The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Date of the Duel

The day of the duel had finally arrived, and the tension in the air was palpable. The sun hung high in the sky, its rays filtered through the thick canopy of trees surrounding the grand arena known as The Ironclad Coliseum. The crowd’s murmurs swelled, a sea of faces brimming with excitement and anticipation. Nobles, warriors, and emissaries from far-off lands had gathered to witness the spectacle.

The announcer’s booming voice echoed through the arena, amplified by a spell that carried it to every corner of the coliseum. “Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of the realm, and esteemed guests! Welcome to this most anticipated duel! A battle to determine not only strength but worthiness! On this side, we have the challenger, Lady Aeliana, fiancée to the Dark Lord himself, and on the other side, the seasoned warrior and the Luna of the Werewolf Clan, Svlyara Bloodfang!”

Aeliana stood on her side of the arena, gripping her sword tightly. Her armor gleamed under the sun, simple but sturdy, tailored for agility rather than brute strength. Her heart pounded in her chest, her nerves threatening to get the best of her, but she forced herself to focus. This was it. Everything she had trained for came down to this moment.

Across from her, Svlyara smirked, her confidence radiating. She unsheathed her dual blades, each inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with magic. She wore light armor of silver and black, designed to accentuate her speed and predatory agility. Svlyara’s movements were fluid, almost casual, as though the fight was a mere formality.

Lucian sat in the special observation box, his face stoic but his knuckles white as they gripped the armrests of his chair. Kael stood beside him, shifting uneasily. “You think she can do it?” Kael asked under his breath.

“She has to,” Lucian replied simply, though his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

“Warriors, step forward!” the announcer called, and both women walked to the center of the arena.

Aeliana’s palms were sweaty as she met Svlyara’s piercing golden gaze. “You should’ve stayed home, little girl,” Svlyara taunted, her voice low and dripping with condescension. “You don’t belong in this arena.”

Aeliana narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening on her sword. “We’ll see about that.”

The announcer raised his hand. “The rules are simple: no magic beyond what your weapons allow, no interference, and no surrender! This is a fight to first incapacitation or yield!”

The crowd roared in approval, and the announcer’s hand came down. “Begin!”

Svlyara moved first, a blur of speed as she closed the distance between them in seconds. Aeliana barely had time to raise her sword to block as Svlyara’s blades came down in a flurry of strikes. The force of the blows sent vibrations up Aeliana’s arms, and she staggered back, her boots skidding in the dirt.

“Too slow!” Svlyara mocked, spinning to deliver a kick to Aeliana’s midsection.

Aeliana anticipated it, sidestepping just in time and retaliating with a wide slash. Svlyara ducked, her movements as smooth as water, and countered with an upward strike that Aeliana barely deflected.

…

Svlyara lunged forward, her speed nearly blinding. Aeliana barely had time to raise her sword to block the first strike, the force of Svlyara’s twin blades reverberating through her arms.

Svlyara smirked, her golden eyes gleaming with predatory delight. “You’re quick to block, but let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

Before Aeliana could respond, Svlyara struck again, this time aiming for her side. Aeliana dodged, but not fast enough—one of Svlyara’s blades grazed her arm, slicing through her armor and leaving a shallow cut. The sting of the wound jolted Aeliana, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let the pain distract her.

In the crowd, the spectators erupted in a mix of cheers and gasps, their excitement palpable.

From the observation box, Lucian clenched his jaw, his hands gripping the railing tightly. “She’s bleeding already,” he muttered under his breath.

“She’s still standing,” Kael pointed out, trying to reassure him. “Give her time.”

Back in the arena, Svlyara circled Aeliana like a wolf stalking its prey, her confidence radiating. “You’re better than I expected,” she said, her tone almost mocking. “But skill only gets you so far. Endurance is what wins battles.”

Aeliana didn’t reply, her focus entirely on Svlyara’s movements. The hours of training with Lucian and Kael echoed in her mind. Watch her footwork. Anticipate her strikes. Stay calm.

Svlyara charged again, her blades flashing in the sunlight as she unleashed a flurry of strikes. Aeliana managed to parry most of them, but the sheer speed and strength behind Svlyara’s attacks began to wear her down. One strike slipped through her defense, slashing across her thigh. Aeliana winced but didn’t falter, adjusting her stance to compensate.

Svlyara raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed despite herself. “Still on your feet? Most would be crawling by now.”

Aeliana smirked, sweat dripping down her brow. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”

The crowd roared at her defiance, and even Svlyara seemed taken aback for a moment. She tilted her head, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Interesting. Maybe this won’t be as boring as I thought.”

The fight pressed on, and Aeliana began to notice something. Svlyara was fast and skilled, yes, but she was also overconfident. She relied on her speed to overwhelm her opponents, leaving little room for defense.

She’s expecting me to tire out, Aeliana thought, her mind racing. If I can hold on long enough, I might find an opening.

Lucian, watching from above, began to see the same thing. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed every move. “Come on, Aeliana,” he murmured. “You can do this.”

Back in the arena, Svlyara lunged again, aiming for Aeliana’s torso. This time, Aeliana sidestepped and countered with a strike of her own. Her blade didn’t land, but it forced Svlyara to step back, her expression shifting from confidence to surprise.

“You’re tougher than you look,” Svlyara admitted, rolling her shoulders. “But endurance can only take you so far. Let’s see how you handle this!”

She rushed forward, her blades spinning in a deadly dance. Aeliana braced herself, her heart pounding as she prepared for the next clash. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she refused to give up.

I’ve come this far, she thought, determination flaring in her chest. I won’t let her win.

The fight was far from over, but Aeliana could feel something shifting. Svlyara might have started strong, but now, for the first time, Aeliana felt like she had a chance.

Svlyara lunged forward with a precision strike, her blade slipping past Aeliana’s defenses. A sharp pain pierced Aeliana’s side as Svlyara’s blade found its mark, cutting deep enough to draw a gasp from the crowd. Aeliana staggered back, clutching her side as blood seeped through her fingers.

The world seemed to slow down for a moment. Lucian stood abruptly from his seat, his heart lurching in his chest as he gripped the railing. “Aeliana!” he shouted, his voice drowned out by the gasps and murmurs of the onlookers.

But just as Svlyara prepared to deal a final blow, her own expression twisted in confusion and pain. Blood dripped from her lips as she staggered back, clutching at her stomach. Aeliana’s blade had struck true, piercing Svlyara in the heat of the exchange.

Both women collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. The arena fell silent, the spectators holding their breath as the scene unfolded. The ancestral medics, who had been on standby, rushed into the ring.

One medic approached Aeliana, quickly tending to her wound with healing magic. The sharp pain dulled into a faint throb as the light of the spell closed the gash in her side. Another medic hurried to Svlyara, stopping the bleeding from the stab wound in her stomach.

The announcer, seeing that both combatants were out of commission but alive, raised his hand and declared loudly, “The winner of this duel, and the one deemed most worthy—Lady Aeliana!”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the arena. Kael let out a relieved breath, slumping back into his seat, while Lucian remained standing, his gaze fixed on Aeliana as she slowly got to her feet.

Aeliana’s chest heaved as she looked at Svlyara, who was still on her knees but breathing heavily. Their eyes met, and for the first time, Svlyara’s defiance softened.

“You… are stronger than I thought,” Svlyara admitted, her voice faint but laced with genuine respect. “You’ve earned this.”

Aeliana nodded, too exhausted to reply but grateful for the acknowledgment.

Lucian wasted no time descending to the arena. He reached Aeliana just as the medics finished their work, pulling her into his arms. “You did it,” he murmured, his voice a mixture of pride and relief.

Aeliana leaned into him, her strength nearly gone. “I told you… I wouldn’t let her win.”

As they left the arena, the cheers of the crowd following them, Aeliana couldn’t help but glance back at Svlyara. Despite the pain and exhaustion, she felt a sense of triumph. She had proven herself, not just to Lucian or the clan, but to herself.