Real Dream: Infinity

Xandra, her red hair tied back in a flawless braid, held her rapier, Requiem of Blood, with a relaxed stance, though her golden eyes never strayed from Sophia. Her black training suit highlighted her slender figure, designed for maximum mobility and protection. Every movement she made, however slight, radiated elegance and precision.

Sophia, by contrast, was unrecognizable. Without her usual glasses, her sharp, determined gaze stood out even more. Her dark brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, and the same black Helios Tech training suit hugged her form with the same functional efficiency as Xandra's. In her right hand, the dagger Sleepy seemed modest compared to Xandra's rapier, but Sophia held it with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how to wield it.

Both stood still, facing each other, maintaining a safe distance. When the holographic display in the air signaled the start of the duel with a flash and a sharp tone, neither of them moved.

From the observation platform, Catherine frowned.

"What's happening? I thought they'd attack the moment it started."

Next to her, Martin was mesmerized. He had concentrated his In into his eyes to observe better, and through this enhanced perception, he saw what Catherine could not.

"M-monsters..." he murmured, his voice heavy with awe.

From his improved perspective, Martin could see how the two warriors were engaged in a mental and tactical battle. Every slight motion, barely perceptible to an untrained eye, forced the other to adjust the flow of their In. Sophia tilted her dagger slightly in one direction, and Xandra reacted instantly by redistributing her energy. Xandra shifted her body ever so slightly, and Sophia adjusted her stance. Though neither had launched a single attack, the battle had already begun on a level most couldn't comprehend.

Catherine turned to Aiden Blur, who was observing silently.

"What's going on?" she asked softly.

Aiden pointed to his eyes.

"The In. Look at their subtle movements. This isn't a physical duel yet; they're measuring each other's capabilities."

Catherine closed her eyes and focused her own In, her pupils glowing faintly blue. When she reopened them, she understood immediately.

"It's like they're dancing…"

Just then, the two disappeared from her view.

"What?!?" Catherine exclaimed, unable to follow their movements.

Zoom!

Xandra closed the distance in the blink of an eye, throwing herself toward Sophia's right side. Sophia had also begun to move, but Xandra's unexpected angle caught her off guard. The precision with which Xandra calculated the space between them was terrifying. She didn't immediately strike with Requiem of Blood but positioned herself at an advantageous angle.

Sophia, startled, reacted instinctively by lowering Sleepy and aiming it directly at Xandra's head in a desperate counterattack. But Xandra, without even glancing at the dagger, adjusted the trajectory of her rapier with a barely perceptible flick of her wrist, redirecting the tip with superhuman precision.

Clang!

The impact rang out as Sophia imbued Sleepy with In, temporarily blocking what could have been a fatal strike. But her dagger, smaller and less robust, couldn't completely withstand the force of the blow. Sophia's arm twisted backward from the impact, leaving her vulnerable to Xandra's follow-up.

Swish! Slice!

The tip of Requiem of Blood broke through Sophia's defense as she retreated, cutting her shallowly across the torso. A thin line of blood seeped through the black fabric of her training suit, leaving a scarlet trace. Both combatants turned their backs to each other after the exchange, now separated by mere meters.

Sophia, her chest heaving and her hand clutching Sleepy, felt the sting of the cut.

She's too fast. Too damned fast.

At first, she didn't even attack me directly. She positioned herself to deny me any opportunity to react. Then, with minimal adjustments, she concentrated all her In into her arm and wrist to deliver a lethal blow. As expected of someone trained alongside Phoenix, her techniques are designed for assassination.

Flipping her dagger to rest it backward in her palm, Sophia adjusted her grip, her determined gaze burning brighter.

If I want to keep up, I have to forget about defense entirely.

She took a deep breath, channeling the flow of In throughout her body. She focused it into her feet and into Sleepy's edge, abandoning any thought of protecting herself.

Zoom!

Both combatants vanished from the spectators' view, leaving a gust of wind that rippled across the training field.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their weapons clashed like thunder as Xandra and Sophia exchanged blows at a speed that defied human comprehension. Each strike created bursts of pure energy, a dazzling display of the continuous flow of In coursing through their movements.

Sophia, abandoning all caution, attacked with impressive precision, launching sharp waves of In with each swipe of her dagger. The ethereal, colorful bursts sought to carve a path through Xandra's defenses. But Xandra, stoic and unyielding, evaded and countered with deadly efficiency, her movements economical yet devastating.

Xandra shifted her focus, and Sophia, entirely engrossed in the fight, didn't notice immediately.

From the platform, Martin clenched his fists, leaning forward.

"Look at how Xandra keeps targeting the dagger!" he shouted, his voice filled with concern.

Aiden, calm as ever, observed the faint cracks forming along Sleepy's blade with each impact.

"It's a strategy. Xandra knows that if she destroys the dagger, Sophia will lose her ability to attack."

Sophia pressed forward, wholly focused on exploiting every gap in Xandra's defenses, ignoring the fine fractures spreading across her weapon. But then, in a critical moment, Xandra adjusted her stance and launched a direct strike at Sleepy, her rapier moving with surgical precision.

Crack!

The dagger vibrated dangerously, and Sophia felt the impact reverberate through her fingers. For the first time in the duel, doubt crept into her mind.

If Sleepy breaks, I won't be able to continue…

That split-second hesitation was all Xandra needed.

With a fluid, devastating motion, Xandra redirected her attack toward Sophia's neck. Her rapier, charged with an intense crimson energy, sliced through the air with a deafening whistle.

Whoosh!

The edge of Requiem of Blood stopped mere millimeters from Sophia's skin, the deadly red energy dissipating at the last moment. Sophia froze, feeling the cold air brush against her throat.

Lowering her weapon respectfully, Xandra fixed her golden eyes on Sophia.

"You abandoned your blade to try to surpass me, but when you realized you were about to lose something important, you hesitated. That hesitation cost you the match," she said, her voice calm yet firm, like a teacher imparting a crucial lesson. "Your blade isn't just a tool; it's part of who you are. Just as you didn't let me strike you, you shouldn't have let me harm your blade."

Sophia looked at Sleepy, now riddled with cracks and on the verge of shattering. Her breaths came heavy, and her mind swirled with questions.

"But you're so much stronger than me… How was I supposed to beat you without sacrificing something?"

Xandra sheathed Requiem of Blood with elegant precision, her gaze steady and authoritative.

"You were never going to beat me," she said, her words striking like a hammer. "My In reserves are greater, my weapon superior, and direct combat is my specialty. Losing your blade or your life for a fleeting victory would have been meaningless. This duel was never about defeating me; it was about surpassing yourself."

Sophia lowered her head slightly, Xandra's words cutting deeper than any blade. She muttered something to herself before recomposing.

"I see… Thank you for the lesson and the duel." She gave a respectful bow.

Xandra returned the gesture, her golden eyes glinting with approval.

"You'll learn, Sophia. Victory isn't everything, but understanding who you are—and what you can become—is."

Sophia's lips twitched. "This girl speaks to me like that, and she's much younger than I am. She's probably only 18 or 19 years old..."

Both women were about to leave the stage when a metallic sound caught their attention. Standing at the entrance was Martin, his black hair slightly disheveled, gray eyes fixed on them, and carrying his slim scythe while dressed in his training uniform. His slow, deliberate steps echoed across the floor, and a crooked, uneasy smile stretched across his face. That smile, likely meant to mask his nerves, only made him look even more out of place under Xandra's icy gaze.

"Would you grant me a duel?" he asked as he came to a halt just a few steps away, bowing his head slightly toward Xandra.

Xandra raised her chin slightly, a look of disdain washing over her face, as though the motion physically elevated her above Martin. Her expression shifted to a mix of disgust and irritation, as if she were staring at a particularly vile insect.

"No," she said simply, her tone as sharp as her blade.

Martin furrowed his brow, though this time, he didn't let himself be intimidated. Straightening his shoulders, he took a deep breath before responding with a tone that was meant to sound bold but wavered slightly.

"Oh, come on, you fought her. Isn't it the same thing?"

Xandra frowned, clearly puzzled.

"What are you talking about?"

Martin stared at her, tilting his head, his expression filled with disbelief, as if he were trying to confirm whether Xandra truly didn't understand. Finally, he sighed and pointed brusquely at Sophia.

"Don't tell me you seriously don't know"

Xandra blinked slowly, each second of silence thickening the tension in the air.

"What's the problem with Miss Lusoriel?" she asked, her patience visibly fraying.

Martin raised his arm and pointed with even more force, nearly trembling with the intensity.

"She's Melisfir! She's the damn Melisfir!"

Xandra's reaction was immediate. Her golden eyes widened, and her face froze in a mixture of shock and confusion. Slowly, she turned toward Sophia—the same girl who had faced her in a duel with courage and elegance, confronting her head-on despite the overwhelming disadvantage. In her mind, she struggled to reconcile this figure with the infamous Melisfir, whom she had researched before arriving at Aetheris—a relentless hunter whose reputation preceded her as someone who always struck from the shadows, exploiting others or attacking from behind.

Sophia—or Melisfir—raised her hands in a gesture of disbelief.

"W-what's wrong? Did you seriously not know?" she asked, her tone a blend of surprise and amusement. "I'm even using the same dagger." She held up her weapon, Sleepy, its blade seemingly absorbing the light around it.

Martin couldn't contain himself and burst into laughter, a mocking cackle that echoed throughout the training grounds.

Xandra, who already detested Martin, felt the situation had crossed an intolerable line. She had been exposed for her lack of perception, and Martin's laughter only deepened her humiliation. In an effort to regain control, she raised her hand with a swift, commanding motion.

"B-but this is different! Even if she attacked No Limits from behind, in the end, she fell facing forward. You, on the other hand…"

Her finger pointed at Martin with such precision it seemed to pierce him where he stood.

"If you're saying Sophia is a rat like you, you're wrong. Not only did you attack from behind, but you also threw away your main weapon. That's how desperate you were to eliminate that great participant!"

From the stands, Aiden nodded slowly, as if confirming the truth in Xandra's words. Beside him, Catherine burst into laughter, openly enjoying the entire scene.

Xandra continued, her voice now steadier and firmer.

"Therefore, you're not a rat. You're the Rat King!"

The training field fell into an absolute silence, each word from Xandra hanging in the air like an inescapable verdict.

Sophia was the first to break the silence. Her eyes filled with tears from laughing so hard, and her body shook as she collapsed to the ground, rolling over while struggling to breathe. The blood stains on her suit stained the floor with her movements, but she didn't stop..

Martin, who had gone from indignation to disbelief, clenched his fists as his face flushed bright red with rage.

"Rat King," he muttered through gritted teeth, unable to come up with an effective comeback.

Catherine leaned toward Aiden, wiping away a tear of laughter.

"This is pure gold." She leaned forward, trying to catch every detail. "I think Xandra should take up writing epic insults in her free time."

Aiden smirked slightly, his gaze never leaving the scene.

"It's not just what she says; it's how she says it. Martin really should have stayed home."