“Gift?” My thoughts immediately went to Parzival. “Do i know you? Ana you know him?”
She nodded, “Markeil Crystalheart, the top ranker.”
“Crystalheart… crystalheart, ah, the son of a bitch Duke? Now that you tell me, his face does look as ugly as his father.”
“Hehe!” Anastasia giggled at the comparison.
Markeil looked at the reactions of Eric and Anastasia and he was confused, he was expecting Eric to get angry and start shouting at him.
“Are you not mad that i beat up your friend? Why are you calm!?” Markeil asked in confusion.
“I don’t believe we have met before so i’m a little confused at the moment, but it’s true that i’m a little angry. Is there a reason why you harmed him? And how does that relate to me?”
“Aren’t you his ‘protector’? You act like that but you can’t even do your job properly, doesn’t that mean you are weak?”
“I am not ubiquitous you know, but i’ll smack that ugly mug of yours anytime. Why are you using under-handed methods and not challenging me directly? Are you afraid? A tiny wiener maybe?” I said mockingly.
“You f****** asshole, you think the mighty son of a grand duke is afraid of a nobody? I, Markeil Crystalheart, challenge you to a duel, see you at the arena tomorrow scum.” Markeil left with that shocking statement, leaving the entire class stunned.
-No way, did i just hear that?
-Markeil just challenged Eric? This is gonna be so exciting!
-Alright, all place your bets!
The rest of the school soon caught wind of the situation and the news spread like wildfire. Within 2 hours, the entire student body and teachers knew about it, even the headmaster got interested. One of the 4 Kings was challenging someone below them, which had never happened. Normally the 4 Kings are the ones getting challenged so there was a lot of speculation of what was going on between Markeil and Eric.
I turned around and saw Anastasia sneakily going to an impromptu betting station that was being set up by a student.
“Ahem!” I fake coughed. “What is our little princess doing?”
“Money is money you know! If i already know who the winner is going to be, why not get some free money?”
“Hmm that is true, here’s all my money, put it on me.” I unashamedly handed her a large bag. “Oh and there someone i need to get from the school potion shop, can you point me to that direction?”
“Oh my god, how long have you been in this school and you still don’t know your way around?” she said in astonishment.
“Ehehehe, i am never good with directions,” i scratched my head in embarrassment.
Once i got so lost i ended up in hell, but that a story for another time.
“Fine, here’s a map, so you’ll never get lost.”
After visiting the shop, i stopped by the medbay.
—
Parzival was sleeping on the bed heavily bandaged, looking like a mummy. Even with healing magic, it’ll still take a while for him to be fully recovered. I took a chair from the nurse table and dragged it to his bed side.
Taking out 2 regeneration potions, i crushed them and sprinkled it on his body. After a few seconds, his brows furrowed and then relaxed once more. His visage looking a little better than before. I would give him more potions but after two potions, anymore of it wouldn’t help as the effects will not be noticeable.
I sat beside him for while then spoke.
“I promised Lithana that i’ll protect you, but i didn’t see this coming. I didn’t expect someone to hurt you to get to me, and that’s on me. So i’ve decided that i’ll train you and make you stronger. If i can’t watch over you every moment of the day, you’ll just have to be strong enough to defend yourself. Markeil will receive tenfold of what he did to you, i’ll promise you that.”
—
The next day, classes ended early. Even the teachers could be seen rushing their classes, and trying to end it early. Everyone was in a excited mood and i heard that even the headmaster was going to attend.
Walking from the hallways to the arena, i could hear many illegal betting stations being put up, and i even caught a few teachers sneaking in some bets. Some came up to me and ‘enthusiastically’ gave me their support, i guess they were the ones who betted on me.
Along the way, what i was thinking was the ways i could torture and shame him in front of the audience without crossing the line. As i opened the doors to the arena, the sight of thousands of students and teachers being seated reminded me of the time when i was at the Colosseum. The atmosphere and the festive mood were bringing back old memories and i was getting excited. Rubbing my hands in anticipation, i went to the waiting room.
When everyone was seated, the announcer came on stage and raised his hand to quieten everyone.
“Welcome! Students, teachers and the headmaster himself, Gwydion Dawnlight! As you know, today will be a grand event that will be deciding whether the current king, Markeil Crystalheart, will keep his authority and throne, or will he be overthrown by the unstoppable juggernaut, Eric Pendragon!
The rules will be the same. The match will only end when one contestant surrenders, or when he is unable keep fighting. You are not allowed to kill the other opponent or there will be consequences! Now without further ado, lets welcome them in!”
“ON THE LEFT SIDE, SON OF THE CRYSTAL DUKE, THE REIGNING KING, CHALLENGER MARKEIL CRYSTALHEART! THE UNBREAKABLE DEFENSE OF THE CRYSTALHEART HOUSE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TESTED!
AND ON OUR RIGHT SIDE! ERIC PENDRAGON, THE ONE WHO STARTED FROM THE GROUND, NOW HE IS CHALLENGING THE SKY! WILL HIS UNDEFEATED STREAK BE BROKEN OR WILL HE KEEP GOING AND BE CROWNED THE NEXT KING! NOW CONTESTANTS, PLEASE COME ON STAGE!”
I stood facing Markeil and glanced at his status.
**
[Name: Markeil Crystalheart] [Race: Human] [Age: 20] [5th Circle – Expert] [Intermediate fighter] [Magic: Crystal, Air] [Ability: Crystal morph, Air Walk]**
‘I guess this is the perfect time to test out how magma will react with Severance,’ i thought to myself.
Markeil noticed me pulling out my sword and laughed loudly, “hahahaha, you think that little sword can cut my crystal? Are you giving up this early?”
“AND STARRT!” The announcer shouted.
I immediately infused my blade with magma. At first, the blade heated up, but then cracks gradually started to appear on the blade with magma flowing between the cracks. Some of it oozed out from the blade and dripped onto the ground, making the ground sizzle with heat.
“What the f*** kinda sword is that?” Markeil said.
“Pretty cool ain’t it? Now watch this.”
I raised my sword and made a diagonal slash towards him. A wave to red-hot magma left the blade and surged towards him.
“Crystal Shield!”
An emerald green shield emerged and formed from his arms in front of him blocking the magma from splashing from him.
“Oooh, that’s pretty neat, i don’t even need to expand any magicule to do that.” I said, examining the sword. “Now then.”
I rapidly slashed the sword, generating multiple waves of magma. With the magma rushing at him, Markeil had to be on the defensive, creating multiple shields around him. The magma which deflected off his shield fell around his feet, slowly burning through the ground.
“Is that all you can do? Throwing that thing around?” Markeil said from within the dome of shields.
“Hahahaha, not at all.” I said, as i removed the gravity ring from my finger.
With the ring removed, the fruits of wearing the ring for a few months paid off. As i was under 2 times the force of gravity the entire time i wore the ring, everything i did was twice as hard. Now my speed and strength was two times of what i have now.
Appearing behind him, i smashed his crystal shields into smithereens and ripped off his arm.
“Now this, is where we really begin,” i gave him an evil grin.
