Extra: A King’s Duel

“Are you ready, King Trume?” the judge asked as he backed away from us.

“Yes.” I unsheathed my blade.

“King Grey?” The judge turned his head to ask.

With a stern nod, King Grey readied his saber in a motion that reminded me of liquid mercury rolling onto a glass tabletop: effortless and supple. His expression was intent, yet his body was relaxed, as if he had just nonchalantly stood up and stretched. 

His sword was pale and elegant, every detail shone against the white lights over us. When the thin blade moved, it sliced the air with a crisp sound. It reminded me of the coldest of winter days when it hurt even to breath.

“Let the King’s Duel commence!”

Everyone was still...expectant… anxiously waiting for the first duelist to make a move. 

King Grey… my councilmembers warned me not to duel against him, that it was hopeless. It doesn’t matter if I am the King Duelist of a small nation. Why should I, a King myself, fear a man in the same position? 

He was now less than ten meters from me, but the cold bead of sweat that ran down my neck told me that I was still somehow within his range. His white blade swayed as King Grey casually began walking towards me like he was on an afternoon stroll. He had no openings. 

As his fierce gaze never left my eyes, I could feel another bead of cold sweat run down my face. Everything about him was cold and sharp, like a field of icy thorns, yet he also reminded me of a fierce thunderstorm, ready to strike at any time. 

He dropped the tip of his sword and smiled with perfect white teeth but his smile never reached his eyes, making him seem only robotic. My sword, the same sword I’ve been carrying with me for years, suddenly seemed to weigh down on me like a lead rod chained to the ground.

So this was what fear felt like. 

“Hahp!” I exerted a sizable force of ki to dispel his killing intent. Letting go of all my hesitation, I brought my longsword up, its tip aimed at my opponent. 

Ki Art: The manipulation, utilization and manifestation of the life force energy that exists in every human’s body through the use of specific veins and channels.

[Accel Steps]

[Slipstream]

[Focus Point] 

I immediately felt a small drain in my core from using three Ki Art simultaneously. As my ki swirled inside me and my sword, I charged forth with an acceleration rate that wouldn’t normally be possible. 

Accel Steps was an earth-based Ki Art that allowed the user to have sudden bursts of speed, defying the initial need to accelerate. Slipstream was a wind-based Ki Art that freed the user from any air resistance and also aiding the user’s acceleration. 

Focus Point was also a wind-based mana art of a higher tier that affected the user’s weapon, wrapping it in a layer of ki to make it sharper and have a longer reach. 

My body felt light and free as I dashed forth without the normal air resistance hindering my speed. 

The sharp ring of my blade meeting his reverberated in my ears. I swung again, changing to a shorter grip on my handle for a faster slash. 

Despite the speed of my follow up slash, my blade was again met by his. Every swipe, every stab, every slash was parried easily and casually by King Grey while his gaze never left my eyes. 

Was that a sigh that I just heard?

[Counter Might]

My nation’s Secret Art. It was a two part Ki Art that strained the user vastly but its power was tremendous. It defied the law of physics, allowing the user to make two slashes of different direction without the need to stop. From this direction, King Grey would not be able to dodge or parry the second slash.

The first blow was easily parried, but that was in my expectations.

I couldn’t help smirk as my second slash was just centimeters away from King Grey’s right shoulder. 

I expected to hear the sound of his duelist uniform get cut. I expected to see blood on my sword. I expected to feel my opponent’s skin get sliced open.

Yet, I got none of that. What I cut was an afterimage.

“Would you like a second chance?” King Grey’s voice whispered in my ear. He was behind me.

The cold metal of his blade kissed my neck, and I knew it was over. But I would not falter for I am a king and a king should remain honorable, even in front of death’s door.

“Have your way.” My voice came out hoarse and feeble. How embarrassing. 

All I heard was a brittle sound—a crisp pitch that could only be heard in absolute silence before my vision blurred and I fell. 

From the corner of my eye, I saw King Grey swing his sword smoothly in an arc to rid of the blood on his blade. My blood. 

He remained stone faced as he glanced down over one shoulder, his wide back towards me. 

My vision darkened and I felt the reaper’s cold grip on my neck. I would’ve welcomed the reaper with open arms, but my only regret was that I was not a match for King Grey. Not even close.

I wish I had more time to practice, to learn, and to have him look at me with respect. For I am a king and that is my pride.