5 months have now passed since my first duel with Argillis. I found some information about Eli's condition.

Summoned reincarnates are just like the title suggests. Reincarnates tend to become stronger than normal, thus they could be useful in wars. Via a summoning ritual that involves the sacrifice of a lot of beings, you could rip the veil between realms. When this veil is ripped, creation will try to restore it. During this time, souls of the recently passed from other worlds slip through the cracks. The soul of the summoned gets damaged in the process, as the balance of creation tries to actively repel such an unknown entity till it finds a mortal body.

My theory at the moment is that Eli was summoned here by a devil who wanted to use her. He probably forced her to sign an enslavement contract or something like that. He frightens her and in a flash, she kills him, just like how she killed my chaser. It would also explain the other tags as enhanced power and ritualistic experiment.

“I should ask her.” I say out loud whilst lamenting.

'But I'm scared, I don't want to see her recall those memories.' My thoughts get interrupted as I can hear a strict voice call out to me.

“There you are, I hope you did not forget that your duel with Argillis is scheduled for today?” Tharnomath says in his cold and threatening voice that I've weirdly gotten used to.

“I wouldn't dream of it,” I answer, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Then move.” He commands.

I decide not to respond, as the pressure in this room feels like it will crush me at any moment. Simply following his order, I walk out towards the training grounds.

***

Argillis and I stand in front of each other again. These past 5 months, I've faced once every week and trained the other days. Yet I haven't beaten him once. What's the difference? Experience, Power, Magic, Fighting styles. Probably all of them if I'm being honest.

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Every time I lost, every time I learned, and each time I became stronger. Each battle, I pushed him farther and farther. I got: faster, stronger, smarter, and more experienced.

“3,2,1 Begin!” Tharnomath yells to announce the start of the duel.

Argillis rushes at me, mace in his dominant right hand. The dim red light is no more as he immediately charges with the bright red light of fallen holy light surrounding it. I enhance my physical power and resistance using my blood magic. Blood bound, spear in hand, I decide not to wait for him but also rush towards him. I couldn't keep up with him, but now I can.

A smile blooms on my face as our weapons repeatedly clash against each other. My dark, blood-soaked aura versus his bright yet impure light aura. I manage to gain the upper hand as Argillis starts losing his balance through my relentless attack. He decides to fly backward to try and reset the battle, as I have the upper hand in this exchange.

“Don't even dream about” I call out to him chasing him as my dark blood-soaked aura forms 2 dark wings. Using my freshly created wings, I go into the chase, as he wasn't even able to escape me for even a second.

Argillis is clearly struggling to fend off my attack, as I manage to give 3 small cuts across his muscled chest. Suddenly holding his ground, I could feel the aura surrounding Argillis change as his contaminated holy light shines brightly, blinding everything around him.

'This is the magic that he used to win against me the first time.' I think to myself, analyzing his every move.

My expression turns back to a focused expression as his spell engulfs me. My weapon dissipates as he comes to finish with his mace. He looks disinterested until he finally sees the runes engraved in the soil where I stand. His calm expression shatters to one of disbelief and panic as he desperately tries to move away again.

A burst of black flames comes out of the runic magic as it quickly swallows us both in this sea of flames. Screams of agonizing pain could be heard from the fallen angels as I see him fall to the ground, losing consciousness.

Meanwhile, I stand there completely unbothered as the flames I created do not harm me.

Looking at the burned body of the fallen angel, I feel a sense of relief fall over me.

'I did it! I did it!.' I celebrate in my mind, not willing to embarrass myself in front of mister ice-cold.

Tharnomath does not react, as he simply raises his hand. Servants rush towards him, ready to follow his order.

“Heal him.” He simply commands.

The servants nod in response as they move towards Argillis and use magic to begin healing his wounds before they worsen.