Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 131: Core Dungeon [End]

[Arthur’s POV]

"I challenge you for a duel!"

He barked, glaring at him.

"A battle to death!"

Arthur felt the power rushing in his body like never before.

He felt like he could kill anyone and anything without any problem.

The power of gravity that he was granted by forming a contract made him feel like he was invincible.

And now, when he challenged the boy who took everything, he was far more confident.

Zaina, who stood by Akamir’s side, yelled in panic. "What are you saying—!?"

"Shut up!!" Arthur snapped at her. "I will show you that I am far better than him!?"

Akamir took a step closer as he looked dead into his eyes.

"Are you ready to lose your life for a girl?" he asked calmly. "Think it through—!"

"Take out your sword, you coward!!" Arthur cut in his words. "Or are you going to keep on talking?"

Akamir looked at him without any emotions, like his provocation did not affect.

"Wait, Akamir." Zaina quickly grabbed his hand, making him stop. "He isn’t in his right mind, don’t do it."

Arthur’s heart pounded in his chest, his anger spiked as he noticed how she touched him.

’I will kill him,’ he thought, his anger taking over. ’I will cut him into a thousand pieces!!’

Akamir didn’t pull his hand away from hers immediately.

"Look at you," Arthur spat. "Acting like you’re above it all. Like you’re better than me."

"I never said I was," Akamir replied calmly. "You’re the one turning this into a death match."

"You stole her from me!" Arthur roared. "You took my spot, my role, everything! You think just because you’re strong, you deserve it all?!"

Zaina flinched at his words. "Arthur, I was never something to be stolen—"

"Don’t talk!" Arthur snapped again, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Just watch. I’ll show you what a real hero looks like."

The creature perched on his shoulder—the half-bat, half-owl—shifted slightly, its eyes glowing faintly.

It was invisible to everyone except Nayomi.

A wave of pressure rippled out from Arthur’s feet, the ground beneath him cracking as gravity bent to his will.

Akamir slowly pulled his hand from Zaina’s and stepped forward.

He drew his sword with a smooth motion, holding it low at his side.

Zaina tried to stop him but no words came out of her mouth.

Arthur growled, tightening his grip on the hilt.

His feet slammed against the cracked ground as he dashed forward, the pressure of gravity exploding beneath his feet.

A shockwave rippled in his wake, and his blade came down with all the force he could muster.

Akamir blocked it effortlessly.

Steel met steel with a sharp sound.

Arthur felt the force of the impact rebound into his arms.

He pushed harder, but Akamir didn’t even flinch.

’He’s just standing there?’

Arthur gritted his teeth and pulled back, spinning low as he went for a sweep.

Akamir sidestepped, just enough to be out of his range.

Arthur didn’t stop as he followed with a flurry of slashes, each faster than the last.

The ground broke beneath his feet with every burst of gravity, his speed and power increasing.

But every strike was parried or dodged like Akamir had already seen them coming.

"You’re just swinging wildly," Akamir muttered, not even winded.

Arthur’s rage flared in an instant.

He jumped back, forming a complex magic circle with one hand while his sword hovered in front of him with the other.

Gravitational pull thickened around Akamir, trying to drag him down.

But Akamir wasn’t fazed.

His body flickered and vanished from the circle’s range.

He reappeared just behind Arthur, blade drawn low.

Arthur spun around, barely managing to block.

The force sent him skidding back, his boots tearing lines through the stone floor.

’How is he moving so fast!?’

Arthur widened his stance and slammed his palm into the floor.

Five layered circles lit up around Akamir, spikes of condensed gravity shooting upward.

Akamir leapt forward before they could touch him, closing the distance between them in a blink.

Arthur raised his sword to block, but Akamir’s blade came from the side instead.

A sharp sting flashed across his ribs.

He stumbled back, eyes wide.

Blood trickled down, not deep, but enough to shake him.

"Focus," the owl-creature whispered near his ear, its claws tightening on his shoulder. "Use more force."

Arthur raised his hand, casting another spell—a dome of inverted gravity spread out, making everyone else float slightly.

Akamir, however, just floated higher with control, landing on an invisible step of air like he didn’t care about gravity at all.

Akamir jumped and sprinted towards him.

Arthur’s blade was knocked to the side, and Akamir moved in.

Arthur tried to react, but every move he made was read and countered.

He went for a low stab, Akamir twisted his wrist and knocked his blade aside.

He summoned a wave of pressure and Akamir jumped it with ease.

It had only been a minute, and Arthur already couldn’t breathe properly.

His arms ached from swinging. His chest burned from the shallow cuts piling up.

His legs felt heavy, not from his magic, but from exhaustion.

Akamir didn’t even look like he was trying hard.

Arthur tried one last desperate swing, pouring everything into it.

Akamir caught the blade with his own and twisted. Arthur’s grip broke.

The sword flew out of his hands and clattered to the floor.

Akamir’s foot hit his chest next, sending him crashing backward.

Arthur groaned, coughing as he dropped to his knees.

His vision blurred for a second.

He looked up through sweat and pain, seeing Akamir standing over him, still calm.

Arthur’s sword lay just a few feet away, but it might as well have been a mile.

Akamir placed his sword on his neck and made him look up.

When Arthur looked into his cold eyes, he felt his heartbeat drop.

"Are you ready to die?" Akamir asked, the cold metal of the blade pressed against his neck.

Arthur couldn’t move.

His muscles screamed at him to get up, to push back, to do anything, but he couldn’t.

"I asked you a question," Akamir said, voice calm. "Are you ready to die?"

Arthur opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The weight of his own arrogance crushed him harder than his magic ever could.

He had thought he was powerful.

He had thought he could win.

He had thought Zaina would look at him differently if he did.

But now all he could see was his reflection in Akamir’s eyes—pathetic, defeated, trembling.

Zaina’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and panicked. "Stop! That’s enough!"

"He asked for a battle to death." Akamir said, without looking at her. "Are you saying he should go back on his words?"

"Wait... Akamir please, he is like my brother." Zaina said, her voice trembling even more. "Just let go."

Arthur shut his eyes.

Zaina’s words cut deeper than any sword could.

"Like my brother."

Not "someone important." Not "someone I care about."

Just a brother.

It echoed in his chest, louder than the blood pounding in his ears.

"Just beg for your life." The bat-wolf thing said in his ears. "You will get plenty of time to kill him if you live."

Arthur had no way to refute but he also wasn’t sure he could ever win against him.

Finally, he lowered himself.

"I yield..." he choked out.

The words tasted like ash on his tongue. "You win... I yield."

To show he really meant it, Arthur lowered his head.

He then kissed his boot in an act of submission.

Akamir moved his feet but his sword still hung over his neck.

"Sorry buddy." Akamir said, his voice low. "I don’t like loose ends."

He raised his sword to behead him but—.

"I will do anything!!" Zaina shouted, making him halt. "Just let him go."

Akamir glanced at the girl and so did Arthur in pain.

He took a moment to think about it before Akamir sheathed his sword back.

Slowly, he crouched in front of Arthur, who looked at him blankly.

"Did you hear her?" Akamir asked, his voice barely audible. "She said ’anything.’"

Arthur couldn’t say a word as Akamir grabbed his hair from behind and brought his ear close to his mouth.

"Do you know what I would do to her now?" He whispered so only he could hear. "I will tie her on the bed and fuck her again and again until she is addicted to it."

He pushed him back as Akamir stood up. "All thanks to you, man."

Tears trickled down Arthur’s face as he looked blankly at him.

Akamir didn’t bother with him again as he looked at his group. "Let’s go."

The others didn’t say anything and walked past Arthur.

Zaina stood beside him for a second but even she didn’t say anything.

Arthur remained there without even moving a muscle.

The owl appeared over his shoulder, grinning even more widely.

"Do you need more power?"

Arthur blankly looked at him.

---

"That wasn’t necessary."

Nayomi said as Akamir and his group walked on the first floor.

"Why did you do that?"

"A man’s pride is much more important than his life." Akamir said, his voice cold. "Killing him would have been easier."

Nayomi looked at him with a smile.

"You still plan to kill him, right?" She asked. "You wouldn’t have placed a mimicker in his shadows if you didn’t."

Akamir didn’t bother to say anything as he glanced at Zaina.

She looked as depressed as Lyselle now.

’She would be back to her previous self.’

Akamir thought as he looked forward.

The portal for the academy ground was in front of them.

Akamir and the others didn’t waste any time as they walked outside of the dungeon.

---

"Hmm?"

But just as he walked out, he was greeted with Inara.

The Princess walked towards him and grabbed his arm.

"Father." She whispered softly. "He is dying."

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