"I'm a passing fashion thief killer!"
A strange declaration echoed across the clearing as a boy wearing a paper bag on his head appeared from the shadows. He stood confidently, a mysterious and quirky figure, introducing himself with theatrical flair.
His real name was Sid Kageno—the second son of the Baron Kageno family, a noble who governed this remote area of the kingdom. To those who knew him, Sid was just another background character, an ordinary noble youth. But beneath that unremarkable exterior was someone with power that defied common sense. Sid wasn't just strong—he was extraordinarily strong. His dream? To become a legendary figure—a powerful person of shadow.
As he surveyed the scene before him, Sid narrowed his eyes. He was planning to do a bit of "thief hunting" today. His older sister had been kidnapped, and he intended to use this incident as an excuse to quietly search for her while flexing his hidden strength. But what he didn't expect was to arrive and find a group of thieves already defeated.
[Who is this guy?] Sid wondered, staring at the figure standing calmly amid the ruins of the bandits' hideout. [He's strong… Was he the one who took them down?]
He could feel it. The immense pressure in the air. The kind of strength that couldn't be faked or disguised.
Then, just as Sid tried to speak, the mysterious young man before him reacted.
Boom!!
Their auras collided invisibly. Both Sid and the stranger stepped back at the same time, eyes wide with surprise and caution.
[He cut my branch in half?] Sid thought, shocked. He had only used a random branch, yet the stranger had blocked and countered his blow effortlessly.
[He forced me back using just a branch?] Alhaitham thought in turn, equally stunned.
"You're strong!" they said at the same time, almost in unison.
Alhaitham casually tossed the broken branch aside, eyes gleaming with interest. He then opened a shimmering spatial rift beside him—his personal storage space—and pulled out a strange object: a sword with no blade, only a handle.
He looked at Sid with an amused smile. Across from him, Sid readjusted his stance and studied Alhaitham with equal intrigue.
"You were the one who defeated these thieves?" Sid asked.
"Yeah," Alhaitham replied, glancing at the bodies littered around them.
Sid nodded. "Then you're the one who stole my loot."
"I picked up those gold coins. That makes them mine," Alhaitham said coolly.
Sid frowned, pointing at the bag of coins on his hip. "I earned them. I mined these coins myself after slaying a group of monsters. They're my rightful spoils."
Alhaitham shrugged. "I'm not interested in money, but I don't condone others taking what isn't theirs. If you want to keep the coins, I suggest you try and take them back—by force."
That struck a nerve with Sid. He had finally struck gold—literally—and wasn't going to give up such a large sum so easily.
"If you don't want to hand them over, then I'll just take them after I beat you!"
"It seems we've reached an impasse," Alhaitham said, raising his sword handle.
Sid did the same.
"Perfect timing!" Sid grinned. "I've been dying to test out my magic-enhancing gear."
"Just in time for me to try out these new slime-based combat tights," Alhaitham smirked.
The air around them grew tense as both combatants grinned, savoring the rare thrill of a real challenge. They were two young men who lived in a world that was too weak for them—finding someone who could actually go toe-to-toe was like finding a miracle.
Alhaitham was especially thrilled.
Finally.
An enemy worthy of my full strength.
He pressed a button on the sword handle. With a soft hum, a transparent blade emerged—like a lightsaber from "Star Wars," but fueled by magic instead of plasma. It was a product of Alhaitham's own invention—a successful magic tool he called the Magic Sword.
Sid's eyes widened in awe. "That... is so cool!"
His own weapon was a sleek black blade, simple and efficient. But the magical glow of Alhaitham's sword was simply captivating.
"I've decided!" Sid exclaimed. "After I defeat you, I'm taking that sword."
"Hah! You can try," Alhaitham replied, his smile widening.
The duel began in the blink of an eye. Their movements were so fast that the human eye couldn't track them. Only the ringing clash of steel echoed through the forest, evidence of their frenzied exchange.
If anyone else had been there to witness it, they would've been left speechless. This wasn't just a fight—it was a battle of titans disguised as teenagers.
Despite their age, both Sid and Alhaitham wielded strength that could easily win them first place in the "Martial God Festival"—the most prestigious combat tournament in the world.
In fact, the moment either of them emerged victorious from this fight… the strongest swordsman title might very well belong to them.
As their swords clashed, Sid's brows furrowed.
"How is this possible? His swordsmanship… it's exactly like mine!"
And on Alhaitham's side…
"His sword style is so familiar. Wait… don't tell me…"
With a sudden burst of strength, they disengaged and jumped back.
The area they had been fighting in was completely devastated—craters in the earth, trees sliced in half, debris scattered everywhere. It looked more like a battlefield after a large-scale magic explosion than a one-on-one duel.
But neither of them cared about the destruction.
What truly shook them was what they realized during the fight.
Their swordsmanship… was the same.
Each move, each parry, each feint—they mirrored each other to perfection.
"Wait a minute," Alhaitham said, narrowing his eyes. "Are you… a time traveler?"
Sid's eyes widened. "...You too?"
A moment of stunned silence passed between them.
They were both from Earth.
They were both reborn or transported into this fantasy world.
And they had both spent their previous lives mastering various sword techniques—refining them into a singular, ultimate style. A style that they just now realized… was shared.
By accident, or perhaps fate, two fellow travelers from the same global village had met in the most unexpected of places.
Normally, such a meeting would lead to an emotional reunion. Maybe tears, maybe laughter. They'd put down their weapons, shake hands, maybe even go to a nearby tavern to reminisce about Earth.
That would be the normal thing to do.
But neither Sid nor Alhaitham were normal.
Alhaitham: "So, that explains why you're so strong. But still… you're standing in my way."
Sid: "You have my sword. That makes you my target."
Being time travelers didn't matter. Being from the same Earth didn't matter. If anything, it made them more eager to defeat each other.
More motivated than ever before.
The two young prodigies locked eyes again, grinning like maniacs.
They were going to keep fighting.
Not because they hated each other.
But because there was no greater joy in their hearts than clashing swords with someone who truly understood their style. Their pain. Their strength.
Their journey.
This wasn't just a duel—it was destiny.
And as the forest echoed with the sound of steel and magic, one thing became certain:
The world had never seen a fight like this.
And it probably never would again.
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