The day of the duel finally arrived, and Rio stood at the edge of the dueling field. His heart raced as he looked across at his brother, Nathaniel, who had a smirk on his face. The entire family, including the Count and Countess, were present to witness the duel. Albert, the butler, acted as the referee, explaining the rules and overseeing the match.

With a deep breath, Rio tried to calm his nerves. He knew that he had come a long way in a short time, but he also understood that he was still inexperienced compared to his brother. Nathaniel had years of training and was considered a prodigy in the family. Nevertheless, Rio was determined to win and break free from his family's control.

Albert raised his hand, signaling the beginning of the duel. Nathaniel wasted no time, charging towards Rio with his sword raised. Rio activated Haste, swiftly dodging Nathaniel's powerful strike. The crowd gasped as they witnessed Rio's speed, something they had never seen from him before.

Rio knew that he couldn't rely on dodging alone to win the duel. He needed to go on the offensive. He activated Strength and attempted to counterattack, but Nathaniel's expert swordsmanship blocked Rio's every move. The two brothers clashed, their swords ringing with each strike.

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As the duel went on, Rio felt his mana reserves dwindling. He knew that he needed to end the fight soon, or he would lose his chance. He continued to dodge and weave around Nathaniel's relentless attacks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Finally, Rio saw an opening. Nathaniel, overconfident in his skills, left himself vulnerable for a split second. Rio seized the opportunity and activated Mana Burst, focusing the energy into his hand. He aimed it towards Nathaniel, and the burst of mana collided with his brother, sending him flying out of the arena.

The crowd was stunned into silence as Nathaniel landed outside the arena, defeated but relatively unharmed. Rio had won the duel using his newfound abilities, proving himself to be a formidable opponent. However, the effort of using Mana Burst had drained the last of his reserves, and Rio collapsed, unconscious.

The Countess rushed to Rio's side, relieved and proud, while the Count stood in shock at the outcome of the duel. The family had been forced to acknowledge Rio's newfound power, but the path ahead for the young mage was still uncertain.