The rest of the day passed in a blur as I readied myself for the upcoming duel. I had a long conversation with Sybil about what had possessed me to challenge Redael when there were still so many uncertainties, one in which I had to repeatedly stuff down this new, insufferable pride that demanded I ask how dare she question my decisions; further, I had to not simply boss Took and the rest of my trusted advisors around like so many peons.

I wasn't exactly sure what would alleviate this strange, new mentality, but I was sure that I needed to rest in preparation for the duel the next day. The rest of the day was spent with me practicing my new [True Dominance] skill as I commanded the young and weak to follow me wholeheartedly. They did so, and I realized that, under the effects of my new skill, my subordinates could work harder and more tirelessly than before. I decided to leave experimentation for another time, and just focused on, instead, resting and practicing with the spear that I had used earlier.

At the end of the day, as the sky was painted a vibrant red that matched the bloodstained fields around the den, I felt that I had sufficiently learned how to use the spear in conjunction with my previously learned tactics. Well, sufficiently was a generous term, but I figured that I would use every possible advantage that came my way, given the risk of the task that was laid before me. Thus, the spear would accompany me in the death duel tomorrow. Secondly, I had realized that while my left arm had truly become my dominant one, after the latest evolution, my right shoulder had reverted to near perfect mobility. There was slight difficulty and pain in raising my arm completely up, to the point it would make contact with my head, but that was marked and immense improvement, and that I was happy for. In a moment of what may have been divine inspiration or just supreme paranoia, I thought to withhold that information from everyone until after the duel.

That done, I looked around, saw that all the human and keelish corpses had been collected into the den, and retired back to the den myself.

…

Strangely enough, sleep came easily to me that night. Considering my nerves and how I had recently slept for nearly an entire day, I had thought that sleep would be slow to overcome me, but I quickly found myself unconscious. Stranger still, I dreamed of a voice, gentle yet powerful, saying again and again, "Old Nievtra contains the answers. Only when you get to Nievtra can you learn the truth. There you will find the answers."

I kept asking the voice questions, "Nievtra is said to be where the light comes from. Is that to the far coast, where the suns rise? Are there any creatures living there now? Am I currently close to Nievtra? How can I find it?" The voice kept repeating itself, ignoring or not hearing any of my questions. After what felt like hours of frustrated attempts at communication, the voice finally changed what it said: "Through the Uzbethan Plains, at the base of the Shandise peaks lie the ruins of Old Nievtra. Old Nievtra contains the answers…" then the voice continued repeating what it had been previously saying.

I knew what the Uzbethan Plains were, the largest known grasslands in all of Sharrash, and I had seen a map of where they were, even though I'd never been there myself. However, I'd never heard of any notable ruins there, and I'd never heard the term Shandise Peaks. I'd lived my entire life on the western hemisphere of Sharrash, and had never had a reason to cross the Sheer Pass, the isthmus and only land route that bridged the east to the west.

Suddenly, I woke. Sybil was nudging me awake, "You need to wake up now, eat, and get ready."

I was bolt awake. Now was the time.

I slowly got up. I went to eat, on my way seeing and exchanging terse greetings with many keelish, both new followers and old. Joral particularly seemed different, but I couldn't possibly focus on that before my duel. Instead, I sat almost leisurely eating my breakfast. Sitting was pretty different now, as my torso was differently formed, so I could sit almost comfortably instead of hunkering down on my haunches.

I didn't taste my breakfast. Regardless of what I was promised, I couldn't possibly say what it was, as the entire time, my mind went through Wisterl's training. Parries, thrusts, throws, kicks, dodges, strikes, weak points, everything. My mind ran almost clinically, and I subconsciously slipped into [Combatant's Bloodlust]. I saw a keelish body in front of me, different parts flashing as potential weak points.

Having finished my food, I retired to a quiet corner with my spear, lunging, thrusting, blocking the shadow that appeared from my activated [Skill]. I could feel my heart rate elevating, but I still felt this cool, almost cold detachment from my situation. Instead of worrying, I found Took and Sybil.

"It's time."

…

At this point, I had descended to the depths of the den enough to no longer pay any real attention to any unknown keelish, but this time was different. Each step I took was deliberate, studied, purposeful. I looked every keelish I saw in the eye, consciously exerted the pressure from [True Dominance] on them, and continued walking. Subconsciously, I noted that conversations were building behind me, and I could hear, "Just like Redael…" "The same feeling…" and "He's carrying something different… A weapon?..." echoing through the halls. However, regardless of whatever my subconscious was feeling, my consciousness was absolutely focused on two things: 1. Showing that I was afraid of nothing, and 2. Preparing myself for this fight.

I couldn't overprepare for this. Nothing I had fought or killed before was like Redael. He had at least years of experience in killing, and powerful keelish were no exception. Regardless of any uncontrollable superiority I felt towards him, my entire being also noted that he was a powerful and accomplished foe, and if I was careless, I would die.

Then, almost before I realized it, I stepped into the ring. Before me was Rulac, his face showing more concern than I had anticipated, and Redael, whose claws were already sticking out their full 30 cm. Redael's face was absolutely calm, almost detached, but his eyes were narrowed, and almost sparking in anticipation. A wave of emotional force rippled almost visibly out from him, and the anticipated [System] notification flashed in my eyes; [Skill [True Dominance] is being exerted on you. Due to your possession of the skill [True Dominance], you are immune to all effects.]

With a grin spreading on my face, I released the entirety of the aura bestowed on me by the skill, and I saw Redael and Rulac's eyes flash in surprise as I did so.

It was time.