Chapter 18 – Duel at the Guild

The guild hall cleared fast. Tables scraped back, drinks abandoned, adventurers pressed against the walls with hungry eyes. Everyone wanted to see this.
Me? I sighed. “Man, why do people always want to fight me right after I enter a town? Can’t we just have a tea party or something?”
Frost barked once, like he agreed.
Arjun unsheathed his sword. The sound was sharp, clean—no rust, no hesitation. The blade gleamed under the lantern light. He raised it in a stance so precise it almost looked ceremonial.
“This isn’t for show,” he said calmly. “If you’re dangerous, I’ll stop you here.”
Mira whispered nervously behind me, “Please don’t go too far…”Shimon crossed his arms. “Let’s see how our dark mage handles a proper duel.”

The clash began.
Arjun’s speed shocked me. One blink, and he was already in front of me, blade descending.
Damn, fast!
I barely managed to dodge, his sword grazing my jacket. I snapped my fingers—time lurched, slowing.
For a second, I had the upper hand. I circled him, raised my camera, and tried to catch him in frame.
But then—
Crack.
My vision blurred. My heart throbbed like it skipped a beat.
Time… restarted on its own.
“What the—?!” I staggered back, clutching my chest.
Arjun’s blade stopped just short of my neck. His eyes narrowed. “Your magic strains you, doesn’t it?”
I grit my teeth. He noticed…
Before I could react, Frost lunged between us, silver fangs bared. Arjun twisted gracefully, deflecting with the flat of his blade, but the force still pushed him back.
The guild roared in excitement.

“Fine then!” I shouted. “Let’s go, Frost!”
We moved together. Frost’s speed matched Arjun’s sword, snapping at every opening. I darted around, using my camera to create afterimages—blinding flashes of memory light.
Arjun cut through one illusion, then another, but his rhythm faltered. For the first time, his calm broke.
I smirked. “Not so easy now, huh?”
But just as I was about to push forward—
Crash!
Arjun slammed his blade into the ground, releasing a wave of sword aura that sent both me and Frost tumbling back.
I coughed, gripping my side. “Ow ow ow… damn, that hurt.”
He pointed his blade at me. “You rely too much on tricks. Without that wolf, without that strange camera… you’re fragile.”
My pride stung. But I forced a grin. “Yeah? Fragile’s still enough to beat you.”


The fight raged on. Arjun’s strikes grew heavier, faster. Every time I tried to stop time, the backlash hit me harder—my head pounding, vision flickering.
Too much… I can’t hold it for long.
At the last moment, when Arjun’s sword was about to land a decisive blow, Frost leapt onto him, forcing him off balance.
“Now!”
I snapped a photo, locking his stance in a frozen memory. He faltered just long enough for Frost to slam him to the ground.
The hall erupted in cheers.
Arjun lay there, sword still in hand, but his chest rising and falling heavily. Slowly, he chuckled.
“…Impressive. You’re reckless… but not hopeless.”
I panted, sweat dripping down my forehead. “So… does that mean… I win?”
He sheathed his sword and stood, extending a hand. “For now.”
I hesitated, then shook it.

Shimon smirked. “Looks like we have another strange ally in the making.”Mira sighed in relief. “Please don’t fight every strong person you meet…”Frost wagged his tail proudly, like he had won.
Arjun gave me a sharp look. “Dark mage… Smit, was it? I’ll be watching you. You’re dangerous, but… maybe worth following someday.”
And with that, he turned and left the hall.
The guild was still buzzing, whispers flying.“Dark magic…”“Time stop…”“And that wolf! Did you see that?!”
I collapsed into a chair. “Man, first day in town and I’m already famous. Not bad, right?”
But inside, I couldn’t ignore the truth.My power… had limits.And Arjun had seen through them.