The breaths in the arena moved slowly… but this time, the tension was not faint—it was clear, tangible, as if it pressed against everyone's chests.
Shin stepped forward, looked at the two with a serious gaze, then said in a steady voice, though it carried clear caution:
"If you are both determined to do this… then listen carefully. This is not a real fight, but a training duel, and I will allow it under one condition—I will not accept any serious injury from either of you, and I will not allow things to go out of control. Fight… but with reason. I do not want to be forced to intervene."
He paused for a moment, then looked toward Shaal:
"Shaal… don't let your confidence deceive you. Your opponent may not be what he seems, even if he is at the Pulsing Seed level… don't lower your guard, and don't treat him as weak."
Shaal smiled confidently, rotating the wooden sword in his hand in a light circular motion:
"Don't worry, young master. I won't underestimate him… but I also won't back down before this beginner."
Then Shin turned toward Faiser, his gaze carrying a hint of hesitation:
"And you… take this seriously. The difference in level is no joke."
Inside—
"I don't know… should I warn him? Or warn the other from him…?"
Faiser laughed lightly, a short laugh that carried hidden arrogance:
"Hahaha… how interesting, that you would worry about a mere stranger like me… but it's fine, don't worry, I'll listen to your words for now."
Shin said as he turned:
"Give him a wooden sword—"
But—
"No need."
Faiser said it with decisive calm. Eyes turned toward him. He smiled and tilted his head slightly:
"If it's just a training match… I don't see any benefit in complicating things. Let's make it more… clear. I'll fight as I am."
Shin frowned:
"Faiser… fighting barehanded against a sword, with a difference in level… this is not a challenge, it's a gamble."
Faiser nodded slowly, as if seriously considering it.
"Maybe…"
Then he raised his gaze, his eyes becoming more steady:
"But I… don't mind gambling."
Shin hesitated for a moment, but tried to ignore it despite his concern for Faiser…
"Begin."
In an instant—
The calm vanished.
Shaal moved first, an explosive step, the wooden sword launched at high speed toward Faiser's head—a direct, clean strike, without hesitation.
But—
Faiser moved… in a very simple way.
A slight tilt of the head.
And the strike passed.
"Hm?"
Shaal frowned, but did not stop.
A second strike—faster, a third—stronger, a fourth—combined.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
The sword began to draw paths in the air, increasing pressure, accelerating rhythm.
Faiser… did not attack, he only moved, stepping back half a step… shifting… rotating his body.
Every movement—
Less than needed, but enough.
"You're not attacking…"
Shaal said as he pressed harder, his breathing beginning to rise:
"Is that fear…? Or do you simply not know how to respond? Hahaha?!"
Faiser smiled.
As he barely avoided another strike:
"If I were afraid… I wouldn't have stood in front of you from the beginning. And if I didn't know how to respond… I wouldn't still be unharmed until now, would I?"
A sudden strike from below—Faiser jumped back.
"Hmm…"
He looked at Shaal.
"Your rhythm is good… but you rely on it too much, and when rhythm becomes all you have… predicting you becomes easy."
"Shut up!"
Shaal dashed again, this time—
With all his strength.
The sword turned into flashes, consecutive strikes, no pause, constant pressure.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
Faiser…
Began to move more deeply, he was no longer just dodging.
But—
Reading.
"Your shoulder moves first… then your wrist… then you strike… your breathing changes before acceleration… your feet… betray you… your movements… are ordinary…"
Then—
In a moment—
Faiser grabbed Shaal's sword with his bare hand—
The strike stopped. The air froze.
"Wha…?!"
Shaal tried to pull the sword—
It didn't move.
Faiser stepped slightly closer to Shaal, his voice low:
"When you put all your strength into your weapon… you forget that your opponent can simply… stop it."
He pushed the sword aside.
Then—
Faiser struck Shaal with his palm forcefully… the blow hit Shaal's shoulder heavily…
Shaal stepped back, but this time—
His face was no longer fully confident.
"This… is impossible… just someone weak like him… still at the Pulsing Seed level…"
He attacked again.
But now—
In anger.
"I'll crush you!"
The strikes became more violent.
But—
Less precise.
Faiser moved in and out, approached then retreated.
Each time—
He struck once on the arm, once on the side, once on the shoulder, not decisive blows.
But—
Annoying and disrupting to Shaal…
"You…"
Shaal said while breathing heavily:
"Are you playing with me?!"
Faiser looked at him calmly.
"I'm not playing… I'm just… letting you see your mistakes yourself."
Silence.
Then—
He stopped completely. Shaal also stopped. A moment of stillness, then—
A powerful aura exploded from Faiser—a dark purple aura, heavy and suffocating, but within it—darkness, blood, and cold.
Shaal froze.
"W-what… is this…?!"
His body refused to move.
Shin—
His eyes widened.
"This aura… is not normal… this pressure… this—"
Faiser… smiled. A slow smile that widened and turned into something… insane. A mad smile in every sense of the word…
"Now… let's see… how much you can endure… when your opponent isn't kind."
Faiser moved at an unseen speed.
Then—
He appeared directly in front of Shaal.
His eyes… cold. Then he said:
"So what's wrong now… why are you frozen like a child who just saw a ghost? Hahaha."
BAAAM!!
A one-handed strike to the chest…
Shaal was sent flying, hit the ground, and began to roll.
Silence. Broken breaths.
Shaal tried to stand but—
Fell.
"I… how… is this… impossible…?"
Faiser stood calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Then he said:
"Power without understanding… is just noise. And you were very loud."
Then Faiser said to himself while smiling:
"Yes… I am completely ignorant of this world's system… but… that doesn't mean I am weak…"
Shin… did not move.
"This… is not someone at the Pulsing Seed level… impossible…"
The arena fell silent, and within that silence… one truth slowly began to form—
Faiser… is not just an ordinary person…
But—
Someone… who should never be underestimated.