Chapter 64 : Second duel

The backyard training ground was quiet.

A calm silence hung in the air—

Broken only by the faint sound of breathing.

Arthur sat cross-legged in the center of the ground, his eyes closed, his posture steady. His chest rose and fell in a controlled rhythm as he practiced Iron Breathing.

Inhale—

Hold—

Release—

TSH.

Around him—

Dozens of reinforced wooden statues lay shattered across the ground.

Some were cracked.

Some completely destroyed.

Fragments scattered everywhere.

A clear sign of the past ten days.

Ten days of relentless training.

Ten days of pain.

Endurance.

Growth.

Arthur could feel it.

’My body... it’s completely different now.’

His muscles felt denser.

His core—stable.

His breathing—natural.

Even without thinking—

His body maintained structure.

Something he couldn’t even imagine doing before.

Then—

Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence. "Master told me you’ve progressed a lot. Which makes me look forward a little to fighting you again. I just hope it’s not as disappointing as last time."

It was Julia. Her blonde hair cascaded in wild waves down her back, framing sharp black eyes that gleamed with mischief. She wore a revealing training outfit—a cropped top and tight shorts that hugged her athletic curves, accentuating her toned figure and making her look effortlessly stunning.

Arthur’s eyes remained closed. A small smile tugged at his lips.

Suddenly, his red eyes fluttered open. "Well... can’t you just let me win this one? I really don’t want to sleep in the tent anymore. And I won’t have to hunt in the forest every morning for food."

Julia laughed out loud. "Well, Mr. Arthur, now you’ve given me another reason not to let you win."

Arthur grinned. "You really are an evil woman, you know that?"

Julia smirked. "I’ll take that as praise."

Arthur’s gaze flicked over her. "By the way, thanks for the view. I always enjoy seeing a big girl wearing a sexy outfit that shows off her curves."

A vein twitched on Julia’s forehead. "I wear this because it’s easier to move around in, okay? I also don’t like showing off my body to perverts like you." She crossed her arms over her chest defensively.

Arthur laughed. "Oh, is that so? For a moment, I thought you were an exhibitionist just like our master."

Julia gritted her teeth in anger, clenching her fists. ’Should I knock him out right now and throw him in the forest? I’m sure Master would understand.’

Suddenly, a loud smacking punch landed on Arthur’s head. His face buried into the ground with a thud.

A voice, barely restrained, rang out. "So I dress like an exhibitionist, huh?" Yuna stood beside him, her presence commanding. She wore a skimpy training ensemble—a low-cut top and thigh-high shorts that revealed her voluptuous curves, her sexy silhouette radiating confidence and allure.

Arthur’s eyes flicked wide as he heard the voice. He yanked his head from the ground, dirt caking his face. "I was just emphasizing how beautiful and sexy your curves are, Master! You know, in the most complimentary way possible!"

Arthur murmured under his breath, "I said it wrong."

The system voice echoed in his head. [You really are an idiot, aren’t you, host?]

’I really want to prove you wrong right now,’ Arthur thought, ’but I’ll do it later.’

Yuna, barely restraining her anger, took a deep sigh. In a low voice, she muttered to herself, "Calm down. He will carry your name forward. As perverted as he is, I have no choice but to trust him. So I should stop thinking about knocking him out and leaving him in the forest for the wilds to eat."

Arthur yelled, "Just how many scary thoughts are coming into your head at once?!"

Yuna merely smiled at him menacingly. "It’s up to you so they don’t become reality."

Arthur took a huge gulp.

Yuna straightened up. "Alright, that’s enough trash talk, everyone. Both of you, take your positions. We’re gonna start."

The air changed instantly.

The atmosphere—

Tense.

Sharp.

Arthur stood up slowly.

Julia stepped forward.

Both of them faced each other.

Silence fell once again—

But this time—

It was heavy.

The fight was about to begin.

The moment Yuna gave the signal—

The atmosphere changed.

Completely.

Arthur and Julia’s expressions turned serious.

Gone was the teasing.

Gone was the humor.

Only focus remained.

Both of them stepped forward—

And took their stances.

Arthur lowered his center of gravity, his fists raised like a boxer, shoulders relaxed but ready. His breathing was steady.

Inhale—

Hold—

Release—

TSH.

Julia stood differently.

Her stance was fluid.

Unpredictable.

Her body looked relaxed—

But every muscle was ready to explode.

Yuna raised her hand slightly.

Then—

Dropped it.

"Begin."

The ground cracked beneath their feet.

Both of them moved—

In a blur.

Arthur’s eyes sharpened.

’Focus... read her movement... shoulders... hips...’

Julia attacked first.

Her fist shot forward—

Fast.

Blindingly fast.

At the same time—

Her body rotated—

A roundhouse kick followed instantly from the opposite direction.

Two attacks.

Different angles.

Perfect coordination.

Arthur reacted.

His body shifted.

He slipped past the punch—

The air brushed against his cheek.

Then—

He leaned back—

The kick sliced through the air just inches from his face.

’Too fast...!’

But—

He didn’t stop.

Arthur rotated his hips—

And launched his own roundhouse kick.

Their legs collided.

BOOM.

The impact echoed through the training ground.

Neither of them moved.

A stalemate.

For a brief moment—

Silence.

Julia’s eyes widened slightly.

’He matched it...?’

She looked at him.

"You’ve improved," she said.

Arthur smirked slightly.

"What the hell... so have you," he replied. "I can already feel my leg going numb after all that training."

Julia smiled faintly.

Then—

She moved again.

Her body lifted off the ground—

Using her flexibility—

She spun mid-air—

And delivered another kick straight toward Arthur’s face.

Arthur barely reacted in time.

He tilted his head—

The kick grazed his cheek.

A sharp line of pain.

’Too close.’

Julia landed smoothly—

Perfect balance.

But—

Before she could follow up—

Arthur was already there.

In a blur—

He closed the distance.

His fist shot forward—

THUD.

A direct hit—

Right to her chest.

Julia’s eyes widened slightly.

Her breathing faltered for a split second.

She stepped back.

Creating distance.

Arthur grinned.

"C’mon... that weakling didn’t hurt you too much, right?"

Julia looked at him.

Expression blank.

"Don’t get cocky."

She vanished.

Then—

Appeared in front of him instantly.

Her attacks came like a storm.

Punch.

Kick.

Elbow.

Palm.

Each move flowed into the next seamlessly.

Arthur was pushed back.

Forced to defend.

Some attacks landed.

THUD.

CRACK.

His body shook.

Pain spread—

But he endured.

’Keep breathing... don’t lose structure...’

Inhale—

Hold—

Release—

TSH.

Even as he got hit—

His core stayed stable.

His vitals protected.

Julia noticed.

’...He’s adjusting mid-fight.’

Arthur dodged one strike—

Barely.

Another grazed past him.

Then—

He countered.

His fist shot forward—

THUD.

It landed.

Julia stepped back slightly.

Then again—

Another exchange.

Both of them were getting hit now.

Relentlessly.

Their bodies bruised.

Strained.

But neither backed down.

Arthur’s movements became sharper.

More efficient.

He wasn’t just reacting anymore—

He was reading.

Predicting.

Julia’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’He’s learning... again... during the fight.’

Yuna stood watching with a satisfied smile. ’I can’t believe he’s holding his own toe-to-toe with her after just ten days. Even if Julia’s not using her full arsenal.

I always doubted if Arthur’s unique talent could match a monstrous prodigy like Julia. But talent isn’t always visible to the eye—some have the hidden potential to eclipse them all and become the greatest.’

Back in the fight—

Arthur stepped forward again.

Julia met him head-on.

Their fists collided.

THUD.

Neither of them backed down.

The battlefield grew still.

For a brief moment—

Arthur and Julia stood at a distance from each other.

Both breathing heavily.

Both bruised.

Both... dangerous.

Arthur wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

His chest rose and fell steadily.

Inhale—

Hold—

Release—

TSH.

His eyes narrowed.

’...I can’t drag this out.’

He observed her carefully.

Every shift in her shoulders.

Every adjustment in her stance.

Every breath.

’Her stamina is still better than mine... even now.’

His jaw tightened.

’If this keeps going... I lose.’

Julia stood calmly across from him.

Watching.

Waiting.

Her breathing controlled—

But slightly heavier than before.

Arthur noticed.

’...There.’

A thought formed.

A plan.

Risky.

But necessary.

Arthur suddenly stepped forward.

His movement—

Deliberately flawed.

His guard opened slightly.

His right side—

Exposed.

A clear opening.

Too clear.

Julia’s eyes sharpened.

’...A mistake?’

No.

She didn’t hesitate.

She moved instantly.

Her body blurred.

Her fist drove forward—

A finishing strike aimed straight at his head.

Fast.

Precise.

Lethal.

Arthur didn’t dodge.

At the last possible moment—

He shifted.

Barely.

Just enough—

To redirect the trajectory.

THUD.

The attack slammed into his abdomen instead of his head.

"GHH—!!"

Arthur’s body folded.

Blood burst from his mouth.

Pain exploded through his entire body.

His breathing shattered.

But—

He endured.

’...Now!’

Before Julia could pull back—

Arthur grabbed her arm.

Tightly.

Julia’s eyes widened.

’No... way...’

He was still standing.

Still moving.

Arthur’s grip tightened.

Every muscle in his body screamed—

But he ignored it.

’One chance...’

He moved.

First strike—

A sharp jab to her ribs.

THUD.

Second—

A cross to her chest.

CRACK.

Third—

A low kick sweeping into her thigh.

THUD.

The impact stacked.

Heavy.

Disruptive.

Julia’s balance faltered.

Her body reacted—

Just a fraction too slow.

Then—

The final strike.

Arthur twisted his body—

Putting everything—

Every ounce of strength—

Into one punch.

Aimed straight at her head.

CRACK.

The hit landed.

Clean.

Julia’s body lifted slightly—

Then began to fall.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

’...I won.’

But—

Before she hit the ground—

Something changed.

A surge.

A burst of aura erupted from her body.

"I’ll never lose to a newbie!"

Her voice rang out.

Arthur froze.

’...What—?’

In the next instant—

Her hand shot out.

She caught his fist mid-motion.

Firm.

Unshakable.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

Her breathing changed.

Sharp.

Focused.

Alive.

As she muttred under her breath.

"Lightning Breath... Phoenix Breathing."

Her entire presence shifted.

Her body—

Stabilized.

Recovered.

Reinforced.

As she become even after then before.

Arthur felt it instantly.

’...She got stronger.’

Before he could react—

She moved.

Faster than before.

Precise.

Controlled.

Her fingers struck his body—

One point—

Then another—

Then another.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Each touch sent a shock through him.

His body locked.

His breathing broke.

’...I can’t move—’

Then—

A final kick.

THUD.

It connected cleanly.

Arthur’s vision went white.

His body collapsed—

Limp.

Unconscious.

THUD.

Silence returned.

Julia stood there—

Breathing heavily.

Then slowly—

She dropped to her knees.

"Haa... haa..."

Her chest rose and fell.

Sweat dripped down her face.

The fight—

Was over.

But not easily.

Not even close.