Dante exhaled, lowering his rapier.

  Then—

  **BOOM!**

  His aura exploded.

  **"Wind Step."**

  I barely saw him move before he was right in front of me.

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  His rapier blurred—three, four, five times—

  I had only **one** chance to counter.

  I activated **Berserker Mode (Lv.1)**.

  [Ding!]

  **[Berserker Mode Activated: Strength +50% for 10 seconds]**

  My muscles surged with raw power.

  *Now or never!*

  Dante’s rapier lunged—

  And I swung **straight through it.**

  **CRACK!**

  His rapier shattered.

  **"What—?!"**

  Before he could react, my sword **stopped just inches from his neck.**

  Silence.

  The crowd was stunned.

  **Lucian von Kaiser had won.**

  Dante let out a breath.

  Then he laughed.

  **"Hah… That was fun."**

  He raised his hands in surrender.

  **"Alright, you win this time, Lucian."**

  I exhaled, lowering my sword.

  The duel was over.

  But the real game was just beginning.

  ---