The 「Arena」’s greatest event.

The day of the Martial Limits Duel had finally dawned. The crowds gathered in the steel city were incomparably larger than before, and their enthusiasm burned just as fiercely. Even lining up to enter was difficult. While waiting my turn, I heard something unexpected.

“You’re not entering, Seolyun?”

“That’s right.”

Seolyun had declared that she would not take part in the most spectacular match of all.

Why?

“I’ve gained so much already.”

“But since you’re here, wouldn’t it be worth testing your abilities?”

“I’ve tested them enough. Against you.”

She looked utterly at ease.

“Besides, I think now is the time to hone my sword, not swing it.”

“Pardon?”

“I haven’t properly refined what I gained from crossing swords with you yet. Now isn’t the time.”

She seemed certain.

“Arhan.”

“Yes?”

“Even a butterfly newly born from its chrysalis cannot fly until its wings have hardened enough. Soft wings will only let the wind sweep it away and send it tumbling. And the higher you fall from, the more it hurts. That’s why you must prepare thoroughly before you fly.”

Looking at her, I thought I could see tranquil water. Peaceful water that settled again even after a tossed pebble tickled its surface. I said,

“... I didn’t know you could talk for that long.”

“Hey.”

I had asked out of genuine curiosity, but the response was not particularly favorable. In any case, after that silly little exchange, I entered the circular stadium. Into the 「Arena」, where countless spectators watched and all the steel city’s attention was focused.

“You’ve waited long enough, everyone!”

The eyes scattered across those stands would not belong to ordinary spectators alone. My friend Seolyun, the heaven-born prodigy who had declined to enter, was there. So was Tom, the kindly administrator who had willingly given me a letter of recommendation so I could participate. There would be various fighters who looked favorably on me, too.

“The crowning glory of the Arena! The most glorious duel, handed down from ancient times!”

Of course, not every gaze would be friendly.

The Iron Prince, who had told me to show him something entertaining, would also be there. Perhaps his executioner, Swordmaster Carlos, was with him. What expression would Carlos wear when he saw the last Caravan he had left alive? What punishment would my sworn enemy inflict on the boy who had defied his orders and taken up a sword after all? I had no way of knowing.

But I was not afraid.

Wasn’t that simply how the world worked?

So dark that you could not even know what tomorrow would bring.

“The true Martial Limits Duel begins now!”

Rather than waste time fearing it, I had to take even one more step forward.

If I wanted to reach my destination.

「For this moment, at least, clear your head of its tangled thoughts.」

Liam spoke plainly.

「Focus solely on surviving.」

“...”

「I told you before. The Martial Limits Duel is a struggle every Caravan with the blood of steel must experience. It is the trial you need now.」

“...”

「Stand firm and survive the trials that await you.」

Liam’s eyes gleamed.

「Then you will become truly tough. Incomparably tougher than before.」

* * *

The Martial Limits Duel.

The term referred both to the 「Arena」’s enormous three-part event and to the most time-honored duel, held at its conclusion. Unlike the 「Racial Duels」 and 「War Duels」, which took various forms with a different theme each time, the final Martial Limits Duel always followed the same format.

Anonymity guaranteed to every participant.

And combat without rules.

Those two short statements summed up the rules of the Martial Limits Duel. To elaborate: every clue to a fighter’s identity, including their name, was concealed. Once they knew nothing about one another, they were pushed into a single space to begin a duel without rules. The fighting ended only when a final victor emerged. There was no time limit. It continued until only one person remained standing.

And unlike the other duels, in this final match, the Martial Limits Duel, no one was condemned for killing an opponent. That made it all the more desperate, horrifying, and fascinating. Watching fighters tread the boundary between life and death gave the spectators a thrilling rush of ecstasy. A truly electrifying rush.

Thus, the Martial Limits Duel was an opportunity for fighters of any background to become stars in an instant—and a graveyard where even the greatest fighters could die an utterly insignificant death.

“Next fighter! This way, please!”

The atmosphere was different from the matches so far. A tension I had never seen before showed on the other fighters’ faces. Some even radiated a sharpness I could not easily dismiss. There were quite a few powerful fighters I had never seen before. Quite a few indeed.

As I studied them, my turn came.

“Please take this helmet and armor.”

“What are these?”

“Special equipment we commission from the dwarves every year. They completely conceal not just your face, but the contours of your body as well. Originally, we used only helmets, but there were many complaints that fighters could still be identified by distinctive physical features or their gender inferred from their figures. So we had these made.”

“I see.”

“We made a considerable investment to reaffirm the essence of the Martial Limits Duel and place all fighters on more equal footing. Please note that you must never remove your helmet. It is all right if it is damaged or completely destroyed in fierce combat, but removing your helmet or armor yourself will result in immediate disqualification.”

“Understood.”

Disqualified if I removed my own helmet or armor.

‘They’ve provided a way to surrender without dying.’

I had heard that the Martial Limits Duel was a slaughter that never ended until a final victor emerged. But removing your helmet or armor meant disqualification? Didn’t the very existence of disqualification mean there were “rules”? It was contradictory, but not incomprehensible.

‘Without even that escape route, no one would enter.’

It must have been necessary for the 「Arena」 to endure for hundreds of years. As I privately accepted that explanation, I heard Liam laugh.

「Young descendant, surely you did not hear that and think the Arena’s clowns had shown you a shred of mercy?」

“...”

「I sincerely hope not.」

For some reason, Liam smiled slyly.

I could not fathom what that smile meant. Truly.

「Well, you will understand once it begins.」

It took quite some time to issue the special equipment to every fighter, since the Arena staff personally verified each fighter’s identity, one by one.

During that process, the announcer spoke.

“Everyone! I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to this! While our valiant fighters finish their preparations, allow me to explain this Martial Limits Duel! Anyone who loves the struggles of the steel city will know all about it! Those of you who have crossed the continent to be here must also be familiar with this match!”

.

.

.

“However! There is one change to this Martial Limits Duel.”

The announcer’s voice rang out thunderously.

“As you know, the Martial Limits Duel is a chaotic contest. Since fighters know nothing about one another, they cannot engage rashly, and with no time limit, the outcome is not quickly decided! As a result, some spectators cannot endure the boredom of the opening stages and leave their seats. Why does this happen?”

.

.

.

“First, because of fighters who seize advantageous positions and ‘hold out’ without moving. They claim a good ambush spot or high ground overlooking a broad area, then plant themselves there until an enemy comes along! There were so many such fighters in the Martial Limits Duel the year before last that everyone was deeply dissatisfied. People were even outraged when a fighter who had been ‘holding out’ got lucky and killed one who had been boldly battling opponents. You said that sort of shit was utterly ‘unworthy of a fighter’!”

.

.

.

“Second, because of the ‘hyenas.’ When other fighters clash, these people wait for them to wear themselves out in fierce combat. Then, once both are utterly exhausted, they attack and take their lives. A petty, despicable tactic! We at the 「Arena」 wracked our brains over how to solve those two problems. And we found an answer!”

The announcer smiled.

“We have built a ‘fence.’”

A murmur rippled through the stands at his words.

I was equally bewildered. Why suddenly change a venerable, traditional contest that had endured for hundreds of years just when I happened to enter...?

“Around the perimeter of the circular stadium where our Martial Limits Duel fighters will struggle, there is a ‘fence.’ This ‘fence,’ a circle the same size and shape as the stadium, will gradually shrink as time passes. That way, no one can hide in one place and hold out for long. Fighters may not cross this ‘fence.’ The moment you do, something truly terrible will happen.”

The announcer’s voice echoed thunderously.

“Now, please, everyone, show us how a ‘true fighter’ behaves! Please!”

The other fighters seemed just as bewildered.

As everyone looked around in a daze, one fighter casually muttered,

“What’s all the chattering about?”

The fighter opened his mouth in an enormous yawn. He was lying in a corner, propping up his chin as he watched everyone. There was not a trace of tension on his bored face. He looked relaxed and languid, as though he had merely come out for a stroll.

“The announcer’s right. Act like fighters, will you?”

The grinning fighter’s voice was playful. He did not look like a fighter. His silky blond hair, his fair, unscarred face, his jewel-bright blue eyes, his handsome features—all of it. He looked more like a young nobleman. Someone raised in luxury who had never held a sword...

“He isn’t wrong... Aaaah.”

Murmuring drowsily, the fighter rested his head against the wall and smiled. A few fighters gave him hostile looks, but he paid them no mind and nodded off. An unusual fellow. As I watched him for a moment, Liam spoke.

「Young descendant.」

“Yes?”

「You must be wary of that one.」

“... Him?”

「Yes.」

Be wary of that idle loafer?

Was he trying to tease me again? As doubt rose in my mind, Master explained in a single sentence.

「That fellow belongs to a Great Family.」

* * *

The Martial Limits Duel was held in an enormous circular stadium. Around its vast perimeter stood the ‘fence’ the announcer had mentioned. Only, it was rather different from what one ordinarily imagined a fence to be. Very different.

‘So if you want out, you can just fucking die.’

The Mana contained in the ‘fence’ was murderous. Worse still was the purpose imbued in that Mana. Even a hardened fighter who touched it would have their body ground away without a trace, starting at the point of contact. In an instant.

The ‘fence’ extended from the ground into the sky, making it impossible for the fighters within to leave. The 「Arena」’s planners had stripped the participants of their right to flee.

What was more:

‘... They said removing this helmet would disqualify me, but they’ve made it impossible to remove.’

The ‘special equipment’ supposedly made by dwarves could not be taken off without someone else’s help. I had tested it once in preparation for an emergency, and the moment I pulled the helmet upward, I felt it tighten hard around my neck. If I applied enough force to pull it off completely, it would probably snap my neck.

‘If I take it off hoping to get disqualified, I’ll die on the spot. Then the announcer will sneer that an unworthy fighter got punished and croaked. What the fucking hell...’

Only now did I understand why Master had laughed.

The 「Arena」 had presented its fighters with what looked like an escape route. To attract more participants. But once inside, I found there was no exit. Nowhere to flee, nowhere to retreat. Once you entered the Martial Limits Duel, there were only two choices.

Die or survive.

“Wh-what is this? Why won’t it come off?”

A few fighters had apparently already tested their equipment as I had. With both hands on their helmets, they fumbled in visible panic. The special functions of the helmets and armor made them look like pitch-black masses from head to toe, and watching those figures flail was both comical and grotesque.

As more and more fighters succumbed to bewilderment,

“Now, the final match that will test our fighters’ valor! Beneath a clear sky, all shall compete on equal terms in courage! Let the Martial Limits Duel begin!”

The 「Arena」 paid them no mind.

“A sacred duel free of any wicked rules. A magnificent duel handed down from the days of the ancient, holy fighting pit! To the fighters who have willingly thrown themselves into this contest, please make this occasion shine! Please!”

Fervent cheers.

The announcer’s voice, loud enough to burst my eardrums.

“This sacred duel shall be dedicated to Goddess Lepri, guardian of justice!”

Beneath it all, the fighters stood blankly.

“Then let us begin!”

At the announcer’s words, a signal struck like lightning.

“Waaaaah!”

“Kill them! Kill!”

At once, cheers erupted from every direction, so loud they made my head ring. Around me, some fighters still had not gathered their wits. Their special helmets and armor gave them all the same appearance.

“Uh, uhh. Wait...”

And then—

“Urgh.”

One of the flailing black masses jerked violently. A blade protruded through its chest. With a sharp little sound, the blade was withdrawn. Red blood sprayed like a fountain from the black body.

“Dumb bastard’s just standing there in a daze.”

With a heavy thud, a black mass collapsed to the ground. Blood spilled from the body on the dirt, forming a red pool. After a brief twitch, the black mass went completely still. One more sound of breathing vanished.

“Zone out here, and you die.”

The first death came so easily and swiftly. At the sight of what had happened in an instant, one nearby fighter involuntarily stumbled backward and fell. Jeers and mocking laughter rained down from the stands.

“U-urgh...”

Though hidden by the helmet, somehow I felt I could see that expression. A filthy face stained with terror, drenched in sweat and tears. Facial muscles contorted, blood and snot dribbling down. The fighter frantically struggled to rise, but once they had fallen, the end was already decided.

“Moron.”

With a crunch, another fighter died. Now the stench of blood was horribly thick. Breathing it in, I did what I had to do.

「Ah.」

I raised my sword.

「Now it feels a little more like the old days.」

To survive.

「Yes. This is a fighting pit.」

Watching Master grin, I lowered my stance. As death followed death among the tangled fighters, I could not remain safe alone.

“A-aaargh!”

A fighter charged at me, filled with a madness born of anger, fear, tension, anxiety, and more. The roaring voice trembled, but there was nothing clumsy about the charge.

‘The very fact that they’re here means they’ve been vetted.’

Every fighter here was at least a 「sword walker」. Not a single swordsman here was below my level. Therefore, I could not let my guard down. I had to give my all to defeat every opponent. Give my all to survive.

「You remember what you learned, young descendant?」

“Of course I do.”

Countless 「paths」 stretched between the charging fighter and me. Some had been extended by the fighter, others by me. With Suspicion, I stared at the flood of paths. I did not look at my opponent’s. Instead, I looked only at my own, to select the most efficient of the 「paths」 I had extended. It did not take long.

“Whew.”

Keeping my stance low, I watched the enemy draw closer.

At the same time,

“Hup.”

I trapped the breath I had drawn inside me. The captive breath revolved within my body, then began heating the Mana circulating through it and the 「paths」 extending inside me.

「Yes, all that damned suffering ought to be worth something, should it not?」

I was not suddenly practicing holding my breath to increase my lung capacity. This was one of the new techniques I had learned from Liam while preparing for the Martial Limits Duel. No—to be precise, it would not be right to say I had learned it from Liam.

This was—

“Hup!”

—a lesson imparted by the new blade I had digested.

By 「Lantern」.

『You need only burn brightly for a single instant.』

My body grew searing hot. And the heat was not confined to my body. The blade in my hand—my sword—was heating up as well. As though I held a flame, not a sword.

『Yes, just one instant.』

The moment it grew hot enough to burn my hand, the fighter reached me. There was nothing sloppy about that stance. This was swordsmanship honed through long effort. A stroke sufficiently lethal, sufficiently exquisite, and carrying sufficient force came for my head.

But—

『Like a star that flashes for an instant and disappears.』

That sword never reached me.

“Uh...”

SHICK

The sound was exceptionally clean. The sort of sound you might hear while preparing ingredients in a kitchen. The utterly crisp sound of a blade chopping through something. And the result matched the sound.

“Uh, uh... urk.”

THUD

With a heavy sound, the fighter who had charged me split in two. The severed upper body struck the ground, throwing up dust. The lower body remained firmly planted on its feet. The fighter’s sword, likewise cleanly cut in half, rolled across the ground.

“...”

Every fighter nearby turned their gaze toward me.

My single sword stroke had brought silence.

In the stillness, Master spoke.

「Reasonably serviceable.」

If they had heard him, they probably would have been appalled.