Chapter 7: Duel

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the Arena!” Jerry was awoken by a loud noise coming from the gates. He got up from the chair he was sleeping on. He checked his phone to find that about 45 minutes has passed. He looked at the gates to find that it was brightly illuminated. A closer look found that it came from white glowing orbs that floated in the sky.

“This is a battle between the two Heroes! To find out who is stronger, they will both fight! They will fight until one of the submits to the other, or have been rendered unable to fight!” The loud voice said. Just then, the crowd erupted into cheers.

“On the Red Team, we have, Larmen! The Handsome Hero!” The announcer said. The crowd erupted into cheers. It was almost deafening to Jerry’s ears. He could even hear people talk about him.

“That’s the hero that will deliver us from the Demon Lord.”

“I love you, Larmen!”

“What broad shoulders he has!”

“Look at how handsome he is! Jenny, you must get that man for the family.”

“Have my children, Larmen!”

Larmen walked out of his gate, and waved to the crowd, giving his brightest smile.

“On the Blue Team! We have, Jerry! The uhh, other hero that was summoned a bit later than Larmen.”

‘Really! That’s the best you could think of! I would’ve taken the anything! A Follower! But no! Other Hero? Really!’ Jerry was furious, but quickly calmed down

‘Whatever, I’ll earn my name later’ Jerry thought.

The gates opened, and he took his step forward. However, instead of being met with cheers from the crowd, he was met with laughter.

“Really? That’s who’s dueling Larmen?”

“What a joke.”

“I wasted my bet. Karmi, I withdraw my bet”

“What is he wearing? Children’s armor?”

“What a disgrace.”

“Jenny, don’t associate with him”

Jerry sighed as he hard this.

“Are you ready?!” The Announcer said.

Cheering from the crowd erupted.

“Ready!”

Jerry looked around the Arena. The Arena’s battleground seemed to be 50 meters in diameter, and a very large seating area was seen around the edges of the battleground. The walls seemed to be 5 meters in height, and could probably hold thousands of people. It was almost like an Olympic stadium for running, but less green, more brown, and more swords.

“No hard feelings, yea?” Larmen said as he got into his fighting stance, putting his sword to his hip, facing out, and up. Larmen wore what seemed to be heavy, black armor. Lined with a bit of gold. His sword, large, and a gold center decorated it. This bias that was shown here was very noticable. However, Larmen did not wear a helmet thus leaving his head exposed.

“Yea” Jerry responded. He got into his fighting stance. He held his left hand out to act as a ward, and let the sword rest on his right shoulder. He put his left foot out, pointing forward, and his right foot behind him, pointing out to the right.

“Fight!” And with that, Larmen dashed towards Jerry with incredible speed. However, there was a problem. Right before the strike lands, he can see where he was. Larmen was coming in with an overhead strike, that was clear to Jerry. Seeing that his defense had been penetrated, he dashed to the right and brought himself to his fighting stance.

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After he had done that, he noticed something. There was a lot of dust. Lots of it. As the dust cleared and settled, he noticed a hole in the ground. Enough to be counted as a trench at this point.

“What a strike from Larmen the Handsome Hero! But, Jerry dodged his attack! Is Larmen holding back here?”

“Good dodge, Jerry” Larmen said, as he looked at Jerry, giving him a large smile, and a thumbs up.

“Are you serious? That would’ve killed me!” Jerry exclaimed.

“But it didn’t! I don’t know why you’re complaining. Besides, that was my best strike!” Larmen said confusedly.

‘He’s fucking cheating! If that strike connected, I would’ve actually died! Why isn’t the announcer calling him out on it!’

“Anyway, let’s continue the fight.” Larmen said, as he got into his fighting position.

The crowd erupted into cheers.

“Kick his ass, Larmen!”

“Come on Larmen! What’re you waiting for? Kick his ass!”

“Don’t play with your food, Larmen!”

“Larmen, kiss me after you’ve wiped the floor with this maggot!”

“Larmen, I think they want you to murder me at this point.” Jerry said.

“Nonsense! They are fellow humans! They are only expressing their faith in me winning!” Larmen replied.

‘Really?’

Larmen soon got into a fighting stance, the same as last time.

This time, Jerry got ready for an overhead strike. Jerry raised his shield above him, and let his sword rest on his right shoulder. If he went for a stab, Jerry would deflect it, and strike at the head. Anywhere else, he’d have to dodge.

“Here I come!” Larmen exclaimed. He dashed towards Jerry, but he came again with another overhead strike.

‘Fuck it’ Jerry thought as he dashed to the left. As he did, he attempted to strike Larmen with an overhead cut. It made contact with Larmen’s armor, that covered him, neck down. Jerry’s sword bounced off harmlessly, like a wooden stick striking metal.

After Larmen’s overhead attack, he quickly followed the attack up with an undercut with his sword. However, Jerry was easily able to dodge it, by dashing back.

‘What the hell do I do here?’ Jerry thought.

As Jerry was deep in thought, Jerry heard Larmen speak.

“Not bad. Also with that counter-attack was magnificent. It truly is a fair match.” Larmen said.

‘Fair? This seems fair? My attacks can’t even get through you! You have armor that looks and is badass! But here I am, with this shitty fucking armor! Fair my ass you damn cheater! You’re not even holding back! You admitted to it yourself!’ Jerry was furious at this point.

Larmen then held his hands out, pointing towards Jerry.

“Lightning Bolt!” Larmen said.

Soon, lightning soon came out of his hands, and towards Jerry.

‘What the fuck is that!’ Jerry thought.

Jerry was then quickly hit with the lightning bolt. A surge of electricity surged throughout his body, causing immeasurable pain to violently surge throughout his body.

Jerry screamed in pain before Larmen quickly closed the distance and did an underhand strike with his fists. The strike connected with his chest plate and sent Jerry flying back 10 meters.

Jerry laid on the ground facing the sky, thinking about how he would beat Larmen. But before he could think anymore, Larmen appeared above Jerry, seeming as if he was about to bring his sword down into Jerry’s chest.

Jerry quickly rolled over with his sword, barely dodging Larmen’s strike.

“Coward! Don’t dodge his attacks!” Someone from the crowd said.

“Yea! Just take the strike!”

‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’

Jerry quickly got up, and bashed Larmen in the side of his chest with his shield, staggering Larmen.

“Good blow!” Larmen said as he recovered.

‘Bastard is taking this as a joke!’

Larmen then held one of his hands out and pointed it towards Jerry.

“Fiery Blaze!”

Soon, fire spewed out of Larmen’s hand, towards Jerry. Jerry quickly turned tails and ran as he believed that there was nothing he had could block Larmen’s attack.

‘Damn it Larmen! We’re here to duel! Not kill me with magic!’

Jerry, however, tripped and dropped his shield by accident and it was caught in Larmen’s magic attack. When Jerry recovered, he could only find a heap of liquid metal on the ground.

‘Are you serious!?’

Jerry’s chest plate could finally be felt weighing on him. He struggled standing straight as the chest plate was bringing him down.

They both stood at the ready after Larmen had recovered. Jerry decided to drop his armor. It was deadweight here. It would not stand against a single blow from Larmen. Jerry took his sword, towards a strap of his armor, and with a swift cut, it came loose. The useless armor fell down with a thud as dust rose from the impact.

“Wha-What’s this? Jerry is letting loose his armor! What an unthinkable move!”

Muttering could be heard from the crowd, but nothing could make it to Jerry’s ears.

“Brave move! However, I will not hold back. Even if you abandon your protection. I will end this now! I will use the rest of my mana to deal a swift, and quick decisive blow that will end this duel!” Larmen said.

Jerry got ready for the attack, holding the sword in his right hand, resting it on his shoulder while keeping his left hand in front in case Larmen gets close.

“Here I come!” Larmen screamed

Larmen then went for a dashing, stabbing attack. Jerry side-stepped to the left, and grabbed Larmen’s collar with his right hand and pulled. The inertia from Larmen caused Jerry to dislocate his left shoulder, causing Jerry to scream in pain.

Jerry quickly recovered as the fear of Larmen doing a follow-up attack was greater than the pain. He then realized that Larmen had depleted all his mana in that attack.

Jerry needed to go on the offensive this time. It was his turn to attack, and Larmen to defend. He dashed towards Larmen. If Jerry waited any longer, he might lose to Larmen’s next barrage of attacks.

“It’s my time to attack Larmen. You’ve depleted your mana, now I will strike you down for announcing your status.” Jerry said, pointing his sword at Larmen. He decided to humor him, and the crowd watching.

“I am ready for your attack, Jerry. Come!” Larmen screamed.

As Larmen got ready for Jerry’s strike, Jerry dashed towards Larmen. Jerry feigned an attack on the right side of Larmen. Bringing his sword up towards the sky, with a fairly easily readable move. As Larmen moved his sword to come into contact with Jerry’s sword, Jerry dashed to the left, and then struck Larmen in his forehead with the pommel of his sword.

Larmen fell down with a thud. Jerry looked at the crowd, raising both his hands up, expecting cheers. However, they never came. Instead, he was greeted with boos.

“You fucking cheater!”

“You almost killed him!”

“Oh my god, Jenny, prepare yourself. I will have my connections have you nurse him. This is your chance. This also shows that the other man is abusive!”

“Oh my god, is Larmen okay?”

“Larmen, no!”

“Contestant Jerry has been disqualified! Get the mages on the scene quickly! Make sure he is not dead! Apprehend Jerry as well!”

‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.’