SSSSS-Rank: Negative Leveling-Chapter 82: The Duel

The fight started before either of them moved, Vex’s annihilation sphere expanding from five meters to eight meters in an instant, testing if Luthra would panic and retreat, Luthra held his ground and let his Corruption Field push back against the destructive energy, the boundary between annihilation and negative mana creating visible distortion in the air.

"Interesting," Vex said, circling slowly, "your field actually resists mine, most B-Ranks would be consumed already."

"I specialize in not dying to things that should kill me," Luthra responded, mirroring Vex’s movement, keeping distance while looking for openings that probably didn’t exist.

Vex attacked without warning, crossing eight meters in less than a second, his fist driving toward Luthra’s chest where contact with the annihilation sphere would mean instant death. Luthra used Void Steps to dodge, the technique burning through mana reserves quickly but keeping him alive, he countered with a corrupted strike aimed at Vex’s ribs but the A-Rank’s combat instincts were perfect, already moving to block before Luthra completed the attack.

The exchange lasted three seconds, ended with both fighters separating, Luthra uninjured but breathing hard from the mana expenditure, Vex looking mildly impressed that his opening move failed to connect.

’He’s faster than I remember, stronger too, either he’s been training or he wasn’t fighting seriously last time.’

[Observation: opponent utilizing approximately 60% maximum capability, current showing is demonstration not serious combat, recommend surviving initial phase until genuine engagement begins.]

They circled again, Luthra watching for patterns, noting how Vex favored his right side slightly, how the annihilation sphere flickered when he moved at maximum speed, finding tiny imperfections that might matter in a fight between equals but probably meant nothing against this power gap.

Vex lunged again, this time feinting left before attacking right, Luthra fell for it and paid with a glancing hit to his shoulder, the edge of the annihilation sphere touched his arm for maybe a tenth of a second before he jerked away, but that was enough, flesh simply ceased to exist where the energy made contact, a chunk of his shoulder vanishing into nothing.

The pain was overwhelming, not burning or cutting but pure erasure, his arm hung limp as muscle and bone disappeared, blood pouring from the wound before his body’s natural healing kicked in and started closing the injury incompletely.

"First blood," Vex observed, "you lasted longer than I expected, most B-Ranks would be dead already, you can surrender now with honor."

"No," Luthra said through gritted teeth, his injured arm useless but his corruption still functioning, "we fight until one of us can’t continue or the terms are met."

Vex’s expression showed something between respect and frustration, like he genuinely didn’t want to kill someone showing this much determination but also couldn’t back down without losing face. "Your choice."

The next exchange was brutal, Vex stopped holding back as much, the annihilation sphere expanded to its full ten-meter radius and he attacked with serious intent to finish the fight, Luthra dodged, blocked what he could with corruption barriers, took hits that would’ve killed normal hunters but his negative mana cushioned the damage enough to survive.

Two minutes in Luthra lost feeling in his legs, Vex’s annihilation clipped him twice more, erasing chunks of thigh muscle, he stayed upright through willpower and stubborn refusal to fall but mobility was compromised, dodging became harder, hits came faster.

The coalition observers were silent, watching their defender get systematically dismantled by superior opponent, Syndicate soldiers were cheering their commander’s obvious dominance, three minutes became four, four became five, Luthra was still standing but barely, injuries accumulating past the point where normal humans could function.

’Need to change tactics, pure defense isn’t working, he’ll wear me down and kill me eventually.’

Luthra activated Absorption Mimicry at maximum power, pouring every bit of available mana into copying Vex’s annihilation technique, the Path was incredibly complex, built on understanding of matter and energy that Luthra didn’t possess, but he grasped fragments, enough to create pale imitation.

His Corruption Field shifted nature, becoming more destructive instead of purely suppressive, everything within his radius started breaking down at molecular level, still nowhere near Vex’s power but enough to change the dynamic.

Vex stopped his assault, looking at Luthra with genuine surprise. "You copied my Path? In the middle of combat?"

"Fragments only," Luthra admitted, his makeshift annihilation sphere was maybe one-meter radius and unstable, barely a threat to someone like Vex, "but it’s something."

"It’s remarkable," Vex said, his tone carrying professional respect, "most hunters train decades to develop their Path, you’re improvising one on the spot, if you were properly trained instead of defective you’d be terrifying."

They fought with altered dynamics now, two annihilation spheres clashing, Luthra’s weak imitation versus Vex’s perfected technique, it wasn’t balanced but it was less one-sided than before, six minutes became seven, seven became eight.

Then Kira’s voice cut through the spectators, sharp and urgent. "Commander, coalition forces moving from the settlements, this is a distraction!"

Vex hesitated, glancing toward where his camp was visible, Luthra saw the opening and took it despite knowing it was stupid, he charged forward into Vex’s annihilation sphere, accepting damage to land one clean hit, his corrupted fist connected with Vex’s jaw and the A-Rank actually staggered backward.

The watching soldiers on both sides gasped, Syndicate troops seeing their commander hurt for the first time, coalition observers seeing their fighter land a solid blow against impossible odds.

Vex’s hand went to his jaw, blood dripping from a split lip, his expression shifted from professional respect to genuine fury. "You actually hit me."

"That was the plan," Luthra said, his legs finally giving out, he collapsed to his knees, injuries too severe to maintain consciousness much longer, "make you bleed."

Vex’s annihilation sphere contracted to maximum density, preparing for killing blow, then Syndicate horns sounded from the camp, urgent pattern that meant attack in progress, Kira appeared beside Vex with phantom-step technique.

"Coalition hit our supply depot with two hundred fighters, they’re burning everything, we need you at camp immediately!" Her voice carried frustration at the tactical situation, this duel was always meant to distract Vex while coalition forces struck elsewhere.

Understanding crossed Vex’s face, then anger, then cold calculation as he realized he’d been played, the duel was legitimate but also convenient cover for coordinated assault on his weakened camp. He looked at Luthra kneeling in the dirt, clearly unable to continue fighting, then at the coalition observers watching carefully.

"This duel is suspended," Vex declared, "my forces are under attack, the honor terms are void due to third-party interference."

"The" terms said settlement versus withdrawal based on single combat outcome," one of the coalition observers called out, elderly hunter who served as neutral arbitrator, "duel was interrupted before conclusion, terms are inconclusive, neither side wins the agreement."

Vex knew that was correct but clearly didn’t care about technicalities when his base was burning, he turned to Kira. "Get our forces organized, we defend the camp, this settlement can wait."

Then he looked back at Luthra with expression mixing frustration and respect. "You survived nine minutes against me and landed a blow, that’s worth acknowledging, but next time I won’t hold back and you won’t have coalition tricks to save you."

They vanished toward their camp, Syndicate soldiers rushing to defend against the coalition assault, the duel area emptied rapidly as both sides focused on the real battle happening at the supply depot.

Kane and Misha reached Luthra seconds later, the medical team right behind them, someone was shouting about blood loss and tissue damage, hands lifting him onto a stretcher, Rebecca’s face appeared above him looking terrified and furious simultaneously.

"You actually hit him," she said, voice carrying awe mixed with fear, "you hit an A-Rank commander hard enough to bleed."

"That’s what I do," Luthra managed before exhaustion and pain dragged him under, "make impossible things work."

He woke twelve hours later in medical tent, healers working around the clock to stabilize injuries that should’ve been fatal, the chunks of missing flesh from Vex’s annihilation required advanced regenerative techniques that drained coalition medical supplies significantly. Misha appeared within minutes of him regaining consciousness.

"Status report," Luthra said, his voice rough from screaming during medical procedures he mercifully didn’t remember.

"Coalition assault on Syndicate supply depot was successful, killed maybe fifty soldiers and destroyed two weeks worth of provisions, Vex’s forces drove them off but took significant losses doing it," Misha read from her notes with professional efficiency, "Syndicate is furious about the duel interruption and broken honor terms, they’re calling it coalition treachery."

"Was it?" Luthra asked, needing to know if his people orchestrated this.

"Gareth’s independent decision, he saw the duel as opportunity to strike while Vex was distracted," Misha’s tone suggested disapproval of the tactic but acknowledgment it worked, "you weren’t supposed to know because genuine reactions sold the distraction better."

So Luthra was sacrificial bait without being told, he should probably be angry but couldn’t find the energy, the strategy worked and he survived so arguing seemed pointless. "What’s Syndicate doing now?"

"Repositioning for major assault, intelligence reports they’re calling in every available soldier from surrounding territories, estimate six hundred troops arriving within the week," Misha’s expression showed the concern that number warranted, "they’re done playing games, next assault will be overwhelming force designed to obliterate us regardless of cost."

Six hundred soldiers plus A-Rank commanders against maybe three hundred coalition defenders, the math was worse than any previous engagement, Luthra tried sitting up and immediately regretted it as pain shot through his damaged body.

"How long until I’m combat ready?" he asked the nearby healer.

"Three weeks minimum, preferably six, you lost approximately thirty percent of your body mass to annihilation damage, regeneration requires time," the healer replied, clearly not understanding that they didn’t have three weeks.

"You have five days to get me functional," Luthra said, watching the healer’s face shift to protest, "not perfect, functional, able to fight even if recovery isn’t complete."

"That’s medically inadvisable," the healer started.

"Everything about this situation is inadvisable but we’re doing it anyway," Luthra looked at Misha, "coalition reinforcements?"

"Every allied settlement is sending everyone they can spare, we’ll have maybe four hundred defenders by the time Syndicate attacks, still outnumbered but less catastrophically," Misha was already marking defensive positions on her tactical maps, "Gareth’s organizing combined command structure, Kane training the new arrivals, we’re preparing for the largest battle this region has seen in decades."

Rebecca appeared in the medical tent, the girl’s face showing determination mixed with poorly hidden worry. "You’re awake."

"Apparently," Luthra said, "you ready for major battle?"

"Are you?" she countered, looking at his bandaged wounds, "you can barely move and healers say you won’t fight for weeks."

"Healers are optimists," Luthra said, already planning how to compensate for reduced physical capability, "I’ll be on the walls when Syndicate comes, maybe not at full strength but present, this settlement needs its symbol even if the symbol is held together with medical tape and stubbornness."

The next five days were frantic preparation, coalition forces streaming into the settlement from every allied territory, four hundred defenders organizing into cohesive fighting force under Gareth and Kane’s combined leadership, fortifications reinforced beyond previous capability, Misha’s sovereign space barriers placed at every critical position.

Luthra recovered enough to stand and walk with minimal pain, healers accomplished minor miracles with regenerative potions and sophisticated healing techniques, he was maybe sixty percent combat capable, better than bedridden but nowhere near his normal ability.

Syndicate forces assembled on the fifth day, six hundred soldiers in precise military formations, Vex at the center with Kira beside him, four additional B-Rank commanders Luthra didn’t recognize from previous battles, siege equipment that included battering rams and catapults, this was overwhelming force applied without subtlety or hesitation.

Vex sent final message under flag of truce: Surrender the settlement, all defenders allowed to leave alive, refusal means total annihilation, twelve hours to decide.

The coalition leaders met to discuss response, Gareth was pragmatic, pointing out survival was more important than pride, Kane was aggressive, wanting to fight regardless of odds, Misha calculated resource expenditure versus likely outcomes.

Luthra considered the options, looked at four hundred defenders preparing to face six hundred professional soldiers plus A-Rank support, thought about the costs of fighting and the costs of surrendering, made the decision he knew was coming since this siege began.

"We refuse," he said, "this settlement represents something important, proof that independent communities can resist Syndicate control, if we surrender that dies with us, better to fight and lose than give up without trying."

The coalition leaders agreed, probably because they knew refusing was suicide but accepted that some things mattered more than survival, the message was sent back to Vex: Settlement refuses surrender, come take it if you can.

Twelve hours passed in final preparations, defenders saying goodbyes to loved ones, everyone aware that tomorrow’s battle would be the worst they’d ever faced, Luthra stood on the rebuilt eastern wall watching Syndicate camp, seeing troops organizing for assault, counting down hours until the Breaking Point arrived.

Dawn came with Syndicate horns, six hundred soldiers advancing on the settlement in coordinated waves, siege weapons launching bombardment, Vex and Kira leading from the front with their A-Rank power fully committed.

The final battle for the settlement was beginning.