CHAPTER 58: MORE DUELS

Chapter 58: More Duels

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How did he do it?

That was what was on Arios’ mind after he heard everything Professor Vaelian had to say. It was an unexpected event, one he couldn’t have predicted from his knowledge of the anime.

So Kyousuke is truly him, Arios thought. That’s good to know. He’s truly a worthy opponent that will push me to my very limits.

The changes made to the mid-semester test were unprecedented, and they had completely changed the feel of the hall. On one hand, students were battling with the possibility of being an unlucky scapegoat, matched against Rian Blake. There was also the feeling that the test didn’t really matter anymore, since it all came down to who was unlucky enough to go against him. But that wasn’t the case anymore. There was an incentive that seemed to outweigh the cost of expulsion: the opportunity to earn a protection point. For many, this could be the difference between reaching Class A or not, and they wouldn’t relent now.

The murmurs in the hall lingered for a while as students tried to process what had just happened. Some argued that the new rule made the written exam obsolete, but others countered that it still played a crucial role in determining who would win the protection points. For many, this was a huge opportunity to finally achieve something from the test and not let Elisa Ravenscroft claim all the glory. The fact that raw score averages were no longer the sole decider of the winner had given everyone a new sense of hope and motivation.

"Enough with the chatters," Professor Vaelian said, his voice cutting through the noise. "Since I have finished with my sudden announcement, the test may now continue from where it stopped."

He moved to the front of the hall and held up a small scroll, its parchment old and yellowed. "The next match would be—"

A hush fell over the students, a palpable mixture of awe and suspense. The names on that scroll held their fate. A duel against anyone else was a chance to earn protection points, a path to Class A. But a duel against Rian Blake... that could be a one-way ticket to expulsion.

The first two students stepped forward, their faces grim, their movements a bit more hesitant than the last match. Their duel was a tense affair, less about winning and more about not getting hurt. The combat that followed was a flurry of clashes, each duel a sense of the new stakes. One fighter’s reckless aggression ended in a swift defeat, another’s cautious defense earned a hard-fought draw. The cheers were more strained, the applause more tentative. Every participant was a pawn in a game they barely understood, their eyes darting to the back of the hall where Rian Blake stood, the new silent executioner.

The hall held its breath with every new name called, the suspense building with each passing duel. Would this be the one? Would this person face Rian, or would they get to fight for a chance at glory? It was a new kind of terror, a new kind of motivation. They were no longer just fighting for their grades; they were fighting for their survival.

The time in the hall passed in a blur of clashing wooden blades and hushed anticipation. Each new name called by Professor Vaelian was met with a collective, silent breath of suspense. The hall would then exhale in a quiet sigh of relief when it wasn’t Rian Blake, and the duel would begin. The three other judges— Ronin, Bale, and the formidable Eldrich Lionsheart— watched intently, their gazes never wavering as they took notes on every move, every strategy, and every flicker of control.

This tense pattern continued until Professor Vaelian’s voice cut through the air once more. "For the next duel, Lucy Nightshade will go against Ryder Bucket. Come forward and take your wooden blade."

Arios, who had been observing from the sidelines, nodded. He quickly turned to find Lucy and met her gaze from across the crowd. He could see the anxiety in her eyes as she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her uniform.

"Lucy," Arios said, moving to her side. Liza was already there, a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I can’t do this," Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I’m not good at this. My score was so low."

Liza squeezed her shoulder gently. "Hey, look at me," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You’re not fighting a monster. You’re fighting Ryder. He’s a goofball. You can take him."

"But what if I can’t?" Lucy’s eyes welled up with tears. "What if I get hurt? What if I’m not good enough?"

Arios knelt down to her eye level. "You have to believe in yourself, Lucy," he said, his voice earnest. "It’s not about being the strongest. It’s about being brave enough to stand your ground. You’re not the same person you were at the beginning of the semester. You’re stronger now."

He paused, a faint smile on his lips. "Remember the time you almost fell from the bridge and you told me you were scared of heights? Now you can climb without even a thought. Look at you now. You’ve come so far."

Lucy looked at him, then at Liza, and a new look of determination filled her eyes. "You’re right," she said, her voice stronger now. "I won’t let you guys down."

"You won’t let yourself down," Liza corrected. "Now go out there and show them what you’re made of."

Lucy nodded, her anxiety replaced with a newfound resolve. She took a deep breath, walked to the front, and took her wooden blade.

Lucy Nightshade and Ryder Bucket’s duel was a surprisingly tense affair. The two were evenly matched, neither one willing to back down. Lucy’s movements, once clumsy and hesitant, were now filled with a newfound resolve. She parried every strike from Ryder, her wooden blade a blur of motion. Ryder, for his part, was equally determined, his own strikes filled with a surprising amount of strength. The two exchanged blows, each one a testament to their unwavering will. The duel finally ended in a draw, both exhausted and breathing heavily, but with a new sense of respect for each other.

The next duel was between Liza and Javier. Unlike the last one, this duel was completely one-sided. Liza was a force of nature, her movements graceful yet lethal. She danced around Javier, her blade a whirlwind of motion. Javier was no match for her. He tried to defend himself, but every one of his moves was easily countered. Liza finally won with a single, precise strike, disarming him and proving that she was a warrior to be reckoned with. The hall was filled with cheers for her, her energy and confidence shining through the arena.

The test then continued with more duels, each one with its own story, until Professor Vaelian’s voice cut through the air once more. The room fell into a tense silence as he held up the scroll.

"The next duel will be between Arios Pureheart and Nathan da Acosta."

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[A/N]: If you enjoyed what you just read, consider supporting me with more motivations by giving power stones, gifts and adding it to your library. Men, once again for your support and read, let’s roll out.