Marcus’ voice, laced with bitterness, dared Elric to participate in the dangerous spar. 

“A duel? You do realize I’m just a trainee, right?” said Elric. 

Marcus knew it was shameful, but he couldn’t resist the urge to humiliate Elric. He wanted to expose him as a fraud—someone undeserving of the viscount’s attention and Lady Alyvia’s favor.

“For a bastard who only knows to spew disrespect, you sure seem hesitant to defend yourself,” sneered Marcus. “Lady Alyvia won’t be able to save you this time.”

Elric smiled. “You’re right. I should defend myself properly. Fine, I accept. What are the conditions?”

Marcus, already convinced of his own victory, lowered his sword and quickly laid out the rules. 

“I won’t use my aura, and my weapon will be a wooden sword. You, on the other hand, may use whatever you wish—any weapon, any skill. Go all out. The one who falls to the ground first loses.”

Elric couldn’t help but chuckle internally. He really doesn’t think much of me, does he?

“When I win,” continued Marcus, “you will always address Lady Alyvia by her title, and you will mindlessly obey my orders even if that means running 100 laps every day for the rest of your time here.”

“And if I win?” countered Elric. 

Marcus scoffed. “You want to join knight training, right? Winning a duel against me will automatically qualify you. I’ll also grant you any request within my power. Don’t get too excited though; I’ll ultimately be the one standing over you."

Elric’s smile widened. Marcus’ arrogance only made the challenge more enticing.

“I accept the winning conditions.”

Following those words, Elric picked up a training spear while Marcus grabbed a wooden sword. The sudden battle excited and riled up the soldiers of the Humes Estate. More than anything, they wanted to see the brat that suspended their Vice Commander finally be put in his place. 

Shortly after, Vance arrived at the soldiers’ training grounds. Having been notified of his disciple’s duel, he was determined to serve as its referee. 

So this is the boy that’s making Viktor move.

His sharp gaze assessed Elric, who was standing across from Marcus. Like the viscount, Vance also possessed a gold-rank mana core and was able to sense Elric’s excessive amount of mana. 

His mana capacity is no joke. There’s definitely something important about him that Viktor doesn’t want to reveal.  

Vance looked at Marcus. 

And this foolish disciple of mine got into a fight with him right after he returned from suspension...

“...!”

A sudden thought struck Vance, his eyes widening.

Wait. Don’t tell me… Did Viktor predict this duel would happen?

Vance turned his head toward the viscount’s office, his gaze landing on the large window overlooking the training grounds. There, leaning casually against the frame with a cigar in hand, stood the viscount. 

“Ha...”

Vance sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the realization. 

There’s nothing I can do. Marcus already drew his sword.

His gaze turned back to Elric.

“We haven’t been properly introduced, have we? I’m Vance Tilbert, Knight Commander of the Humes Estate.”

Elric took a moment to study the large man before him. He appeared to be in his mid-60s, with deep-set eyes and salt and pepper hair that matched his scruffy beard. The scars lining his hands were a silent testament to a life spent in combat, and despite the apparent wear of age, his posture remained firm, radiating a quiet strength.

“I’m Elric,” he replied simply. 

Vance gave a nod of acknowledgement and then spoke to both opponents.

“The winner of the duel will be the one who causes their opponent to fall first. Marcus will refrain from using aura, and his weapon of choice will be a wooden sword. Elric may use any skill, and his weapon of choice will be a spear. Do you both agree to these conditions?”

“Yes!” they both shouted in unison.

Vance moved to the edge of the field, and the two opponents faced each other, weapons in hand. 

I've heard some strange rumors about him, thought Marcus as he stared at Elric. Like he doesn’t have a mana core and that his mana capacity is potentially higher than a white core rank. Marcus shifted his body into the perfect swordsmanship stance. But it doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t have; I witnessed it that day. His aura is completely untrained. Marcus remembered how Elric needed his help in order to finish off those mutated Frost Hounds. I’m not sure how he managed to subdue those hounds for so long, but there’s no way I can lose this duel. I have a silver mana core, and my aura has finally reached the orange stage. I’m objectively stronger than him. 

Vance raised a hand.

“Start!”

Tap. Tap. 

Marcus’ light footsteps could be heard as he moved first. He darted towards Elric with an incredible speed, his wooden sword cutting through the air in a swift, low arc, aimed directly at Elric’s legs.

Clack!

Clack?!

Before Marcus could land the strike, the side of Elric’s spearpoint was already there, blocking the tip of his sword.

He blocked that?! 

Marcus leapt back, quickly getting out of the range of Elric’s spear.

“Stepping back already?” taunted Elric.

Marcus looked down, and sure enough, only his footprints were scattered around in the dirt. Elric hadn’t even moved his feet. 

“Let’s see how long your luck lasts,” growled Marcus. Without warning, he lunged forward once more, this time feinting low before pivoting into a high slash aimed at Elric’s shoulder. 

Clack!

But again, Elric’s spear was there first.

Damn it! Why can’t I break through?! He’s not even using aura!

Marcus unleashed a barrage of rapid strikes, each one more aggressive than the last, attacking from every conceivable angle.

Swoosh!

Clack!

Elric refused to let him get in close range. The long reach of his spear blocked each strike from a distance, making it nearly impossible for Marcus to get closer.

Clack!

Slow.

Clack!

Predictable.

As Elric blocked another strike, he could feel his arms tremble and his organs rattle from the force of the blow.

He’s good, but…

Swish!

Clack!

His spear twisted sideways, deflecting a vertical attack from Marcus. 

Leonard’s better.

Admitting such words left a bitter taste in Elric’s mouth. But it was the truth. While he ran his laps, the soldiers would loudly boast about Marcus having a silver mana core and his aura reaching the orange stage to mock and intimidate him. However, Marcus’ failure to protect Alyvia, combined with the state of the soldiers under his command, told Elric everything he needed to know about Marcus’ actual strength. In contrast, Leonard was an entirely different beast. He may have also possessed a silver mana core like Marcus—something Elric only learned by overhearing Leonard casually mention it in passing—but what truly made him better than Marcus was him reaching the red aura stage before he even entered his teen years. If enduring four years of torment at his hands had taught Elric anything, it was how to survive against deadly swordsmanship.

“Is defending all you can do?!” shouted Marcus in frustration, his attacks still failing to land on Elric.

Elric smirked.

Marcus was stronger than him; he knew that. He hadn’t instigated this fight because he thought he could beat Marcus in strength; no, it was because Marcus being weaker than Leonard meant he didn’t need to be stronger to win; he just needed to be smarter.

Slam!

Swoosh!

Elric shifted his weight and thrust his spear forward with an explosive force.

Clack!

Marcus’ eyes widened with surprise as he barely managed to block Elric’s first attack.

What… is this?

The air around Elric had suddenly changed.

Marcus quickly recovered and counter-attacked with a horizontal slash. But Elric had anticipated it. He spun his spear, the shaft catching Marcus’ sword mid-swing and forcing it aside. In the same motion, he drove the rear of the spear toward Marcus’ ribs. Marcus twisted, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the momentum forced him off-balance for a split second—just enough for Elric to press the attack.

Swish!

Swoosh!

Elric moved his spear in a sweeping arc, the tip slicing through the air toward Marcus’ legs. Marcus leapt back, and Elric stepped forward, immediately closing the gap. Marcus sidestepped him, his blade a blur as it aimed for Elric’s neck. But just as the blade was about to strike, Elric swiftly pivoted and slipped his spear under the blade.

An opening! thought Marcus.

With a fierce determination, he brought his sword crashing down, intent on completely overwhelming his opponent. But as he looked up and glanced at Elric’s face, a wave of regret washed over him.

Elric was grinning.

A chill crept down Marcus’ spine. Elric deliberately created that opening.

Shit!

Marcus was fully exposed. Elric had already moved to his side, his spear aimed at Marcus’ legs once more. If his strike landed, Marcus would definitely stumble and fall to the ground.

I’m... going to lose? Marcus’ face was stuck in disbelief. Elric will continue to be close to Lady Alyvia?

He was so confident that Elric would raise his spear to defend against his downward swing that he hadn’t prepared for any other attack. The swing of his sword was too heavy; he couldn’t possibly react in time to stop the spear.

Elric had used his own strength against him.

Marcus scowled.

No! I won’t let him win! Not like this!

Vance, who had been watching the shocking battle unfold, suddenly felt a spike of concentrated mana radiating from Marcus. His eyes widened in alarm.

“Marcus! Don’t!”

But it was too late.

A dangerous surge of orange energy erupted from Marcus, hurtling straight toward Elric with deadly intent.

“...!”

Elric’s eyes locked onto the massive wave of aura barreling toward him.

Marcus! You bastard! You hated losing that much?!

Elric was at a crossroads. He couldn’t rely on his own aura to protect him—it could barely cover his fists. He also couldn’t rely on his weapon. With Marcus’ explosive aura speeding toward him, the long reach of the spear that had been his advantage now became a disadvantage. He didn’t have the luxury of time to drop or pull the spear back. His strike was too committed. 

Damn, what do I do?!

He darted a glance to his side and saw Knight Commander Vance rushing toward him, but he was still too far away to intervene. As Elric turned back to face Marcus, the threatening orange aura had already reached him.

BOOM! CRACK!

The air ripped apart with a deafening explosion. All Vance and the onlooking soldiers could see as they looked at the center of the training grounds was the chaotic clash of Marcus’ orange aura against a blinding light.

After a while... the dust settled. 

On the ground was Marcus. And standing over him was Elric.