School Arena
"Has it started yet? They said it'd be starting soon."
"Not yet. They're still preparing."
The murmurs echoed through the packed arena. Word of the duel had spread across the academy like wildfire, and now students were piling in from every corner of the school. The stands were filled with whispers, laughter, and anticipation, a sea of curious faces waiting to see the outcome.
"It looks like the rumor has spread throughout the school," Ray muttered, looking around.
"Every student's coming out to watch the duel… are they here to watch me fight?" he added, his tone uncertain, though he tried to hide it with a smirk.
"So, what are we gonna do?" Ray asked, turning to End.
"Let's just go pick a weapon," End replied calmly, pointing at the weapon stacks laid out on the ground near the stage. Rows of swords, spears, and staffs gleamed under the arena lights, though each had been dulled for practice.
Ray picked up one of the swords, giving it a little swing. "Wow, it looks like a real sword… but it's still blunt."
"Well, blunt or not, it can still injure someone," End replied.
Ray frowned. "Huh? How do you know? Have you used a sword before?"
End hesitated, fingers tightening slightly on the hilt of his weapon. "…Well, yes. I've used a sword before. Haven't I?" His voice trailed off, as if he was answering a question meant more for himself than for Ray.
---
Flashback
"Ha! Didn't you come here to kill me?" a woman's mocking voice rang out.
"Ughh…" End grunted, chest heaving.
"How can I kill you when you seized my real sword and gave me this blunt one!" End shouted, glaring at the tall woman in front of him.
"I told you, didn't I?" the woman smirked. "Defeat me first, then come and collect your weapon back."
"What an old hag," End muttered under his breath.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Do you want to die?"
"Just give me back my sword!" End yelled, frustration boiling over.
"No. If I do, I don't think I'll be able to fight without injuring you," the woman said coolly.
She stepped forward, the red fog around them swirling ominously. "So, how many times do you want to be beaten before you understand?"
"Darn it…" End growled, clenching his fists.
Her expression softened for a moment. "End, you said you didn't want to live that life anymore. So listen. Right now, using a blunt sword or even a wooden sword, you can still take down your enemies. It's not the blade it's the will behind it."
Before he could reply, another voice cut through the fog.
"Oh, you guys are still going at it? Don't you ever get tired?" A woman with flowing red hair approached, her presence almost radiant against the haze.
"In this place, it's praiseworthy for an ordinary guy like End to be able to stay standing in this red fog for so long," she added with a sly smile.
"Who… who are you?" End asked, taken aback.
"Me? I'm Ichika," the woman answered simply.
---
"Hey, End! Are you okay?"
Ray's voice dragged him back to the present. End blinked, the fog fading from his vision.
"Huh? I'm fine… just a little headache." He rubbed his temples. The memories of this body are returning, he muttered under his breath.
"What did you say? Anything?" Ray asked, leaning closer.
"No." End pushed his friend's face away with a sigh.
"What about your match?" End asked.
"I'm already done with it," Ray replied with a shrug. "But I'll be watching yours closely."
---
The arena grew quiet as a figure stepped up to the stage. Monica Rosewood, the duel's overseer, raised her hand to address the crowd.
"Both participants, please come up to the stage," she announced, her voice steady and commanding.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Students leaned forward, eager to see the fight unfold.
"As you all know, the duel is a normal duel single match format only. No weapons sharper than practice grade. No killing blows. The first one who can't fight back loses. Understood?"
Both End and his opponent, Jeffrey, nodded.
"Good. Then let's begin. Three… two… one… Begin!" Monica shouted.
---
Jeffrey wasted no time. He charged forward recklessly, his face twisted with arrogance.
"I'll show you who I am! You'll pay for messing with me!" he bellowed, swinging his sword wildly.
End didn't flinch. He shifted his weight slightly, his eyes calm and calculating. At the last second, he sidestepped.
Jeffrey's blade cut through empty air.
"What the—?!"
End extended his leg, tripping Jeffrey as he rushed past. The boy tumbled forward, arms flailing as he fell flat onto the ground outside the boundary of the stage.
Gasps and laughter spread through the crowd.
"Did he just… fall on his own?"
"No way, End planned that!"
Jeffrey scrambled to get back up, red-faced with fury. But before he could regain his balance, End appeared behind him. With a swift motion, End struck the back of Jeffrey's neck with the side of his hand.
Thud.
Jeffrey collapsed instantly, unconscious before he even hit the ground.
The arena fell silent for a brief moment, stunned by how quickly it ended. Then the noise erupted again, students shouting, laughing, and cheering.
"That was insane!"
"He didn't even break a sweat!"
"Jeffrey got destroyed!"
End stood there quietly, lowering his weapon. His eyes didn't linger on the fallen boy he was too lost in his own thoughts, the fragments of past and present lives intertwining in his mind.
And though the duel was over, End knew this was only the beginning.
---