiled. He took a small step back, letting Nathaniel's blade pass just inches from him before redirecting it to the side.
"Lionel's holding up well…"
"Nathaniel's attacks are strong, though."
"Why isn't Lionel attacking back?"
"Is he scared?"
"If Nathaniel's attacks are strong, why is it not hit Lionel?"
Nathaniel's brows furrowed as he heard the whispers. His grip tightened, especially when he heard the last statement.
"Don't tell me this is all you can do," he said to Lionel, "Just standing there and defending?"
Still, Lionel said nothing. He just sidestepped another strike of Nathaniel. He was still calm as ever.
That silence only made Nathaniel more irritated.
"Fine." Nathaniel suddenly changed his style.
Instead of letting out continuous attacks, he feinted a strike to the left, then immediately twisted his body and aimed lower.
Clack!
It was a normal trick that Lionel blocked again.
How…? Nathaniel frowned, but before he could think further—
Lionel moved. He took a single step forward, and with a slight turn of his wrist, he swung his sword.
Clack!
Their swords collided again, but this time, it was Lionel attacking.
For the first time in their battle, Lionel finally attacked!
Huh? Nathaniel's eyes widened at that. His feet stumbled a step backward when he felt the strength in Lionel's attack. His balance was shaken for the first time.
Lionel did not give him the chance to recover. He stepped in, and he pressed his sword against his as he continued to push forward. The pressure on it prevented Nathaniel from slipping his sword so that he could attack.
He knew that if he moved it away, Lionel's sword would land right at him.
"You—" Nathaniel gritted his teeth before he reclaimed all his strength to push him back.
But Lionel just leaned back, shifting his weight on his toes. He quickly stepped to the side, and swung his sword.
Nathaniel barely managed to raise his sword to block it. But something felt off.
Why is he suddenly… Before he could finish that thought, Lionel moved again.
Another attack followed immediately. This time, Nathaniel was forced to step back completely.
It was funny to think how the one who had been on the offensive earlier was now on the defensive.
Lionel's eyes remained calm as he continued. From the very start, he was watching Nathaniel's every movement— every swing, every step, and every habit of his.
Nathaniel's attacks were strong, but they were too direct. It was too focused on what was in front of him that he was instinctively chasing the target. It must also be because he was underestimating him that, in the process, he forgot everything else.
That meant Nathaniel didn't realize that he was leaving his sides completely open to be attacked.
All that training… after I regressed… Lionel's grip tightened slightly at his sword. I didn't go through all of that just to lose here.
Nathaniel swung again, trying to regain control of the fight, but Lionel slipped to the side.
Thud!
Lionel's wooden sword struck Nathaniel lightly in the stomach.
"—!"
Nathaniel's breath hitched in surprise, his body freezing for a split second.
That single opening was enough for Lionel. He turned his wrist and struck again.
Clack!
This time, it landed on Nathaniel's wrist precisely. The sudden impact caused Nathaniel's grip to break instantly.
Thud.
His sword dropped to the ground loudly.
"…"
"…"
"…"
A loud silence filled the space.
"…"
For a second, no one spoke and moved.
Nathaniel also just stood there, frozen. His empty hand was still slightly raised as if he couldn't process what had just happened.
"W-what?"
Around them, the crowd erupted all of a sudden.
"Wait…what just happened?!"
"Nathaniel lost?!"
"That was so long but so fast!"
"After all those attacks… he just lost in three moves?!"
"I didn't even see it clearly!"
The disbelief spread quickly to everyone. Everyone looked amused, shocked, and confused. And those 3 emotions were also what Nathaniel was feeling as he slowly looked down at his fallen sword, then back at Lionel.
Lionel, on the other hand, simply lowered his sword and smiled at Nathaniel.
"It was a nice game."
"Y-You!"