Master of Dominion-Chapter 44:Duel 2

As Rael and Xaphxan made their way back, Xaphxan couldn’t help but anticipate the coming duel. After all, he wanted to understand the true capabilities of his new boss. He already knew how skilled Iyvre was, so he figured that sharing what he knew might earn him a bit of favor.

"Sir?" Xaphxan called.

"Yes?" Rael replied.

"I was thinking I should tell you something," Xaphxan said. "Lady Iyvre is a very capable fighter. A master duelist. She’s never really lost a one-on-one duel."

As he spoke, a humiliating memory surfaced in his mind, one involving that devil-faced Drogon ,a memory with the cult he actually liked.

"Really? She’s that good?" Rael said, his tone thoughtful.

He knew full well that what had happened between them before could hardly be called a fair duel. It certainly hadn’t been one-on-one. After a brief pause, he added, "Tell me more about her. Her fighting style. Anything you know."

Hearing that, Xaphxan smiled to himself. It seemed he had caught his boss’s interest.

"Well," he began. "She’s known to have had a rough life, not something common among elves who usually grow up bathing in luxury and wealth.

She and her sisters are the complete opposite. They started from the slums, somehow got their hands on combat manuscripts from who knows where, then became sell-swords, mercenaries for hire. They never failed a job. But things took a darker turn when they began working for a noble."

"And who’s this noble?" Rael cut in.

"An high elf, I think," Xaphxan replied. "Since then, they’ve been doing a lot of dirty work. That’s how they really made a name for themselves."

"Dirty work?" Rael asked.

"Yes. You know, eliminating other nobilities and the likes."

Rael squinted. "Aren’t nobilities meant to be... powerful?"

"Oh, they are," Xaphxan said. "That’s exactly how the sisters earned their infamous reputation. When they work together and manage to set up an ambush, no one of the same rank survives. Not a single one."

"And her fighting style?" Rael asked.

"She’s more of an infighter," Xaphxan replied. "Very heavy-handed."

"Hmm. True," Rael murmured thoughtfully. He had experienced that firsthand.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"She follows something called a swordsman’s code of honor," Xaphxan said. "It basically means that in a fair duel, especially one-on-one, you’re expected to fight cleanly and honorably."

Rael already knew of such a code. As a warrior who favored the sword himself, he understood it well enough. Still, he never truly agreed with it. In a life-and-death battle, he believed one should use everything at their disposal to win and live.

But if following that code was what it would take to truly win them over this time, then so be it.

....

They finally reached the compound. Rael immediately spotted Ayobe already at work, drawing the array with focused precision. While Yasmin sat perched on a tree branch, gazing down at them with a condescending look, as though she had already foreseen his defeat.

As for Iyvre, she stood at the wooden gate with her arms folded and eyes closed, seemingly in a meditative state. That was broken the moment they approached, her pale green eyes opened as they locked onto him.

Rael met her stare with confidence.

"So I hear you’re ready to come to terms," he said. "A wise decision."

"Pouches," Iyvre said flatly, never breaking eye contact. "Our magic pouches."

"Of course," Rael replied.

He pulled out three pouches strapped to his belt and handed them to Xaphxan, who quickly stepped forward and offered them with his head lowered. Iyvre took them, then passed the other two to Yasmin and Ayobe. Ayobe paused her array work, joining Yasmin on the tree so both could get a clear view of the duel about to take place.

Iyvre swiftly checked her pouch, confirming nothing was missing. She glanced at her sisters. They nodded in agreement.

"My blade," she requested, her arms still folded.

"Sure," Rael said with a smile.

He tossed the weapon toward her, already deciding to use the greatsword he had taken from the goblin prince. He wasn’t fond of greatswords, but he had little choice. The rest of his weapons were either ill-suited to his techniques, on the verge of breaking, or nothing more than the crude machete.

"So," Rael said, resting the greatsword against his shoulder, "any rules?"

"Yes," Iyvre replied. "Since we both need each other alive, it will be a clean duel. The first to be disarmed loses."

Rael nodded. "Fair enough. And is there anything at stake for the loser?"

Iyvre paused, turning her head slightly toward Yasmin. The redheaded elf nodded, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. Of which Rael noticed it immediately and frowned. Nothing good ever came from whatever brewed inside that woman’s head.

"If you lose," Iyvre said, pointing at the compound, "this territory changes ownership. And you will be under our command."

Rael’s frown deepened. They looked far too confident, as if the outcome was already decided.

’Did they forget that I bested them together? Tsk.’

He was about to refuse, to demand a different condition, but the quest log flashed before his eyes.

[Tier 2 Quest: Defeat Iyvre Legolas]

[Description: Best Iyvre Legolas in a fair duel and claim an unrefuted, flawless victory.]

[Reward: ??????.]

Rael paused, then slowly exhaled. His expression shifting into a more determined one.

"All right," he said. "I accept."

Iyvre frowned slightly. She had been certain he was about to reject with the look he had on his face .

"But," Rael continued, his gaze sharpening, "what do I gain if you lose?"

"She won’t lose," Yasmin scoffed in disdain, her lips curling as she looked down at him.

"Maybe she will, maybe she won’t," Rael replied evenly. "But I need to know what I’ll gain if she does. It has to be equal to what you’re demanding of me, that’s fair."

He lifted his great sword slightly.

"So I’ll ask again. What’s in it for me?"

"My loyalty," Iyvre said coldly.

The words landed like a bomb, shocking Yasmin, Ayobe, and even Xaphxan who flinched at the words.

"You’ll have my devoted loyalty," Iyvre continued. "I believe that’s equivalent. Right?"

"Wait, what?" Yasmin exclaimed from above.

"Are you sure, Iyvre? I think—" Ayobe started, only to fall silent when Iyvre raised a hand and turned toward them.

"I know what I’m doing."

"I sure hope you do," Yasmin muttered.

Rael narrowed his eyes, his gaze hardening as his eyes took on a sharper glint. He knew it she had no intentions of losing. She definitely wasn’t going to hold back, not even a little,.

Still, he smiled faintly and raised the great sword.

"Well then," he said, calmly, "let’s have a duel."