Chapter 11: Duel of Wills

Chapter 11: Duel of Wills

The atmosphere in the dojo grew thick, charged with anticipation and cursed energy. The other clan members who were training began to gather around Ren and Ryuhei. The young Kurogane, with his usual calm, started to stretch his shoulders.

Ryuhei took a few steps forward, unleashing an aura of cursed energy that enveloped his body. The contrast between the two was evident: Ryuhei, with an imposing figure and power, while Ren, seemingly more relaxed, showed no sign of intimidation. However, his gaze made it clear that he did not underestimate his opponent.

"I'll show you why a newly ascended one shouldn't meddle in the affairs of higher ranks," Ryuhei growled, activating his cursed technique.

Ryuhei's cursed energy concentrated in his fists, creating shockwaves around him. His eyes were full of determination, but also something more: frustration.

Ren said nothing, just raised a hand and generated a gravitational field around him. The gravity in the area subtly increased, but enough for the closest members to feel the weight of the 'Cursed Pressure'. The dojo, normally full of life and energy, seemed to have come to a standstill.

"Well", Ren responded, readying his stance. "Let's see what you can do."

Ryuhei wasted no time and charged at Ren with impressive speed, concentrating all his strength in a punch that seemed powerful enough to shatter the ground around them. The air vibrated from the impending clash, and some spectators took a step back, sensing the danger of that strike.

However, Ren did not move. Just before Ryuhei's punch reached him, a subtle shift in gravity stopped the attack. The force of the punch was caught within the gravitational field that Ren had deployed around himself. Ryuhei's eyes widened with surprise.

"What...?"

"You're fighting against a fundamental force" Ren said calmly, as the gravitational field increased in strength.

Ryuhei's punch was completely absorbed. For Ren, manipulating gravity was as natural as breathing. Then, he increased the pressure on Ryuhei, leaving him nearly breathless.

Ryuhei struggled to stay on his feet, but the weight on him increased with each passing second. The muscles in his body trembled under the pressure, and sweat began to cover his forehead. He tried to move, but every step he took was a monumental effort.

"This isn't over..." he growled through clenched teeth.

Ren watched him with interest. He could see that Ryuhei had talent, but it was clear that his approach was too simple. He relied too much on brute strength and cursed energy without really understanding how to maximize their use efficiently.

"You need to learn to control your cursed energy better, Ryuhei. Otherwise, you'll always be limited to this", Ren commented, while slightly releasing the gravitational pressure, allowing Ryuhei to breathe.

With wounded pride, Ryuhei made one last effort, launching a series of punches that generated waves of cursed energy around Ren. However, Ren, as if gravity had no effect on him, easily dodged the attacks and, with a swift movement, positioned himself behind Ryuhei.

"It's over", he said firmly.

With a subtle gesture, Ren manipulated the gravity around Ryuhei, completely immobilizing him. It was an undeniable display of power. Even though they were of similar grade, the absolute control Ren had over his technique showed that he was in a completely different league.

Gasping for breath, Ryuhei fell to his knees as the gravity returned to normal. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had been defeated, not just physically, but in his pride and confidence as well.

Ren crossed his arms and looked at him calmly.

"Haven't you learned anything from the Kurogane Clan? True power lies not just in strength, but in control", Ren extended a hand to him. "Anyway, we should train more often to improve."

Ryuhei, still dazed, looked at Ren's hand. After a few seconds, he accepted it, nodding silently. The duel was over.

---

[Mission Complete: Defeat the Grade 2 Sorcerer - Ryuhei Nakamura]

Rewards:

- +15% CE

- 200 CP

- Taijutsu Techniques (Grade 2)

---

After the duel, Ren heard the murmurs among the members who had observed the fight.

"What incredible control!" whispered one of the spectators, his eyes still fixed on Ren.

"Since when did Ren get so strong?" asked another, visibly surprised.

Some of the faces in the dojo showed disbelief, while others displayed admiration. For many, it was the first time they had seen Ren wield such power. However, Ren remained calm, showing little emotion about it. Inside, he knew it wasn't something extraordinary. Very few clan members could use the lineage technique with the level of control he had, and that hardly surprised him.

"No wonder the clan lacked relevance in the original series", Ren thought, recalling the context he was in. "Their lack of control and power is why they didn't get very far."

Despite these thoughts, Ren looked around with a slight smile. "Well, since they are part of my clan, I'll help them this time." While he considered sharing with them tools, technique scrolls, and potions he would gain through the system, he also remembered he could receive rewards for duels among clan members.

[The cursed clan System rewards duels against members; however, the magnitude of these rewards varies based on the power and rank of each individual.]

A wicked smile appeared on his face, but no one around him noticed. "With just a little training, this clan can become much stronger..."

The members nearby felt an unexpected chill. Some exchanged awkward glances, unsure why, but decided to step back slightly, as if they sensed something dangerous in the air.