CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94 - CHALLENGING DEREK INFRONT OF THE WHOLE CLASS

The next morning, Logan woke up early.

He smiled the entire time as he ate, got dressed, and stepped out his door.

’Today’s going to be a fulfilling day,’ he thought, walking through the packed halls.

Logan ignored the stares from the people around him, almost wanting to whistle as he headed to his classroom.

’My core finally fully healed last night, thanks to the fire mana stones,’ he thought, turning a corner. ’And I need around a week before I break through to the silver core.’

As he neared the last corner, Logan heard his classmates chatting and laughing.

The moment he turned the corner, everyone slowly went quieted down and stared at him.

’’Right,’’ Logan mumbled, shaking his head with a smile. ’’Should’ve seen that coming.’’

Heading towards his friends, Logan talked to them while waiting for Professor Li to unlock the doors.

’’Are you sure you can manage, Logan?’’ Grant whispered, leaning over. ’’We can always stand up to clear your name if you need.’’

Logan smiled and shook his head.

"There’s no need, really," he said, thankful they’d even offered. ’’Like I said before, I got it under control.’’

Grant gave a small nod, smiling as he leaned back again.

It didn’t take long before Professor Li opened the classroom and let everyone in.

Professor Li walked in right after them, turning on the hologram projector as everyone slowly settled down.

A few seconds later, Derek entered all smiles, laughing with a larger group of people than before the dungeon incident.

He paused when he saw Logan, his smile briefly twisting into anger, then walked to his seat like nothing happened.

Logan smiled, shaking his head before turning to look at Professor Li.

As Professor Li went through some basic announcements, Logan heard a soft beep on his watch.

[Duel Application Accepted.] he read. [Time: TBD. Location: Arena Hall C.]

His lips curved into a smirk as he raised his hand.

Professor Li noticed and stopped talking, waiting for Logan to lower it again like he’d done with everyone in the class.

The entire class was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

’’Professor,’’ Logan spoke up, not at all intimidated by the stares. ’’I’ve submitted an official duel request.’’

Professor Li raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that.

’’Approved?’’ he asked, quickly scrolling through his interface.

A second later, his finger stopped. ’’I see it.’’

He paused, a heavy silence falling over all students.

’’Derek Alvarez,’’ Professor Li said. ’’You’ve been challenged to an official duel.’’

The entire room turned towards Derek.

’’Do you accept or decline?’’

Derek blinked, his smile twitching.

’’I... don’t see a point,’’ Derek said, pointing to Logan as he laughed awkwardly. ’’Why should I waste my time on someone that barely made it out alive?’’

A few of his friends chuckled in support, but the rest of the class stayed quiet, watching the spectacle closely.

’’Look at him,’’ Derek continued, gaining confidence. ’’He almost got himself and someone else killed inside the dungeon—one of his arms is quite literally still missing!’’

More people laughed this time, murmurs spreading through the room.

Logan smiled, grateful for the hole Derek dug for himself.

’’Oh?’’ he said. ’’If I’m this weak and I completely ruined your dungeon assessment, there shouldn’t be a problem accepting, right?’’

Derek’s face twitched again, doubting what to do.

’Dad told me to stay out of the spotlight,’ he thought, panic creeping in. ’But this damn orphan won’t let me.’

Logan immediately followed up with another question.

’’Or could it perhaps be that someone made up some fake story to save his own face?’’ he asked, not a hint of negativity in his voice.

Derek’s face turned red as he stayed quiet, his mind racing to search for a comeback.

Like Logan had hoped, one of his friends turned to him.

’’Why don’t you just accept the duel, man,’’ he said, just loud enough for the people around him to hear. ’’Look at him, the weakling is delivering himself on a silver platter.’’

It wasn’t just one of his friends though, more people around him were also eager to join in on the drama.

’’Could what Logan said be the truth?’’ a girl three rows above Derek asked, just loud enough for the surrounding rows to hear.

Professor Li quickly tried to intervene, but the situation had already gotten out of hand as the entire class started talking.

Derek’s face changed, rapidly turning red as he lost complete control over the situation.

’Fuck,’ he thought, anger boiling. ’You know what, dad? Screw this!’

’I’m not letting that fucking orphan walk away this time.’

’’I’ll accept,’’ Derek shouted, his face still red from anger. ’’Be prepared, orphan. I’m not going to go easy on you because you lost an arm, you pathetic weakling.’’

Logan smiled, his plan having worked perfectly.

’Peer pressure,’ he thought, holding back a grin. ’Someone as simple as Derek would never be able to handle that.’

’And just like that, everyone will start doubting his story when I beat him.’

’’Alright,’’ Professor Li said, letting out a sigh. ’’When do you want to schedule this fight?’’

Derek raised his chin, trying to regain control over the public again.

’’A week and a half from now,’’ Derek said firmly.

Professor Li raised an eyebrow, confused.

’’Any particular reason?’’

Derek scoffed, his face burning up again.

"I don’t want him making excuses after I beat him." He gestured at Logan’s missing arm. ’’It’ll give his poor company some time to find a cheap healer to regenerate his arm.’’

Some students laughed, but most had started typing on their hologram screens, immediately spreading the news to whoever would listen.

Professor Li glanced at Logan, who gave him a simple confirmation nod, before filling out the official paperwork.

’Kids these days,’ he thought, sighing internally. ’It was going to happen at some point like it did with their elder siblings, but this soon is new, even for me.’

At the same time, Logan saw through Derek straight away.

’He’s trying to look generous with whatever he’s planning,’ he thought, smirking. ’But this works even better for me.’

Professor Li glanced at both of them again.

’’Your duel has been scheduled for next Wednesday,’’ he said. ’’Failure to show up will result in a termination of your spot in the freshman competition.’’