You see, a duel becomes thrilling when you show the rhythm of the action, not just describe it. Let the reader feel the clink of steel, taste the sweat on the tongue, and hear the tremor of a heartbeat at the very edge of a pause. When those sensory details and the psychological stakes bleed into the narrative, it’s more than a string of words – it’s a moment lived. If you’re only listing actions, it’s still just a description. The difference is whether the reader can almost taste the blood in the air.

Indeed, but be careful not to turn the page into a concert hall. Too many whistles and the reader might start to feel the applause instead of the clash. Keep the thuds crisp and the breath taut, and the duel will roar in their mind like thunder.