The Challenge...

The other knights began to approach them from the commotion heard. Danny's outburst had successfully gathered their attention.

"Look at him! Looking down on us."

"You honestly think you can make people bow to you just because your of a higher status?"

His voice kept getting louder as it began to entice the knights so they would talk amongst themselves, worsening Dante's already low reputation.

'Well if there is nothing to lose, there is no reason for me to care.' Dante thought whilst simply staring at Danny.

"Just because you were born without talent, doesn't mean you can use position to abuse others into doing your will."

Dante had to admit it, Danny knew his way around convincing large crowds to do his interests. He was purposefully uniting them into a common goal and linking it to a larger Issue. Right now in the capital of the continent, there are large protests happening over the state of the economy. Many poorer people were starving whilst the strong or the rich and powerful feasted.

"And look out of everyone he chose Silvana. A person who is not even the a knight and yet multiple times stronger than him."

'Tsk.' Dante clicked his tongue. He used Silvana to be a martyr by positioning Dante, who seemed to be bullying her, as a bad guy. She was relatable and liked by most of the crowd due to her attractive looks and moral attitude. Finally, Danny made sure the others realised how weak Dante was so it was okay to stand against him. A viable tactic indeed.

The crowds began to talk amongst themselves as they surrounded the three.

"That's right.."

"I guess I shouldn't expect any better from the trash of the Demiscue."

"He doesn't represent the noble nature of the rest of his family."

Danny smile grew large as he witnessed Dante getting slandered right in front of him.

Dante continued to stare at him with his arms crossed, no muscles moving nor change on his face.

Danny's smile soon faded as he couldn't see Dante becoming agitated at all. In fact he has not even moved since he started to speak.

Silvana on the other hand was about to speak, over how it was her fault. However, she took a single glance at Dante and decided not to. If he wanted her to speak out he would have already spoken. He still possessed the same indifferent face as he held through most of their interactions. It was bold and unpredictable, a danger to most people's senses.

"Is that all?" Dante asked in a cold tone.

Danny flinched slightly as he heard Dante's voice it was as if he was impatient, impatient for this to end and he had no time for someone like him.

"Tsk. Alright since you seem to have no remorse about your trashy behaviour."

He removes a black glove from his hands as he throws it towards Dante's.

His pupils followed the gloves as it landed close to his feet.

'A duel huh?' Dante knew what throwing a glove to someone meant. A formal challenge over someone's honor, and in this case it was for Silvana's one.

"What am I meant to do with this?" Dante replied back.

"You foolish man. It means I challenge you to a duel. Your honor as a member of Demiscue against mine as a Knight and the Lady Silvana's apology she rightfully deserves from you."

Silvana was about to speak as she opened her mouth when Dante gave her a look, it was a subtle one where he shakes his head slightly. He knew anything she said would only make things worse for himself and her personality could no longer take it.

Silvana furrowed her brow, she knew she did not deserve his apology yet something about her instincts told him to just allow him to do what he wanted in this situation.

'He may not appreciate me speaking out here. I was the one in the wrong. It would be best to respect his wishes.'

She gritted her teeth and tilted her head down as her actions were not right. But by choosing to respect his wishes, this should hopefully make them even.

"I refuse." Dante sighed and picked up the glove, throwing it back to Danny.

Danny caught it with his right hand.

"What? Afraid that a Peak F rank will be too hard for your weak body to handle?

I'll tell you what..."

His smile grew wide as he set more favourable conditions to Dante. "I wont use my mana, I'll fight you with my pure strength alone."

These were still unfavourable conditions and Dante knew it. Any awakener, unless completely out of mana, still had a certain amount trapped within their muscles. As they awaken and improve ranks their bodies also get improved as well from the mana. Of course how well and compatible the body was to this adaption was based on their talents and genetics as well luck.

This was still not enough to entice Dante as he began to walk away saying "No."

The knights around him booed at Dante for his cowardice. No heir should act this way, luckily for Dante he was barely even considered an heir so this much was nothing.

"Fine. How about this you can train in this ground as much as you like and we knights promise not to bother you in any way as long as your here."

Dante stopped walking as he thought about it. He was a direct member of the Demiscue. So he could forcibly train here if he wanted to, however, that didn't mean that the other knights couldn't disrupt his training by taking all the equipment he wants to use or booking all the rooms. Most of the problem could be solved there.

Dante turned around as Danny bared his teeth. "How can you guarantee, what you say?"

"We are all very close knit people. Most of us have trained here most our lives so once we give our word it's the truth."

"Fine. Say your demands."

"Haha. Good. Let's say if you lose you bow your head on the ground and apologise right there to Silvana. You also give me gold as compensation for my kind actions."

"And If I win?"

"Ill be the one apologising to you and the training grounds."

Dante seemed to be contemplating it whilst the other knights screamed at him to just accept.

"I accept. Where and when?"

"Here and in 5 minutes, pick your chosen weapon and come back when your prepared."

Dante walked away as the other knights surrounded Danny discussing about how they appreciated his actions. Silvana tried to break free and follow Dante but got trapped by the crowd. They were asking if she was okay and what his problem was.

Dante spent the next few minutes choosing a weapon that his ability could allow him to use: A sword.

He returned with a blunt sword as the duel only allowed blunt weapons to avoid damage. The only way someone could get seriously injured was if they used mana but it was decided before hand Danny would not use it.

The rest of the knights and Silvana stepped off the platform and went towards the side where the spectators would watch. Silvana's eyes maintained on Dante as he stood there with his sword held out on his right.

She had seen a glimpse of his swordsmanship before it was terrifying. If she faced against him at full strength she knew she could win but it would not be an easy fight. Even with an awakened body she could only hope that Danny knew what he was getting into...

Most of the crowed cheered when Danny raised his arm with his chosen weapon, a spear. He acted like their chosen champion whilst Dante just patiently waited for his showing off to finish.

Danny chuckled he was in a good mood. He would try to humiliate Dante then get Silvana to notice him finally.

"Are you ready? Don't complain when you lose and back out."

"Just start." Dante replied back in a low voice as he held the grip of his blade tight.

"Hmph. Be careful what you wish for bitch."

Danny rushed at him whilst holding his spear, his body was low as he charged.

Dante could read his actions easily from a mile away. He was low so he could thrust and create power behind it.

When Danny reached Dante in the range of his spear he thrusted quickly aiming for Dante's heart.

Dante simply turned to the right, easily avoiding the spear and kicking Danny back a few steps.

"Ugh!"

He held his stomach with his left hand still tightly gripping the spear with his right.

"How cowardly."

The rest of the spectators booed as Dante stepped back not even bothered.

"RAGH"

Danny continued to thrust his spear aiming to hit Dante.

But every single strike missed.

Dante would just move his body left or right and back, missing the spear by a small margin.

'Just hit him once.'

'Anywhere will do.'

'Anywhere.'

His breathing became heavy as Dante simply kept toying with him.

The spectators created a loud boom of cheering for Danny as they saw he was close to hitting Dante.

Finally a moment came when Dante dodged that Danny could take advantage of.

When the thrust missed he did a short spin to the right and quickly went for the stab.

It was a brutal move that Danny was sure he could not dodge.

CLNGGG!

The sound of metal hitting metal echoed throughout the arena as Dante parried the spear with his own blade.

With the base forms of the Heavenly Demon Sword Art, he instinctively felt his intuition tell him what to do. His blade quickly moved as he formed the 1rst basic motion of the Heavenly Demon Sword Arts.

It flowed in one fluid motion as the blade danced past the tip of the spear and colliding with the length as sparks flew with the collision of the steel. With his left palm Dante gripped his spear tightly and brought Danny down forcefully.

Danny's balance fell as he came tumbling on the ground.

When he stared up he felt a cold steel balance on his chin. On the edge of the hilt was Dante carrying the blade. He looked unimpressed as he simply returned the blade back to it's hilt.

Turning his back on Danny who is on the ground he began to walk away.

"Forget the apology, just keep your end of the deal."

The crowd was silent when Danny looked around. He witnessed the disappointed look they held for him.

He gritted his teeth as he stared at Dante's back with hatred. He felt humiliated as he lost to someone who he considered to be so weak. It shouldn't be possible.

It was unacceptable.

"AGHHHH"

Danny stood up holding the spear as it gave off a blue current covering the entire spear. It amplified by his elemental affinity.

Lightning.

He shifted his entire strength to his arms aiming to critically wound Dante.

But before the spear could be thrown, Dante had already turned around and grabbed him by his neck slamming him down on the ground.

Danny lost consciousness for a few seconds, when he regained it all his vision saw was Dante mounted on top of him.

He was faced up to the sky lying on the ground, whilst Dante pinned his arms to ground with his legs.

He tried to move but failed as he could not shift Dante's body off his arms.

"Hey, what do you think yo-"

BAM!

Dante's fist had landed on his face.

"FUCK! WH-"

BAM!

It was his left fist that struck Danny's face this time.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

The sounds of Dante's fist rang through the air.

You could hear bone crushing bone.

Dante's own knuckles became bloodied as his fists began to crack.

The entire scene was a massacre, as one word appeared inside the mind of the crowd as they watched him ruthlessly pound Danny.

'Demon.'

His strikes were heavy as they continued.

Danny's face was no longer recognisable as his consciousness faded. Jaw, nose, cheeks and skull all was broken.

Dante's clothes and face was stained with the splatter of crimson blood.

As he raised his right arm to strike again, he felt a grip hold bicep tightly. This prevented him from moving.

"Stop."

"Your methods are too ruthless."

"The duel was already finished."

Dante turned his head to look at the lady holding his arm.

It was Silvana Aegis.

Within her gaze held the look of disappointment .