Chapter 162: A Duel Among Villains
Alex did not bother going to class, or even the MMA gym after officially agreeing to Chad’s duel request. Instead, he spent the next week training at a local HEMA club in the art of the rapier. Due to his skill [Retention] Alex was quickly able to master the basics of sword fighting, specifically traditional fencing with a rapier. He was even loaned a practice sword from the club and spent quite a bit of time sparring with much more advanced opponents.
By the end of the week, Alex had some form of understanding of the art of sword fighting. And if he were to use the system from an old RPG, he used to play in his past life. Then, on the scale of Novice < Apprentice < Journeyman < Expert < Master, Alex was what one might consider an apprentice. While Chad was undoubtedly a novice, at best.
In fact, Chad had not actually spent the week training in sword fighting. Despite the fact that he chose the weapon specifically because he knew it would put him and Alex on an equal playing field. Instead, he spent the entire week partying, as if it were his last week on earth.
Booze, drugs, whores, you name it. The man clearly was not taking this duel seriously, or perhaps he had a death wish. After all, even if he won, he would be facing 30 years in prison + whatever charges he got for murdering Alex.
—
The time of the duel had finally arrived. Alex had received the shipment of swords, and after inspecting the goods to make sure there were no mishaps with the delivery. Alex texted Chad a picture of himself dressed in a Victorian style tailcoat tuxedo along with the two blades, while telling the man to meet him at the medieval themed casino that his mother owned.
Ironically enough, the two of them would have their renaissance themed duel at a medieval themed casino/resort. Or more specifically, at its jousting arena, which Alex had ordered to be the private venue of his duel to the death with Chad.
Alex obviously arrived earlier than Chad, as the Casino was actually not far from its Egyptian themed counterpart that Alex lived at. He waltzed through the door with a duffel bag that concealed the two blades and the scabbards he had ordered for them before arriving at the dueling grounds.
The man gracefully unzipped the duffel back and withdrew the blade that he favored. One which he had slightly customized to include a blackened finish on the basket hilt. Alex admired the sword, almost as if it were his lover, while he ran his finger down the flat of the blade to feel the smooth and cold steel on his flesh. He then whipped the blade around in a well performed flourish. Only to hear the sound of a familiar voice call out to him.
“You look like an absolute fucking tool...”
Standing in the seating section of the arena, which was entirely vacant aside from the man himself. Was none other than Chad Whitmore. But judging by the way he was dressed, and the fact that he appeared to be coming off of a week of partying. Alex frowned at the man. Clearly, he overestimated Chad’s dedication to the aristocratic tradition of dueling.
Chad was dressed like a frat boy on spring break. And was clearly hungover. The man stepped down into the dueling arena, where Alex withdrew the spare sword from the duffel bag and tossed it to the man. Luckily, it was encased in its scabbard, or Chad may have lost a finger or two prior to the beginning of the duel.
The man smirked as he withdrew the blade from its sheath, in a manner which showed he was a complete and utter novice. Like Alex had suspected, Chad did not spend the last week training in the art of the sword. But rather wasting his valuable time doing fuck all. Alex merely shook his head and clicked his tongue before expressing his disgust at his opponent.
“It is such a pity... A part of me really hoped you would have taken this duel seriously. After all, this is an honorable tradition, once practiced by our ancestors for centuries. And yet here you are... Dressed like a fool, and half intoxicated. Does your honor really mean so little to you?”
Chad scowled when he heard Alex’s remark, before responding to the man’s insult.
“Honor? You think you have honor? Just because you decided to dress up for the evening doesn’t make you any more honorable than me. You’re a thief, a scoundrel, and a villain! You have stolen everything from me these last few months, and it’s about time I return the favor!”
As a man who loved to make references to movies, tv shows, video games, and pretty much every other form of entertainment. Most of which nobody but himself understood. Alex simply shook his head as he raised his blade to the ready position while making a remark from one of his favorite movies.
“So uncivilized... Well, if those are your last words, then so be it.... En garde!
Chad rushed towards Alex while wielding the elegant rapier as if he were a caveman who had just discovered what a club was. He hacked, and he slashed at Alex’s figure, missing the man entirely while Alex adeptly moved away from his opponent’s attacks, parrying those blows that were close enough to do so. Alex then swiftly tripped Chad to the floor, where he shook his head and mocked the man.
“What are you, a neanderthal? This isn’t a club, you moron! It’s a sword. If you had actually spent the last week training like I have, this would be far more of a competition! Are you trying to make my first duel an embarrassment?”
Chad gritted his teeth as he tossed sand towards Alex’s face, which the man nimbly dodged, as if he were light on his feet, before parrying another one of Chad’s wild slashes. Alex then smirked as he saw an opportunity to draw blood without going for the kill. After parrying the attack, he used a reverse slash that cut Chad’s face, spilling blood from the cheek.
Naturally, Chad felt the sting of the cold steel as it cut through his flesh as if it were mere butter. Yet it was not a lethal blow, nor painful enough to stop the man’s assault who kept hacking and slashing at Alex as if he did not understand the weapon he was wielding was designed primarily with thrusts in mind.
After dancing around his opponent, and cutting a minor wounds onto his flesh. Alex grew entirely sick of this farcical excuse for a duel. Thus, he sighed heavily before quickly disarming Chad with a graceful riposte, having just parried another of the man’s attacks.
Chad felt his opponent’s blade stick into his hand, causing him to yelp in pain as he dropped his own sword to the wayside. Alex then kicked the man in the chest with a powerful rear teep kick, dropping his opponent to the floor and on his backside. Before Chad could grab hold of his blade. Alex held his own blade to the man’s neck, with a wicked smirk on his face, before declaring himself victorious.
Alex then stabbed Chad in the gut, who grunted in agony. The wound was not deep enough to cause permanent or even lethal damage. But enough to inflict pain, and suffering. He then shrugged and continued to quote the tv series he was referencing.
“I guess I’m just a good man...”
After saying this, Alex stabbed Chad in the gut again in similar fashion, before tossing his sword aside so that neither he or Chad could easily get ahold of it. It was then that he finished the reference.
“Well... I’m alright...”
Alex then began to walk away from Chad, who was lying in a pit of dirt, and bleeding from multiple wounds. The man was absolutely outraged that Alex hadn’t killed him. And immediately called him a coward.
“You fucking coward! You don’t have the guts to finish me! I should have known... Mercy... You’re not the badass you think you are... Mercy is a weakness! Sooner or later I will have my revenge!”
Alex then stopped in his tracks, and turned around, where he gazed upon Chad’s pitiful form before speaking in a cold and chilling voice, almost as if he had suddenly become possessed by a demon.
“You think that it is mercy that I am showing you? I have taken your women, ruined your future, and ensured that you will spend the next thirty years of your miserable life in a prison cell where your fate is to be raped and abused by the other inmates... Would you call that mercy? After today’s events, I wouldn’t be surprised if they locked you up in gen pop for life and threw away the key...
I may have said that I was showing you mercy, but you and I both know that what I have done is ensured that your life from this day forward will be one of nothing but pain and suffering. While you rot away in prison, you will do so knowing that I am out here as a free man, screwing your girls, and living my best life.
All while I achieve the levels of fame and fortune that you have always dreamt of. You have nothing left Chad... Nothing but suffering. Had I claimed your life just now, that would have been the true act of mercy. Good luck Chad... After attempting to murder me just now, you can expect that to be added to your sentence along with the violation of your bail.”
With this said, Alex walked into the stands to greet Emily, where he grabbed hold of the woman, and kissed her before she could even say another word. The only thought in her mind was whether or not Alex was safe, and luckily for her there was not a single wound on his body. Of course, Emily had not heard a word that Alex had said to Chad, which was reflected by the message that the system gave the man.
[Emily is disgusted by the fact that Chad tried to murder you and now considers your rival to be dead to her! She has officially given up on her childhood crush once and for all!]
[-100 Affection from Emily to Chad!]
[Emily’s Affection to Chad: -100/100]
[Emily is thankful that you are unharmed]
{+10 Affection from Emily!]
[Emily’s Affection: 85/100]
[Emily is thankful that you showed mercy to Chad!]
[+15 Affection from Emily!]
[Emily’s Affection: 100/100]
[Congratulations you have Conquered Emily’s Heart!]
Alex simply chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Emily’s shoulder, before escorting her out of the dueling arena.
“Why don’t we go get something to eat, after all of this, I’m actually quite hungry...”
The young woman simply smiled, and nodded her head, as she leaned in close to Alex, which was now the only place she felt safe. All while Chad watched from below while bleeding all over the sand pit.
“Sure, that sounds nice!”