Kael said nothing more on the matter but it got Azaroth thinking that it meant something to the Captain. Something he hadn’t figured out.

Azaroth froze. His own Elemental technique also complemented the chaos core, according to the red eye. Azaroth frowned and looked at Kael Hound. Something was definitely at play here.

"So we...Azaroth got a challenge to prepare for." Stallus said after some minutes of silence.

"It should have been an all-out! Let everyone throw punch and see which group that comes out on top." Alex said, showing his muscles.

"Well, you probably should have thrown out a challenge of your own, Alex. I’m sure the twins would be happy to take you on." Stallus said.

Alex shuddered. "Those twins! They get on my nerves with how they do things so simultaneously. And taking each other hands at all times."

Stallus nodded. "They certainly do. I saw them during the test, they are good at fighting together as a pair, defending and offense at the same time. Very seamless."

Azaroth had noticed it too, they were like half of each other but then that was also their weakness. Just hurt one enough and you destroy their teamwork.

"They can’t touch me though, what are you saying, Stallus? Don’t you see my sword fighting?" Alex demonstrated a cutting with his hand.

"Have you fought two sword fighters of your same level before? Like fighting two of yourself that’s how it’ll be." Stallus pointed out.

"I can fight two of me!" Alex said. "And what of you? Can you fight and defeat Bella?"

Stallus shrugged. "Probably not but I can take care of the twins."

"How? If you can’t even defeat Bella." Alex snickered.

Stallus smiled, her blue eyes like blue ice. "You think she’s the weakest in the group?"

Alex shrugged. "Don’t you see her height? And that large knife in her hand can hardly do any serious damage."

Kael snorted and even Catena rolled his eyes as he listened to Alex.

Azaroth pulled another plate of meat to himself, listening to the dramatic fool talk. Alex must be forgetting the first rule of fighting— Don’t underestimate your opponents.

Stallus stood and looked at Alex. "Stand up, Alex."

Alex grumbled but did as he was told. "Why should I stand up? What are you..."

Something blurred in front of him and he flinched his hand going to his sword but Stallus’s saber was already back into its sheath.

"What is that for? What are....." Strands of his brown hair drifted down. Alex stared at it then at Stallus, his eyes wide.

Stallus shrugged and tapped the hilt of her saber. "By your observation, this saber can’t do serious damage but you are forgetting that battles aren’t won by only cutting off your enemy’s head. It ends when one is dead and the other is left standing by any means."

Alex held part of his brown hair in his hand and looked at Stallus. "Did you use essence?"

"No, this is just my natural strength." Stallus sat down.

"How’s that possible? You are so fast!" Alex said.

"Fast? Maybe a little," She pointed at Azaroth. "He’s fast, faster than me by far."

Alex stared at Azaroth as if he had never even considered it a possibility.

"But... how does this translate to you defeating the twins and not Bella?" Alex turned confused eyes on Stallus.

"Well, defeating the twins won’t be easy but I can do it, they have one weakness, they are sacrificing their speed and mobility for combined fighting," Stallus said.

Stallus continued. "Of course, they are fast for a pair that are joined as one but you can’t compare it with a single fast fighter... like me or Azaroth."

"And Bella? You could see that she’s fast, very fast. More than me obviously and if she and Azaroth fight it would be down to Awakened powers usage to decide the winner." Stallus paused.

Interesting, Azaroth thought. He hadn’t put the twin’s mobility into question but instead, he had thought to take one out as fast as he could. Stallus produced an interesting idea that’s interwoven with his own.

"But they said Darian is the strongest in their group though." Alex pointed out.

"And he is. There’s so much speed can do, that’s why you have to complement it with strength and as Awakeners...skills." Stallus shrugged.

Alex nodded, he frowned and seemed to be thinking. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Azaroth studied Alex, the boy was really... fascinating. Azaroth could not tell if he was just pretending or he was asking genuine questions. One thing Azaroth did know was that Alex was more than he seems. Far more.

"So are you prepared for your duel, Azaroth?" Catena’s eyes gleamed.

Azaroth narrowed his eyes. "Why did you do it? We could have fought then and there."

"Where I come from....a lot of things were decided by duels and to stop any excuses, it would always be a duel you were prepared for. So you will have no excuse if you lose." Catena said.

"Shouldn’t you be prepared always for war? Enemies won’t tell you when they want to attack." Azaroth said, flickering a glance at Kael Hound.

"Warriors are always prepared but not for duels. Even if it is an hour’s preparation, it should be given. War is a thing that comes like a force of nature but duels is a fight to know the powerful," Catena grunted and frowned. "At least that was the saying from where I came from."

Interesting, really interesting. Azaroth thought about it. If his father had prepared for the destruction of his outpost as if he was preparing for a force of nature then maybe they wouldn’t have been caught off guard like that. At least there would be some fighting back.

"I did it because," Catena widened his eyes. "It’s been a while since I’ve witnessed a duel."

Azaroth smiled wolf-like. At least he was honest. It’s good when people knew they were motivated by their selfishness instead of sprouting bullshit.

Azaroth stood and drank a cup full of water. "It might be too fast for you to enjoy, Catena, but who knows?"

Azaroth left then, already preparing himself for the training ahead.