The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 1229 - 190 - Leon Vs. Shredica (2)

I took a moment to rest, letting my breathing settle as I drank some water. It was cool, grounding, and for a brief second, it almost fooled me into thinking I had more time than I actually did.

That was when someone approached me.

I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. The presence alone was familiar enough.

It was Commander Lilia.

"That was a fast defeat, Shredica," she said, her tone calm but not entirely hiding her surprise. "I honestly didn’t expect something like that from you."

I let out a short breath, half a sigh, half a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well, that man pulled out a pretty nasty surprise. I didn’t think I’d go down that fast either. It happened so suddenly I barely had time to process it. It took me completely off guard."

She studied me for a moment, sharp eyes scanning my posture, my breathing, the way I was holding myself together. Then she spoke again, her voice more measured this time. "Still, losing the first round isn’t the end of the world. If you take the next one, and the next after that, that’s all that really matters. And honestly..." she paused, then continued, "...I think it’s time you use what I gave you."

I knew exactly what she meant.

What she had given me wasn’t something new. I’d received it quite a while ago, long enough for its weight to sink in, both figuratively and literally. Unless I was absolutely forced into a situation where there was no other option, I avoided using it.

That was why I hadn’t pulled it out during the first round.

It was the Cursed Sword.

The very one she had entrusted to me.

"Use that Cursed Sword to win against him," Commander Lilia said, her voice steady. "It massively enhances your strength and sharpens your senses beyond normal limits. The trade-off is very costly, though. I mean, you lose a bit of your lifespan every time you rely on it."

Cursed Swords were infamous for a reason. Everyone knew they came with side effects, and those side effects were never mild. The compensation demanded by these weapons was often absurd, sometimes downright cruel. Some drained mana at such an extreme rate that you weren’t just spending energy—you were shaving pieces off your own life.

And this sword was one of the worst offenders.

Cursed Swords weren’t just weapons. They had minds of their own. Something like a soul lived within them, making them unpredictable and difficult to control. They didn’t just respond to their wielder—they pushed back.

Commander Lilia opened the box, and the purplish blade revealed itself inside. Even without touching it, I could feel a faint pressure in the air, like the sword was already aware of me.

When I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, the sensation hit instantly.

It felt like being pulled forward by something invisible, as if the blade was trying to drag me into itself. There was a sharp, unsettling feeling, like my life was being tugged at directly. My head throbbed, and I had to grit my teeth just to keep myself focused.

"Are you okay, Shredica?" Commander Lilia asked, her tone tightening just a little. "Can you handle it?"

Purple pulsations crawled up my arm, faint at first, then stronger. I could feel it pressing against my veins, trying to push deeper, trying to claim more than I was willing to give.

"Yes," I said, forcing the words out. "I think I can."

Truthfully, using this sword felt excessive. All this... just for Leon?

No.

That was wrong.

He wasn’t just Leon.

He was someone I needed to be wary of. Someone I shouldn’t underestimate again.

He wasn’t a weak opponent that deserved restraint or mercy.

I tightened my grip around the Cursed Sword, feeling its weight settle into my hands.

"Can you win?" Commander Lilia asked quietly, her eyes locked onto mine.

"I can," I said. Then, after a brief pause, I corrected myself. "No. I will."

***

When I stepped back onto the platform, enough time had passed for the second round to begin.

Leon was there already, standing calmly across from me.

He was still my opponent.

This was round two.

Which meant if I lost here, it was over.

It was a best-of-three match, and I was already on thin ice.

The umpire moved between us once again, but this time he didn’t bother repeating the rules. He glanced at me, then at Leon, as if silently acknowledging that we both already knew what was at stake.

Neither of us looked at him.

We were too busy staring at each other.

My hand tightened around the cursed blade, the faint hum of its power pulsing against my palm.

The umpire brought his hand down.

The match had started.

And yet... neither of us moved.

For a strange moment, the arena felt quiet, tense, and heavy.

We just stared at each other. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Was he hesitant? Waiting for me to make the first move?

No.

That wasn’t it.

There was no fear in his stance. His posture was relaxed but ready, his eyes steady and confident. He wasn’t waiting because he was unsure. He was waiting because he didn’t need to rush.

As I focused on him, analyzing every detail, a chill crept up my spine.

There was no opening.

Not a single one.

It was like I was only beginning to understand how strong he really was—and even that felt generous. Whatever power he was holding back, I hadn’t even scratched its surface yet.

"I didn’t expect you to show me something like this," I said, breaking the silence. "I really thought I had this in the bag. I guess I underestimated you."

He didn’t react much, just gave a slight shrug. "It’s not like I’ve shown you everything I can do."

"Then what?" I asked. "Are you already going all out and burning through everything you’ve got?"

"I am."

The way he said it didn’t sit right with me. It was too smooth and too easy.

Was he lying?

Or was he telling the truth?

I couldn’t tell anymore.

"Then let’s stop holding back," I said. "Let’s go all out."

I forced mana into my blade, and the Cursed Sword responded instantly. Dark, purplish energy surged through my arm, crawling up to my shoulder. My mana was being drained aggressively, so much so that my teeth clenched on instinct.

I pushed off the ground and dashed forward.

Leon did the same.

The acceleration was insane. In the blink of an eye, we crossed the distance between us, moving so fast that it would’ve been impossible for a normal person to follow.

And then—

We met at the center of the platform.

Our swords crashed together, steel and cursed energy colliding in a violent, deafening clash that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.