Confrontation - 3

Both Visgard and Dante stood in a tense silence, neither adopting a fighting stance.

Their mere presence captivated the onlookers, evoking a mix of frustration and anxiety.

Without a moment's hesitation, both combatants sprang backward, increasing the distance between them.

Dante, grinning with a mix of challenge and anticipation, brandished his sword.

Meanwhile, Visgard retrieved the blade that was laying on the ground beside him.

"Show me what you've got, boy!" Dante shouted, charging forward with eagerness, his sword raised high.

In contrast, Visgard maintained a poised stance, his resolve unshaken.

[Sage: Initializing precognition…]

[Sage: Predicting targeted individual's movements.]

As Dante launched his attack, the two began their intricate dance of offense and defense, parrying each other's blows with remarkable skill.

The spectators, positioned further back, were spellbound by the display of swordsmanship, their anxiety mingled with awe.

Despite the ferocity of their clash, both fighters remained composed, showing no sign of apprehension.

"Does he not fear death?" muttered the burly slave, stunned by how Visgard held his ground against their formidable boss.

Tora and the other slaves watched with bated breath, their spines tingling from the intensity of the duel.

But the most astonished of all was Cornio, who had known Visgard for years and had never seen him wield a sword before.

"That kid… I can't believe it. How is he so skilled with a sword when he's barely touched one before?" Cornio wondered, marveling at Visgard's unexpected prowess.

As the battle raged on, Sage's predictions provided crucial insights to aid Visgard.

Yet, despite this assistance, gaining the upper hand proved elusive.

Dante's unpredictable yet precise swings kept Sage occupied, calculating multiple scenarios per second.

Even with these predictions, Visgard struggled to leverage the openings due to his fragile physique.

The strength required to exploit Dante's vulnerabilities was beyond Visgard's slender frame.

He relied on his swordsmanship knowledge to stay in the fight.

Dante's raw power allowed him to press his advantage, but Visgard's counterattacks, though skillful, were met with fierce resistance.

"Nice try, kid! But tricks like that won't work against me!" Dante taunted, deriding Visgard's attempt to use his opponent's strength against him.

[Sage: Recalculations are needed…]

[Sage: Initializing another attack pattern.]

"Even with Sage's help, victory seems uncertain with this frail body," Visgard thought, struggling against Dante's relentless onslaught.

Despite his extensive combat knowledge, Visgard's physical limitations prevented him from fully executing his skills.

He needed a glimmer of hope or some form of advantage.

The clash of their swords echoed through the corridors, each strike resembled a testament to their fierce struggle.

It was becoming more evident that winning this battle with his current strength was nearly impossible for Visgard.

[Sage: Would you like to use the Skill: Devour?]

"No. Revealing a skill in this duel would be both pointless and dangerous. I must conceal my abilities and rely solely on my swordsmanship," Visgard mentally replied.

Having regained some of his former attributes, Visgard now possessed profound intellectual abilities—adaptability, decision-making, and strategic planning.

He understood that revealing his skills prematurely could jeopardize his future battles.

"It's best to keep my skills hidden unless absolutely necessary," Visgard concluded mentally.

[Sage: Agreed.]

As Sage continued to provide predictions, Visgard pressed on, trying to counter Dante's attacks with increasing precision.

Yet, exhaustion was beginning to show.

Dante noticed Visgard's fatigue and, sensing an opportunity, intensified his assaults with renewed vigor.

His attacks became fiercer, each strike aimed to overwhelm.

Despite the dire situation, Visgard smiled, a glimmer of defiance in his eyes.

"Smiling? How cocky," Dante thought, increasing his effort to crush Visgard's spirit.

"Isn't Visgard being pushed back?" Tora muttered nervously.

Rika and the others, gripped by the emotional turmoil of the moment, watched in anxious silence as Visgard struggled against Dante's relentless force.

As the battle tilted in Dante's favor, his henchmen buzzed with excitement, while the others on Visgard's side exuded tension and fear.

Both sides felt the approaching climax of the duel.

As Dante prepared for his final, decisive strike, Visgard's expression remained resolute.

Dante raised his sword with both hands, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

In that brief pause, Visgard seized his chance with all his remaining strength.

Dante realized too late that Visgard had exploited the moment.

"He got me, huh?" were Dante's final thoughts as their swords met in a climactic clash.

The sound of their blades colliding echoed sharply.

A single sword flew from the encounter, landing behind Dante.

The place fell silent as the battle finally concluded.

"Hahahahaha!" Dante's laughter echoed joyfully as he savored Visgard's victory.

As their battle concluded, Visgard panted heavily, holding his sword to Dante's neck.

"Holy... He won!" gasped the slaves on Dante's side, astonished by the outcome.

Tora, Cornio, and the other slaves watched in amazement at the unexpected result.

Dante continued to laugh while Visgard, having completed an exhausting fight, finally relaxed.

It was clear to him that Dante wouldn't go back on his word.

"You're something else, kid. I never thought you'd spot that opening in such a tight spot. Your observation is impressive," Dante complimented, admiring Visgard's skill even when faced with a formidable opponent like himself.

"Just keep your promise, Dante," Visgard replied, his voice steady and resolute.

Dante smirked, "Straight to the point, huh? Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I don't go back on my word." His reassurance eased everyone's tension.

Though Visgard and Cornio remained cautious, Dante gave Visgard a friendly pat on the head.

"Kid, are you really sure you don't want to be my apprentice?" Dante asked sincerely, genuine interest in his tone.

"I'm sorry, but I'm really not interested. Please don't ask me again, as I'll immediately decline your offer," Visgard responded firmly, his tone sounding mature.

Dante regarded Visgard with an expression that suggested he saw him as an old soul in a young body.

His eyes were filled with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

The silence was broken when Cornio stepped forward and inquired, "So, what's going on right now?"

Dante glanced at Cornio, understanding his question.

"Well, old geezer, it seems there's been a breach. According to my subordinates, the surface gate has been opened," Dante said in a serious tone, lowering his head closer to Cornio's face.

Everyone froze in surprise at this news. The possibility of freedom flickered in their minds.

But Visgard remained focused, already planning his escape from this place in the future.

"Is it true? So that's why the bloodshed happened suddenly..." Cornio muttered, contemplating the situation.

"Yeah, an organization from the East breached this place to recruit strong individuals. I'm not sure of the details since the privileged domain is on the upper floors," Dante replied, uncertain about the information.

Visgard was deep in thought, considering his escape.

"But if I escape, where would I go? I have no memories of the outside world," he pondered, uncertain about what awaited him beyond this hellish place.

Despite his confident personality, Visgard was extremely cautious.

"Hey, Sage. Is there any way to regain the memories of this body?" he asked mentally.

[Sage: The sequence has been relayed. Overlapping its memory bridge could damage several memory fragments.]

"I see. Do you have any information about the outside world? Beyond this place?" Visgard inquired.

[Sage: Answer: Negative. Insufficient information.]

"I guess you can't peek into my memories?" Visgard said, slightly mocking the Sage's capabilities, hoping to prompt it to reveal his lost memories about the outside world.

[Sage: Answer: I cannot.]

"I see. Well, let's leave it for now," Visgard concluded, ending their mental conversation.

Cornio and Dante continued their discussion, while the others listened intently.

"But aren't you planning to escape?" Cornio asked.

"Well, we want to, but we can't. Kellard is waiting at the stair gate," Dante replied, his frustration evident as he mentioned Kellard.

Kellard Bastre, the leader of Group B slaves, was Dante's rival. Dante led Group A slaves, and Kellard was a prominent figure with absolute authority over his own faction.

"Here's the map. If you get the chance, give him a good beating for me. Kuhahaha!" Dante said, handing the map to Cornio.

Cornio unfolded the map next to Visgard, examining its blueprints.

They noted the several corridors they would need to navigate to reach the stair gate leading to the next floor of Grave Dominion.

Dante gave Visgard's shoulder a pat. "Well, I'm done here. Let's meet again someday, okay?" he said with a smile and a wink at Rika before departing.

"That geezer gives me the creeps," Rika said, disgusted by Dante's wink.

"So, shall we head out and escape, Visgard?" Cornio asked, as if awaiting for his permission.

"Everything is already set. There's no need to worry about the outside world with Cornio by my side," Visgard thought.

"Yeah, let's get out of here, Cornio," he said, smiling at Cornio's nervous expression.

Cornio returned the smile and patted Visgard's head. "Once we're out, I'll introduce you to her," he said in a whisper.

"Huh?" Visgard wondered, but before he could ask more, Tora approached with a question.

"Um, can we come along too? We don't want to stay here," Tora asked, with the other slaves behind him pleading as well.

"Well, let's go. There's no need to worry, Tora," Visgard said, reassuring them with his calm demeanor.

Tora and the others smiled, and their new goal became clear: to escape Grave Dominion and explore the outside world.

Little did they know, formidable adversaries awaited them.

Chapter End.