"Who is this jerk?" That was the first question that came to mind. I don't remember his name—my first and last impression of him was that he looked like a spoiled brat, and it seems I wasn't wrong.

"Nothing to say? You're not just weak but also a coward." Apparently, he mistook my silence for fear. I was just trying to figure out who this stupid kid was. I didn't know how to react to his comments, I couldn't recall his family's noble rank, and most of all, I didn't want to cause trouble at Sol's birthday party.

Just as I was about to respond, Arisa spoke first. "Shut up, Phil. Maki's not a coward, and he's way stronger than you." She was glaring at him, clearly holding back from hitting him. "Don't ruin Sol's party just because you're jealous of him." Sol was furious too, though she hadn't said anything yet, and Marga just watched us with a smile.

"Stronger than me? Impossible." He grinned challengingly at me and then looked at Sol. "I don't want to ruin your party, Sol. I'm just saying what I see."

He turned his gaze back to me. "Not going to defend yourself? You're a coward for letting Arisa speak for you." The way he spoke to them started to irritate me. I didn't care if he insulted me, but I wouldn't tolerate him ruining Sol's party and treating them like that.

"I can defend myself. You're just not worth it." I looked him up and down, and his face twisted in rage at my comment. The three girls let out a short giggle and tried to contain themselves, realizing that it only made him angrier.

"What did you just say, kid?" He pointed at me accusingly. "Do you know who I am? Want to take me on? Let's go outside, and you'll see how outmatched you are." I sighed in frustration. I wanted to teach him a lesson right then and there, and I was ready to accept his challenge immediately.

I looked at Sol and Arisa. Their faces showed mixed emotions—they probably wanted to see me make him suffer, but at the same time, they seemed worried that this little fight might cause bigger problems.

"Phil, are you sure?" Marga spoke up first. "Are you challenging Maki to a duel?" Her face was full of amusement. She'd seen me fight and knew a bit of my strength. Maybe she wanted to see me put this stupid noble in his place.

"Yes, Lady Marga, I can beat him easily. Though I doubt this coward will accept my challenge." His words were getting on my nerves more and more. The only reason I hadn't hit him yet was to avoid causing a scene in the hall.

To my surprise, Sol spoke next. "Maki's no coward. He accepts your duel." Even without reading her Imra, I could tell how angry she was just by her face. "In fifteen minutes, in the main courtyard. It'll be a duel without resentment." She turned to me and smiled, and the other two girls looked at me with hidden grins too, which made Phil even more furious.

"Fine by me. I accept your duel." I finally spoke, staring at him with boredom. I could tell this noble was at the Emerald rank like me, though I couldn't sense any Law coming from him. It would be like fighting a child.

"I'm going to show everyone at this party just how weak you are." He turned and went back to his group, who were cheering for him. That group of four kids could all come at me at once, and I wouldn't even break a sweat.

"What was that?" I looked at Sol before continuing. "Are situations like this normal? Sorry for ruining your party." I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit embarrassed. Now that I thought about it, I was surprised at how quickly it escalated into a duel, and everyone acted like this happened all the time.

"Don't worry, Maki. These kinds of encounters are pretty common among nobles. It's the most 'peaceful' way to resolve things once talking no longer works." The three of them began explaining these types of duels between Emerald ranks. From Sapphire rank and above, these duels at noble events were considered an offense and were no longer allowed.

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The next fifteen minutes were spent with them explaining duels, who Phil was, and moving to the fight location. Most adults didn't give it much importance. My uncle Camux just gave me a thumbs-up and ordered one of his servants to act as referee.

Sol grabbed the duel collar, helped me put it on, and I activated it immediately. The light blinked until it became completely steady—that meant the other person was ready too.

"Show him who you are." Arisa was the first to give me some encouragement with a wink.

"Finish it quickly so we can get back." Sol smiled sweetly, motivating me to go all out from the start.

"Knock that idiot off his high horse." Marga added, clapping as she spoke.

I walked to the center of the training hall they'd lent us for this duel and thanked them with my back turned. "I'll finish this as fast as possible." Obviously, I wasn't going to show all my power—just enough to humiliate him.

Surprisingly, he also used dual swords like me, though his were much larger and thicker than my twin blades. I saw mana resembling steel forming around his body—he was clearly a melee fighter.

"Doesn't matter—short or long range, I'm better." I muttered more to myself than anything else.

The referee began to explain the usual tournament rules. As he stepped aside to a safe distance, I stared at the stupid noble in front of me. He wore an incredibly arrogant expression, as if he had already won.

"You're in this situation because of your own actions. If you weren't such a boastful loudmouth, you could've avoided this humiliation." Phil tried to provoke me with his words—I responded by yawning, and his face twisted in anger. First mental round goes to me.

"Twenty seconds." That was all I said as I loosened up my body. He looked at me strangely, like he couldn't understand my words.

The referee gave the signal to start. We both moved quickly toward the center without using movement skills. Halfway there, he finally used his ability to appear in front of me. His Imra surrounded his sword, which was coated in mana. His control over his abilities seemed decent—maybe even good—but nowhere near mine.

My Imra had already sharpened my blade to the point where it could cut through an ogre. My mana had strengthened my body enough to take a hit from a grade 3 monster with ease. And my mind was as calm as if I were sipping iced tea in the garden.

Our first clash of swords made his eyes widen instantly. He couldn't even push me back a step, and his swords went flying from the impact. I followed with a slash to his right leg, making him lose balance, then another cut to his stomach.

He tried to put distance between us with several quick slashes while stepping back. My body reacted, dodging each attack or easily blocking them with my blades, redirecting his swords into awkward positions where he couldn't reposition easily.

His eyes showed panic after I landed a third strike near his shoulder. He used his movement ability to get away, only to find me right beside him. You can't escape my domain—I know where you'll move at all times, you idiot.

This time, my attacks were met by a thick steel coating over his skin, yet my blows still threw him off balance, and I saw his expression twist in pain from the heavy impacts.

In desperation, he tried to create steel needles and hurl them at me, but I easily blocked them with agile sword movements. His ranged attacks had no real power—just heavy due to his affinity.

His face had turned ugly once he realized he couldn't do anything with his various skills. His defenses weren't tough enough, his ranged attacks didn't make me sweat, and his swordplay was like a child's compared to mine.

I landed a full-power strike to his chest, sending him flying several meters back. I didn't chase him—I just watched him with a blank expression. When he realized I didn't bother to follow up at his weakest, he grew enraged. His face shifted to surprise as he saw me summon six spheres around me in less than a second.

These were v3 spheres—they didn't contain death mana or any Law, just highly condensed ice with spikes. Their electric affinity made them spin and gain power. Before he could react, they all launched toward him at full speed. He tried to summon a steel wall and strengthen his body while jumping to the side.

Thanks to my domain, I could sense all his actions. The first sphere shattered his wall easily, and they all hit him squarely. He tried to withstand them with his steel affinity, but at his level, it was impossible. He was sent flying again. When he hit the ground, I was already at his side to finish him—his collar was one strike away from activating.

I looked down at him. He slowly opened his eyes from the pain and saw me standing over him—his eyes filled with surprise, then panic. "Pathetic." That was my last word before plunging my right sword into his chest and activating his protection collar, making me the winner of the duel.

I glanced at the seconds on my watch—it seems I was generous saying twenty seconds. It didn't even last that long. The referee rushed over and declared me the winner. I gave one last empty look before turning and walking back to my group.

"That was a lot easier than I expected." Those were my first words upon returning to them, said loudly on purpose. Phil's group heard them too, and I saw their faces twist in rage. A few others just looked at me with caution—or fear.

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