The grandest event of the Arena had arrived.
The day of the Infinite Duel finally dawned. The crowd gathered in Steel City was incomparably larger than ever before, their fervor reaching a fever pitch. It was a struggle just to stand in line for registration, but while waiting my turn, I heard something unexpected.
“You’re not participating, Seol-yoon?”
“I’m not.”
Seol-yoon declared that she would not be taking part in this most magnificent of matches.
I frowned. “But why?”
“I’ve already gained plenty.”
“Still, since you’re already here, wouldn’t it be good to test your skills?”
“I’ve tested them enough—by sparring with you.”
Seol-yoon looked remarkably relaxed.
“Besides, I feel like now is the time to forge my sword, not swing it.”
“Pardon?”
“I haven’t properly refined what I gained from clashing blades with you yet. Now isn’t the right time to fight others.”
Seol-yoon seemed resolute.
“Arhan.”
“Yes.”
“Even a butterfly that has just broken out of its cocoon cannot fly if its wings haven’t hardened. With soft wings, it will only be battered and swept away by the wind. And the higher the place you fall from, the more it hurts. That’s why you must prepare thoroughly before you take flight.”
In her presence, I felt as if I were looking at tranquil water—peaceful water that would settle back into stillness even if you tried to disturb it with a pebble. I looked at Seol-yoon and remarked,
“…Could you always talk for this long?”
“Hey.”
I had asked because I was genuinely curious, but her reaction wasn’t great. At any rate, with that trivial joke, I entered the amphitheater. I stepped into the Arena, where the eyes of countless spectators were fixed and the entire attention of Steel City was focused.
“Thank you all for waiting—!”
The eyes scattered throughout the stands weren’t just those of ordinary spectators. My friend, the genius Seol-yoon, was there. Tom, the kind caretaker who had willingly provided the recommendation letter so I could join this match, was there as well. There were likely several other fighters who held goodwill toward me in the crowd.
“The flower of the Arena! The most glorious duel passed down from ancient times—!”
Of course, not all the gazes were friendly.
The Iron Prince, who had told me to show him something interesting, would be up there. Perhaps his executioner, Swordmaster Carlos, was with him as well. I wondered what kind of expression Carlos would wear upon seeing the last Caravan he had left behind. What punishment would my enemy inflict upon the boy who had defied his orders and dared to grip a sword? I didn’t know.
But I wasn’t afraid.
Isn’t that just how the world is? A pitch-black void where you can’t even know what will happen tomorrow.
“The true Infinite Duel begins now!”
Instead of wasting time being afraid, I had to take one more step forward to reach the place I aimed for.
「For this moment, clear your cluttered mind.」
Liam spoke plainly.
「Concentrate solely on surviving.」
“….”
「I told you before. The Infinite Duel is a struggle that any Caravan with the blood of Steel in their veins must experience. It is the trial you need right now.」
“….”
「Stand firm in the face of the ordeal that will befall you.」
Liam’s eyes glittered.
「If you do, you will be tempered beyond measure. Incomparably so, compared to before.」
*
The Infinite Duel.
It was the term for the massive three-part event of the Arena, and also the name of the traditional duel held at the very end. Unlike the Species Duel or War Duel, which varied in form and theme, the final Infinite Duel was always conducted in the same manner.
Guaranteed anonymity for all participants.
And a no-rules duel.
The rules of the Infinite Duel could be summarized in those two short sentences. To be more specific: every element that could identify a fighter, including their name, was hidden. After making everyone complete strangers, they were thrust into a single space to begin a duel without rules. The battle would not end until a final winner emerged. There was no time limit. It continued until only one person was left standing.
And unlike other matches, in the Infinite Duel, no one would be criticized for killing their opponent. This made the event desperate, horrific, and incredibly popular. The sight of fighters hovering between life and death provided the audience with a thrilling, electrifying euphoria.
Thus, the Infinite Duel was a land of opportunity where a fighter from any background could instantly become a star—but it was also a graveyard where even a great warrior could meet a trivial death.
“Next fighter! Come this way!”
The atmosphere was different from the previous matches. A tension I hadn’t seen before was visible on the faces of the participants. The auras of some were so sharp they couldn’t be ignored. There were quite a few skilled individuals I hadn’t seen before.
While I was observing the fighters, my turn came.
“Take this helmet and armor.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a special item commissioned from the dwarves. It’s designed to completely hide not just your face, but even the silhouette of your body. Originally, we only used helmets, but there were complaints that people could be identified by their gender or specific physical traits, so we had these newly manufactured.”
“I see.”
“We invested heavily in this to reflect the essence of the Infinite Duel and to make the fighters equal. For your information, you must never take off the helmet. It’s fine if it’s damaged or destroyed during the duel, but if you remove the helmet or armor yourself, you will be disqualified immediately.”
“Understood.”
Disqualification for removing the helmet or armor yourself, huh?
‘They’ve created a way to surrender without dying.’
I had heard that the Infinite Duel was originally a slaughterhouse that never ended until a final victor emerged. But disqualification for taking off the helmet? The very existence of such a rule meant there were ‘rules’ after all. It was contradictory, but not incomprehensible.
‘If they didn’t have an exit like that, no one would participate.’
It was likely a necessity for the Arena to survive for hundreds of years. As I accepted this, I heard Liam’s laughter.
「My young descendant, surely you don’t think the clowns of the Arena have shown a shred of mercy?」
“….”
「I truly hope you don’t.」
For some reason, Liam gave a sinister chuckle. I couldn’t understand the meaning behind it.
「Well, you’ll find out once it starts.」
It took quite a while for all the fighters to receive their equipment, as the Arena officials verified each fighter’s identity one by one.
It was during that time the announcer’s voice boomed.
“Everyone! You’ve been waiting for this! While our brave fighters finish their preparations, I will explain this Infinite Duel! Anyone who loves the struggles of Steel City knows about this match! Even those who have crossed the continent are well aware of this duel!”
.
.
.
“However! There is one thing different about this Infinite Duel compared to previous ones.”
The announcer’s voice rang out.
“As you know, the Infinite Duel is a chaotic battle. Since no one knows anything about each other, they cannot fight recklessly, and since there is no set time, the results don’t come quickly! Because of this, some spectators find the early stages unbearable and leave their seats. Why does this happen?”
.
.
.
“First, it’s because of the ‘stallers.’ They seize a spot perfect for ambushing or high ground where they can see a wide area, and then they hunker down and don’t move until an enemy comes! There were so many such fighters the year before last that everyone was dissatisfied. People were enraged to see a ‘staller’ luckily kill a fighter who had been fighting gallantly. They said such behavior was ‘unworthy of a warrior’!”
.
.
.
“Second, it’s because of the ‘hyenas.’ These people wait for other fighters to engage and for their stamina to drop. Then, when both are exhausted, they strike and take their lives. It is a truly petty and despicable act! We at the Arena have racked our brains to solve these two problems. And we have found an answer!”
The announcer grinned.
“We have created a ‘Fence’!”
The audience seats buzzed at the announcer’s words.
I was equally taken aback. Why suddenly change a traditional match that had been maintained for hundreds of years right when I decided to participate?
“A ‘Fence’ exists on the outskirts of the amphitheater. This ‘Fence,’ which is the same size and circular shape as the arena, will gradually shrink as time passes. This is so you cannot hide in one place and stall. Fighters, you cannot cross this ‘Fence.’ The moment you do, something truly terrible will happen.”
The announcer’s voice boomed.
“Now then, everyone, please show us a ‘warrior-like’ performance!”
The other fighters seemed just as bewildered. As everyone looked around, stunned, one fighter muttered dismissively.
“Why are they chirping so much?”
The fighter who said that let out a massive yawn. He was lying in a corner, propped up on his elbow, watching everyone. There wasn’t a hint of tension on his bored face. He looked relaxed and lethargic, as if he had just come out for a stroll.
“The announcer is right. Please act like warriors, okay?”
The voice of the grinning fighter was playful. He didn’t seem like a warrior at all. From his silk-fine blonde hair to his fair, unscarred face and sparkling, jewel-like blue eyes—everything about him was refined. He looked more like a young lord than a fighter. A high-born person who had never even held a sword.
“It’s not like he’s wrong… yawn .”
The lethargic fighter leaned his head against the wall and smiled. While several fighters glared at him, he didn’t care and began to doze off. He was a peculiar human. As I watched him, Liam spoke.
「Young descendant.」
“Yes.”
「You should be careful of that fellow.」
“…That man?”
「Yes.」
Be careful of that idler? Was he saying this just to tease me again? While suspicion sprouted in my heart, my master explained with a single sentence.
「He is a member of a Great Family, that one.」
*
The venue for the Infinite Duel was a massive amphitheater. On the outskirts of the enormous arena was the ‘Fence’ the announcer had mentioned. However, that fence was different from what one would normally imagine.
‘It means if you’re going to leave, just die.’
The mana contained in the Fence was at a chilling level. The intent imbued in that mana was horrific. Even for trained fighters, if they touched it, their bodies would be ground away without a trace starting from the point of contact. Instantly.
Since the Fence extended from the ground to the sky, it was impossible for the fighters inside to leave. The planners of the Arena had stripped the participants of their right to flee.
Furthermore…
‘…They said I’d be disqualified if I took off this helmet, but they’ve made it so I can’t even take it off.’
The ‘special item’ made by the dwarves was something that couldn’t be removed by oneself. I had tested it just in case, and the moment I pulled the helmet upward, I felt a strong tightening around my neck. If I applied force to take it off completely, my neck bones would likely snap.
‘If I try to take it off for a disqualification, I’ll die. Then the announcer will mock me, saying a participant who acted unlike a warrior was punished. What kind of madness is this…’
Only now did I realize why my master had laughed.
The Arena had presented it as if there were an exit for the fighters to attract more participants. But once inside, there was no such thing. There was no place to run, no place to retreat. Once you participated in the Infinite Duel, there were only two options.
Die, or survive.
“W-what is this? Why won’t this come off?”
It seemed some of the fighters had already tried the same experiment; they were fumbling with their helmets, showing signs of panic. The sight of these figures, appearing as pitch-black masses from head to toe, flailing about was both ridiculous and eerie.
The Arena didn’t care.
“The final match to test the bravery of the warriors begins now! Under the clear sky, where everyone competes as equals! We raise the curtain on the Infinite Duel!”
“A sacred duel where no petty rules exist! Fighters who have willingly thrown yourselves into this place, please grace this occasion!”
Enthusiastic cheers erupted. The announcer’s voice was loud enough to burst eardrums.
“This sacred duel will be dedicated to Goddess Lefri, the guardian of justice!”
Beneath the roar, the fighters stood blankly.
“Now, let us begin—!”
A signal like a thunderclap dropped.
“Waaaaaaa—!”
“Kill him! Kill!”
Simultaneously, a deafening roar erupted from all sides. Around me, I could still see fighters who hadn’t come to their senses—fighters who all looked identical in their black armor.
“O-oh, wait…”
And then.
Shlick.
One of the flailing black masses jolted violently. A blade had sprouted through its chest. With a wet sound, the blade was withdrawn. Red blood sprayed like a fountain from the black-clad body.
“You’re daydreaming, you bastard.”
With a heavy thud , the body collapsed. The blood flowing from the figure rolling on the dirt floor formed a red pool. After a brief twitch, the black mass went completely still. One life had vanished.
“If you zone out here, you die.”
The first death had come so easily. At the sudden turn of events, one of the nearby fighters instinctively stepped back and tripped. Jeers and mockery poured from the spectator seats.
“U-ugh…”
Though hidden by the helmet, I felt as if I could see his expression—a face stained with terror, smeared with sweat and tears. The fighter struggled to get up in a hurry, but once he had fallen, the end was already decided.
Crack.
With a sickening sound, one more fighter died. Now, the stench of blood wafted thick and horrific. Smelling the iron in the air, I did what I had to do.
「Ah.」
I raised my sword.
「Now it finally feels like the old days.」
To survive.
「Yes. This is what an arena should be.」
I lowered my stance, looking at my master who was grinning. Amidst the deaths occurring among the tangled fighters, I couldn’t remain safe for long.
“U-uaaaaaah!”
A fighter harboring madness—a mix of anger, fear, and anxiety—charged at me. His voice was trembling, but his posture was not clumsy.
‘The fact that he’s participating here means he’s been verified.’
Every fighter here was at least a Sword Walker or higher. There was no swordsman here with a lower realm than mine. Therefore, I could not be careless. I had to strike down every enemy with my best effort. I had to survive with everything I had.
「What you learned. You remember it, don’t you, young descendant?」
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Between the charging fighter and me, countless Paths stretched out. There were paths extended by the fighter, and paths extended by me. I stared at the pouring paths with Doubt. I didn’t look at the enemy’s paths. Instead, I only looked at mine, picking out the most efficient one. That process didn’t take long.
“Phew.”
I watched the approaching enemy while keeping my stance low.
“Hup.”
I trapped the breath I had inhaled inside me. The breath rotated within my body, heating the mana circulating through me and the Paths stretched within my form.
「Yes, there should be some reward for all that suffering, shouldn’t there?」
I wasn’t doing breath-holding exercises to increase my lung capacity. This was one of the new techniques I had learned from Liam while preparing for the Infinite Duel. No, to be precise, it wouldn’t be right to say I learned it from Liam.
This was the new blade I had digested. The teaching brought to me by the Lantern.
『It only needs to burn brightly for a single moment.』
My body heated up intensely. The heat wasn’t limited to my flesh; the sword in my hand was also heating up. It was as if I were holding a flame, not a blade.
『Yes, just for a single moment.』
The moment my hand felt hot enough to burn, the fighter reached me. It wasn’t a loose posture. It was swordsmanship refined through long effort. A single strike, lethal and exquisite, aimed for my head.
But.
『Like a star that twinkles for an instant and then vanishes.』
That sword could not reach me.
“Uh…”
Squelch.
A clean sound rang out—the kind of sound one might hear when a blade slices through ingredients with utter clarity.
“U-u-ugh.”
Thud.
With a heavy sound, the fighter who had charged at me was split in two. The separated upper body hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The lower body remained standing firmly, still planted on the earth. The sword the fighter had been holding rolled on the ground, cleanly snapped in half.
“….”
The gazes of the surrounding fighters all gathered on me. The single strike I had swung brought about a sudden silence.
In the midst of the stillness, my master spoke.
「It’s passable.」
If the others had heard him, they likely would have been horrified.
