Chapter 3 - The Day of Duels: A Clever Ruse Unfolds

As I step into the vast arena, a sense of anticipation fills the air. The crowd

roars, eager to witness the upcoming duels. My eyes drift towards the royal

box, where I notice the princess sitting next to the king. Her expressionless

eyes are fixed on me, and I can't help but feel a chill run down my spine.

Beside her, a young man of unmatched beauty and strength observes me intently.

His aura exudes an air of confidence, and he seems like the perfect match for

the equally stunning princess. Their combined radiance is captivating, drawing

the attention of everyone present.

As the first duel is about to commence, I find myself facing Divine Lightning

Step. My mind races, trying to recall the solution I had devised during the

night to compensate for my inability to match his speed. I know that I can

follow his movements with my eyes, but my body simply cannot keep up.

I take a deep breath and raise my arm, slowly starting to strike down as if

performing an attack with no speed. With a smirk, I declare, "I will take you

down with this strike."

The spectators laugh uproariously, thinking I've completely lost my mind.

However, I remain focused on my plan, determined to prove them wrong.

The signal for the duel to begin is given, and Divine Lightning Step leaps

towards me at a dizzying speed. Although I can track his every movement, I know

that I am unable to dodge his assault. As he closes in, I continue to move my

arm down slowly, my eyes locked onto him.

To Divine Lightning Step's surprise, I suddenly start moving my body in

a strange, seemingly erratic manner, as if I am about to unleash a powerful

attack. He realizes my intentions in an instant; I wanted him to dodge the slow

attack and fall victim to the real one.

In an attempt to counter my plan, Divine Lightning Step decides to take the

slow attack head-on, believing it to have no force behind it. As he braces for

impact, the mysterious force of the dagger activates.

The moment the slow-moving attack connects, Divine Lightning Step is instantly

defeated, propelled backward by the seemingly weak strike. The crowd gasps in

shock, struggling to comprehend how someone as formidable as Divine Lightning

Step could be defeated by such an apparently feeble attack.

As the dust settles, I stand tall, victorious against all odds. In that moment,

I prove to everyone that even in a world of martial arts, cleverness and wit

can prevail against overwhelming power. But with two more daunting duels to

come, I know that the road ahead is still fraught with danger, and I must brace

myself for the challenges that await.