The sun had barely risen when the grand training grounds of the castle were filled with noise. Nobles, guards, knights, and even commoners gathered to witness the duel. Whispers spread like wildfire—today, a royal guard dared to face one of the summoned heroes.
At the center of the arena, the arrogant hero from the night before already stood waiting. His arms crossed, impatience on his face.
"Finally… I'll get my revenge."
He sneered, gripping his weapon tightly.
Trumpets sounded as another figure entered. Renji appeared, clad in his usual black guard uniform, his mask covering his eyes. He walked with quiet determination, his steps echoing against the stone floor.
Gasps spread across the crowd.
"That's the mysterious masked guard…"
"He's the one who angered the heroes yesterday!"
"He'll be crushed instantly!"
But among the voices, two stood out—Elira and Celis, who sat close to the King. Their eyes shone with both fear and faith.
"Renji…"
Elira whispered anxiously.
"Please… don't lose…"
Celis gripped her sister's hand tightly.Renji turned back to them and waved.
"I won't lose! Don't worry about me!"
The King raised his hand.
"The duel shall now begin! To first blood or incapacitation!"
Both Renji and the hero took their stances. The arena fell into silence.
And then—
BOOM!
The hero charged forward, sword blazing with divine light.
"You'll regret embarrassing me, you lowly guard!"
Renji didn't move until the very last second. With a single step, he vanished—using Shadow Step—and reappeared behind the hero, slashing with his blade. Sparks flew as the hero barely blocked.
"Tch—fast!"
The fight escalated. Swords clashed with ear-splitting force, dust and wind erupting with every strike. The hero swung wildly, using brute strength and holy magic, while Renji remained calm, dodging with fluid movements, countering with precision.
"W-What speed…"
gasped a knight.
"He's… overwhelming the hero!"
shouted another.
The hero roared, slamming his weapon into the ground.
"Holy Burst!"
A massive wave of light exploded outward, shaking the arena. The crowd shielded their eyes. But when the dust cleared—Renji stood untouched, having slipped through with perfect timing.
He appeared right in front of the hero, his sword inches away.
"You're too slow."
The masked guard's calm voice made the hero's blood boil.
"SHUT UP!"
He swung again, unleashing his ultimate strike. But Renji's figure blurred. In an instant, he teleported right beside him, twisting midair and slamming a brutal kick into the hero's ribs.
CRACK!
The hero flew back across the arena, crashing into the ground, coughing blood.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"H-He kicked him like a ragdoll!"
"That masked guard is… terrifying…"
Elira and Celis both covered their mouths, hearts racing, but deep inside, relief swelled.
The hero struggled to stand, his sword trembling in his hands. But Renji was already in front of him again, blade at his throat.
"It's your loss hero."
The hero froze, his body trembling. The arena fell silent.
Renji slowly lowered his weapon, turned, and walked away without another word. His silence was louder than any victory cheer.
The hero's friends rushed to his side, carrying him away, glaring at Renji with anger and humiliation.
But among the crowd, one pair of eyes lingered on him differently.
A girl with long hair—one of the heroes, and Renji's old classmate—watched intently. Her lips curved in a faint smile.
"...So it really is you, Renji."
She had seen the announcement board earlier, where the kingdom had listed his name among their knights. She kept this secret close to her heart, proud of him.
"You've grown so much… you even defeated one of the summoned heroes even if you're not unique like them."
That night, back in his quarters, Renji lay back against the bed. The duel's intensity had drained him, but for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to relax.
The sound of the bustling castle faded into silence. His sword leaned against the wall, his mask rested on the table.
"Tomorrow I'll enter some dungeon… but tonight, I'll rest."
His eyes closed as the moonlight washed over him.
And so, the masked hero guard, Renji, drifted into sleep—unaware of the shifting tides his victory had begun to set in motion.