Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 26: Ch : One of our Best- Part 3

'W-What is going on? Why can't I win against him? He's nothing but a useless child who had never even held a sword before today. So why? Why do I feel like I am outclassed?'

Bruce's breath came in ragged gasps as he forced himself to move faster, his body already aching under the weight of an invisible pressure.

He had trained for years, refining his speed until he was one of the best in the guard. Against any ordinary opponent, he would have overwhelmed them before they could react.

But right now...

It felt like he was fighting against his master...nor, someone worse than his master. Even his body was feeling different than it usually did when he fought against a powerful opponent.

'Why do I feel so slow?'

Every step felt sluggish, his limbs unnaturally heavy. It was as if the space around him had thickened, wrapping around his body like an unseen force, restricting his movements.

His first instinct was to call upon his internal energy—to awaken the refined power within him and force his body to obey.

He could break through this strange suppression if he just let his energy flow properly.

But he hesitated.

'No... This is just a duel against a noble's son. If I use my energy here, it would be like admitting defeat. I need to finish it with my own strength.'

Using internal energy against a supposedly useless noble—someone without a trace of proper training—would be disgraceful.

His pride refused to let him take such an easy way out.

So instead, Bruce held himself back.

That moment of hesitation cost him dearly.

Kyle stepped forward, his expression unreadable, and swung his sword down.

Bruce barely had time to raise his own blade to defend.

The moment the two swords met—

"Gah!"

A sharp jolt of pain shot through Bruce's arms as the force of the impact nearly ripped his weapon from his grip.

The raw power behind Kyle's strike was unlike anything he had ever encountered before.

His bones rattled from the impact, his muscles screamed in protest, and his knees almost buckled under the weight of defending.

Kyle had no wasted movements. No unnecessary flourishes. Just raw, overwhelming power.

Bruce's mind reeled.

'How? How did he become so powerful? Why can't I fight against him?'

This noble was supposed to be weak. He was supposed to be someone who had never trained properly, someone who had no real talent.

'Then why... does he feel stronger than me?'

Bruce stumbled backward, trying to regain his footing. He put as much distance as he could between himself and Kyle, his breath coming in sharp, panicked exhales.

The murmur of the surrounding soldiers reached his ears.

"What's going on?"

"Bruce is struggling... Is he holding back?"

"No, look at his face... He's serious! Fucking hell! What is going on?"

The fight had gone on longer than anyone expected. And with each passing second, one undeniable truth became more and more clear—

Bruce wasn't holding back. He was losing.

Lancelot, the guard captain, observed from the sidelines with narrowed eyes. Unlike the other guards, he wasn't fooled by the surface-level spectacle.

Bruce wasn't playing around. He wasn't testing Kyle.

No—

He was fighting with everything he had.

And yet, Kyle looked... bored.

Lancelot felt a chill crawl down his spine.

Kyle had not even gotten serious yet.

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Bruce's ears rang with the sounds of the surrounding soldiers—some shouting in encouragement, others laughing at his struggle.

"Get up, Bruce! Don't embarrass us!"

"Stop playing around and finish him already!"

"How is this even happening? He's just the useless young master!"

The pressure of their expectations weighed heavily on his already exhausted body.

His arms were trembling, his breath came in shallow gasps, and yet Kyle stood before him—calm, composed, untouched.

Bruce couldn't take it anymore.

His pride, his reputation, and everything he had worked for in the guards were on the line. He had trained day and night, honing his body into a weapon, earning his place as the guard captain's second-in-command.

And yet, right now, he was losing—to a noble who was supposed to be weak.

'No. I refuse to lose like this.'

A dangerous thought crept into his mind.

He knew it was wrong. He knew it was against the rules.

But he saw no other way out.

So he did it.

Bruce activated his internal energy.

The moment it surged through his body, his vision sharpened, his limbs felt lighter, and his speed doubled. The suffocating pressure around him was pushed back.

He felt powerful again.

"You're finished now, Young Master."

Bruce lunged forward, blade glowing with power, moving faster than the eye could follow.

The guard captain, Lancelot, immediately sensed the shift. His heart dropped.

"No! He's using internal energy—"

Realizing what Bruce had done, Lancelot moved to interfere, his instincts screaming that this was a mistake.

But it was too late.

Bruce's sword descended with all his might, cutting through the air toward Kyle's neck.

A loud boom echoed across the training ground.

Smoke and dust rose, covering the scene in a thick cloud.

Lancelot's mind raced. He needed to think fast—if Bruce had seriously injured the young master, there would be no saving him. He would have to—

But when the dust settled—

It was Bruce lying on the ground.

Unconscious.

Kyle stood over him, completely unharmed. Not even a single scratch.

His expression remained the same—calm, indifferent, and worst of all... bored.

Kyle exhaled as if he had been expecting more.

"Disappointing."

His cold voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Lancelot couldn't speak. His mind refused to comprehend what had just happened.

'How? How did Bruce lose even after using internal energy? No, how is the young master still alive?'

The other soldiers, who had been mocking Kyle moments ago, were now silent. None of them dared to speak, their earlier confidence shattered.

Fear settled in their eyes as they stared at the young master—the "useless noble"—who had just crushed one of their best without breaking a sweat.

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Can I ask for some Power Stones?