"Snap". Diego closes his pocket watch. "Fifteen seconds. Very impressive. You are the strongest opponent I have faced lately." The challenger scrambles to his feet and stumbles away, dejected, without once looking back.
"I hope he can pull himself together." "He was already the strongest swordsman for a hundred miles around. I can't believe the result was the same." "This guy is an absolute monster. No one has ever lasted twenty seconds against him." ...Diego pays no mind to the nattering of the crowd. He silently sheathes his greatsword and in the tavern, waiting for the next challenger to arrive.
Story
Perhaps the spirits are too strong today, for Diego falls into a rare, long-lost trance of memory. Even as a child, his tender age cannot hide his staggering talent for the blade. He quickly defeats all peers his age, and his opponents gradually shift from wandering mercenaries to renowned masters. Without exception, he is always the last one standing.
He thinks he can keep winning forever, until a boy carrying twin swords appears. This is the strongest opponent he has ever faced; they fight from dawn until dusk without a victor. Finally, the boy is led away by his adoptive father, and Diego does not even have the chance to ask his name.
"I am much stronger than I was back then. He probably wouldn't be a match for me now." Sometimes Diego thinks this. "I hope not, though. That would be too boring." At times like these, Diego swallows a bitter mouthful of strong liquor.
Diego desperately needs a rival. Decades of victory have numbed his competitive heart. Everyone thinks he travels the world to win more, but only Diego knows the truth: he is looking for a defeat.
"Barkeep, a drink." Another person enters the tavern. "Are those twin swords...?" "Quiet! That's Amadeus of the Unjust League." "Twin swords?"Diego slowly raises his head. His deadened heart finally beats once more.
"Unrighteous Strike!" Amadeus swings his sword at Diego, only to be blocked by a barrier of sword aura that seems impenetrable. Diego moves like a phantom and quickly closes the distance, met by three fierce waves of energy. He raises his blade to parry, his blunt heavy sword ringing with a resonant clang. Seizing the upper hand, Amadeus brings both swords down in an attempt to crush him, but Diego maintains his focus and retaliates with invisible blades of wind...
The terrifying sword pressure radiating from the two combatants keeps the crowd from drawing near. This world-shaking duel ultimately ends in a draw when the military forcefully intervenes, but it is clear that Diego is not yet satisfied. "We will definitely settle this later, Amadeus." "Of course, I'm definitely going to beat you... uh, what's your name again?"
