Even those who agreed to observe and wait—The Ten—couldn't always keep their tempers in check. Rivalries simmered just beneath the surface. Fights still broke out, even among the elite.

  Once a month, they would gather near the glowing inscription on the barrier to exchange intel and reassess the hierarchy.

  On this day, as the meeting was coming to an end, a sharp voice cut through the silence.

  Rank 10: “Hey, Number Six… don’t you think you’ve got something to tell us?”

  Rank 1: “Debli, stop. Now.”

  Rank 6: “Tell you what?”

  Rank 10: “I’m talking about how you’ve kept everything to yourself. I’ve never once seen you fight. How many duels have you had? Huh?”

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  Rank 1: “Debli, fights among the Ten are forbidden… unless it’s for rank.”

  Rank 10 (grinning wildly): “Then I’m challenging you to a duel!”

  Duel Rules:

  When two combatants engaged in battle—only if the lower rank challenged the higher—an arena would form around them.

  ? Ranks 1–100: Official duel

  ? Ranks 101–10,000: Publicly announced

  ? Ranks 10,001–100,000: Spontaneous barrier-activated brawl

  The barrier flared. Two nameplates materialized in the air:

  Debli – Blank

  Kills: 189 vs. Kills: 29,999

  Rank 10 vs. Rank 6

  The crowd froze.

  “W–what the hell… over twenty thousand?”

  “Why doesn’t he have a name?”

  “W–who is this guy…?”

  Rank 10 (nervous laughter): “Hahaha… HAHAA! You’re insane. It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the reason rivers of blood flowed at the start!”

  Debli had trained from childhood—raised in a noble family famed for their dual-blade style. He had carved his legacy in blood and steel.

  But when his opponent calmly drew just one of his two swords—expressionless, emotionless—Debli froze.

  It felt as if death itself was walking toward him.

  Let the duel begin.