The arena went silent.
Every student had stepped back, forming a wide circle around the battlefield. No one spoke. Even the wind across the training field seemed to pause.
Oscar and Vega stood several meters apart, their eyes locked on one another.
Vega lifted the wooden blade and lowered his stance slightly.
Neither of them moved.
Clarence’s command still echoed in the air.
“Begin.”
Vega moved first.
The distance between them vanished in an instant.
Oscar’s eyes widened.
Too fast.
The wooden blade sliced toward his shoulder.
CRACK.
Oscar raised his forearm just in time to block the strike. The force of the impact pushed him back two steps across the stone floor.
Students around the arena leaned forward immediately.
“That was fast.”
“Did you see that?”
Aster had a nervous look on his face.
“No way Oscar got launched that easily.”
Even Elaina’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“His speed without his core is impressive.”
Vega didn’t give Oscar time to recover.
The sword moved again.
Horizontal slash.
The words Haruto once told him flashed through Oscar’s mind.
Instincts save you.
Without thinking, Oscar jumped upward, narrowly avoiding the sweeping blade.
Vega rotated his wrist instantly, redirecting the sword upward.
Oscar reacted on instinct, knocking the blade aside with his forearm.
The two were suddenly face-to-face.
Oscar clenched his fist and drove a punch toward Vega’s ribs.
Vega twisted his wrist.
The flat of the wooden sword intercepted the punch with perfect timing.
THUD.
The impact was completely redirected.
Vega followed instantly with a downward strike.
Oscar caught the wooden blade between both hands.
The crowd gasped.
“They’re not holding back at all!”
Alexander crossed his arms.
“That’s not the swordsmanship I’m used to seeing.”
Vega launched a quick kick toward Oscar’s stomach.
Oscar released the blade and jumped back just in time.
He shook out his arm.
“That sword hurts way more than I expected.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Vega’s voice remained calm.
“You chose to fight barehanded.”
Oscar shrugged.
“Fair point.”
Without warning, Oscar lunged forward.
His speed wasn’t equal to Vega’s—but it was far faster than anyone expected.
Vega tilted his blade defensively.
Oscar lowered his body and drove a punch straight toward Vega’s gut.
THUD.
The punch landed cleanly.
Several students jumped in surprise.
Vega slid back half a step.
The prince glanced down briefly at the spot where Oscar had struck him.
Then he smiled.
“You’re strong.”
The students murmured in shock.
“He smiled after that hit?”
Oscar grinned.
“And you’re fast.”
Alexander watched carefully from the sidelines.
“He’s fighting a swordsman without a weapon… and he’s keeping up.”
Tokiya nodded.
“Oscar’s instincts are ridiculous.”
Back in the arena, Vega adjusted his stance.
The calm expression from earlier disappeared.
Oscar noticed immediately.
Here he comes.
Vega stepped forward again.
This time his movements were sharper.
The wooden blade cut through the air in rapid succession.
Slash.
Thrust.
Spin.
Oscar countered by throwing quick punches and parries, barely keeping up with the onslaught.
Vega’s speed continued to increase.
Oscar’s eyes sharpened.
So this is his raw strength… it’s getting harder to keep up.
Vega launched a diagonal slash.
Oscar slammed his knuckle into the blade, knocking it off course past his shoulder.
For a brief moment, Vega was off balance.
His side was exposed.
Oscar immediately drove a powerful punch toward Vega’s ribs.
Vega flipped forward over the strike, twisting midair.
As he landed, the wooden blade swept horizontally toward Oscar’s stomach.
Oscar jumped back just in time.
The crowd leaned forward in excitement.
“THIS IS SO AWESOME!”
Kakeru laughed loudly.
“Finally things are getting interesting!”
Near the front, Elaina watched silently.
Her eyes followed every movement.
Oscar rushed forward again.
This time he feinted toward Vega’s left side.
Vega moved to block.
Oscar instantly shifted direction and drove his fist forward.
THUD.
The punch struck Vega’s stomach.
The prince dropped to one knee.
The class erupted.
“He hit him again!”
“Is Oscar actually winning?”
Vega slowly stood up again.
But now something had changed.
He wasn’t just smiling.
For the first time, excitement lit his expression.
“Interesting.”
Oscar tilted his head.
“What?”
Vega studied him carefully.
“You fight just like him.”
Oscar frowned.
“Like who?”
Vega’s gaze sharpened.
“Like Haruto.”
A brief silence fell over the arena.
Vega lifted his sword again.
“I intend to surpass Haruto.”
Oscar’s expression hardened.
“So do I.”
The prince dashed forward again.
This time his speed doubled.
Oscar barely dodged the first strike.
Vega twisted his wrist, sending the blade upward.
Oscar narrowly avoided the second.
But the movement left him exposed.
Vega swung toward his stomach.
The blade stopped inches from Oscar’s body.
Oscar froze.
Clarence’s voice echoed across the arena.
“That’s enough.”
The match was over.
Vega lowered the practice sword.
Oscar exhaled slowly.
“That was close.”
Vega returned the wooden blade to his side.
“You’re interesting.”
Oscar raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting?”
Vega nodded.
“You fight purely on instinct. Most opponents wouldn’t last that long against me.”
Oscar grinned.
“Next time let’s fight with our cores.”
Vega chuckled.
“If you wish to die, then sure.”
Several students stared at them in awe.
“That was incredible!”
Clarence stepped forward.
“Yes… it was.”
He looked toward Vega.
“Excellent technique. Just like your father.”
Then he turned to Oscar.
“Impressive adaptability. Very similar to Haruto.”
The other students looked toward him.
“So who won?”
Clarence answered calmly.
“The one who wasn’t about to get killed.”
Laughter spread through the group.
Vega placed the wooden sword back onto the weapon rack.
As he walked past Oscar, he spoke quietly.
“I look forward to our rematch.”
Oscar smiled.
“Yeah.”
Across the arena, the other students watched them with renewed interest.
The rivalry between the two successors had only just begun.
And everyone at Aegis Academy could feel it.
