The Rite of Passage

"Now, let's get ready for the duel."

"Eh?"

When Jack said that, Vanitas was shocked. He had thought that he had come to save him from the duel that Arthur spoke of.

Jack noticed his surprise. "Hmm? What's wrong?"

"No, I mean, didn't you come here to stop Captain Arthur for dragging me to the duel?"

"No, I just wanted him to stop being rough with you. I never said something about the duel not happening, right?"

Now that he mentioned it, he really didn't. Vanitas felt let down.

He looked at Eleanor and Dominique for help. Before he could get any sort of response from them, Jack spoke.

"Listen here. I know you don't want to be thrown into a fight right off the bat. But it is necessary. You can think of it as a rite of passage."

"How so?"

"You are the newest member of the Demon Extermination Corps. Meaning from now on you will fight with monsters and demons alongside the others while putting your life on the line. Our life is in our hands and our comrades' hands. We need to work together and trust each other to have our backs in such battles. In order to trust you, we need to see if you are fit to be one of us and if we can leave our backs to you in the fight to the death."

He spoke in a serious tone and Vanitas felt each of his words sink in.

True, in order to gain trust, he needed to show that he was worthy of that trust and the duel that they spoke of was one such method to show the other members what he was capable of.

He was going to be a part of this team from now on. While he believed that he didn't require much assistance from other people, there would definitely come times when others might require his help. And to be able to ask him for help in the time of need, he needed to show that he was someone to be trusted and someone capable.

"I see." He closed his eyes and made his decision. "Okay. I will participate in the duel."

"Good." Jack nodded his head once with a smile on his face. Eleanor seemed to have some misgivings about it but seeing that Vanitas had already agreed, she decided not to go against his decision.

"So who here is willing to spar against this newbie and show him his place!" Captain Arthur yelled from the center of the cafeteria. He was still there.

The cafeteria stirred with noise and people were shouting and raising their hands excitedly, nominating themselves.

Amidst the noise, someone came from the door to the cafeteria.

He was a tall man with a well-built physique. His movements were graceful and powerful. He had sharp eyes and a stiff face. Numerous cut marks marred his face and neck. He was wearing a full armor plate that looked heavy but he walked as if it didn't bother him at all. He had a long sword at his hip.

Right as he stepped inside the room, the atmosphere changed completely. It was a complete 180 from the cheerful mood going on. The air felt tensed and everyone stopped speaking.

The man continued to walk, seemingly not minding the gazes of the people around him. As he walked, he was scanning the area as if he was searching for someone. Then, his eyes landed on Vanitas. He felt that his eyes narrowed a bit on him.

He then walked towards Vanitas with heavy steps. "Move!" He yelled at people who were on the way.

He came to a stop in front of him.

"You are Vanitas, correct?" He asked in an intimidating voice.

"Yes." He was glaring at him but Vanitas stood his ground and glared right back at him.

Normally, he would have been polite to someone he had just met but looking at him and the way he was blatantly trying to dominate others around him by not suppressing his demonic aura, Vanitas didn't have a good first impression of the man. Not to mention, he could sense hostility from him. He had never met the man before so he was not sure why he would behave hostile with him.

"Why don't you have a duel with me?" The crowd stirred once again with noise.

"No way, the Lieutenant is asking for a duel..."

"Against a newbie?"

Murmurs of shock and disbelief reached their ears.

"Might I ask you the reason as to why you want to duel with Vanitas, Lieutenant Elvis?" The one to ask that was Jack. Apparently, the man before them was a Lieutenant - just one rank below the General.

"What? I am just trying to keep up the tradition of newbie crushing. You were about to do the same, weren't you?"

"Yes, we were. But-"

Elvis cut Jack short.

"I think I am a good fit for fighting against him. He looks to be a swordsman after all." He pointed at the sword hanging at Vanitas's waist.

"That might be true. But I think having him fight someone as strong as you right off the bat is a bit too much."

"You trying to go against me, huh, Jack? You dare defy me?" Elvis released more of his demonic aura and the people around him all shrieked and let out a scared muffle. Even Jack was seen gritting his teeth, intimidated by his aura.

Elvis walked toward Jack with his hands on his sword and an angry look on his face.

"I am okay with it, Lieutenant Elvis."

The words that left Vanitas's mouth shocked everyone present in the cafeteria including Elvis himself.

Before anyone could notice, however, his expression changed into that of a dauntless smile. He turned to Vanitas and said with an air of superiority, "You are courageous. I will give you that at least. I hope you will put an equally good fight."

"Yeah, I will."

Amidst the shocked gazes of the onlookers, the two walked leisurely out of the cafeteria and towards the practice arena.

*

Right next to the large living quarters was a circular arena with a large open space in the middle which was used for training by the members of the corps and for duels now and then.

The circular area in the middle was large and by Vanitas's estimation could at least accommodate a few hundred people at once.

A large stone wall circled the arena and above it was an upward spiraling space for the spectators to watch the fight unfold. Vanitas could feel that there was some sort of protective barrier placed between the fighting area and the spectators' seats, likely to prevent any damage to spread beyond the fighting arena.

Vanitas stood in the middle of the ground while Elvis was standing a few meters ahead of him with his hands folded.

He scanned the surrounding.

"Looks like the news spread quite fast."

"So it seems."

The number of people in the arena was more than what was back in the cafeteria. Someone had likely spread the news of the duel that was about to happen to everyone else.

From what Vanitas could surmise, Lieutenants like Elvis didn't battle with unranked soldiers. So the fact that he was going to fight against an amateur newbie attracted more spectators. Excitement and anticipation were in the air.

"Are both of you ready?" The one acting as the duel referee was Jack. He stood between Vanitas and Elvis.

"Yes." The two replied in unison.

"Since this is just a duel match the use of your demonic powers will be prohibited. You can use it to enhance your physical abilities but nothing more than that. It will be a fight of pure swordsmanship."

"That's good. He will lose in an instant if I were to use my demon's powers." Elvis snorted. Vanitas just raised an eyebrow in response to it. His action seemed to spark anger in Elvis.

Jack ignored that remark and continued with the rules, "The duel will end when one party surrenders or becomes unable to fight."

"Are you clear?" Jack looked at Vanitas to confirm. Vanitas nodded his head.

Jack then raised his hands up in the air.

Following that, Elvis unsheathed his long sword which looked like an extended katana. The sword looked exquisite and the curves and edges of the blade were gleaming.

Vanitas also took out his black sword.

Elvis let out an impressed "Oh?" upon seeing the sword in his hand.

Jack then swiftly brought down his hand and then cried, "Begin!"

The two launched themselves in the air and then sparks flew across the battlefield.

*

Elvis took a stance as he readied his long sword at his side.

He looked at the boy in front of him and the words of the General came back to his mind.

He had just returned after scouting the forest and killing off the monsters he happened across. He immediately went to the General's office to inform him of his findings.

After he finished his report, the General spoke about a new member that had joined their ranks just today.

"I am thinking of making him a Lieutenant." The General had said.

That had completely shocked Elvis.

"What are you saying, General Edward?"

"Just what you heard. That boy, Vanitas, he is strong. I think he can beat you easily. And not only you, but I am also talking about all the Lieutenants."

The words that the General spoke didn't seem to be a lie. But that made it all the more harder to take it in.

"Are you sure of that?"

"Yes." The General looked at him and shrugged his shoulders. "Why, he might even be able to beat me. Or at least that was what he claimed to me."

That was what enraged Elvis.

General Edward was, to him, the most powerful and the strongest person he had ever met. He had seen him in countless battles and seen his inhuman strength with his very own eyes. Elvis had come to respect him a lot and hailed him as the strongest.

So, when he heard that there was someone capable of beating even the strongest, he couldn't control himself.

There's no way someone could beat him. No, they can't even begin to measure up to him. I am sure of it. That newbie is getting cocky. How dare he say something ridiculous like that! I will not forgive him. Whoever that is, I will crush him myself and make him understand the gap in strength between him and the General. If he couldn't even beat me, then there's no way he would be able to stand against the General.

Having made up his mind to show the newbie his place, Elvis walked out of the room.

And that brings us to here.

The two were facing each other with their swords at the ready.

I will crush him here and show him the insurmountable gap in strength between him and the General.

With that thought, Elvis launched himself at the boy.