《The Novel's Unifier》Chapter 19 - Arena (2)
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Danny didn't know how long it had been, but he opened his eyes. He could tell that the room was brighter, from the sunlight that came in through the ceiling.
It was beautiful, how it decorated the room. It lit up the Arena's, making them a perfect sight as the Sun reflected off the floor, back onto Arogel's face, the bleachers, the walls.
"Fight me," he said, leaning closer to my face.
"Nope," Danny replied, sheathing his weapon. "Say, what time is it?"
"Fight. Me." Arogel didn't seem like backing down, and Danny didn't feel like being beaten first thing in the morning.
Danny pulled out the phone, noticing Arogel's lack of a proper answer.
It was still early, around 6 in the morning.
Danny tried to walk away, but Arogel kept moving in front of him, repeating, "Fight me."
Each time, Danny said, "No."
This continued for such a long time that Danny kept checking the time.
"Classes are about to start," he said, breaking the cycle of repetition.
Arogel looked at his watch, which sent out a small hologram of its basic functions; time, battery, and messages. He had a lot of messages, but ignored them all, looking at the time.
"This isn't the end," Arogel threatened, walking away.
Danny, now left alone in the empty room, yawned.
He had to drag his body to class, barely making it right before the bell rang. He sat in the same spot as yesterday, able to see all of the important characters.
But Arogel was looking him straight in the eye, even after the Instructor called for attention. He only looked away when he was called on to answer a question.
Thankfully, he didn't resume staring.
Slowly, Danny drifted off to sleep.
He was woken up by the bell which signalled recess. Like before, Danny took multiple trays, balancing them somehow long enough to find a seat.
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He slowly ate his food, careful not to choke on anything. He didn't quite feel full, yet he wasn't hungry, either. But he was dreading the next class: Combat Training. If he was, once again, facing Sun, then he would've been fine.
However, Arogel had bravely challenged him to a fight. And Danny knew it wouldn't be stopped, unless one of them was nearly crippled.
He held onto the hilt of his sword, already worried. There was no way he was getting out unscathed. Plus, showing off too much would be a death sentence.
It would be good if Arogel took him out with a single strike, but Danny knew he wouldn't do that. But, since he couldn't stop it, he decided to get another tray of food. There was plenty of room in his stomach.
"Hello, Cadets," Sun greeted. "Today, we'll be doing the same thing. Choose a partner, and get fighting."
It was a very brief introduction, but everyone seemed used to it by now.
"I challenge you," Arogel said, pointing his sword at Danny. Chills went through his entire body, as Danny started fangirling about that pose.
Of course, he didn't let anything show. Instead, his heart was beating, faster and faster, and harder and harder.
"Alright," Danny replied, knowing Sun wouldn't stop the fight.
The two, one right behind the other, walked onto an Arena. Arogel moved to the other side, while Danny stayed near the entrance.
"All students, get ready," Sun's voice said, coming from a speaker. "Begin!" he called.
Arogel disappeared from Danny's view, as if he was just an illusion. But Danny watched his surroundings.
He was hoping to block at least one attack, if that was even possible.
There. Danny drew his sword, smoothly bringing it to a certain spot. But it was of no use, as he saw another blade come from somewhere else.
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Danny moved the bottom half of his sword to block it, while leaving the top half.
In that instant, he felt death approaching. There was a flash of something heading straight into his stomach.
Strangely, Danny felt only joy, as he stepped forward, blocking with the actual blade.
Surprisingly, his weapon didn't break. However, he was sent flying into the barrier that blocked attacks from leaving the Arena.
If he hadn't blocked that, he would have been in the infirmary for a while, if he was lucky.
Arogel smugly smirked at Danny, who spat out blood.
It had a coppery taste, almost as if he was licking metal. Still, Danny's own smile didn't leave his face.
He stood up, more shakily than he had intended, and put up his guard.
Again, Arogel disappeared. Although, Danny had put up his sword, seemingly going for another block.
He saw a sword flash and disappear, then another, before stepping forward.
It was only one step, yet it seemed to agitate Arogel as he threw out a clumsy strike.
Danny leaned backward, feeling it go right past his face.
In one second, Danny threw his head forward, giving Arogel no chance to recover or dodge.
Despite hitting him in the face, Danny knew he had taken the most damage from that. Still, he struck his sword forward, hitting him in the gut.
Arogel jumped backward after that, keeping out of Danny's reach.
He kept flashing in and out, making one light attack that caused him massive damage, while running away right after.
To be honest, he wanted to stop fighting, to surrender. But something inside him stopped him, telling him, 'You can't give up.'
And so, he didn't. He didn't last the entire class, though, before feinting due to blunt force to the head.
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