Published at 13th of December 2025 8:45 am

Chapter 306: My... Fight!

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The arena was open and circular. Pale sand underfoot. The same one where hed fought Jian. Maybe the Duel Arena preferred this one for the finals. Maybe it was just luck. Maybe it was by decision. He noted that the Spectral Claw would be less effective as a movement aid here, than it had when he fought Xuejing in the forest. It would struggle to get a grip on the sand-covered ground, so he wouldnt be able to boost his mobility.

It didnt matter. He hungered for this fight and now she was before him, a mere thirty metres away, surrounded by a blue bubble to constrain her, just like the one around him. The faint wind sighing through the arena coiled around her, stirred black robes and black hair. She drew her Blades, raised one in a salute, like a character in a play. Kind of stupid, kind of cute.

Good luck! she called.

His mouth quirked in a smile. He couldnt remember the last time someone hed been about to fight had said that to him. A long, long time. Sportsmanship was a trait, he felt, of a Better Man. It would be rude not to return the favour.

And to you, he replied, feeling the Masks happiness at that response fill him, all warm and glowing.

It didnt last long, rushed out by the rising tide of the Dark and the Thrill. This was the fight hed been waiting for and his grin was wide and fixed.

Psychologys voice bit into that rush. I observe signs of anxiety in our opponent, the Module murmured. Some well-placed words, references to her brotherwhich I am 86% sure is the individual she is continually turning to peer up at, in the audienceand I believe her abilities will suffer a near-total collapse. All I need is free reign to speak to her. He could feel the Modules eagerness. Psychology had a love of taking opponents apart with word alone.

The Mask pushed back before Nicolai could reply. What, cant win without trickery?

Nicolai knew the Mask was saying that as a challenge to him, to push him where it wanted. But as it happened, what it wanted and what he wanted were close enough to touch.

No, he told Psychology. I want to fight her.

The Module sneered and sunk back down into his consciousness.

The countdown came quick. He activated Symbiotes and drew his rapier. That would be his weapon of choice.

With a flash of blue, the fight began.

She didnt hurry and neither did he, moving with measured paces toward one another, stares locked. He could feel from her gaze a flicker of fear, a surprising weight of eagerness, a gritted-teeth determination, and below it all an uncertainty. The same wonderful question as was within him. Would she win, or he?

He wondered whether she could feel anything of his own emotions.

###

She sensed his stare burning out from behind that unnerving helmet. Felt it on her Soul like the sun on a hot day. And it struck her once more that there was something strange about this man whose face shed never seen.

Every movement of his body bled violence, like each step was the lead up to a fist in the face or a knife in the guts. But shed seen people who moved like that before. The Nara had more than their share of killers. There was something more. A strangeness.

Almost felt as though she werent facing a man at all.

She pulled a deep breath through her nose, worked it around the lump in her throat. Thoughts like this were the last thing she needed. She did her best to keep her stance solid, her stare straight and unwavering, to move forward toward him like she feared nothing and no one.

But she could feel her hands shaking. Shed known they would be, because they always did when she was walking towards a fight that mattered. Would probably be shaking no matter who she was facing in this, the final.

Only, this time she felt like maybe she had an actual reason for the nerves, rather than just the stupidity of her body. Just need to survive, she told herself. Just last. Once Im into it, then Ill Ill be able to fight properly.

But if she wasnt fighting at her best from the start, against a fighter like this, how could she last? Hed gone through that group Zixiao had gathered around himself like a giggling child kicking down a sandcastle!

Focus! Focus!

She tightened her sweaty grip around the handles of her Blades, trying to ignore how slippery and strange they felt. Like it was her first time holding them.

###

She looked far from ready. Her grip on the Blades was limp-wristed and she stood all wrong. His instincts and the Dark whispered that she was weak and ripe for killing, and Psychology hissed that perhaps its words werent necessary at all.

But they were wrong. They had to be. He couldnt understand it. Hed fought her before and she was not weak.

His eyes widened with the realisation. No It was a trick. And a trick so good, her body acting out this show of unreadiness so perfectly, that even the Dark was convinced! He could hardly believe it, but what else could it be?

He wouldnt be taken unawares. A grating chuckle filtered out through his helmet. He saw her brow crease as though with unease, but he knew the trick of it, now. To think, shed thought to try and take him down in the very first exchanges, by luring him into over-aggression. He liked the confidence. Hed take it slow, take it measured.

The space was closed and still she gave this show, Blades rising uncertainly, like shed never used them before. She hadnt even activated her lightning.

Smiling, he flicked the rapier up. He didnt aim a stab at her as thatd require getting in closer, being lured into her trap. Instead his bionic simply twisted in a quick side-to-side. He rang her left Blade then her right.

It was just meant as a touch, to show her he knew, to tell her the jig was up.

Her Blades were ripped from her hands, were sent spinning away through the syrupy air, left and right.

His mouth dropped open and he couldnt help but turn his head and track one of them as it went, pinwheeling ridiculously. He looked back at her and he didnt know which of them was more surprised. At first he assumed an even deeper layer of trickery but no, no one, no one would give up both their weapons at the very start as a trick. Well, perhaps not no one, he could imagine someone tricky enough and desperate enough, but not her! Not when she had the skills and the speed to stand against him!

The stunned silence of the crowd was breaking. Rising now into a howling like an army of wolves, baying for blood. She flinched at the noise, staring at her outstretched hands with eyes wide and mouth slumped open, looked like a combination of dull shock and sick horror, then her face began to redden.

That was when he became certain it wasnt a trick. The Dark and the Thrill were shocked into immobility. The Mask was cringing in secondhand embarrassment.

Nerves, put in Psychology smugly. The signs were obvious, if you were willing to see them. Dilated pupils, raised heart-rate, excessive sweat production, uncertain movement. Just as I predicted. Oh well, finish her off and lets move on.

He barely heard the Module. His mind was spinning.

My fight! My fight!

His body lurched and he was stomping forward, bearing down on her. The Dark drove his steps, flooding him with a violent need to end her, hissing through his veins like gasoline. But the Mask dove through his Soul, slammed into the Dark and pressed it back. In the instant of calm it bought him he drew reflexively on the Angelic energies of the Blade, which washed through him in a cool tide. His steps slowed, stopped.

Right now, being a Better Man would get you exactly what you most desire, the Mask whispered.

His mouth opened and he wasnt sure who was speaking, him or the Mask or the Dark or all of them, but his voice came out.

###

Hed oomed forward, Killing Intent spiking out from his Soul, and Xuejing had known it was over. Her had eyes closed as she awaited the end, no energy to resist. But seconds had passed and she found herself still standing. The Killing Intent faded.

What are you doing? he growled at her. She could barely hear him over the battering of noise pouring down from up above. Crushing disappointment and vicious jubilation mixing into a sickening mess of shouts and yells.

I mumbled Xuejing. Her eyes cracked open and the world swam blurrily into view. For a moment she wondered if she was dreaming, but her dreams were never this bad. She focused on what hed said. Was the question rhetorical? She wasnt sure. What was she doing? Shed fucked it all up, thats what she was doing. Had done. How had this happened? Shed known he was strong. Why hadnt she gripped more strongly?

It was already over, and she hadnt even gotten to fight. What a disappointment. What an embarrassment. She could feel the gaze of her brother, could imagine the faint sneer of disdain, the contempt in his eyes. And all the worst because she was sure he wouldve had a flicker of interest as he watched her earlier on.

Hed always said that if she couldnt learn to start the fight hot without a need for a warm up shed never make it as a real fighter.

Now, here she was. A failure.

Go on! she yelled at her opponent, at his cruel helmet painted in its strange patterns of dark grey and brown, knowing that she must look like a stupid girl with her face all red and tears starting.

Finish it! She just wanted to get out of here. If shed had her Blades in her hands shed have attacked him. Strange, now the worst had happened she felt more angry than nervous.

He didnt move forward. He just stood there. Staring. Mocking her.

No.

Why? She spat the word at him.

There was a strange croaking noise. She swallowed, staring, as it turned into laughter. Why didnt you hold on tighter? gurgled his voice. Ive never He was half bent over now, and he suddenly stilled.

He gestured, a flick with the rapier. Pick them up, he rasped.

###

Jian was grinning wide as he stared down into the arena. Behind him he heard the shuffling of his father rising, following Hanwei toward the portal.

Not going to stay and watch the end? he tossed over his shoulder. His father gave him a grim look, one that told him in no uncertain terms to restrain his glee. Jian was too happy to care.

No, said Hanwei, striding briskly toward the portal. A shame, the man said, offhanded, more to himself than any of them. She could be great, but it is not within Heavens will.

I suppose not! chirped Jian brightly, turning back to stare down. And to think, he didnt even need to cheat against His words broke off. What is he doing? he muttered. That tiny figure in its dark armour was not finishing the fight. Instead, he was making a very clear gesture to the defeated girls fallen Blades.

Jian understood that gesture instantly, and seeing it made his face flush hot. His hands latched tight around the railing, his stomach stirred with nausea. Hes giving her a chance? he hissed, furious. That filth cheated against me, but he gives her a chance?!

Hanwei appeared beside him. He snorted. Interesting, he murmured, eyes thoughtful.

What is? Jian spat.

I suppose he sees something in her.

Jian grabbed Hanwei and hurled him off the balcony.

Hanweis smug face transformed into a white mask of horror. He let out a shriek of terror as he plummeted to the stands below. He crashed down like a meteor, exploded into blood and gore that sprayed in all directions. The crowd stood as one, turned to face Jian and applauded wildly, hooting and cheering. He threw his father down next, to yet more applause, the fighters forgotten.

In his imagination he did all that, anyway. In reality Jian scoffed and continued to glare mulishly down at the travesty below.

###

W-what? Xuejings mind was a whirl of confusion and embarrassment. Did I hear him right?

The laughter cut off like a death rattle. Now he stood very straight. The rapier twitched, pointed at one of her fallen Blades. Pick them up.

She wanted to ask why, but also didnt want to risk him changing his mind. She took a slow and careful step to the side. He didnt move, kept the rapier down by his hip, only his head turning to watch. Scuttled a few steps more. Bent down without looking away from him and there it was, the handle of her Blade.

She took it and she gripped it very, very tight. Moving hesitantly she crossed the other way. It seemed to take an age, the guilty side stepping over the sand.

Then she had her second Blade, and she stood and spluttered her own laugh.

Why?

Because I want to fight you, in a patient tone. The rapier spun a lazy circle. For once his emotions were leaking from his Soul, as he was making little effort to stop them. For some reason those emotions were a kind of blissful joy, a state of calm and happiness like hed had some kind of realisation.

Relax, he continued. What does it really matter, if you lose here? He was coming toward her, and his stance was the same as ever. But there was something different about his voice. Sounded almost like a different man.

She realised she was backing up, retreating, forced herself to stop, gripped her weapons tight. I just my br my family will be disappointed.

Is that all?

He flicked the rapier lazily at her and she blocked without thinking. It came straight back again and her other Blade snapped out, knocked it away. He paused, expectant.

Ill be I dont want to lose in front of so many people. She didnt know why she saying all this.

Fuck them. You think any of them will care about what happens here a week from now?

Back the rapier came. Poke poke, slap slap.

Maybe, she muttered.

A month?

She frowned. Probably not. Poke. Slap.

A year?

She was shocked to feel a smile on her face. Maybe even I wont care, by then.

So

It doesnt matter? she murmured, half a question.

There you go. Wheres your lightning?

Her eyes shot wide. By the Heavens Shed forgotten!

Go on. Hed stopped, the rapier lowering again. She focused, Oma moved and Symbiotes flared and the lightning erupted all over her.

The rapier lunged at her, sudden and fast and vicious but shed seen it coming, seen him arrange his body in preparation for it, and now she moved like the lightning that covered her. Her left caught it, flicked it aside, and without thought she aimed a stab with her right.

He twisted out the way, and back the rapier came.

Her mind emptied as she stepped back and forth, arms snapping and darting, smile dancing over her face as she fell into the flow of the fight.

Better, she heard him murmur. There was a strange hunger in his voice. She wasnt sure if it excited her or worried her, didnt have time to try to work out which.

His rapier outranged her and he was ruthless in his use of that range, always working to keep a step further away than she wanted him. Each time she tried to close the distance she was harried by a barrage of vicious stabs, so fast that even with the lightning, and even with two Blades to his one, it took everything she had to block them.

When the distance increased, and she thought to take a moment and breathe, the rapier would suddenly dart at her like a bird from the wristcontrolled for an instant by his Soul Sense. She never had any rest, no choice but to keep on pressing forward.

But as she kept going, kept trying to close that distance, it became easier. And she realised why in a sudden giddy shock of delight. Because she was there. Shed arrived.

Every now and then she found this state. Where he Blades felt like extensions of her arms, where the unconscious movements of her feet were fluid and perfect, where she seemed to know the mind of her opponent before even they did.

When sparring she had never lost against another Tier 1 once she found this state. In fact, none had lasted more than a minute against her.

She struck again and again, Blades flashing out. He was forced on the defensive as she pressed in, and finally shed closed the distance. She worked his rapier with strike after strike, knew it would lead him to focus too much on it, would leave him open elsewhere. She could read his body, read his Intent. As he shifted his stance and placed his foot, all his weight going onto it, she snapped out a kick.

She was faster than a cat. Lightning flared bright around her leg, and she knew she had him caught, felt a sudden stab of weird guilt at the thought of winning after hed spared her.

Then a much stronger stab of horror when her leg swished harmlessly through empty air, and her understanding of his movement, which had seemed so clear and obvious, tumbled apart into a jumbled, confusing mess. Somehow, impossibly, shed gotten it all wrong, and her body twisted, off-balance just for an instant.

The rapier lunged and everything in her concentrated to its shining point. Her body moved in a way she hadnt even known it was capable of.

Huah! The air burst out of her in a desperate gasp as she jerked madly to the side. The point caught at her, speared her shoulder instead of her heart, in and out. She staggered a step back, but only a step. Without thought her body returned to stance, Blades raised defensively.

She rolled her shoulders, chanced a glance at the wound. A thin stream of blood trickled from it. Minor. A little painful, but she was moving fine.

He slunk toward her, stance wide, body low, bloodstained rapier out and sweeping side to side, like a wolf sniffing the ground.

This man was like none of those she sparred with. She could feel the shift in him and realised that now the fight had started for real. His body and Intent, which had seemed so open and understandable, had shifted.

He was a ghost. The rapier came from every angle, within inches of catching her time and time again. Xuejing blocked and dodged desperately, and her eyes widened as she barely avoided getting speared again. Something about his movement kept on suggesting to her hed do one thing, then he did the opposite. It was as though there were a dozen versions of him standing in the same place, all moving at once.

Shed never fought so well, her own movements faster and surer than ever, and yet it was all she could do to survive a moment longer.

But Xuejing didnt lose her nerve. Not this time. Her smile remained. Because now, now she just wanted to see how well she could fight, how long this moment could last.

And within her a hope flared, and she fed it with little facts. She was still here. She was still standing. If she just kept going, found her balance, gained the momentum, she might be able to win this.

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