Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 24: Struggle for Rank Duel (2)

Currently, at the 3rd Training Camp of the White Night Castle, the 95th, 96th, and 97th batches of trainees were undergoing training.

Among the trainees, the oldest was as old as 19, and their level was all at 3-stars. Their talents were so exceptional that they would receive tremendous treatment if they joined any other knight order outside.

Although they were affiliated with the Kaladan Black Horse 3rd Training Camp and had not yet qualified as “Gate Knights,” achieving 3-stars in their teens was no easy feat.

At 19 years old and 3-stars, they were undoubtedly impressive, but currently, they were under immense pressure. If they did not complete the basic training course by the age of 20, they would be expelled from the training camp.

The older trainees who ranked 11th in their batches and lost the qualification to challenge in the rank duel had already packed their bags, ready to return. Those who barely made it to the 10th place were nervously holding onto their last hope.

“The unranked matches are over. Trainees in the top 10 of each batch, please gather at the training ground.”

Upon hearing the announcement, Harang grabbed his real sword and got up, heading to the training ground. The numerous trainees who had filled the vast training ground were now scattered in the spectator seats, making the training ground appear unusually spacious.

Lining up in a row with ten trainees from each batch, Harang naturally stood at the front as he was the top ranker of the 97th batch.

To his left stood the top ranker of the 96th batch, Kyle, who smirked at Harang.

“Looking forward to it, ‘little brother.'”

Emphasizing the word ‘little brother,’ it seemed there was some lingering resentment.

‘He always did that during duels.’

Having frequently faced Kyle in mock duels, Harang always lost. Kyle was the one wall he couldn’t overcome in the 96th batch.

“Yeah, looking forward to it.”

Harang casually brushed off Kyle’s words and looked at the 95th batch.

The 96th batch had direct blood Kaladans, Dailid and Kyle, and quite a few collateral ones, but the 95th batch had no Kaladan bloodline members.

They had already graduated in previous rank duels held twice a year and had gone out into the world as apprentice knights.

The ones standing in the 95th batch were mostly in their late teens, anxious as they were about to be expelled if they didn’t graduate soon.

“Alright, kids. This is the last rank duel of the year. Someone’s probably really anxious, right?”

Lauren Chaygan said, looking at the 95th and 97th batches.

“Hmm, someone’s burning with determination! Like they want to kill their opponent~! But you know that’s not allowed, right? If anything like that happens, regardless of your family, I won’t let it slide.”

Though Lauren Chaygan spoke playfully, there was a murderous aura in his words that made the trainees shudder. It was a terrifying killing intent, uncharacteristic of a mage.

“Then, before we start the rank duel…”

Lauren Chaygan subtly turned around.

No one in the audience had noticed, but he had been informed beforehand and knew.

That the special guests here were not just the pure-blooded Polden Knights.

‘Ha ha, they really came…’

The world’s strongest swordsman.

The master of Kaladan.

The only prince feared by the Emperor of the Herrael Empire, the most powerful existing empire.

The Extinguishing Sword Constellation, Kalel Paul Kaladan.

Without any presence, he was standing at the highest point of the training ground, looking down.

“Alright, let’s get started! Normally, we’d go from the lowest rank one by one, but… since we have ‘special guests’ today, let’s enjoy the highlight first?”

No one reacted to the term special guests. Everyone assumed he was referring to the pure-blooded Polden Knights.

“96th batch’s top ranker! Kyle Paul Kaladan, step forward!”

At his name being called, Kyle walked to the duel arena and took his place on one side.

“97th batch’s top ranker! Harang Paul Kaladan, step forward!”

At the call of his name, Harang headed to the duel arena as if he had expected it.

The match between Kyle, a large figure about 170 cm tall, and Harang, who had just barely surpassed 140 cm, seemed like a fight between a giant and a dwarf, an unlikely match.

Watching them climb into the duel arena, Lauren Chaygan focused his mana on his eyesight to subtly observe Kalel’s expression.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the duel arena, his expression serious.

‘Haha! Did he really come just to see one trainee kid? The great Duke Kalel in person? Interesting. So the rumor about the successor wasn’t a lie.’

For the great Duke Kalel to personally attend a mere children’s duel.

“Both trainees, swear to cross your swords with honor before the sacred spirits of Kaladan and to accept the outcome willingly.”

Clang! The two boys raised their swords vertically, saluting each other, and the referee nodded.

“Duel, begin.”

At the signal, neither Kyle nor Harang rushed forward.

Typically, Kyle would charge at Harang first, using his superior physical ability and swordsmanship to press the attack, but today he didn’t. It was to show an ‘overwhelming victory.’

To show the chosen adoptee of the family being thoroughly defeated, in front of the pure-blooded Polden Knights.

‘Not charging in?’

Harang, who had already simulated countless scenarios against Kyle, quickly revised his plan. He discarded all scenarios where Kyle charged first and recalculated his chances of victory if he took the initiative.

‘Usually, I’d get countered and pushed back as soon as I lunged, but…’

There was one.

A way to land a valid hit on a 3-star swordsman with his 2-star swordsmanship.

Harang began to slowly walk left with his real sword.

Kyle, still leisurely, didn’t move from his spot.

If he had moved in the opposite direction, it would have been troublesome, but…

‘Showing off because people are watching, huh.’

Harang smirked.

If the pure-blooded Polden weren’t watching, he might have been defeated without landing a single hit.

‘But now that I’ve closed the distance.’

It’s possible!

[Crescent Moon Step]

Like the arc of a dawn moon, Harang’s body disappeared for a moment.

Kyle, who couldn’t believe he had lost sight of his movement, widened his eyes.

‘What the hell is this?!’

For the past three years, Harang hadn’t used his skills even once. Each was a desperate move, unsuitable for training.

Like a crescent moon curving, Harang’s presence vanished as he approached. Only catching his figure belatedly, Kyle hastily swung his real sword to the right.

‘Too late.’

Harang’s sword strike was faster.

Clang-!!

The clash of Kyle’s unsteady sword and Harang’s sword created a small shockwave.

Normally, Kyle’s 3-star strength would overpower Harang, pushing him back, but because of his unstable stance?

Kyle took half a step back.

In a seasoned swordsman’s fight, half a step’s gap could be fatal.

Gulp!

With a chill running down his neck from the murderous intent, Kyle hurriedly raised his real sword to defend his neck.

Clang!! Harang, whose sword clashed with Kyle’s, didn’t engage in a strength struggle. Instead, he slid down to target Kyle’s wrist.

Swoosh! Kyle quickly withdrew his hand, but blood spattered in the air.

“Damn it!”

Though not deep, his wrist was cut!

To show such an unsightly figure, getting his wrist cut from the start due to carelessness, Kyle gritted his teeth in shame and anger.

‘My strength is slightly weakened, but… Ha, this isn’t enough.’

Flexing his right hand, Kyle calmly gripped his sword.

‘This guy, he came well-prepared.’

However, he was only a second-class swordsman.

Moments ago, it was commendable that he had managed to induce a moment of complacency and land a strike, but all he achieved was a small cut on the wrist.

From now on, he would give his all, leaving no room for luck.

‘From now on, I’ll crush you properly!’

Kyle, without even assuming a proper stance, executed the Kaladan swordsmanship. Having reached the level of a third-class swordsman, the swordsmanship flowed from him like water, even without assuming the proper form.

Flash!

A pure white light emanated from Kyle’s sword and shot towards Harang’s neck. Though he quickly backstepped, Harang ultimately had to clash swords against the relentless assault.

Clang!!

‘Ugh.’

Already, Harang was slightly inferior to Kyle in terms of strength. With the added pressure of sword energy, he had no choice but to be pushed back even further.

‘Four or five more clashes… The sword will break.’

Both the sword and his wrist would shatter.

Harang had already seen the future where his wrist and sword were broken several times in his simulations.

Therefore.

He knew exactly what to do in this disadvantageous situation.

‘The gap between a third-class and a second-class swordsman is immense.’

A third-class swordsman could imbue sword energy in every move, while a second-class swordsman could only do so momentarily at will.

A third-class swordsman who always imbued sword energy versus a second-class swordsman who did so momentarily.

The outcome was obvious.

Anyone watching their duel would naturally predict Kyle’s overwhelming victory.

Frankly, it was already surprising that he had managed to exploit Kyle’s carelessness and slightly cut his wrist in the beginning.

However, that was it.

While Harang had performed admirably, his defeat was certain the moment Kyle unleashed his sword energy.

Everyone thought so.

‘Five more exchanges. Within that time, I’ll end this duel.’

Harang’s hair fluttered as his eyes began to shine with a mix of silver and black, but no one present noticed.

Except for one person.

‘…No way, Black Flame Glare?’

Kalel Paul Kaladan stared at Harang’s eyes in disbelief. The subtle emanation of mana in silver and black from his pupils wasn’t something achieved by mere sword mastery.

Records of the hero Kaladan from the distant past mentioned that his eyes would blaze in black and white whenever he wielded his sword.

Typically, the glare from eyes appears white, blue, or red, reflecting the natural mana colors.

Thus, people thought the descriptions of Kaladan’s eyes were exaggerated.

‘No doubt about it. His eyes are glowing with black flame.’

Kalel’s lips slowly curled up.

He could foresee the next scene.

Not Kyle’s victory as everyone expected, but Harang’s victory!

“Are you just going to keep running away?”

While Kyle attacked, Harang, who had been steadily retreating, widened his eyes.

‘Now!’

All this time, Harang had only been avoiding Kyle’s attacks. But now, he swung his sword, which Kyle easily dodged, having anticipated this pattern of luring him into a false sense of security for a counterattack.

‘Ha, is that all you can do, those petty tricks!’

Kyle easily guided Harang’s sword in the direction he wanted and struck with all his might. Harang, unable to do anything else, had to retrieve his sword to block it.

‘What?!’

But Harang bent backward, sliding on his knees like an acrobat. Seeing Harang slide under him, Kyle felt a chill and hurriedly swung his real sword.

Thunk!! Even from his low stance, Harang raised his sword to block the sword energy-enveloped blade, deliberately sliding it off his blade.

‘Damn!’

Had Harang merely blocked it, it wouldn’t have mattered, but the sliding caused Kyle to lose his balance, stumbling forward half a step. Harang didn’t miss this opportunity and raised his sword, aiming for Kyle’s chin.

Swish!! Kyle quickly tilted his head back to avoid it, feeling a slight cut on his chin, causing his heart to race wildly.

‘How could this be…!’

Even while dodging, Kyle’s sword didn’t stop, continuing to swing towards Harang. Despite being in a low crouch, Harang inexplicably leaped high.

‘Jump?! Damn, I need to…!’

Kyle quickly assessed the situation. If Harang jumped, he would be vulnerable in the air, leaving an opening.

Clang!! Yet somehow, his descending sword was blocked.

Kyle finally looked down. Harang hadn’t just jumped to avoid the sword. He had driven his sword into the ground, blocking Kyle’s attack trajectory!

Whirr…!! The rebound from clashing with Kyle’s sword sent Harang’s sword spinning into the air like a fan.

Had Kyle’s strength been slightly greater, he might have shattered or disarmed the sword entirely, but…

‘My wrist…!’

The earlier wound Harang inflicted caught up with him.

In a critical moment, he couldn’t muster his full strength. Determined not to give up, Kyle tried to recompose himself.

Since Harang’s sword was flung far away, if he could just regain his stance…!

Thunk.

“……”

Kyle stared blankly at Harang. The smaller swordsman’s silver eyes stared back at him.

A cold sensation touched his neck.

Harang’s sword, without even being imbued with sword energy, was precisely pointed at Kyle’s throat.

‘Defeat.’

The word pierced Kyle’s heart.

‘How?’

He couldn’t understand.

He had sword energy, whereas Harang hadn’t used it at all.

Yet.

Harang’s sword tip was at his throat, while his own sword pointed uselessly at the ground.

‘This is impossible…!’

He couldn’t accept it. He couldn’t believe he had been defeated by a mere second-class swordsman.

Clenching his right hand, Kyle tried to lift his sword, but before he could, the instructor intervened, grabbing his wrist.

“Duel over. Harang Paul Kaladan of the 97th batch wins. Both trainees, bow with your swords and return to your places.”

“Well fought.”

Harang courteously bowed with his sword and returned to the 97th batch’s area, but Kyle remained paralyzed.

He could only stare blankly.

For a long time.

At Harang’s retreating figure.

Endlessly.