Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

For the sixteenth time, the old referee raised his arm. "The duel begins!"

Alan closed his eyes, taking a deep, steady breath to calm his heart, and opened his blue eyes, meeting Janine's excited violet eyes.

The referee's hand dropped. "Now!"

Alan rushed forward in a blur as he aimed his knife at Janine's shoulder, the same move he'd tried every time. She grabbed his left wrist mid-thrust with a playful smirk, as he expected, and lifted him off the ground like a toy.

"Sorry for being slow," Alan teased, stealing the words he knew she'd say.

Janine's eyes widened with confusion on her face. "What—"

Before she could finish, Alan let the knife slip from his left hand and caught it smoothly with his right. He swung upward, but Janine's reflexes were sharp, her free hand grabbing his right wrist.

He planted a foot on her thigh, then her chest, and kicked off hard, forcing her to let go. He twisted in the air and landed in a low crouch as Janine stepped back.

Alan stood, flipping the knife back to his left hand. "Got plans to keep, Champion," he taunted.

Janine's grin grew, fierce and thrilled, her violet eyes blazing. "Well, damn, kid," she said while brushing dust from her shirt. "You've got moves. No more kid gloves, then."

"Bring it," Alan shot back.

Janine vanished in a flash, amazing soldiers and nobles with her speed, which wasn't even a fifth of her full power.

Alan's smirk stayed on his lips. He turned and faced her as she appeared behind him, her fist swinging. "Yeah, I missed you," he teased, catching the surprise in her widened eyes.

He ducked low, her punch flying over his head. Janine's leg snapped up, aiming a kick at his chest, but he slid left on his knees, expecting her elbow strike and rolling right to dodge it. Seizing the chance, he slashed at her ankle. Janine flipped backward with smooth grace, landing safely away.

The crowd stood frozen, jaws dropped, blinking in disbelief.

To normal people, his reactions seemed impossible. Even the soldiers who couldn't handle two of Janine's attacks stared at Alan like he was doing the unthinkable.

"Is this real?" A soldier muttered, swallowing hard.

"I've never seen anyone dodge her like that," another said, his voice full of awe. "Not even when she's holding back."

"She is holding back," a third whispered, "and he's still keeping up?"

Anna's crimson eyes were wide, unblinking. "How's he even avoiding Jani's attacks?" She whispered in disbelief.

She wanted him to win, but this—this was beyond her understanding.

Beside her, Duchess Sharra let out a soft, amused chuckle. Silverheadturned to her. "Your knight's winning, my dear," Sharra said, her emerald eyes shining with satisfaction as she sipped her juice. "And he's only just begun."

Moriko's tail flicked wildly as she cupped her hands around her mouth. "That's it, grey-hair!" she shouted. "Show this so-called champion who's boss!"

Janine blinked as her confident smirk faded.

She's the Earth's Champion and one of the continent's strongest warriors, and she saw this skinny kid dodge her attacks with uncanny precision, as if he knew her moves. Her violet eyes narrowed, watching him with curiosity and respect.

Alan stood firm, his blue eyes cold and steady, his knife held loosely. "You're staring a bit hard, Champion," he taunted.

Janine's grin returned with fierce excitement. "Care to dance with me, kid?" she asked with a tone daring him to keep up, spreading her arms in a playful challenge.

Alan's lips curled into a smirk as he shifted stance. "I'd never turn down an invitation from a beauty like you," he shot back boldly.

Janine vanished in a blur, her speed faster than before.

*Straight, right swing at the shoulder,* Alan thought as he leaned left as she appeared, her fist whistling past his ear.

The crowd was stunned by his impossible dodge.

"Good dancing moves!" Janine called, her grin widened as she turned and low-kicked at his knees. Alan jumped over it, rolling and springing to his feet in one smooth move, his knife flashing as he aimed a quick slash at her side.

Janine's reflexes were incredible, her hand moving to block, but Alan expected it, twisting away before she could grab him. Janine continuously attacked him with a flurry of strikes—a jab to his chest, a spinning kick to his ribs, and an elbow to his shoulder. Alan countered each: twisting right, ducking low, leaning back, his moves eerily precise, as if he'd seen her attacks countless times.

The crowd's whispers grew into a roar of disbelief. "He's dodging her?" a soldier stammered with shaky awe.

"No one moves like that against Janine," another muttered. "Not even blessed knights."

Anna gripped her seat, her crimson eyes wide, her breath caught. Each dodge, each near-miss, was impossible.

"He's not just dodging," Sharaa murmured with amusement. "He's reading her like an open book. Look at his eyes."

Anna glanced at Alan's face, catching the cold, calculating intensity in his blue gaze. It wasn't just reflexes—it was like he knew Janine's moves before she made them.

Janine attacked, leaping into a mid-air strike, and her fist crashed down with enough force to break stone.

Alan sidestepped, her punch hitting the ground, kicking up dust. Seizing the chance, he snapped a kick toward her face. Janine's head jerked slightly, but she caught his ankle on his second try, twisting her wrist to throw him across the arena.

Alan hit the dirt hard, skidding, but rolled to his feet in an instant.

Janine stood, her grin fierce but tinged with respect. "Not a bad dance, kid," she said with admiration. "Didn't think you had it in you to keep up with me."

Alan wiped blood from his lip. "You were the best dancer in the kingdom," he replied. "Glad I used to admire you, you know."

Janine's eyes sparkled, but before she could reply, she charged again without hesitation. Alan charged, his knife slashing toward Janine's arm. Her fist struck his ribs hard, sending him crashing across the arena, skidding to a stop.

"Alan!" Moriko's panicked shout rang out as she ran toward him with fear. Anna leapt from her seat and ran to his side. Duchess Sharra stayed seated, her face unreadable but her fingers tightening around her glass as she leaned forward—the first crack in her regal composure all day.

"Alan, are you okay?" Anna cried, kneeling beside him. Moriko grabbed Alan's shoulders, helping him sit up as he coughed blood.

"Hold on, please," Anna said, her hands glowing with mana as she pressed them to his chest, checking his injuries.

The crowd hushed briefly, awed by the fight, then roared, chanting "Earth's Champion!" as Janine stood.

Her smirk faded, violet eyes locked on Alan with curiosity and unease.

Alan met her gaze, lips curling into a fierce, bloodied grin despite the pain.