Chapter 20 – The First Duel
The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The air carried the crisp bite of dawn, mixing with the scent of sweat and damp earth.
Izuku stood still, his breathing heavy, his muscles screaming in protest after completing his daily training. He barely had time to rest when a commanding voice echoed across the field.
"Izuku."
Lord Varyn.
The Baron's appearance at the training grounds was a rare sight. Even the knights, who had been going about their routines, paused to acknowledge his presence.
Standing beside him was Sir Garrick, the ever-watchful knight instructor.
Varyn's sharp eyes landed on Izuku. "What did you suggest to Edric last night?"
Izuku blinked. "What?"
Varyn's voice remained firm. "My son has been sitting at the dining hall all night, nibbling on his food like a rat. He says it was 'your advice' that helped him avoid my lectures."
Izuku internally sighed. He didn't expect Edric to actually follow through with his stupid joke.
"I just told him to keep eating. That way, he'd never be 'finished' with his meal."
For a moment, Varyn just stared at him. Then, a chuckle escaped the Baron's lips.
"Clever." His expression shifted, growing serious again. "But let's put your wit to better use."
His gaze swept over the training grounds, then landed back on Izuku.
"I want to see the results of the training you and Edric have been doing for the past year. You two will spar."
A murmur rippled through the assembled knights. Even Lady Elara, Varyn's wife, arrived at the edge of the field upon hearing his declaration.
Sir Garrick, standing beside Izuku, smirked. "A splendid idea, my lord."
Varyn gestured toward one of the servants. "Go fetch my idiot son from the dining hall. And don't mention the spar."
The Challenge is Set
Minutes later, Edric arrived, still half-asleep, his eyes dull from a long night of slow chewing. He blinked at the sight of the knights, his father, and Izuku standing across from him.
His gut told him something wasn't right.
Varyn crossed his arms. "Edric. You will spar with Izuku."
Edric's face twisted. "What?"
"Winner gets luxury meat."
Edric's mouth fell open.
"Meat? Three meals?"
Varyn nodded. "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
A collective intake of breath came from the knights. Luxury meat was a rare treat, something only nobles could afford regularly. To a child growing up under noble status, it was a slight indulgence.
To Izuku, who had survived the slums, it was a feast fit for a king.
Edric's brain worked at full speed.
He squinted at Izuku.
"You're tired, aren't you?"
Izuku didn't respond.
Edric grinned.
"Then this is gonna be easy."
The Duel Begins
Both boys took their positions, wooden training swords in hand.
Izuku's grip tightened.
'Damn it. My body is already wrecked from training.'
Edric wasn't talented, but he was privileged. He had access to proper nutrition, stable training, and a body that grew normally without the interference of curses.
Izuku's stats were still lower than Edric's.
And worst of all—his pain sensitivity.
Sir Garrick stepped forward, acting as the referee. "Begin!"
Edric lunged first, swinging his wooden sword downward toward Izuku's shoulder.
Izuku sidestepped.
Too slow.
Edric quickly adjusted, twisting his body to sweep sideways.
Izuku ducked, feeling the gust of air as the wooden blade barely missed his ribs.
Pain flared across his muscles.
'Damn it. My body is stiff.'
Edric pressed forward, swinging again—this time for Izuku's legs.
Izuku leaped back, his balance shaky from his overworked body.
Edric grinned.
"You're fast, but you're weak. How do you train every day and still suck this much?"
Izuku didn't answer.
Because he already knew the truth.
No matter how hard he trained, his growth was slowed by 90%.
He should've been ten times stronger by now.
Instead, he was barely average.
Enduring the Pain
Edric faked a lunge, then pivoted into a heavy downward slash.
Izuku tried to dodge—but his exhausted legs refused to move fast enough.
CRACK!
The wooden sword slammed into his stomach.
White-hot pain exploded across his nerves.
Izuku's knees buckled. He barely stopped himself from collapsing as his breath hitched.
The system's cold prompt appeared in his vision.
[Pain Resistance Increased by 0.8%][Oops, forgot to update it earlier. Your Pain Resistance is now 6.85%.]
Izuku gritted his teeth.
"Go. To. Hell."
Edric, seeing Izuku falter, rushed in for the finishing blow.
He swung for Izuku's chest.
But this time, Izuku reacted.
The Turning Point
Pain tore through his body, but he had trained under worse.
Izuku planted his foot down, ignoring his aching muscles.
He ducked under Edric's sword at the last moment—then rammed his wooden sword into Edric's ribs.
THWACK!
Edric yelped, staggering back.
Gasps echoed among the knights.
Izuku didn't let him recover.
He closed the distance, delivering a precise strike to Edric's wrist.
"OW!" Edric dropped his sword, clutching his hand.
Before he could react, Izuku stepped in close—his sword stopping inches from Edric's throat.
The crowd fell silent.
Sir Garrick raised his hand.
"Match over. Winner—Izuku."
A Hollow Victory
The knights burst into cheers.
Lady Elara smiled. "That boy is remarkable."
Lord Varyn smirked. "Indeed."
Edric groaned, rubbing his ribs. "How the hell did you hit me?"
Izuku, still panting, didn't answer.
The truth?
He had only won because Edric was careless.
His body was still weak.
His training was still lacking.
And his curse was still strangling his progress.
'Not enough.'
Izuku clenched his fists.
'This strength… it's still not enough.'
To Be Continued in Chapter 21 – The Baron's Offer