Max was somewhat aware that nearly everyone in the academy disliked him deeply. However, witnessing this truth firsthand was truly overwhelming. Standing in the middle of the mob of students, he began to hear the surrounding murmurs, and he did not appreciate a single ounce of it.
"What kind of retard challenges a sword Duel against Ethan? Just because he is the son of a Grand Duke does not mean he can mess with anyone."
"Hey, do you care for a wager? I bet 20 Gold that the trash loses within 20 seconds."
"30 Gold says he loses in the first 10 seconds."
"Count me in on that exact same bet."
"Look at how nonchalantly this guy is standing. Does he not possess even a shred of shame knowing he is going to lose to Ethan?"
"Moon, this is the guy you recommended to join our party. Just what were you thinking?"
"Oh, shut up. Were you not the one who refused that proposal? Then why the hell are you even talking?"
"Oh, look at this girl. She must like him far too much to defend him like this."
"I am going to beat you to death if you utter a single word more."
"Isabelle, what do you think? Do you actually believe the academy trash will beat the handsome guy?"
"Speak properly. You study in a prestigious academy. If you continue to talk like this, it will bring shame to our academy's name."
"Hey, okay, okay, do not get emotional. I know that guy has a crush on you, and that is why you are here. But looking at his behavior, he has multiple crushes throughout the academy."
"Do you wish to spend the next two days in the infirmary? If so, then continue to provoke me."
"So, this guy was the one who asked for the Duel in the first place, even going as far as insulting Ethan's mother. It is a real shame; he went far too far for a piece of trash."
"Well, Ethan was the one who started to provoke him. Both of them are to blame."
"Even so, how could this trash challenge Ethan to a Duel? Does he not know that Ethan ranked in the top ten of the entrance exam?"
"I doubt he knows. Since this guy never participated in the entrance exam, he joined directly through a recommendation."
"Hey, show some respect. He may rule the entire West in the future."
"You wish, dude. With that mediocre talent, his title will be stripped away without a doubt. If you want to lick his boots, it is a complete waste of time."
Max continuously overheard the majority of the discussions and mockery directed at him. If he were to speak honestly, he was currently furious; he wanted nothing more than to beat down the individuals mocking him, yet he forcefully restrained himself. Initiating a fight or attacking others without warning in the middle of the academy was an offense punishable by immediate dismissal. He did not want to get expelled from the academy. Furthermore, he simply was not capable of defeating everyone who spoke ill of him. Consequently, he gritted his teeth and silently waited for the teacher to arrive.
As if his prayers had been answered, Mr. Rossif entered the hall. He was immediately taken aback by the sheer volume of students. This surprise lingered for a moment before realization struck; the massive gathering resembled an Official Duel taking place in the main auditorium. Once he regained his composure, he quickly placed his belongings on a table and stepped into the ring formed by the dense crowd.
"Okay, let us start the Duel. Please remove your weapons and pick up a Wooden Sword," Mr. Rossif instructed, looking directly at both participants.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hearing this announcement, the surrounding students were visibly disappointed. Only the second year students remained unsurprised. Lethal weapons were exclusively reserved for an Official Duel. For those settling minor disputes, a Wooden Sword was mandatory. Furthermore, first year students were strictly forbidden from initiating an Official Duel until they had spent at least two months at the academy. An amused smile appeared on the faces of the second year students as they observed the ignorant disappointment of the first years.
Max already knew this matter beforehand. If he had been ignorant of these rules, he never would have been prepared to challenge a Duel in the first place. These people claimed they had joined the academy based on sheer merit, yet they had completely failed to read the academy's rules and regulations. The provided manual clearly explained every guideline and restriction placed upon first year students.
Witnessing the crowd's collective disappointment, Max laughed in his heart. He quickly retrieved a Wooden Sword from the equipment rack and stood at the ready, waiting for the final instructions that were bound to arrive at any moment.
"Now, let us go through the rules," Mr. Rossif declared. "You must restrict yourself from inflicting severe injury upon your opponent. If one concedes from the competition, the other automatically wins. You will engage in a three minute fight spanning three rounds. Finally, you are strictly forbidden to use any Skills."
Boom!
That was the single restriction Max had anticipated the most. For any first year Duel occurring within the initial two months, the use of Skills was strictly prohibited; only pure, physical swordplay was allowed. In this specific domain, Max was an absolute expert. He had dedicated the better half of his time after awakening his class to rigorously training his basic swordsmanship. This mastery was the primary reason he had intentionally instigated the challenge in the first place. Glancing at the long, disappointed faces of the surrounding crowd, an uncontrollable, amusing joy surged within Max's heart.
"Be prepared. You have ten seconds," Mr. Rossif announced, initiating the countdown for the first round.
Max raised the wooden sword over his right shoulder, holding it horizontally above his brow with the hilt facing his opponent. Ethan, who wore the same tense expression as the audience, grew visibly irritated by Max's perfectly calm demeanor. Exerting a great deal of effort, Ethan forced himself to settle into his combat stance.
3... 2... 1...
"Start!"
Max pushed forward, his sword maintaining its initial resting position. Ethan simultaneously dashed toward him, intent on ending the match with a rapid, blinding thrust. However, when the distance between them closed to a mere two feet, Max suddenly shifted. He dropped into a low crouch, flawlessly evading a straight thrust aimed directly at his Adam's apple.
From his knees, Max swung his blade aggressively upward, violently colliding with the underside of Ethan's weapon. The sheer kinetic force deflected Ethan's sword skyward, completely shattering his stance. Springing back to his feet, Max instantly drove the pommel of his hilt forward, delivering a brutal strike directly into Ethan's stomach.
The sheer power of the impact sent agonizing pain permeating through Ethan's innards. He instinctively began to groan, clutching his stomach as his body folded in on itself. Without missing a beat, Max executed a precise 90 degree pivot, resting the edge of his Wooden Sword smoothly against Ethan's neck.
This singular motion put a definitive end to the match. It had taken a mere two seconds to completely subdue Ethan in the Duel.
The massive crowd, which had been watching the fight with great interest, was instantly paralyzed by shock at this sudden turn of events. They simply could not comprehend what had just happened before their eyes. How could a piece of academy trash effortlessly defeat an elite who had ranked eighth on the entrance exam?
"The winner of the Duel is Max Bransford," Mr. Rossif announced. He himself was deeply surprised by Max's rapid victory. After witnessing Max defeat his enemy with a single hit, the way the teacher looked at him had subtly changed.
Max did not wait for any cheers. He quickly put away the Wooden Sword, picked up his own weapon, and proceeded directly to practice at a training dummy. Seeing how casually and coolly Max acted, some individuals snorted at his perceived arrogance. They reasoned that if the combatants had been permitted to use Skills, Ethan would have definitely emerged as the victor. Some people simply walked away to recover from their initial surprise, while a few stubbornly defended the previous insults they had thrown at Max. Regardless of their excuses, the overall opinion of the first year students regarding Max had undeniably changed.
As for Max, this outcome was not much of an accomplishment at all. He had learned his swordplay directly from the top experts of the country. His father had hired more than a dozen experts in an attempt to teach him how to use his Skills. While that specific endeavor had failed, he had successfully learned a multitude of foundational sword techniques from those very people. He could easily consider himself an expert in physical combat. His only disadvantage was his inability to use his inborn class Skills, which were widely considered the main strength of any individual and that notion was completely true. By displaying his pure talent and winning the Duel in such an overwhelming manner, he sincerely hoped that someone from his class would finally call upon him to join their party.