Director Miraaz slowly stepped forward.
"Listen carefully," she said calmly, loud enough for everyone to hear. Then shrraised her hand and lightly moved two fingers through the air like she was drawing something: "This is a duel. Not sparring. Not a game." Her eyes moved across both boys, stopping for a moment on Balmond, who looked way too confident. "Almost everything is allowed." Short pause. "Magic. Weapons. Tricks. Dirty methods. I don't care how you fight."
She lowered her hand and started walking along the edge of the arena, her shoes making dull sounds against the stone. "But…" She stopped and turned back, her eyes going serious. "No killing." A few seconds of silence. Miranda pointed toward the ground. "If your opponent surrenders, the duel is over. You say it out loud. Clearly." She tilted her head slightly, like checking if everyone got it. "Also, if you fall out of the arena… you lose."
Ezekiel and Balmond nodded. "Simple. Now, good luck." She winked and disappeared.
Ezekiel stood there confused, still looking around where she went, not sure if the fight already started. That hesitation cost him a punch straight to the teeth. It was heavy, his head snapping to the side, teeth hitting each other, the taste of iron filling his mouth.
"What, waiting for a start signal?" Balmond said, standing in front of him, big and solid, his whole body tense, enhancement magic faintly moving across his skin.
Ezekiel spat blood to the side and clenched his jaw. "Ah… so it started," he muttered quietly. Balmond didn't wait, he was already moving. One step, the ground under him almost squeaked, fist straight into the chest. Ezekiel barely raised his arms, but the hit still went through.
BUM.
He got thrown back a few meters, heels sliding until he stopped, breathing hard. "Fuck…" he muttered, looking back at Balmond, then turning his neck to one side, crack, then the other. "Alright… got it."
No magic here. Or more like… nothing he had would help. The fireball he barely got to level one would do nothing. Even beginners could do the same. He needed something else.
Ezekiel leaned forward a bit, weight on his front foot, body relaxed, but his eyes already following every move. He had something else. Physical. Agility. Stats from the system. Speed and fists.
Balmond moved again, faster this time. The punch missed by a bit, Ezekiel stepped to the side and hit back, quick strike to the ribs.
THUD.
Nothing. Like hitting stone. Balmond didn't move, just slowly looked at him.
"Done?"
"Yeah… shit," Ezekiel muttered, already moving away as the next hit came without warning. This time he didn't block, dropped lower, slid to the side, the strike passing above him, and he hit again, this time to the stomach.
Same thing. No effect.
"Yeah… tank."
Balmond smirked and finally grabbed his weapon. His hand went to his back, steel scraping, and a huge two-handed sword came out, the dragon carving catching the light. The swing was fast but heavy, Ezekiel barely moved back, the blade hitting the ground and cracking it.
Second swing from the side, Ezekiel ducked, felt the air move past his hair, third time he was already moving differently, not back but sideways, trying to break the rhythm.
Too slow, but way too strong. If he catches me… it's over.
The thought came instantly. 'Inventory.'
A weapon appeared in his hand. Not a sword, too heavy. Not a spear. Too slow. A thin blade, light, something between a dagger and a short katana.
"Better."
Balmond rushed again, sword coming up from below, Ezekiel stepped in close, too close, where the weapon got awkward. The blade passed above him, and he was already in. One quick stab, not ribs, but under the arm.
A hiss. Blood.
'Nice,' Ezekiel thought. 'Been waiting for this since I reincarnated.'
Balmond's smile disappeared. His eyes changed.
"Slippery snake." He gripped the sword tighter, a crazy smile appearing. "Now this is fun."
He rushed again at full speed, swinging for Ezekiel's arm.
"Whoa!" Ezekiel jumped back.
The sword slammed into the ground, cracking it, dust rising up.
"I was going to tell you to surrender…" Balmond said, then paused, looking at him differently. "…but yeah. You're interesting." And he rushed again.
But then Ezekiel did something no one expected.
As the sword came toward his head, he raised his hand and calmly said, "I surrender."
"?!" Balmond barely stopped the blade. It froze just in front of Ezekiel's face, the air still shaking from the force. Balmond leaned forward from the stop, muscles tight as he forced the strike to stop. Then he shouted, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SURRENDER?!"
Ezekiel didn't move. Just lowered his hand and turned toward the teachers, ignoring the blade that almost hit him. His breathing was heavy, side hurting, mouth tasting like blood, but his face stayed calm.
"We just need to show we can fight a bit, right?" he asked like it was a normal question.
"True… but surrendering mid fight…" a girl's voice came from behind him, very close. He flinched slightly. "That's unusual."
Ezekiel turned and froze.
Miraaz was standing right behind him. No sound.
She looked confused, like she was still trying to understand what just happened. Her brows slightly down, eyes focused on him. One hand slowly went up to her chin, fingers touching her lips like she was thinking if he was crazy… or serious. Wind moved her hair, a few strands across her face, but she didn't fix them. Just stood there.
Calm.
Watching.
'SHE'S HERE! MY WAIFU!!!' Ezekiel screamed in his head, while his face stayed almost blank, only his eyes showing too much interest. His thoughts were all over the place, but his body stayed calm.
Miraaz suddenly felt something off… a cold feeling on the back of her neck, like someone was staring at her too hard. She flinched slightly and took a step back.
Then another.
She stopped. Frowned.
Her eyes went back to Ezekiel, now more careful, like trying to understand if he used some weird magic… or was just weird.
She shifted slightly, looked again.
Same feeling.
Another small step back. This time she noticed it.
She looked down at her foot for a second, then back at Ezekiel.
"…Why does he feel so creepy?" she muttered quietly.
Behind him, Balmond let out a breath, lowering his sword, still confused. His gaze moved between Ezekiel and Miraaz, clearly annoyed.
"This isn't a game," he said, not shouting anymore. "You were supposed to fight."
Ezekiel looked at him for a moment, then back at Miraaz, who stepped slightly behind Balmond again, like he became a shield without meaning to. Ezekiel stayed relaxed, but his eyes sharper now.
"I did," he said calmly. "I showed I can survive. That I can hit. That I can read my opponent."
Short pause.
"And that I know when to stop."
Silence again. Different this time. Not tension. Something else.
Miraaz watched him for a few seconds.
Her lips moved slightly.
"…Not bad."