Chapter 333 (Patreon)

Rose Light rose from her seat as the wagon continued rattling across the desert. The wooden frame creaked with every bump in the desert, and warm air drifted through the curtains carrying the scent of dust and sunbaked earth. Without a word, she crossed the wagon toward the slave she had purchased in the lawless city.

The young man appeared far too comfortable for someone wearing a slave collar. While everyone else seemed occupied with thoughts of ambushes, assassins, and invisible enemies, he sat quietly against the wall with his eyes closed, almost as if he were enjoying the journey.

Rose stopped in front of him. "How many forces are we expecting in that town?"

The young man opened one eye. "I don't know," he replied.

Rose frowned.

"I can't see everything," he continued. "I only know that if I stay with you, I'll be safe."

For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Rose clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Not much use."

The slave simply closed his eyes again, seemingly unaffected by her dismissal.

A hand suddenly rose from the corner of the wagon. Suri.

"I can finally see them."

Everyone immediately turned toward her. Suri's eyes had taken on that distant look they always did whenever she was viewing the world through one of her illusions.

"They're still setting things up," she said. "Traps mostly. A lot of them."

Rose folded her arms. "Numbers?"

"Around four hundred on the main route." Suri paused. "Three hundred on each of the other paths."

The wagon grew quiet. Even some of the knights exchanged uneasy looks.

Suri tilted her head slightly. "Honestly, they don't look very strong."

Several eyebrows rose. "They look more like bandits than soldiers."

Rose's expression immediately hardened. "Then they're a distraction."

The certainty in her voice silenced any arguments before they could begin. "The empire doesn't place its strongest pieces where everyone can see them," she said. "If those are the forces waiting openly, then the real threat is somewhere else."

Kana watched the commander carefully. Rose rarely spoke without reason. When she did, it usually meant she had already considered several possibilities ahead of everyone else.

After a moment, Kana raised her hand. "Is it possible to face them at night?"

Several people looked at her. Rose looked thoughtful rather than dismissive.

The wagon rocked gently as she considered the question. "Perhaps," she said at last. "But I don't see the advantage."

Kana remained silent, waiting.

Rose rested one elbow against the wagon wall. "It would create confusion. Identifying targets becomes harder after dark. We might be even at a disadvantage especially for those who have [Assassin] class."

She glanced toward the sunlight filtering through the curtains.

"And remember. They are preparing an ambush."

Her gaze returned to Kana. "They'll be hidden." The implication settled over the wagon. "We won't."

A few knights nodded. It was difficult to argue with that logic. Before Kana could respond, Suri raised her hand again. "Kana fights better at night."

Rose looked toward her. "Better?" she asked.

Boris immediately nodded. "Much better. Feels like a different person."

Thorne, perched lazily atop his shoulder, bobbed her head as if adding her own agreement.

Suri pointed toward Kana. "You haven't seen her during the night."

For the first time, genuine curiosity appeared on Rose's face. She studied Kana for several moments. Not as a student. Not even as someone she was protecting. But as a fighter evaluating another fighter.

Finally, Rose nodded. "Then I'll test it myself."

Kana blinked. Several knights suddenly looked very interested in the conversation.

Rose crossed her arms. "I'll duel you during the day."

A few of the younger knights nearly choked.

"And then again at night."

The wagon instantly became much more awake. Even the slave opened one eye.

Rose ignored everyone's reactions. "If the difference is significant enough," she said calmly, "then changing our strategy may be worthwhile."

Kana found herself surprisingly intrigued.

Most people would have been nervous at the thought of dueling Rose Light. The woman had killed a faction master alone, conquered one of the most dangerous cities on the continent, and treated life-threatening situations as minor inconveniences.

Yet Rose spoke about the duel with the same calm tone someone might use when discussing tomorrow's weather. As if she was confident she would win whatever the case.

Across the wagon, Boris grinned eagerly. Suri looked far more interested than she had moments earlier. Several knights were already exchanging amused glances.

For a brief moment, the tension eased.

Because somewhere ahead, hidden among the path and towns of the empire, hundreds of enemies were preparing for their arrival. And with every mile the wagon traveled, the trap waiting for them drew tighter.

….

Their wagon stopped for a short break.

Officially, it was to rest the beasts and allow everyone to stretch their legs after hours of travel. Unofficially, nearly everyone knew the real reason.

Rose Light was going to test Kana.

Within minutes, knights, students, and Artin had gathered in a loose circle atop a relatively flat stretch of red sand. Some watched with open curiosity. Others looked eager. A handful of knights were quietly exchanging silver coins while pretending not to.

Artin stood near one of the wagons with his arms crossed, looking amused.

Boris occupied the front row with Thorne perched atop his shoulder. The little lizard seemed unusually attentive, her golden eyes fixed on the center of the circle.

Even Ryle and the slave had emerged from the wagon to watch.

In the middle of it all, Rose Light rolled her shoulders and stretched her neck. The desert wind brushed against her dark armor, carrying grains of sand that skittered across the ground. Across from her, Kana adjusted the straps of her armor and rested a hand on the curved sword hanging at her hip.

Standing face to face only emphasized how small Kana looked.

The top of her head barely reached Rose's chest. It was easy to forget what the girl was capable of. Easy to look at her and see nothing more than a student.

Underestimating the enemy—Rose had made that mistake exactly once.

Never again.

She had heard the stories. The duel with the empire student. The one who ended the [Lich]. One of the rarest gold badge achievers. The absurd achievements accomplished by someone who should have still been worrying about examinations and homework.

Most of those stories sounded exaggerated.

Now she wasn't so sure. Kana's crimson eyes remained calm as she met Rose's gaze.

Not nervous. Not excited. She was perfectly calm in front of her.

That bothered Rose more than she expected.

She had seen eyes like that before. Veteran soldiers. Assassins. People who had survived too many battles.

There was a weight behind Kana's gaze that didn't belong to someone her age.

"Don't use any skills," Rose said.

Kana nodded. "Just raw skills."

Another nod. Kana's fingers wrapped around the hilt of her sword.

The curved blade slid from its sheath with a soft metallic whisper. The moment it cleared the scabbard, Rose felt something she couldn't quite explain.

Pressure.

Not bloodlust.

Not killing intent.

It was authority.

The sensation brushed against her instincts like a distant storm. For a brief moment, she was reminded of standing before the king himself. The thought surprised her.

Rose narrowed her eyes. Very interesting. She pushed the thought aside and focused on the duel.

Kana settled into her stance.

Rose immediately recognized the signs of a fighter built around speed. The footwork, the posture, the positioning. Similar to [Rogue] and [Assassins] she had encountered throughout her career.

Fast opponents often made the same mistake. They attacked first. Rose intended to wait. Her own longsword slid free from the sheath on her back.

The polished steel caught the afternoon sunlight.

She planted her feet. A counterattacker. Against speed, timing was everything.

The desert became strangely quiet.

Only the wind remained. Sand drifted between them.

Nobody moved. Then a stronger gust swept across the battlefield.

Kana vanished.

Rose blinked. The distance between them had disappeared. One moment Kana stood several paces away. The next she was already within striking range.

No skill activation. No mana fluctuation.

Just movement. Perfect movement.

Rose's eyes widened.

The attack came from her blind side.

Fast.

Ridiculously fast. Her instincts reacted before her thoughts could. Steel crashed against steel. The impact rang across the desert.

Several knights flinched. Rose successfully blocked the strike.

Barely. The force traveled through her arms immediately. Her surprise deepened.

It was a strong strike. Far stronger than she anticipated. For someone built around speed, Kana's attacks carried shocking power.

A grin slowly spread across Rose's face. Kana immediately retreated.

No celebration. No hesitation. Just distance.

The moment Rose smiled, Kana moved back as though recognizing the danger.

Smart. Rose liked that. Then she attacked. Her longsword swept forward with enough force to split the air.

Kana had already moved. The blade slammed into the desert floor instead. Sand exploded outward. A shallow crater appeared beneath the strike.

Before the dust even settled, Kana was moving again.

The pressure began.

Attack.

Step.

Attack.

Pivot.

Attack.

Every strike targeted a weakness. Every movement flowed into the next. Kana never stayed where Rose expected. One moment she was on the left. The next she appeared on the right. Then directly in front. Then gone again.

Rose found herself doing something unusual. Defending.

Not because she had to. Because Kana wouldn't allow anything else. Every opening vanished before Rose could exploit it.

Every attempted counterattack was interrupted. Steel rang repeatedly. Sharp. Fast. Relentless.

The gathered knights watched in stunned silence. Most had expected Kana to survive for a few exchanges.

Nobody expected her to force Rose Light backward. Yet that was exactly what was happening. Step by step, Rose yielded ground.

Not from weakness. From caution. From respect. Because every passing second revealed another layer of Kana's ability. The girl fought like water finding cracks in stone.

Always searching.

Always adapting.

Always pressing.

Rose felt excitement stirring inside her. The kingdom truly had produced a monster.

."Enough."

Her voice was little more than a mutter. Yet Kana immediately stopped.

The sword froze mid-motion. Rose noticed that.

She must have a passive skill that can enhance her senses beyond normal. Interesting.

She lowered her blade. The tension around the battlefield broke instantly.

Several knights released breaths they had been holding. Others looked disappointed the duel had ended so quickly.

Rose studied Kana for a long moment. Then she slid her sword back into its sheath.

"I've seen enough." Kana tilted her head slightly. 

Rose folded her arms. "I understand your strength during the day now."

A faint smile touched her lips. "But that's not what I'm interested in."

The wind stirred again, carrying the scent of sand and distant heat. Rose's eyes narrowed.

"We'll continue tonight."

Several knights immediately perked up.  Rose's gaze remained fixed on Kana. "I want to see what happens when the sun disappears."

For the first time, Rose found herself genuinely curious. Because if Kana was this dangerous beneath the blazing desert sun...

What kind of monster did she become in the dark?

Post note:

Yes. A sudden duel.

Happy weekends!Fifth chap of the week.Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

Next Chapter