Yuna’s palms were sweaty, and the musky scent permeated the entire courtyard. Namjoo stood before her with a look of determination. She wasn’t expecting her to be such a strong opponent, but that was a mistake on her part. The fight to determine ranks within the soldiers had begun.

At first, Yuna thought that this would be a simple sparring match, but she overlooked the fact that soldiers in this era were prideful. The rankings weren’t formal, and they weren’t given titles. A win could determine how much power someone had within the army. The soldiers that lost were bound to bow down to those that have defeated them. This only applied to their comrade-in-arms, not enemies.

Yuna observed the countless soldiers that sparred and learned that this match wasn’t as simple as she thought it would be. It didn’t look like a simple match when these men were ripping at each other’s throats to win the fight. Some came out of the fight with broken bones and torn flesh. Yuna could not believe the gruesome reality that most deemed true - the survival of the fittest.

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she noticed that some of them were hardly breathing and yet they refused to surrender. What gave her so much confidence soon deflated like a balloon. How could she keep up with everyone else when they had put their all in to training? Was she just supposed to sit this one out? She rejected the idea instantly

She would be a laughingstock for everyone. She couldn’t give up so easily. What would all of her ideals become if she quit? She had to prove to everyone that even females could become as strong as men. Namjoo was a living example of this ideal, but she could not reveal her secret. It wasn’t her place to tell everyone. The only way was for her to become stronger.

Plus, this wasn’t the only reason she wanted to become stronger. She had to face enemies that stood like shadows behind their puppets. These elites were unknown to the public and she knew there was someone behind the Empress. There had to be, and her weaknesses could only allow for an early death. She wouldn’t allow that future to come into fruition.

Yuna straightened her back and stood tall. The determination to grow strong arose from within her thoughts. Eunho noticed the change in her demeanor. She looked completely defeated at the start of the match, but soon her will to fight was shown through her movements.

Once Eunho signaled for the start of the match, Namjoo sprung forward as fast as lightning. Yuna could not keep up with her speed. She was struck hard on her gut with Namjoo’s kick. Yuna curved into a ball and fell face flat on the ground. The soldiers scoffed and some cheered. She felt the excruciating pain stabbing at her insides. She could taste the blood in her mouth from smacking the ground so hard.

She wiped the blood off her lips and stood up with her wobbly legs. Namjoo felt a pang of guilt when she noticed the blood. She shouldn’t have fought so hard with a beginner. Yuna had no previous experience of fighting. Before she could stop the fight, Yuna dashed forward and attempted to punch her.

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