It was evening, and the streets were lit and decorated for the upcoming festival. Lanterns hung across the roads, casting a warm glow over the bustling market. The atmosphere was lively, with shopkeepers calling out to customers and stalls filled with festival-related items.
Arthur came to the market as usual. For the past few days, he had been going out alone and interacting with the public. He even helped some people using his modern Earth knowledge.
'Elowen has been doing her job quite well. I was already able to punish a few low-ranking nobles. Unfortunately, suppressing higher-ranked nobles using this method won't be easy… but I'll find a way.'
"Crown prince! Over here! I have some special bracelets, earrings, and necklaces that you can gift your lover."
Arthur noticed a young and energetic girl, around 12 years old, calling out to him without any hesitation.
"Do you even know who he is? Why would he buy your cheap jewelry?" a nearby shopkeeper immediately scolded her.
"I'm so sorry, your highness. Ever since that girl's mother became bedridden, she took over her job and desperately needs money to afford her medicines. Please forgive her impudence."
'For such a young girl, she hides her real emotions well behind that energetic smile.'
"It's alright. How much for the bracelet, young lady?"
"Normally I charge 50 copper coins, but just for you I'll take only 40!"
"Haha, even at your age, you're a good saleswoman."
Arthur gently patted her head and handed her a gold coin.
100 copper coins are equal to one silver coin, and 100 silver coins are equal to one gold coin.
"T-This?"
"Don't worry, think of it as an investment. Use it to make more jewelry, alright?"
"Thank you so much, crown prince! This means a lot."
Her eyes filled with tears as she bowed deeply, her hands trembling slightly.
Arthur walked away and approached another shopkeeper a short distance from the girl.
That was when he noticed a man wearing black robes and a mask made of burnt human skin approaching her.
Before he could react—
SLICE
The man drew his sword and made a clean cut so fast that it was almost invisible.
THUMP
The girl, who hadn't even seen the blade, had her head severed instantly.
Her head, still carrying a grateful expression, rolled across the ground before the people around finally understood what had happened.
For a moment, everything froze.
Then chaos erupted.
People screamed and ran in every direction, knocking over stalls and pushing past each other in desperation. The once lively market descended into complete panic within seconds.
"YOU BASTARD!!"
Arthur, who was usually calm and composed, was overwhelmed with rage. Without thinking, he charged at the masked man with terrifying speed.
The masked man turned and began running, and Arthur chased him relentlessly.
They continued until they reached a quiet alley, far from the crowded streets, where no one else was present. The man finally stopped and turned around, facing him
"Welcome, Arthur."
The masked man, whose mask bore a twisted, arrogant smile, gave an insincere bow, his tone filled with mockery.
'Shit, my mind was consumed by rage and I didn't think rationally before following him blindly. I have a feeling that I've walked right into a trap. I need to calm down right now'
"I didn't expect you to care so much about a random girl you met a few minutes ago"
"We are currently inside a deathmatch array. This means both of us are trapped here, and neither can escape until one of us dies."
"And why are you so eager to die?"
"Oh my… that arrogance is exactly what I like about you. Even if I'm not as impressive, I'm still a ninth tier swordsman. I won't go down without putting up a fight."
"Since you sound so confident, I assume you have another petty trick prepared."
"As expected of you… but unfortunately, it's too late to realize that now."
Arthur suddenly felt an indescribable pain in his mana core. His body lost balance, and he fell to the ground, his vision shaking violently.
'Aaaahhhh! What is this… It feels like my body is being torn apart and burned at the same time. Half of my mana… it's sealed?'
"This is a mana-suppressing device. It forces your mana back into your core and restricts its flow throughout the array. You've probably never heard of it because two geniuses invented it a few days ago and gifted it to our organization. This one is made specially for you using your mana as reference. Now, stop resisting and let me free you from that pain."
'Half of my mana has been sealed, which is anyways causing tremendous pain. And because of my previous injury, if I try to use the remaining mana it will cause more pain. But I don't have a choice'
Arthur forced himself to stand up. His legs trembled slightly as he drew his sword.
Solvyrion.
A legendary weapon adorned with gold and embedded with precious stones, it possesses its own spirit and is considered the strongest sword in the entire continent
"Ah… so this is Solvyrion. How enviable. Even if my blade is inferior, the outcome depends on the wielder… and right now, you're in a miserable condition."
The masked man unsheathed his own sword, its pitch-black surface absorbing the light around it. He infused it with mana, then lunged forward with explosive speed.
Arthur did the same—
CLING
Their swords collided with force.
Arthur's hands trembled slightly, but he tightened his grip and held his ground.
The clash continued. Their blades struck again and again, each movement sharp and precise. They moved at incredible speed.
Minutes passed.
Both of them fought without holding back.
On the surface, the battle appeared even.
But Arthur knew the truth.
He lacked real combat experience. Without the original Arthur's instincts, reflexes, and his sword spirit, he would have already been dead.
Small cuts began appearing across his body, while the masked man remained unscathed.
The excruciating pain only worsened and Arthur felt like his soul was burning, his eyes started becoming blurry which was a huge disadvantage. Still, Arthur pushed his limits and maintained consciousness
Suddenly, he sensed an incoming strike and barely dodged. The blade passed just an inch from his ear.
At this point, Arthur was relying almost entirely on instinct.
"Come on… is that all you can do? Even with incomplete mana, your swordsmanship feels like that of a beginner. Of course, someone like you has never experienced real pain before. Let me show you what it truly feels like."
Arthur's vision blurred again for a brief moment.
The masked man seized the opportunity—
CLANG
His sword pierced into Arthur's stomach.
Arthur coughed up blood instantly.
He forced himself back and kicked the man away.
'Damn… this is bad.'
Blood continued to flow from the wound, and the pain began to cloud his thoughts.
"Hah… give up."
The masked man charged again.
They resumed exchanging blows, but this time Arthur was clearly struggling. His movements slowed, and more cuts began appearing across his body.
During one of their clashes, the man suddenly drove his fist into Arthur's open wound.
"Gahhhhhhh!!"
Arthur kicked him away again, this time with more force, but his body staggered immediately after. More blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to stay on his feet.
His breathing grew heavier.
'Am I about to die… again?'