"I'm so happy that I got the chance to duel one of the heroes, but that doesn't mean I'll lose," said Johan, looking happy.

Ren smiled and said, "Don't be so sure."

Johan drew his sword and attacked Ren with great speed, but Ren was able to block it. In fact, I didn't feel that it was hard for Ren, because I saw his speed when we faced each other. But what really distinguishes Johan is his mastery of the basics of dueling, from the way he blocks the attacks and the way he attacks. He looks very proficient in using the sword. Ren's fast attacks were met by Johan's high skill. It was a great duel indeed, but unfortunately, although Johan has this skill thanks to years of experience and training, he lacks something.

"I think it's time to end this duel."

Ren said this with confidence and then struck a blow with his sword in the air, cutting the wind. But Johan realized it and blocked it with the fire power he had. And at that moment, Ren hit the ground with his foot and it shattered under Johan's feet. Then he attacked again with the power of the wind, and followed it with quick blows with his sword until Johan lost his balance. Yes, this is the difference between them, it is Ren's possession of two elements that gives him a great advantage in the duels, especially since Johan relied more on the sword than his own fire power. Johan had no chance from the beginning.

After Ren continued to attack and use the power of the wind and the earth in harmony, Johan was injured in his leg and in his arm and fell to the ground. It seems that age also affected him, as he was over sixty years old, I think.

Celestia shouted: "Johan!"

"I'm sorry, my lady, I couldn't win despite my insistence on participating, it seems that I really grew old." He said that and tears poured from his eye.

"Don't say that, you did well. Now rest and leave it to me. I promise you that I will win."

And the first duel ended with Ren's victory. Then Laura drew two papers, the first one had the name Taro. Everyone looked around them, it seems that they don't know this name. One of the men who would fight in Laura's side came forward and said, laughing: "That's me, who will be the unlucky one who will face me?"

When I heard this voice I knew it was the man who caught Nina when they attacked us. If this is him then the other one will be...

"Marco!"

Marco said: "It seems that we will duel in the first match, Taro."

Taro said, confused: "Impossible, I can't duel you, I will withdraw from the match."

"As you wish."

Celestia drew the paper this time and the name was Jin. No one cared about this, I think, no one expects anything from me. They all look forward to the duel of the champion and the knight and I don't blame them, even I wanted to see it.

Then she drew the second paper and after looking at it she clenched it and threw it. Then I realized that she was the one who would duel me. I said to myself: "What a bad luck! Why am I the only one who will fight that girl in the first match? And on top of that, she looks very determined to win, it seems that this match will not go well."

Laura said: "You may not know, but Celestia is no less powerful than Johan. And on top of that, I don't feel any power from this boy. It seems that the match is decided."

Elena replied: "You are always so mean, Laura."

"Huh. I'm just telling the truth."

"Do your best, Jin."

"We're counting on you."

Ren and Isabella said this, but I know they don't expect me to win. They think I'm someone who flatters them by participating in these matches in search of a better position or a reward. But in fact I do this for revenge from these two people. I was going to be content with watching, but their arrival changed everything.

The match began and Celestia drew her studded sword and said proudly: "You are lucky to be the first to taste the sword of our inherited family."

I didn't say anything and waited until she started the attack. Her attack was flawless. I barely kept up with her. Her style is exactly like Johan's.

"Did you notice that? It's the same style as Johan. He taught me how to use the sword and I will achieve victory for him and for the Nordram family."

I said: "No doubt you are better than me in using the sword. Well, that's natural. It's the result of years of hard training. But unfortunately, this is not enough at all."

She stopped and then said: "You fought well, but I will win this contest."

She raised her sword up and then it glowed. And then she hit it in the air and a wave of energy came out at high speed.

"It's fast, but I can avoid it in time."

I closed my left eye and used its power. It gives me the ability to use my dark power unlimitedly. Yes, this is my power. I may not have a secondary element, but I don't have to worry about mana when I unleash my left eye. I blocked the blow after using the dark power on my body and sword.

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"Impossible! How did you block it? I didn't feel any power from you a while ago."

"That's true. I didn't have any power, but the situation is different now."

She waved her sword several times in the air, each time striking a blow like the previous one, but I did not block her blows this time. I dodged them.

I said to myself: "I don't want to continue in this shadow state. It drains my body."

She kept attacking me with the force of the sword. And when I lose focus on her, she attacks me directly. But she couldn't hit me once. This is the difference between me and her. True, she is more skilled than me, but she never uses her strength.

I stopped, returning my sword to its sheath, then said: "You did well, but this is never enough."

She replied, surprised: "What are you saying?! Do you really think you can defeat me?"

I increased the darkness in my body, then launched at great speed towards her. She had no time to move, except that she put the sword in front of her to block my blow.

"Hey! What?!"

Everyone was surprised that half of her sword flew in the air because my blow split it in half.

"I...surrender" Celestia said that and anger appeared on her face. Then she walked a little and stopped. "I hate people like you, who try to pretend to be weak to attract attention when they win."

I said: "This is not true."

She shouted loudly: "Then why didn't you show your full strength from the beginning? Do you underestimate me to this extent?"

I said, confused: "I have my own reasons."

"As I expected, you are a coward."

She went and told the referee that she would withdraw from the tournament. I think she realized the difference between the level of her strength and the level of the rest of the competitors and by withdrawing, Johan also withdrew.

After the fight, Jin came and whispered in his ear something. Then he went to sit on one of the stands.

I heard Isabella ask him: "Ren, what did Jin tell you? Why are you so tense?"

He said: "Nothing important, Isabella, don't worry."

And while I was sitting waiting for the next fight, suddenly Celestia came and sat next to me. I didn't look at her even, but I felt her.

And suddenly she said: "How did you manage to break the sword? It is made of the best and strongest types of metals."

I said: "The problem is not in the sword, the problem is in the holder."

She said loudly and angrily: "Do you mean that I don't know how to use the sword?"

I smiled and then said: "On the contrary, you are much more skilled than me. I am sure that you spent years in hard training until you reached this stage. But using the sword alone is not enough in this world that depends on the power of the elements. If you don't use your power and skill in using the sword in harmony, it is better to leave the fight."

She got very angry at what I said, then got up and grabbed me by my clothes: "You don't know anything! This is the fighting style that I learned from Johan and I will continue to use it and be proud of it."

"Then you will lose again. Despite your superiority in skill, I defeated you because I balanced between my power and using the sword."

She left without saying anything. I just wanted to advise her, but it seems that I interfered too much in what does not concern me.

After a short while, the fight between Leon and Marco began. Finally, I will see the power of the person everyone is talking about.

When the fight started, Leon did not move from his place.

"If you don't attack, I will attack."

Marco ignited his sword with the power of fire, then rushed towards Leon. But the latter repelled it easily.

"I didn't expect better from you. In fact, I don't think there is anyone here who competes with me." Leon said that arrogantly.

Marco got angry and then said: "You will regret underestimating me."

He screamed and his body was filled with strong flames. He became very fast to the point that Leon had to avoid some of his attacks even that part of his clothes burned.

Leon stood up and looked serious on his face and then said: "This is the end."

Then Leon rushed at great speed towards Marco, and pulled his sword back and turned into a white beam. He hit Marco with it, who tried to block it, but the blow was so strong that it threw him back and hit the wall of the arena.

I was surprised by this skill, then I said in a low voice: "Beam? How is that?"

I heard someone say: "It is the power of fire, but it is so concentrated that it looks like a beam. Leon is the only one who can do that, isn't that amazing?"

I looked and it was Elena. I looked away from her and then said: "No wonder he was in the first knight squad. He is really strong."

She said enthusiastically: "Isn't he?" She paused for a moment and then continued: "The victory will be ours. No one can beat Leon."

I couldn't say anything. She is right. He is very strong. Even Marco who hit me couldn't do anything in front of him. Elena set up this competition because she knew that Leon would win. What a trick!

After a short time, Marco fell to the ground unconscious. It was one blow. How scary. Now I knew why Ren was tense. And with that, Leon won.

Since Celestia and Johan withdrew from the tournament, this means that my next fight will be against...

Leon came towards us and then said: "I saw your fight against Miss Celestia. It seems that you were hiding your strength as I expected."

I said sarcastically: "You say that and you only used a small part of your power."

He smiled and said, "That's because I haven't faced anyone who forces me to use my full power yet. Anyway, be careful not to lose if you want to fight me."

I said, "Who said I want to fight you."

Leon laughed and left without saying anything. Ren and the others were arguing, but I didn't hear anything because I was sitting far away. I realized that Ren didn't tell them what I whispered to him.

After a short while, I heard the referee calling the contestants: "The second match between Jin and Ren. Come to the ring!"