chapter 38: The First Duel-A Game of shadows and Thorns

Chapter 38: The First Duel—A Game of Shadows and Thorns

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The wind howled at the top of the Tower of Lies. The golden podium stood just steps away, but neither Rin nor Edmund moved.

The crowd below held their breath.

Edmund smirked. "You really don't know when to quit."

Rin twirled a dagger in his hand. "You talk too much."

The podium had a simple rule—the first to touch it wins the trial.

But no one ever won that easily.

Edmund cracked his knuckles. Metal coils unraveled from his sleeves, clanking against the stone floor. Thorn-covered whips, black as iron and wickedly sharp.

Selena, watching from below, frowned. "Those aren't just whips… They're living metal."

Charlotte adjusted her glasses. "And he's not showing all of them."

Edmund's whips slithered across the floor, moving like snakes, circling Rin.

"You're in my web now, Ryukai."

Then—they struck.

The first whip lashed out, fast as a bullet. Rin dodged—only for the second whip to swipe at his exposed side.

Fast.

Rin barely twisted away, but a sharp slash tore across his sleeve.

Edmund laughed. "Oh? You actually dodged the first two?"

Rin exhaled. His shirt had a thin red line—he'd almost lost an arm.

The third whip came from behind.

Charlotte gasped. "His attacks… they're all from blind spots."

Selena's eyes narrowed. "And that's not all."

Rin rolled under the next strike, narrowly avoiding the barbed edges.

He saw it.

The fourth whip.

It hadn't moved.

It just lay still. Waiting.

Rin's eyes widened.

Selena shouted, "Rin! Check your shadow!"

The hidden whip rose from Rin's own shadow, aiming for his throat.

Too late.

The thorny chain shot forward.

Adapt.

Rin dropped his body backward, falling into a controlled roll.

The hidden whip missed his throat—but slashed a deep cut across his shoulder.

He gritted his teeth.

Edmund twirled his whips, smirking. "Surprised? This one hides in your own shadow."

The fourth whip didn't attack like the others.

It stayed unseen, moving only when Rin wasn't looking.

A perfect assassination tool.

Edmund flicked his wrist. The whips rose like vipers, surrounding Rin.

"This is checkmate."

The crowd murmured.

"Ryukai's done."

"Too many angles to block."

Selena and Charlotte watched, tense.

But Rin… smiled.

"Checkmate?" Rin repeated.

He raised his dagger, flipping it once in his hand.

"You sure about that?"

Then—he did something no one expected.

He threw his dagger into the air.

Edmund's eyes flicked up for half a second.

Rin moved.

He twisted his body low—forcing his own shadow to shift.

The hidden whip twitched.

Rin anticipated the attack—before it even moved.

He kicked off the ground, spinning mid-air, twisting his body—

—And with his free hand, caught his falling dagger.

One precise slash.

The hidden whip snapped.

The crowd erupted.

Selena whistled. "He used his own movement to bait the shadow whip."

Charlotte nodded. "And destroyed it before it could react."

Edmund stumbled back, stunned.

"You—"

Rin didn't let him recover.

He dashed forward, avoiding the remaining whips by a hair's breadth—

And with one final leap—

He slammed his hand onto the podium.

A golden light exploded outward.

The trial was over.

Scene 5: Aftermath

The crowd roared.

A voice announced over the speakers.

"Winner: Squad 7!"

Rin stumbled, barely catching himself.

Edmund stood frozen, fists clenched.

Then he smirked. "Not bad, Ryukai."

As Rin caught his breath, he felt eyes on him.

Not from the crowd.

From above.

He looked up.

A dark figure stood on the academy rooftop, watching.

And then, they were gone.

Rin wiped the sweat from his forehead.

This game isn't over yet.