The breaking point

Jin-Won's blade clashed against the knight's glowing sword, sending out a shockwave that cracked the stone beneath them. The force of the impact numbed his arms, but he refused to falter.

The knight pressed forward, his strikes relentless, each one faster and heavier than the last. Jin-Won barely had time to react before a sharp kick to his ribs sent him skidding backward.

"You're holding back," the knight said coldly. "That is why you will lose."

Jin-Won coughed, gripping his sword tighter. He could feel it—the widening gap between them. This wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a battle of resolve.

Hori shouted from the sidelines. "Jin-Won! You have to fight seriously!"

Lyria's voice followed. "If you don't push past your limits now, you'll never defeat him!"

Jin-Won gritted his teeth. His limits…? He had been holding back. Not out of fear, but because some part of him still hesitated. A part of him that still doubted himself.

The knight's next attack came swift and brutal—a downward strike meant to end the fight. But this time, Jin-Won didn't block.

He stepped forward.

Instead of resisting, he met the attack head-on, letting his instincts guide him. His sword moved in perfect sync with his opponent's, not to stop it, but to redirect its force.

The knight's eyes widened slightly.

Jin-Won twisted his blade, locking it against his opponent's and using the momentum to drive his knee into the knight's armor. The impact sent the knight staggering back, the first sign of weakness.

Jin-Won exhaled. He understood now.

This wasn't just a battle against another opponent. This was a battle against himself—his doubts, his fears, his hesitation. If he wanted to win, he had to let go of everything weighing him down.

His grip on his sword tightened, a new determination burning in his eyes.

"I'm not the same person I was before," he said firmly. "And I'll prove it to you."

The knight smirked, raising his sword once more. "Then show me."

Their blades clashed again, but this time, the battlefield belonged to Jin-Won.

To be continued…