Vs. Kane Swara (1): Hunter and Prey

Mercenary King's daughter Runes Barnen. Next Water Magic Tower Lord Elise Aljen. Weapon Master's heir Skala Barnabas. Duel maniac, next head of the marquis house Kane Swara. Just two in a group would be suffocating firepower, yet four monsters had gathered here.

The problem was even worse. Scores were tallied per group. To maximize points, I'd have to compete against these beasts. Which paradoxically meant gambling on stepping on the central core. The situation had turned out decently, so I judged it worth a shot.

...The judgment wasn't bad. It was just the situation that went insane.

Boom!Elise's water spear punches a hole in the ground. Shrapnel mixed with water mana sprays everywhere. A bombardment fierce enough to clear the surroundings.

Facing it head-on was Skala.

"I'll handle this one, so hang in there!"

She dives in like a projectile, dodging the water spears by a hair's breadth. Unavoidable strikes get split by her longsword. Thus, Skala receives Elise's barrage without a single scratch. Soaked head to toe, she sweeps back her hair and charges Elise with a tough grin.

"That all you got? Better pull out your real magic now~?"

"...What a pain."

Elise narrows her eyes and retreats, flicking her hand. Her attacks now focus solely on Skala. Most of those spears had veered toward the outpost, not Kane's team. Clearly, prioritizing pushing out teams already occupying it. Skala had noticed and deliberately closed in to tie Elise down—keeping damage off the outpost.

But with Skala away, Kane's two teammates slipped into Darvin's flank.

"N-no, stay back!"

Darvin releases the core and sweeps his hand through the air. Debris drawn by telekinesis rains down on Kane's teammates. A solid check despite his panicked voice. But he couldn't maintain core points like this. Someone needed to help him.

Of course, I couldn't. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Not with a rapier at my throat.

Clang! My taedo and the rapier clash, screeching sharply.

"I was worried since you look so frail, but thankfully you can at least block this much?"

Kane brushes back a side lock of hair, smirking as she steps forward and thrusts again. Fast, precise, sharp. Bad matchup against my deflection-focused style. At this rate, I wouldn't last five more seconds.

I readjust my grip on the buzzing taedo. Deep breath, relax the body, loosen my hold on the blade.

Vary speed and power, applying force only when needed, sliding the blade tip smoothly. Before this motion, the opponent's straight thrust curves.

"What the hell is that snake-like movement?!"

Five consecutive rapier thrusts all miss. Seizing her fluster, I flow into an overhead slash like running water.

But the strike cuts empty air.

"Not bad. I never imagined you'd pull off such bizarre moves."

Kane dodges leisurely, straightening her bangs. Her tone sounds admiring, but it's dropped lower. Like disappointment.

"But you're slow."

Twang! Mana-enhanced Kane rockets toward me. Before my eyes catch up, the rapier tears through air, right in my face. As if she'd been holding back until now. No mercy in that speed.

Still, I'd expected this.

"Noktia!"

"!"

The rapier tip nearly grazes my vest. Then a chakram arcs toward Kane in a semicircle.

Clang! A sudden rift ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opens for the ambush. Kane barely blocks and retreats.

Noktia dips slightly, offering a noble curtsy. Seeing it, Kane's eyes flash with clear surprise for the first time.

"...A summon? Or a heart manifestation? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Intriguing."

Something shifts in her mind. Kane's aura changes. She glares intently, lowers her rapier, straightens rigidly. Then, per her house's etiquette, raises her blade crisply.

"I acknowledge you as my opponent once more. I formally challenge you to a duel. Harné Astel."

Out of nowhere, but with flair. Maintaining her pose, she shoots me an expectant look. Felt like I had to match her etiquette.

So, I obliged.

"Noktia, bounce."

"Wait, where are you going?! Hey!"

Duel my ass. I hop onto Noktia's arm and bolt. Her 190cm frame eats distance in strides. Glancing back, Kane chases with terrifying momentum, as expected.

Noktia whispers softly.

"My condition's shot—win chance is low. Let's dip back into the maze."

My strength links to Noktia's. At my measly 2nd Hierarchy, she's barely 3rd Hierarchy level. Beating a PvP specialist like Kane while exhausted? Impossible. Needed to lure her to favorable terrain.

Sorry, Skala—hold the line. I'd circle back victorious somehow.

But against expectations, Kane closed fast.

"Crap, she's catching up."

Noktia sighs, then clears her throat as Kane nears.

"Is that tone priority right now...?"

"Gotcha now!"

A shrill voice from right behind. No choice—dismount and counter. That instant, someone wedges between Noktia and Kane.

Klang!

"You...!"

Kane's rapier bounces aside. A hefty greatsword blocks between us.

Runes Barnen. Holding a greatsword ill-suited to her refined face, she grins at me.

"Harné! Nice to see ya. Been wanting to drop by since earlier—you came right to me."

Noktia cranes curiously at Runes. Behind her, no people—just weapons strewn everywhere.

...She'd swept the outskirts. Lost teammates along the way, but plenty of fight left.

"Nice to see you too, but that sounds kinda ominous depending on interpretation."

"Hmm, does it?"

Her loaded words sharpen Kane's gaze. Noktia flares her wings warily. All eyes lock on Runes' greatsword.

Tension peaks.

Runes murmurs low.

"How could I do that to cute lil' Harné?"

"Pardon?"

Runes flashes an innocently harmless smile that deflates the tension. She shrugs, sheathes her greatsword.

"Guess I'll head out then!"

Even coolly tries ditching us. I blurt out.

"Huh. Your friend's in peril—gonna leave her hanging?"

"Haha, sorry. But a test's a test."

Fair point. Runes, ever strict on professionalism, saving me instead of slicing? Worthy of thanks. Ruthless against the original protagonist, though.

Relief fades quick. Her next words chill my spine.

"Besides, I'm gunning for solid first place."

Bam!Runes kicks off, vanishing.

"...Situation just got worse."

Runes had cleared the outskirts. Only one task left: check the center.

This spelled doom for Skala. No time to hesitate.

As Kane fixates on Runes' back, Noktia seizes the gap—tightens her arm around my waist, bolts. Destination unchanged: maze sector.

"Grr, hold it!"

Kane grits her teeth, ferocious, chasing again. Challenged to duel and ignored. Flow wrecked by Runes. Pride stung raw, she pursues like a raging beast.

Thanks to Runes, distance opened a bit. Maze entrance neared.

"Noktia. Once in the maze, we'll mind-link. Follow my lead."

To break this, reinforce the center. Meaning exclude Kane faster.

"Ha! Think you can shake me in the maze?"

We slip safely into the maze gloom. Kane's closed much of the gap. Five seconds tops before she catches us.

But entering the maze meant the plan was half-complete.

'Noktia. Hug the right wall.'

As Noktia veers close, I raise my taedo slightly. Tap a specific wall spot lightly with the tip.

"Hmph, what pointless—"

Rumble...

Before Kane finishes, low vibrations rumble. Then a wall erupts between us.

"What?!"

Startled but desperate not to lose us, Kane leaps instinctively. Noblewoman poise tossed aside. Barely clears, rough shoulder-roll.

Her extreme high-leg suit makes it look almost tacky.

"Close, but no."

We round the corner, out of sight. Angry ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bellow echoes behind, footsteps closing again.

Kane Swara. Duel genius. Incarnation of fair combat.

Regrettably, I had zero intention of giving her the stage she craved.

In this maze, we weren't duelists anymore. Just hunters turning each other into prey.

And I'd make Kane Swara the hunted.