In the knight's training grounds, Sakyo and Reika stand twenty meters apart, each holding wooden swords used for sparring. Garm, having been asked to referee this bout, stands to the side waiting to give the signal to begin.
[Reika] This is your only chance to change your mind. If your resolve is lacking, you may still stand down.
[Sakyo] I assure you, you will find my resolve equal to yours.
As they raise their swords, Garm raises his arm, signaling the beginning of the duel.
[Garm] This bout will determine whether Master is allowed to join the knight's raid in the coming days! The battle will be over when either Master lands a single blow on Lady Reika, or when he acknowledges his defeat! If both parties are in agreement, the battle will be now!
At Garm's signal, the duel begins. A gentle breeze blows as neither side makes a move.
[Sakyo] (I can't be reckless with this. I just need to land one attack, but she's leagues above me in both strength and experience.)
Slowly closing the distance, Sakyo tries to find an opening to strike, but none seem apparent.
[Reika] What's the matter? You look kind of worried. If you aren't going to act, then I will.
Taking advantage of his hesitation, Reika strikes. A single slash from the side. Such a straightforward attack, yet too fast to dodge. The wooden blades meet with a hollow crack echoing throughout the yard. Sakyo is knocked back after barely being able to block it.
[Sakyo] (What the heck? So much power behind just one attack, and this is her when she's holding back.)
Before he can regain his footing, Reika strikes again. This time, multiple slashes aimed towards the abdomen. Sakyo, keeping his sword in front of his body, barely blocks each attack. It's clear Reika is aiming to diminish his spirit and make him give up quickly.
Despite her restraint, Sakyo is overwhelmed by the constant barrage of attacks. Each slash holds enough strength to knock him back. He can only defend, and even that is not enough. His best efforts are futile in the face of the seasoned warrior who stands before him now.
[Sakyo] (Damnit, I can't find any openings, and she's not giving me a second to compose myself. I know I can't win, but I'll be damned in hell before I admit defeat here.)
He jumps back in an attempt to regain some control. This time, Reika doesn't follow, instead choosing to remain where she currently stands.
[Reika] Are you ready to admit defeat?
[Sakyo] Never. (I can't, not now, not ever.)
Her assault continues. Each slash getting faster. Each strike more precise than the one before. Mere minutes feel like hours as Sakyo can only defend and run. Before long, he falls to his knees, exhausted from the duel.
[Reika] It's time to give up. You can't win here.
[Sakyo] (She's right, I'm completely outmatched, but still...) I don't care, I don't need to defeat you. I just need to land one strike.
[Reika] You will find such a feat does not come easy.
[Sakyo] (Her attacks completely overwhelm me, and she doesn't have any openings for me to take advantage of, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. She's been holding back against me, so her attacks are too straightforward. I've been watching each slash, waiting for each strike. If I can just get the timing right, I can land one hit.)
Once again, Reika continues her barrage of attacks. However, Sakyo doesn't only defend. Having observed all of her movements during this duel, he instead chooses to dodge and parry more strikes and slashes than before.
[Sakyo] (One slash from the right, followed by a barrage of straightforward thrusts. After that, another two slashes, one from above followed swiftly from below. I can see it all clearly now. I have to aim for that last slash... Now!)
At the last slash from below, Sakyo doesn't step back, instead following the attack. Hitting the blade from behind, a rapid scrape parries her sword, knocking it out of the way. Reika's eyes widen as her arms are thrown above her head.
Taking advantage of this one moment, Sakyo aims one thrust of his blade towards Reika's armored center. Having been caught off guard from his maneuver, Reika's grip on her sword tightens as she slashes down. Her restraint forgotten for a moment as a loud crack fills the area. Sakyo can only jump back, his hands trembling after receiving such a fierce blow.
Before he can regain his composure, Sakyo's wooden blade splits in half. Not a crack across the side, but a clean break down the blades centerline.
[Sakyo] (Woah, what was that? I know my timing was perfect, but she just countered my parry like it was nothing. It's no use, I can't win.)
[Reika] It's over, you may have fought well, but I will not allow you to ever defeat me. (That was too close. I can't let him get that close again.)
Despair fills his head as any hope of winning this duel escapes Sakyo's grasp. As his resolve weakens, something inside him ignites. A fire that wasn't there before, one that sets his spirit ablaze.
Despite just previously feeling powerless mere moments ago, a wide grin suddenly spreads across Sakyo's face. A feeling he's never felt before surges through his entire body. His mind racing once more, not with despair, but instead with enjoyment.
[Sakyo] This is fun, Mom, this is so much fun.
Reika is puzzled by her son's words. Moments ago, he looked as if he was ready to admit defeat, but now he stands tall with renewed spirit.
[Sakyo] (I know I can't win, but I don't care. I don't understand why, but this is so much fun. Standing before a warrior who I can't hope to defeat, someone I want to beat more than anything. I won't give up. I want to win!)
System: [Notice: Individual, Sakyo Wolfen, has acquired the skill {Indominable Will}.]
[Sakyo] I don't care if I can't win. I don't care if it seems impossible. I am going to win here.
With renewed spirit, Sakyo grips his sword, now split in two, in each hand. He charges straight towards Reika. A flurry of slashes and thrusts, all aimed at her center, fly towards her. Each attack blocked seamlessly, but with increasing effort needing to be applied. Every attack comes quicker than the last.
[Reika] (What's going on? He was ready to quit just a minute ago. I had almost dissuaded him. Why won't you just give up already?)
His eyes completely ignore the surrounding area. Their faint red glow is focused only on the opponent in front of him in this moment.
[Sakyo] (Half the weight, but I need to keep my focus.)
[Garm] (Parallel processing. Master is so focused on this match, so fueled by his desire to win, he is growing faster than Lady Reika can imagine. Even if she is holding back, she must keep adjusting her strength to Master's new speed.)
As worries cloud her judgment, Sakyo takes advantage of Reika's distraction. Slashing across her legs, Reika jumps in time to avoid, but is nearly met with another thrust to her center. Acting quickly, she parries the thrust aside, but fails to notice the second blade held back in his other hand. One thrust of half a blade concealed in a blind spot that grazes her now unprotected arm.
[Garm] That enough! Master has landed a confirmed blow on Lady Reika's arm. With that, Master has won this duel.
With confirmation of his victory, Sakyo falls to his knees, exhausted from the duel. Garm quickly rushes to his side as Reika can only stand stunned from her son's achievement.
[Reika] (What just happened? He actually landed a blow on me. I know I was holding back, but I was sure I used enough strength to avoid everything. How did he get so much stronger so quickly?)
[Sakyo] Garm, saddle up. I'm gonna need some help walking to the healing tent.
[Garm] I fail to see why a horse would be necessary, but I am able to carry you on my own.
[Sakyo] It's a figure of speech.
Finally snapping out of her daze, Reika walks up to the two, Garm staggering slightly under his master's weight. Despite his words before, it's clear his balance is thrown off with his prosthetic.
[Reika] I must admit, I didn't think you'd be able to land a hit on me. Since you won this duel, you can join the raid, and you'd better keep your word that you'll look after him on this mission.
[Garm] I swear on my life, I will protect Master with everything I have.
[Reika] Good, now let's get him to the healing tent. I think I went a bit too hard during that match.
[Sakyo] A little? I've never even heard of a sword being split down the blades length.
[Reika] Sorry, I was planning to hold back, but I took that swing a bit too seriously.
[Sakyo] Well, at least I can brag about beating you in a duel. Maybe one day I'll be able to beat you at full strength.
[Reika] Don't get ahead of yourself. I've only been defeated twice in my life.
[Sakyo] Really? What kind of monsters were able to make you serious?
[Reika] One was my sword teacher. He taught me everything I know about swordsmanship. That's also where I learned that sword splitting technique. The second... was your father.
Sakyo suddenly perks up hearing mention of his father. Before now, he'd never heard anything regarding him.
[Sakyo] My father?
[Reika] Yeah, he's strong. In all honesty, he's the only man I'm still not sure I'll ever be able to defeat, even if I give it my all.
[Sakyo] (What kind of demon was my dad to make her feel that way? I can't even imagine myself matching her, and she's telling me that my dad is even more powerful?)
[Reika] But you'd better not inherit that stupid grin of his. I swear, when he did that during our fights, it just made me want to punch his stupid face.
[Sakyo] (Wow, she's really in love with dad.)
...
It's been a few days since the duel. Once information regarding the underground slave trade business was confirmed, preparations for the raid began. One the day before everything would go down, Reika called Sakyo and Garm to the meeting room to tell them their roles.
[Reika] The knights will be moving first thing tomorrow morning and the raid is planned for that night. I'll lead them in an attack to the front of the operation. While we're distracting them, you two will sneak into their base and locate the captives.
[Sakyo] Got it, we'll be in charge of stealth. Garm, you sure you'll be all set for this?
[Garm] Yes, Lady Reika has been helping my get used to running with this "pro-scent-ink" leg.
Tired of correcting his pronunciation, Sakyo merely chuckles at Garm's words. Reika, on the other hand, refocuses the conversation.
[Reika] Now then, before we go any further, there's one thing I want to check. Garm, I'd like to see your status screen.