fighting using real metal swords / fighting in earnest

to battle, to fight, to wage war / to compete (in a match, for example) / to contend (for one's own interests) / (figuratively) to get through with one's sufferings or difficulties

(literary) they

serious, sincere, intense, honest

seriousness / a real metal sword, as opposed to a wooden or bamboo sword

a competition; a game; a match / victory or defeat, the outcome of a match

game / match / competition

those (referring to things distant from the speaker)

(informal) to have "won" a match on a psychological or personal level despite losing to all appearances