Gon's Harem System
Chapter 45: Gon’s first victory

Chapter 45: Gon’s first victory

But Ethan was already moving, his body shifting as if he knew where Gon would strike before it even happened.

With a swift twist, Ethan raised his gauntlet, and the ground beneath Gon’s feet seemed to shift.

A loud crack echoed through the arena as the earth beneath Gon’s feet buckled and rose.

The sudden movement threw Gon off balance, and before he could recover, Ethan was on him, delivering a series of blows that had Gon scrambling to stay on his feet.

"Not bad," Ethan said with a grin, the cocky edge never leaving his voice. "But you’re gonna have to do better than that."

Gon felt his heart race. His sword was no longer his only concern—his footing was unstable, and Ethan’s attacks came fast, leaving no time to think, only to react.

He used iron veil, his defense skill, coating his body in a shimmering, hard metal-like aura that absorbed some of the blows.

But even with his iron veil active, Ethan’s attacks still stung.

Each punch from the gauntlet seemed to rattle him, and each time he shifted the earth beneath Gon’s feet, it threw him off guard.

"You’re slower than I thought," Ethan taunted, his grin widening.

Gon’s teeth clenched. He couldn’t let himself be distracted by Ethan’s taunts.

His mind raced, searching for an opening, some way to turn this around.

But Ethan wasn’t giving him any room to breathe.

With another shift of the earth beneath Gon’s feet, the ground cracked open, sending Gon stumbling backwards.

His sword was knocked from his grip, clattering to the ground just out of reach. Ethan closed in, his gauntlet glowing as he raised it for another strike.

Gon’s breath came in sharp gasps. He could feel his strength fading, his body aching from the constant barrage of blows.

The pain was starting to numb him, but his mind was still clear—he couldn’t give up.

For a moment, it seemed like the world slowed down.

Ethan’s foot was poised to strike, and Gon knew he had only seconds to act.

His heart thudded painfully in his chest, but he steadied his breathing.

Then, with everything he had left, he activated his shadow step again, vanishing just as Ethan’s gauntlet slammed into the earth.

Gon appeared directly behind Ethan, a moment of surprise flickering across Ethan’s face before Gon lunged forward, grabbing his sword and swinging with all his remaining strength.

The sword’s blade cut through the air, the motion fueled by desperation and the last of his resolve.

But Ethan was quick, and just as Gon’s blade neared his side, he shifted the earth beneath his feet once more, throwing Gon off balance.

He stumbled, and the sword swipe missed by inches.

"Nice try," Ethan said, his voice dripping with amusement. But there was something in his eyes now—a flicker of recognition. "You’re tough. I’ll give you that."

Gon gritted his teeth, refusing to let Ethan’s words get under his skin.

He couldn’t let it end like this, not after everything he’d put into this fight.

There had to be something—anything—he could do to turn the tide.

And then, like a switch flipping in his mind, it hit him.

He had been fighting defensively, reacting to Ethan’s every move.

But what if he didn’t have to? What if he could use Ethan’s confidence, his cockiness, against him?

Gon took a breath, steadying himself, and instead of retreating, he advanced. Using his shadow step, he moved in closer to Ethan, just as Ethan prepared to shift the earth beneath his feet again.

But this time, Gon was ready.

As soon as Ethan’s gauntlet flared with energy, Gon appeared beneath his guard, close enough to see the flash of surprise in Ethan’s eyes.

Ethan’s hands shot out to shift the earth beneath Gon again, but it was too late. With a swift, precise motion, Gon used the full momentum of his sword, slashing upward with a perfectly timed strike.

The blade caught Ethan’s gauntlet, cutting through the air with a sharp, satisfying clang. Ethan’s cocky grin faltered as the blade made contact, sending a jolt of pain through his arm.

The earth beneath Ethan’s feet rumbled and shifted, but it no longer had the same effect.

Gon had anticipated the move this time, staying close enough to counter it.

With a final, determined swing, Gon’s blade found its mark.

A deep cut to Ethan’s shoulder.

For a moment, there was silence in the arena.

Ethan staggered back, his breath coming faster now. He looked at his bleeding shoulder, then back up at Gon, a mix of surprise and begrudging respect in his eyes.

The cockiness had disappeared, replaced by an anguished wince.

I yield. He mumured.

The crowd was still stunned to silence by the turn of events, but one by one, they began to snap out of it and they started to applaud and yell excitedly.

Gon stood tall, panting but steady. He hadn’t given up. Not when it looked like he had nothing left, not when the odds were against him. He hadn’t given up, and now he was the one standing.

***

Lord thane sat beside the Duke, watching the fight with one eye and watching him with the other.

Although the Duke hadn’t said anything all through the fight (he hadn’t even acknowledged Gon when the boy looked at him before fighting), Thane hadn’t failed to notice how tightly the Duke gripped the arms of the chair.

And now as Gon was pronounced the winner by the announcer, he saw the Duke relaxed and let out a sigh.

In that moment, lord thane saw how old the Duke was becoming. He was starting to lose his composure, starting to crack.

Perhaps I won’t have to wait any longer. He thought and stroked his ponytailed beard.

He decide to break the silence however. He was fantastic wasn’t he? He asked the Duke.

The Duke sighed. He held his own.

His moves remind me of someone. Lord Thane said.

The Duke nodded thoughtfully. He moves like his mother, when she was younger at least.

The two of them turned to look at the duchess who sat noticeably far away from them, an angry but relieved look on her face.