As I stepped on the stage, my mind was going through various scenarios that could play out in the next few minutes. The one thing I was sure about was that I could not let Shin dictate the pace of the duel. Heroes have an annoying ability to progressively hyping themselves and getting powerups mid-battles. The use of a single incapacitating attack wasn't viable either. I could always lose, but I didn't want to let Miriam and Reina down. So I decided that I was going to go full villain in this fight. Putting a wide grin on my face, I politely greet Shin, "Good Morning, I am Maximillian Radcliffe. Could I have your name?"

Shin immediately gets incensed at me, "How typical of a noble! Forgetting the faces of the people they trample upon." Before he could continue his tirade, I interrupt him, "Pardon me? Have we met before?"

Fuming, Shin almost spat back at me, "A year ago, in front of the academy gates. You humiliated me and then knocked me out using a cowardly blow. Then you had me thrown in jail for no reason! "

I pretend to muse for a while, then acted as if I remembered something, "Ah! I remember, that time I helped Lady Aisha Morgan deal with a scoundrel who destroyed her carriage. Are you saying that was you?" I widened eyes and covered my mouth as I stared at Shin as if I saw something outrageous. The surprised looks on Shin and Aisha's faces were priceless. It seems that they had not seen each other that day. My statement took the wind out of Shin's sails. Can't hate against your woman, can you?

Desperately hiding his flustered state he replied, "It was none of your business! You barged in by yourself...!" Unbeknownst to him, I had walked closer to him during the conversation. Generally, a duel starts with the duellists 10 metres apart. I was only 5 metres away from him, barely out of the reach of my sword. Normally, we would step back and wait for the signal to start the duel. But I had something better in mind. " Ah! I remember there was a pretty girl with you that day. She was very intelligent and sweet. She even thanked me for my help. Where is she? Is she not with you?" I looked around with genuine curiosity in my eyes as I thought that she would always follow Shin around.

Suddenly all colours drained from Shin's thoughts leaving behind an ominous black. I was trying to provoke him into attacking me but I guess there has been some drama with that girl because I was not expecting the pure wrath that started emanating from him. In the next moment, golden light starts emanating from his sword as he unsheathed it. Must be a skill. Then he pulls it back all the way back over his shoulders with the most open guard I had ever seen. It seems like he depended completely on the speed of the skill to overwhelm his opponents.

Good, it's better for him to be reckless like that. I have been practising Miriam's footwork for a year now and with my already monstrous dexterity, I was faster than any skill that any new awakened could perform in this short-range. I could easily puncture Shin's throat before he finishes charging his skill. But that's not how a villain fights. The true essence of a fight between a hero and a villain is flexing. It's not if I win a fight, it's how I win the fight. I have to show him how much stronger I am than him before I defeat him. That's how a true villain wins. At least until the hero gets stronger than him.

So I slowly pull my sword from its scabbard with an arrogant and annoying smirk on my lips. Then I put my sword in the most defensive position possible, the full stretch.

My hands are completely relaxed with no intention of attacking. All I did was point the tip of the sword at his wrist. That was all that I needed to seal his movements. My sword is made with reinforced steel which was way tougher than any reinforcements a new awakened could make. So he couldn't recklessly swing his sword or he risks impaling his hands. Any feints are useless as I can judge and predict any movements he makes. Shin tries to create distance between us by back-stepping but I keep up with him and don't give him any chance to swing his sword.

Eventually, the skill begins to fade. Getting impatient, Shin lashes out wildly with a kick forcing me to take a step back. He misjudges my speed and starts swinging his sword. I quickly get inside his guard and bash the pommel of my sword into his solar plexus, killing most of the momentum. Capitalizing on the remaining momentum, I swivel on the balls of my feet. I drop my sword and catch his right elbow and shoulder. With a jerk, he is sent flying through the air in an arc and lands heavily on the ground, knocked out. Guess I overdid a bit.

The whole drama took only five minutes. The entire peanut gallery was silent. Reina seemed satisfied with my performance and I was too far away to see Miriam and Marvin's reactions. I turned around to look at the unconscious Shin. He did not have any visible external injuries except for a few scratches. With his enhanced regenerative factor as an Awakened, he should be able to wake on his own quickly. I put my sword in its scabbard and then picked up Shin's sword. It looked ancient. It had regal-looking engravings on its blade and its guard was shaped like a dragon. It looked precisely like a magic sword that could be used to slay dragons. Luckily I didn't have to take a direct blow from it.

Looking at the sword, a peculiar feeling started to come over me. It was as if the will of the world was trying to speak to me. I got tunnel-vision and strange pictures started flowing in my mind. It was the same as the time when I first met Shin. This feeling of me being a part of an overarching plotline made me feel irritated. All I wanted to do was to stick the sword into some stone so that Shin could retrieve it when he got stronger. With a small shout, I threw the sword with all my strength. The sword practically flew and embedded itself into the spire at the top of the mage tower, which was also the tallest building in the campus. I don't know how Shin was going to retrieve it without learning flight magic but for now I am happy to get rid of that cursed sword.

I turn around to find the now awake Shin looking at me with a devastated expression on his face. He must be shocked by the fact that I threw his sword instead of taking it. Putting on a stern face and trying to sound profound I said, "You depend too much on your sword and skills. As expected of an untrained commoner. You will never be a true swordsman if you depend on your skills to do all the hard work for you." I spoke some more random drivel mixed with some elitist shit that is part of all noble's speech pattern."Don't worry about your sword. It is yours but you have to work for it. When you are strong enough, you will acquire it again."

With that, I turned and left with Reina under the reverent gazes of other students.