The World Is Mine For The Taking

The moment we closed in on each other, our swords clashed. The sharp sound of metal meeting, one blade real and the other made from concentrated mana, echoed through the air. When our blades collided, I felt the full force of his strike firsthand. So this was the power of someone trained in swordsmanship since childhood, huh? Just as expected of the Sword Saint's son.

Despite his strength, I stood my ground. As soon as I created some distance between us, I stepped back, but Johanne was right on my heels, relentless in his pursuit. Closing in again, he launched another slash at me, which I managed to block. I countered with a sideways strike, expecting him to retreat, but instead, he countered with a sidelong sweep of his own.

His reaction time was impressive, far beyond what I had anticipated. And his footwork was impeccable. It was hard to believe this guy was only 19.

Typically, mastering a single sword style takes around ten years, but as I observed Johanne's movements, it became evident that he hadn't just mastered one, but four distinct styles. One prioritized defense, another focused on relentless offense, one aimed at swift and decisive strikes, while the last integrated the surrounding environment seamlessly into combat.

Each style showcased Johanne's remarkable talent and versatility in swordfighting.

However, even with his impressive skill set, he couldn't best me. Despite only wielding one sword style, I had refined it to perfection, crafting it into my own unique creation. This was more than just a technique—it was an extension of myself, a lethal art form honed to flawlessness.

When Johanne realized he couldn't gain an edge against me, he backed off and closed his eyes. The moment he reopened them, I could feel mana emanating from him. It wasn't chaotic, but it was definitely stronger than usual. Johanne had unleashed his skill, Limit Breaker, in our duel. That meant things just got serious.

We clashed again and again, and I soon realized just how powerful his Limit Breaker truly was. It shattered all his limitations and unleashed his true potential. Normally, humans are held back by limiters in their bodies, but with Johanne's Limit Breaker, he could tap into his full power. With this, his swordsmanship reached heights even greater than before.

We grew faster and faster in our swings, the clang of our swords echoing relentlessly through the air. Our strikes were so rapid that before one sound faded, another strike followed. It was as if our swings surpassed the speed of sound itself. Yet, despite our escalating pace, neither of us faltered or showed signs of exhaustion.

There was no need for words. Just strike, block, swing, and parry. We continued without pause, leaving the Princess speechless at the sheer speed of our movements. I had never before showcased such mastery of swordsmanship, and it felt exhilarating to unleash half of my true skill in combat for the first time.

However, like all fights, this one had to come to an end as well. So, I aimed my sword at the weak joint where a sword typically lacked force, knowing a strike there would force Johanne to release his grip. Sure enough, his sword flew out of his hand, spinning through the air before clattering to the ground.

There was no need for this final move since Johanne was already disarmed and defeated, but I couldn't resist pointing my sword toward him.

"That's enough!" the Princess declared, bringing an end to the duel. "Leon is the victor!"

In that moment, a metallic chime reverberated in my head, signaling the fulfillment of one of Johanne's requirements.

--

You've captured the interest of Johanne. You can now proceed to dominate her.

Name: Johanne Whitlock

Race: Human

Requirements to dominate Johanne:

1. Win against Johanne in a duel (Completed!)

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2. Kiss another girl in front of Johanne

3. Unlock

4. Unlock

....

--

What the heck? Johanne's requirements for domination are raising some eyebrows. I mean, was Johanne really a guy? His domination checklist is throwing me off, but I can't deny I've seen firsthand evidence of his manhood. But still, what the hell?

Anyway, dwelling on that isn't getting me anywhere.

I sheathed my mana sword and observed as Johanne deactivated his Limit Break and retrieved his own sword. With a grateful expression, he then approached me.

"Thanks for indulging me in that, Leon," he said. "I've got to hand it to you, you're good with a sword. I'm no slouch myself, so I can spot talent when I see it. Your sparring match with Miss Zeruel was nothing short of impressive, and this duel, along with that fight against the Prince, confirmed it for me. I'd love to pick your brain for some pointers on how to improve my own skills.

What do you say, Leon?"

So, he's asking me to train him. I've gotta say, Johanne's swordsmanship is pretty damn impressive. If he keeps at it, he could easily climb up the ranks and be among the top ten strongest swordsmen. I'm genuinely intrigued to see just how far he can push himself and what his true potential is, even without tapping into his Limit Breaker.

I'm itching to offer him some pointers, but I can't shake the feeling that I might not be the right person to mentor him.

"I'm not really much of a teacher," I admitted.

"Aw, come on, man," he chuckled. "I'm not asking you to tutor me or anything. Just give me some advice here and there, tell me what I'm lacking. That's all I'm after, just your input."

Well, if he only wanted my advice, then I guess I could give it a shot.

"Alright," I conceded. "But don't expect too much. I'm not exactly known for my sage wisdom," I warned.

With that, we shook hands, sealing our agreement.

***

After our duel, we returned to where the others were gathered. Upon our arrival, we found Hereon on the ground, kneeling, with Shredica holding a blade dangerously close to his throat. Hertrude swept her hand and declared, "The winner is Shredica!"

"Wait, were they having a duel too?" the Princess asked, clearly confused.

The three of us approached them, and as we drew nearer, we overheard Hereon click his tongue and concede, "Fine. You win."

Turning to Hertrude, I inquired, "What's going on?"

"Oh, Shredica and Hereon were in deep discussion about what it would take for one of them to concede and let the other win in the game. Since the King's Game is meant to have only one victor, they decided to settle it with a duel. And I, well, I ended up being appointed as the overseer," Hertrude explained.

"Really?" I responded, intrigued. So, that meant Shredica emerged as the victor of the game. Good for her, I suppose. And good for both of us. With this outcome, we were safe from being expelled from the academy. "It's quite surprising that you ended up as the overseer.

You seemed rather disinterested in this whole affair."

A faint blush tinted Hertrude's cheeks. "I'm not that disinterested. I'm just like any other woman my age. Some things do excite us, after all," she confessed.

I cast a sidelong glance at Shredica. She remained unchanged, a constant presence in my life. Funny how I never planned on getting entangled with her, yet here we were, partners in crime of sorts. Our unlikely alliance stemmed from her blackmailing me. As for her relentless pursuit of becoming a magic knight, it remained a mystery to me.

But one thing was certain: Shredica was destined to be the protagonist of this tale.

Every captivating story demands a villain, and I willingly accepted that role. However, for now, I would bide my time and observe her journey. Despite her limited character growth, the joy radiating from Shredica's face now spoke volumes. With each step she took toward her goal, her determination shone through.

And though my disdain for Shredica ran deep, I couldn't deny the sense of happiness that welled within me for her triumph.

We all headed to the port and decided to call it quits on the game. Everyone, except Shredica, that is. She was officially declared the winner and given an audience with the King to make a wish. However, there were some limits. The King could only grant wishes within his power, and since he wasn't the direct boss of the magic knights, Shredica couldn't wish to become one.

But she could request a meeting with the Headmaster of the Academy. From there, she could ask for a promotion from her current rank above bronze or at least put a stop to the administration blocking her path to higher ranks above bronze.

Shredica was slowly but steadily working towards her goal. It would take another three years before she finally achieved her dream of becoming one of the magic knights.

But that's a story for another time. With that settled, the King's game finally came to an end.

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