The plaza fell silent.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
Hundreds of voices died in the same breath as Kael stepped forward into the center of the polished stone courtyard. Soldiers lined the perimeter in rigid formation. Nobles leaned over balcony railings above, their shadows stretching across the ground.
Every eye was on him.
Watching.
Measuring.
Judging.
---
Kael exhaled slowly.
The air tasted sharp.
Cold.
Heavy with expectation.
---
Pain pulsed faintly beneath his bandages.
A reminder.
His body wasn't fully healed.
Not yet.
Not even close.
---
But he stood anyway.
---
Across from him—
Darius rested his sword against his shoulder, posture relaxed, expression calm but confident. Sunlight glinted off his polished armor.
He studied Kael carefully.
Not mocking.
Not careless.
Evaluating.
---
"So," Darius said, voice carrying easily across the courtyard.
"You're the one everyone is talking about."
A small pause.
Then—
---
"The Legion Breaker."
---
The title echoed through the plaza like a thrown stone hitting still water.
Ripples of whispers followed.
---
Kael said nothing.
He simply adjusted his grip on the sword.
Steady.
Controlled.
Focused.
---
A senior officer stepped forward between them.
His voice was firm.
Authoritative.
Unquestionable.
---
"This will be an official evaluation duel."
He scanned both warriors.
Careful.
Precise.
---
"Victory is achieved by disarmament or surrender."
A pause.
Then—
---
"No lethal strikes."
---
The rules settled into the air.
Clear.
Final.
---
The officer raised his hand.
---
"Begin."
---
Silence.
One heartbeat.
Two.
---
Then—
Darius moved.
---
Fast.
Explosive.
Direct.
---
His blade cut through the air in a sharp diagonal strike aimed at Kael's shoulder.
A probing attack.
Testing speed.
Testing reaction.
Testing weakness.
---
Kael shifted.
A single step sideways.
Minimal movement.
Maximum efficiency.
---
The blade sliced through empty space.
---
Darius's eyes narrowed.
Interest sparked.
---
Good.
---
He attacked again.
Faster this time.
A sweeping horizontal slash flowed instantly into a downward strike.
---
**CLANG!**
---
Steel collided.
The sound cracked across the courtyard.
---
The force traveled through Kael's arms like lightning.
Pain flared along his ribs.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Real.
---
His breath caught for half a second.
---
But he didn't retreat.
---
Instead—
He stabilized.
Adjusted.
Adapted.
---
Another strike came.
Then another.
Then another.
---
**CLANG!**
**CLANG!**
**CLANG!**
---
The rhythm intensified.
Darius pressed forward aggressively now, testing angles, speed, and control. His attacks came faster with each passing second.
Precise.
Disciplined.
Relentless.
---
Spectators leaned forward.
The air tightened.
The duel had become serious.
---
Kael focused.
Not on strength.
Not on power.
On timing.
On rhythm.
On breath.
---
He remembered the battlefield.
The chaos.
The pain.
The moment his body nearly failed.
---
He would not repeat that mistake.
---
Above the courtyard—
On the highest balcony—
A gray-haired commander watched with narrowed eyes.
---
"He's holding back," the commander murmured.
---
Another official nodded slowly.
---
"No."
A pause.
Then—
---
"He's conserving energy."
---
Back below—
Darius stepped back suddenly.
Resetting distance.
Reassessing.
---
His breathing remained steady.
But his eyes had changed.
Sharper now.
More focused.
---
"You adapt quickly," he admitted.
---
Kael answered quietly:
---
"I have to."
---
A flicker of respect crossed Darius's face.
---
Then—
His stance shifted.
Lower.
More aggressive.
More dangerous.
---
The plaza sensed the change instantly.
The duel had entered its next phase.
---
Darius lunged forward with explosive speed.
Faster than before.
Sharper than before.
More decisive.
---
His blade thrust straight toward Kael's chest.
A finishing strike.
---
Kael moved.
---
Not backward.
Forward.
---
He stepped inside the attack.
Close.
Too close for a full swing.
---
Pain surged through his ribs.
White-hot.
Blinding.
---
But he pushed through it.
Focused.
Precise.
Unbreakable.
---
In one smooth motion—
He rotated his wrist.
Redirected the blade.
Shifted his center of gravity.
And struck.
---
**CLACK.**
---
The sound was small.
Sharp.
Perfect.
---
Darius froze.
---
For a single heartbeat—
The entire plaza stopped breathing.
---
Then—
His sword slipped from his grasp.
---
It spun once.
Twice.
Then—
---
**CLANG.**
---
The weapon struck the stone ground.
---
Silence exploded across the courtyard.
Absolute.
Total.
Unbelievable.
---
Kael stood still.
Breathing heavily.
Pain radiating through his chest.
Sweat sliding down his temple.
---
But his stance remained steady.
---
Victory.
Clean.
Controlled.
Earned.
---
The officer stepped forward immediately.
Voice firm.
Official.
Final.
---
"Match concluded."
A brief pause.
Then—
---
"Winner… Kael."
---
The crowd erupted.
Gasps.
Shouts.
Whispers.
Respect.
---
Because this victory proved something important.
Not brute strength.
Not luck.
Control.
Discipline.
Mastery.
---
Darius bent down slowly.
Picked up his sword.
Then turned toward Kael.
---
Their eyes met.
Warrior to warrior.
---
For a moment—
No one spoke.
---
Then—
Darius gave a short nod.
Respectful.
Earnest.
Real.
---
"You earned that victory," he said.
---
Kael nodded once in return.
---
But before the tension could fully settle—
A new voice cut through the plaza.
---
Deep.
Commanding.
Unavoidable.
---
"Enough."
---
The crowd fell silent instantly.
Every head turned upward.
---
Standing at the highest balcony—
A tall figure stepped forward.
Armor dark.
Cape flowing.
Presence overwhelming.
---
The commander of the Royal Guard.
---
His eyes locked onto Kael.
Sharp.
Measuring.
Decisive.
---
Then—
He spoke.
---
"Recruit Kael."
A pause.
Heavy.
Ceremonial.
---
"You will report immediately to the Hall of Trials."
---
The words struck like thunder.
---
Whispers spread instantly.
Shock.
Excitement.
Fear.
---
Because everyone in the capital understood what that meant.
---
The Hall of Trials was not for ordinary soldiers.
It was for warriors who stood on the edge of greatness—
Or destruction.
---
The commander's gaze remained fixed on Kael.
Unblinking.
Unyielding.
---
Then he delivered the final order.
---
**"Prepare yourself."**
A pause.
Dead silent.
---
"Your real test begins now."