CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: ADAM VS. THE DUELIST OF ROSE (1)

"En garde."

Sylvie didn’t move, her eyes only staring at Adam and his resolution.

But Adam wasn’t as elegant; he charged at Sylvie. His knuckles turning white from how tight he was gripping it. Each of his steps felt heavier than the last, but he had no choice but to move forward.

He knew this was futile—like trying to swim with weights attached to his feet—but this is a choice he had already made.

"Please!" He gritted his teeth, swinging his blade in a wide arc. "Let... let us pass!"

But Sylvie moved like a feather on water, her body flowing away from the strike with effortless grace.

Her golden hair caught the soft light surrounding them, and her hazel eyes seemed to glow. She hadn’t even swung her weapon once, only avoiding Adam’s strikes.

"You truly don’t have to do this," she said softly.

But once again, Adam responded with a swing—more desperate than the last. This time, Sylvie moved her hands, casually parrying his attack with a single move.

As their weapons met, tiny red petals made from her blood scattered, dancing between them before withering into nothing.

"It’s... beautiful, mommy," Samantha whispered, her finger trying to touch a petal that happened to fly toward them. But it could land on her finger, it faded away.

Grace clutched Samantha against her chest, making sure she wasn’t watching the battle.

"Don’t look," she whispered, though her own eyes remained fixed on Adam’s struggle.

Around them, creeps from both sides had formed a loose circle, their expressions a mixture of awe and dread. Some whispered prayers, others simply stared in silence. They all knew how this would end.

Grace’s fingers tensed as she watched Adam struggle. She couldn’t just stand there—not while Adam fought for them.

And when she realized that it was hopeless, she leaned close to Hannah, gently pressing Samantha into her arms.

"Hold her," she whispered.

Hannah’s eyes widened in confusion. "What? Why!? What are you—"

But Grace had already slipped away, her fingers already wrapped around her sword.

Instead of rushing toward the fight, however, she circled around it, keeping quiet. The other creeps looked at her, but they didn’t do anything.

Neither Adam nor Sylvie seemed to notice her, with Sylvie still effortlessly dodging Adam’s desperate swings.

No, Grace was not joining their fight—instead, she looked at the Inner Crystal, its glowing blue light now reflecting in her eyes. Grace glanced at the fight again, and when she saw Sylvie not paying her any attention, she took in a deep breath and sprinted toward the crystal, hard enough that her boots slapped against the ground.

Before she could even reach the crystal with her sword, however, a flash of crimson streaked through the air. A blood-red spear slammed into the ground before her, missing her legs by inches.

The weapon quivered, before withering into petals onto her feet.

"Kh!" Grace nearly tripped over her own feet when she stopped. She turned toward the fight, only to see Sylvie already right in front of her.

Her eyes, giving a silent warning.

"No," Sylvie said simply. Her hand shot out, grabbing Grace’s jacket at the collar. She lifted Grace slightly, then pushed her back with enough force to send her stumbling back to Hannah and Samantha.

"Mommy!" Samantha cried out, reaching for Grace as her small frame tried to catch her.

Adam glanced at them for a while, but quickly shifted his attention back to Sylvie, who was still focusing on Grace. He lunged forward, the blade directly aimed at her eyes.

Sylvie didn’t even need to look at him, she tilted her head, and Adam’s blade passed through the empty air.

But Adam didn’t truly expect to hit her. His real target lay beyond—the crystal behind her. He gritted his teeth, his foot slamming on the ground as he pushed himself even further.

But before the tip of his sword could reach the surface of the crystal, Sylvie’s hand snapped out, catching Adam’s wrist.

And so casually, she pushed him back

But Adam was relentless and once again rushed at

"You truly fight well," Sylvie smiled as she parried another strike, her movements still incredibly casual and minute. The crimson petals scattered around them with each strike, and although none of them wanted to admit it, the creeps were all thinking the same as Samantha.

This sight was beautiful. Morbid, yes. But beautiful all the same.

Adam didn’t respond, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he continued his assault. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with blood from his lips he wasn’t aware he was shedding.

The look on Sylvie’s face softened further, and a strange sadness reflected in her eyes—a memory.

"You remind me of myself, before..." She didn’t finish the thought, instead spinning away from another wild swing.

Adam’s struggle continued, and he grew more exhausted with each swing. This was futile, and the difference between them couldn’t be any clearer.

But still, Adam swung.

"I would have loved to have met you outside the Game, sir Adam," Sylvie said suddenly, her eyes welling with unexpected tears.

Adam didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. His world had narrowed to the next swing, the next breath, the next heartbeat.

"Raah!" And with a roar that tore at his throat, he put everything into one final attack.

The blade connected. Finally.

But it only bounced off her skin with a dull clang.

He didn’t hit her because of luck, or his perseverance, no. Sylvie had simply stopped moving, allowing the hit to land.

Adam stared at her eyes, his arms trembling from exertion. He tried to pull the sword back, but Sylvie’s fingers closed around the blade, holding it in place.

"I am sorry," she whispered, and in one fluid motion, drove her blood-forged rapier through Adam’s neck.

The pain was... absent. A curious cold spread from the wound, but nothing like the agony he’d expected. His legs gave out beneath him, but Sylvie caught him before he hit the ground, cradling him with surprising gentleness.

Adam was instantly paralyzed from the waist down, but still, he stared into Sylvie’s eyes and said,

"Thank you...for making it painless."