Chapter 18: The Morning Challenge (Part 1)

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Leo slowly blinked his eyes open as the soft morning light crept through the curtains. The faint hum of the world outside greeted him, signaling the start of a new day. He stretched lazily, feeling his muscles loosen after a restful night. The room was still, peaceful—too peaceful, in fact, for the kind of school he now found himself in.

Sitting up, Leo rubbed the sleep from his eyes and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His body felt refreshed, his mind sharp, and he instinctively checked his system status. Everything was in order, and today felt like it would be anything but ordinary.

He moved through his daily routine with ease. A quick shower to wake him up, followed by a session of stretching exercises to keep his muscles nimble. He paid extra attention to his wings, which shimmered faintly in the bathroom mirror, their ethereal glow adjusting with his mood. They were one of his greatest advantages—though not many here had seen them in action.

After getting dressed in his uniform, Leo glanced out the window. The academy grounds were already alive with activity, and he could see students milling about. His gaze briefly settled on the courtyard below, where a familiar pair of girls caught his attention: Rin Onigawara and Mary Kikakujou. Both were among the most skilled swordswomen in the school, and they seemed deep in conversation.

He smiled to himself. This should be interesting.

Heading outside, Leo soon spotted a familiar figure. Nomura, another transfer student, was leaning against a tree near the main path. The guy was always casual, always unpredictable—someone who had quickly gained a reputation for not backing down from a fight.

"Yo, Leo!" Nomura waved lazily, a smirk on his face.

Leo nodded and returned the greeting. "Morning, Nomura. Anything exciting happening?"

Nomura shrugged. "Same old. Just keeping an eye on the Five Swords. Though something tells me you're about to stir up some action yourself."

Leo chuckled, sensing that Nomura's instincts weren't far off. "We'll see."

As he moved past Nomura, heading toward the courtyard, his thoughts turned to the day ahead. His interactions with the Five Swords had been… intense, to say the least, but today felt different. Something was in the air.

Before he could dwell on it further, he was intercepted by Rin and Mary. Their presence was commanding, as always. Rin, with her sharp eyes and traditional appearance, exuded discipline. Mary, on the other hand, was more flamboyant, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she studied Leo with a knowing smirk.

"Leo," Rin's voice was direct, cutting through the morning stillness. "I challenge you to a duel."

Leo blinked, though he wasn't entirely surprised. Rin had always been straightforward. "A duel, huh?" He crossed his arms, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Mind if I ask why?"

Rin's gaze was unwavering. "I need to test your strength. You've caused quite the stir since arriving, and I want to see if you're truly worthy of standing in this academy."

"Rin" Leo's voice was direct, cutting through the morning stillness. "What is the prize."

Rin on hearing this frowned "do we have to . Do you have know honor".

Hearing this leo just smiled.

Seeing this rin just sighed "Okay, What do you want on winning?"

Leo just said "permission slip with your mark."

"Okay.But if i win then i want one wish that you will fulfill." Rin also made her request.

Mary folded her arms and gave Leo a playful look. "I suppose I'll be the judge then. Consider this a proper introduction."

Leo nodded, excitement already bubbling within him. "Alright, I accept. Let's make this a good one."

They soon found themselves in one of the academy's training courtyards, a spacious area surrounded by onlookers who had quickly gathered once word of the duel spread. Rin stood across from Leo, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her eyes never leaving him.

"Let's make this a proper duel," Rin declared. "No holding back."

Leo flexed his fingers, his mind already calculating strategies. Rin wasn't someone to be underestimated. She was skilled, precise, and had the determination of a true warrior. He could feel the intensity of her aura from across the courtyard.

"Whenever you're ready," he said calmly, his wings hidden for now. No need to reveal everything at the start.

Rin wasted no time. With a swift, fluid motion, she drew her katana and dashed forward, her speed remarkable as she closed the distance between them in an instant. Her blade gleamed in the sunlight as she aimed a clean slash toward Leo's midsection.

Leo sidestepped just in time, his body reacting almost instinctively. The sound of steel slicing through the air echoed in the courtyard, followed by the sharp tap of Rin's feet as she quickly repositioned for another attack.

Her movements were fast—faster than he expected—but Leo remained calm, analyzing her form, her rhythm. He needed to find an opening, a gap in her flawless technique.

Rin lunged again, this time feinting left before swinging her blade from the right. Leo saw through the feint and blocked her strike with his arm, feeling the force of the impact reverberate through his body.

"You've got some real power behind that swing," Leo remarked, his voice steady despite the exertion. "But I can tell you're still holding back."

Rin's eyes narrowed. "You haven't seen anything yet."

She leaped back, creating some distance before launching a flurry of rapid strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last. Leo dodged and blocked as best he could, but Rin's relentless assault was pushing him to his limits. The crowd watched in awe, the intensity of the duel captivating their attention.

Leo knew he couldn't stay on the defensive for much longer. If he wanted to gain the upper hand, he'd need to switch tactics. Just as Rin moved in for another strike, Leo's wings burst forth, their radiant glow surprising the audience.

With a powerful flap, he propelled himself backward, creating space and forcing Rin to pause her assault.

"Now it's my turn."

To be continued…

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