CHAPTER 411: CHAPTER 411 KAILEN VERSUS ANTHONY 1

The appraisal artifact scanned the paintings, and for a moment, the stillness and silence in the hall was almost suffocating.

The time dilation artifact, hovering around Kailen and observing everything, as if she already knew the outcome of the two paintings, simply whistled and munched on some pizza.

"Interesting," she mused to herself, something that made Kailen extremely curious about the possible outcome of the appraisal artifact’s judgement.

Finally, the artifact glowed, a sign that it had made its final judgement — delivered its final verdict.

Then, it spoke:

[ Living Scene paintings, made by Aurelius Zeynar and Borga Cruz.

Neither is more profound than the other

Results of Duel: A draw ]

Kailen finally understood what the Time Dilation Artifact was referring to when she whispered interesting.

"So she meant that the paintings were equally matched," Kailen mused inwardly to himself.

"Wow, a tie?"

"What’s gonna happen to our money now?"

"Shouldn’t they paint different things again to determine the results?"

"Not really. If their skills are equally matched, another painting will produce the same outcome."

"I suppose that’s true."

"This is getting interesting."

Suddenly, a glint flashed through the eyes of Borga Cruz.

"I have a suggestion."

The murmurs and chatter dwindled down into palpable silence at his statement.

Aurelius Zeynar nodded.

"Why don’t we select two young painters to represent us?

That will be more fun, and at the end of the day, we will get to enjoy the beauty of the artwork of two young painters."

Everyone in the room nodded and found it plausible.

It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

"Perfect."

As Aurelius Zeynar spoke, his gaze flew towards Kailen’s direction.

"Black Flask Darkhaven, would you do me the honor of representing me?"

Aurelius spoke to Kailen with utmost sincerity.

Kailen was not just a kid. Apart from his monstrous potential aside and ridiculous achievements aside, this kid had a mysteriously terrifying backing.

There was no way he’d disrespect him and treat him like a junior.

He treated Kailen like an equal.

"What?"

"He’s a painter too?"

"Seriously, who the hell is this youngster?"

"Don’t you know? According to trusted sources, he achieved the emotional realm of painting in the academy after taking a single lecture."

"Impossible!"

"We will find out if it’s impossible or not soon. Do you think I can lie to you about something like this? From what I heard, he literally used a single lecture to cross the imitation realm to the emotion realm of painting. This guy cannot be judged with common sense."

"Freak! Absolute freak!"

"Kailen Darkhaven is too terrifying!"

"I even heard he wanted to take a zither weaponry arts class, but the lecture was rescheduled, and now he’s been sent to the Frontlines of the empire."

"But he can still learn the zither weaponry arts through the virtual universe platforms, right?"

"Do you think zither weaponry arts are easy to learn?"

"Don’t underestimate Kailen Darkhaven. Else, his actions will always come back to slap you in the face."

"Did you know that his mother, Selena Darkhaven, was a Living Scene painter and an extremely gifted person in the zither weaponry arts?"

"Like mother, like son indeed. I’m sure — no doubt — that he will nail the zither weaponry arts courses he takes."

"He’s so handsome."

"Girl, I hope you are recording this?"

"Yeah, we have five trillion views!"

Hushed chatters and murmurs resounded throughout the room.

Several individuals were shocked.

The feat of Kailen being an emotional realm painter had not spread like his other feats.

Also, that news had been overshadowed by his feats in the society wars and him annihilating three Jaggernaughts of the empire overnight.

Kailen was not surprised by Aurelius Zeynar’s request.

The moment the man stared in his direction, he knew that the fellow was going to request him to represent him.

It’s not a big deal for me to agree, Kailen thought.

Kailen mused to himself, He’s Ross Kadmen’s friend, and this won’t do any harm to me or ruin my reputation, so for the sake of Ross Kadmen, let me agree to help him. Plus, he’s also an Alchemist. It’s not bad to make a few connections.

"Pleasure is mine, Alchemist Zeynar."

"Great. Thank you, Black Flask."

Aurelius Zeynar was very pleased.

Aurelius then shot a confident glance towards Borga Cruz — as if he was telling him, your representative stands no chance against mine.

Borga responded with a condescending smirk, as if he was telling Zeynar, if your representative beats mine, I’m gonna eat a pile of cow dung.

This was how confident Borga Cruz was in his representative.

"This is my disciple, and son, Anthony Cruz."

Borga Cruz spoke with utmost satisfaction and pride in his voice.

"He’s studying at the Institute of Refined Painters in the Vatican Empire. He’s an emotional realm painter who has made a name for himself over there. I’m sure most of you have heard of him."

The moment Borga Cruz spoke, the whole room emerged into an uproar.

Several individuals were staring at Anthony Cruz — the blonde-haired gnome radiating elegance and pride, a spitting image of his father — with shock and respect on their faces.

"Anthony Cruz? The genius emotional realm painter?"

"The guy who painted the Cruz Paradox?"

"Yes, it’s him! I didn’t know he was the son of Borga Cruz!"

"As expected of a genius Living Scene painter. Even his son is a genius painter. I guess it’s in their blood!"

"Looks like Kailen Darkhaven is bound to lose."

"Yeah, I don’t underestimate his prowess in alchemy, and even runesmithery, but this fellow, Anthony Cruz, has been a painter for decades, whereas Kailen Darkhaven just became an emotional realm painter. The experience Anthony Cruz has is enough to beat Kailen Darkhaven."

As these individuals spoke, Kailen couldn’t help but notice the prideful expression in Anthony’s eyes as he stared at Kailen.

It was as if his whole life depended on this painting.

Kailen couldn’t help but be surprised.

What was the big deal here?

Chill bro, this is a painting competition. It’s not like I slept with your wife or something.

Anthony Cruz suddenly spoke — well-mannered, but each word carrying a message of underestimation.

"I really respect you, Black Flask. But in the realm of painting, you are not my match. You can give up now, or face the humiliation of loss very soon."

"Thanks for the reminder, but let’s let our skills do the talking, don’t you agree?"

Kailen replied almost humorously, a reaction Cruz found irritating.

Why was this bastard so confident?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

He would crush Kailen Darkhaven.

He wouldn’t let his father down — not after all this hype.

As for Kailen, he knew about the Cruz Paradox.

It was an exceptional piece of art that even Kailen had appreciation for.

During the time after the society wars, when he was alone in his apartment, painting stuff and taking a breather, he had come across it and studied it.

The emotional realm painting was called a paradox because it possessed a strange, haunting ability...

An ability that made an individual question everything about themselves, peeling their certainty apart layer by layer.

At the same time, the painting would make that same individual believe in themselves even more — as if igniting a forgotten ember deep within their soul.

It stirred contradictions.

It braided emotions together that should never coexist.

One would feel happy, sad, angry, bitter, confident, afraid — all at once, as though their heart was a vessel too small to contain the storm.

This was why it was called a paradox.

So many emotions...

All conveyed in a single painting.

Anyone knowledgeable about painting was well aware that conveying even one emotion into an artwork was extremely difficult to do.

But this guy had been able to convey many — all woven seamlessly into one artwork.

He was a genius, although he was acting like an arrogant young master.

So cliché.

"This guy is proud, no doubt. There is no doubt though, that he is a genius. However..."

Kailen smirked, as a look of evil flashed through his eyes.

"Oh no..."

Lian Yu and Esimo couldn’t help but sigh and smirk on seeing the look in Kailen’s eyes and the light smirk tugging at the edge of his lips.

"I know that look. Kailen will crush this guy."

Arrie nodded, adding before the two gentlemen could even speak further.

Aurelius Zeynar and Borga Cruz retreated, as Kailen and Anthony took the stage, under the gazes of several onlookers.