Without skipping a beat, Mark tried using magic, whatever he could think of. A little tornado rushed the knight, but to no avail.

My magic sucks sometimes. I have things I’m good at and things that take time. Screw this, I have to use what I know best about.

The knight stared at Mark—or at least it looked like he was doing that.

"Using magic now, are we? Doesn’t that nullify the "sword" battle and the bet?"

"I did say I'd put my soul into the battle. How about we update the bet then? I want nothing else, you go on and state your request."

"Fine then. I shall see that everyone you love will die at your hands."

Mark’s knees weakened, and his heart started beating faster. The thought of having to do that was crushing him, and the system notification that the quest had been updated didn’t help either.

"Fine then,", came Mark’s answer, as composed as he could state it, yet he broke into a cold sweat. Having to live knowing he had done such an act would tear him from the inside.

Their swords clashed again, throwing off Mark’s balance. Another attack came for his head, yet he managed to block with his sword.

Blows flew from one side to another, the knight’s rampage being something akin to a devastating storm, while Mark was a leaf trying to escape the wind’s grasp.

As how things are right now, I’m dancing in his palms. Not good, I need to get some distance, perhaps I could use that if I have the space.

In a pitiful attempt at an offensive, Mark threw as many stone spikes at him as he could, trying to halt his movement even for a second, but his movements came smoother than silk, hitting with the strength of a mountain. How much grace could be found in sheer strength.

Ok, Mark, think about something else. Wind is not an option, since you suck at using it. Perhaps creation...

His face lit up for a split second, moment in which some mad idea had hit him.

"Are you truly going to try creating weapons mid-fight? Are you insane? Do you even know how much time it would take you at first?"

Mark thought nothing of it, for he knew something. He lunged at his opponent—a quite bold move—only to duck under his sword and get some distance behind him. He raised his hand in the air, one finger pointing at the sky. A shining blade, as if it had been made of light, emerged from thin air.

"Creation magic, huh? What an interesting human being you are... Do you truly believe two blades can do more than one in your case? I’ll show you just how foolish this decision is."

In a breath’s time, Mark was face-to-face with the tip of his enemy’s sword, which he could barely dodge. Once again, he was behind his enemy. In that split second, it seemed that lightning had struck his opponent, for a beam of light hit him. It didn’t do a lot of damage, yet a dent appeared in his armor.

"Impressive. To think that, instead of using it yourself, you’d combine that with wind magic and use it as a projectile. Truly, your growth is enough to terrify me. However," the knight stopped talking as he lifted his sword above his head, "once I’m done with you, such growth would mean nothing."

Stolen novel; please report.

His speed increased, as did his power, which Mark noticed the moment he saw the cut on his arm. It hadn’t reached the bone, yet it was bad nonetheless.

Shit, if he keeps going like that, I’m fucked. How do I make him fall for it?

Mark ran around, trying to stall for time. Each and every step of his was marked by a fresh cut appearing on his body. He could see the blade and the one wielding it, yet he was moving at such speeds that reacting was almost meaningless.

Should I just go for it? Trying to lure him into striking once is dangerous, and my timing matters as well. The odds of me screwing this up are high; it's better to have a backup ready.

Mark summoned as many blades as he could, stationing them in the air, at a distance. He used wind magic to make them move around, accelerating them to their terminal velocity before he would launch them.

Better to pack a punch.

Mark stood there, in the center of the road, staring at his opponent, who had stopped as well.

"What are you planning this time? Did you think I haven’t noticed your toys flying around?"

"I did not plan to keep them hidden; rather, I wanted them not to hit anything. How about we end this game here? You and me, one strike."

The knight stuck his sword in the ground, watching Mark stand there, covered in blood and wounds. Some of them had almost closed, yet his moving around didn’t help a lot.

"One strike, you say... And what if I refuse?"

"Then I guess I’m calling you a pussy for that."

"A what?"

Mark stared at him, forgetting for a second that he was not from their world.

"It means coward, yet worse."

"Oh, you dare call me a coward? Well then, perhaps I shall show you just what this "pussy" can do."

Mark got ready, standing firm, his sword held in his right hand, placed to his side. He moved it behind him as much as his body allowed him to, while his opponent got ready for a diagonal slash. Mark didn’t let himself be fooled, for someone with as much power as that guy could easily switch the direction of his blade and aim for another spot.

"Are you ready?"

Mark breathed out, trying to calm down. His arms were shaking, yet he pretended not to notice.

"Yes, I am ready. Let’s go."

Both of them stood face to face, becoming one with their focus. The entire world came to a stop, sounds died out, time stopped in its tracks. It was just them, face to face.

The whistling of the wind was the only sound to mark the first movement. The knight flew at Mark at an inhuman speed. Mark, barely in time, smiled and opened his inventory, watching as the blade almost befell him. Before he could feel the cold steel etch itself in his skull, the blade got stuck in the dimension that was the inventory.

"Dimensional magic, how? Just HOW?"

Mark closed it, forcing his opponent to stay in that position, unable to protect himself. He lifted his hand, then let it fall in front of him. A storm of blades struck at once, with power so brutal that the armor cracked. It was empty inside, which scared Mark, yet he did not falter.

"Well, you lost the bet. Time to become my ally."

"Hah, I must say, you sure know how to use that head of yours. My King would not like my departure from his side, yet an oath is an oath, no matter if it’s a simple bet."

His body was fully absorbed into the inventory, and a new pop-up appeared.

"Quest Completed"

Mark smirked, watching as his levels went up.

"I’ll be damned, I survived... somehow."

He glanced at the sky, muttering something, then his body gave up, and he fell lifelessly on the floor.