I walk away from the meeting room, with the Commander's permission, towards my quarters. Amara walks up to me and starts walking with me. "So...eventful meeting?"

I nod, "In a sense. Some asshat challenged me to a duel."

She chuckles. "Happen to catch said Asshat's name?"

I think for a moment, "Uh, yeah...something like Danten...or maybe it was Danter?"

She stops. "Danter? Are you sure that was the name?"

I nod, "Now that I think about it closer, yeah. That was it."

She comes a little closer. "Listen to me. Be careful with him."

I look at her, confused. "What? Why? He's just some pissant in a blue cloak. I'm pretty sure I can take him."

She shakes her head. "No, he's the best duelist on the lower floors."

I nod, "Exactly. The LOWER floors. If I weren't such a high rank we'd be doing this in the courtyard." She still looks worried and I place my hands on her shoulders. "You have no reason to worry. I've got this." I give her a quick kiss before heading back to my quarters.

The day passes quickly and soon I find myself standing next to the Commander as he announces the fight to a very large crowd. "Thank you, one and all, for coming. Today we have an unusual circumstance. This young recruit, Danter, strolled into the meeting hall like he owned the place. and he challenged my bodyguard, Lt. Commander SMii7y. And he has accepted. This duel will be unlimited time, to the yellow. Cross swords and send the duel request."

I nod and send the request. He accepts it and we cross swords. The countdown starts and we move to our ready positions.

3...2...1...GO!

We run at each other with equal speed and our swords clash sending shockwaves around the stadium. We move with speed rivaling that of Asuna, clashing again, and again, and again. Both of our swords showed no sign of a sword skill activation. I think to myself, "Damn...he's better than I thought."

I ready a sword skill and get a few hits on him. He does the same. We go on trading blows for a few minutes before he suddenly stops and starts laughing. "Come on Samurai! Show me that badass special skill of yours! I wanna see it up close!"

I roll my eyes and lift my sword in the air. A blinding golden light emits from the base of my sword slowly making its way towards the tip.

Danter smiles and takes a stance that looks like a regular sword skill. He moves with impossible speed towards me. I am barely able to bring my sword down to stop his from hitting me directly.

The light dims and disappears from my blade and I notice a cut just below my knee. "Damn..."

I turn to see him now behind me. He starts laughing again. "Woooo! Holy Shit! I haven't had this much fun in a battle in a while! I have met, not one person that could make me use my full power! Come on oh mighty Samurai! Show me your full power! I'll even give you the full time needed for you to charge fully."

I roll my eyes and think to myself. "You want my full power, I'll give you my damn full power."

I slowly raise my sword. The air around me seems to form a circle in the center of which I am standing. The golden light begins again at the base of my sword slowly working its way towards the tip. By the time the power is fully charged, the air around me moves like that of a small cyclone.

Danter gains a wild grin on his face as he takes the stance as he did before. I think to myself. "Not this time pissant." As soon as he moves I bring my sword down hard. My blow hits him on the shoulder as he comes at me. He falls to the ground the duel stops declaring me the winner.

I sheath my sword and I extend my hand out to him. "You may be a pissant, but you're powerful. Welcome to the guild."

He smiles. "You're not too bad yourself. this is not over."

I chuckle. "I expect nothing less."

I turn and walk back to the guildhall to meet up with Amara.

I walk up to her, unable to look her in the eye. She looks at me, arms crossed. "So?"

I nod. "You were...right." She smacks me on the back of my head. "Owww!"

She gives me the stink eye. "Mhm! I told you to be careful. and you got cocky. If this had been a boss raid...or...or..." She starts to tear up.

I bring her into a hug. "Baby no." I cup her cheek with my hand, "Listen to me very carefully. I am making you a promise, here and now. I will always come back to you. You are the most important thing to me now."

She nods and we head back to her room for the night. I fall asleep with her in my arms.