Chapter3-A New Choice, Victory!

On the stage, as anger surged in Madelyn's heart, the system's voice once again echoed in Owen's mind.

[1.Defeat Madelyn to receive a hidden reward.

2.Be defeated and lose 50% of HP max.]

After reading this, Owen's expression became slightly more serious.

Madelyn, as the dazzling pearl of House Charles, was far from simple in strength and had many secrets.

Others might not know, but he was well aware that Madelyn's tier had already reached Silver-tier lv10.

That's right, a hidden level, Silver-tier lv10.

Breaking through the limits of Silver-tier lv9! Possessing combat strength comparable to Gold-tier!

This was why her combat power far surpassed her peers.

Moreover, her talent and skills were extremely special.

They had always been concealed by House Charles, making it impossible for other prodigies to defeat her without knowing the full extent of her abilities.

However, Owen was clearly not in that category.

In a short time, countless strategies to counter Madelyn surged in his mind.

With newfound confidence, Owen remained calm, giving her a faint smile, placing his right hand on his chest, and offering a slight bow.

"My name is Owen. I've long heard of Madelyn's renowned beauty and peerless talent and strength. I hope you won't disappoint me later."

Madelyn's pretty face remained cold, an invisible wave of scorching heat emanating from her.

"Which family are you from?"

"I have no family, just an ordinary passerby."

"Oh? Very well. I don't know where your confidence comes from, but make sure you don't concede too early!"

"Concede?"

As the heatwave hit him, Owen stood as steady as a mountain, smiling calmly. "As you are now, you don't have the power to make me concede."

"That Owen is so arrogant, he has no self-awareness. Madelyn has won over a hundred matches!"

"Exactly, he has no reputation, which means he must have no exceptional strength. Offending Madelyn will surely get him a good beating."

"Even so, Owen looks too confident. Something feels off!"

"Do you really think he can defeat Madelyn? He may be somewhat handsome, but looks don't win battles."

The crowd shook their heads slightly, thinking that Owen was arrogantly ignorant.

In the crystal palace, King Aldric took a sip of his wine and said indifferently:

"Charles, do you know this Owen? He looks quite confident."

Charles had noticed Owen early on. Initially, he didn't care, thinking Owen might just have the courage of the ignorant.

But when Owen truly stepped onto the stage, Charles suddenly realized that Owen's aura had changed significantly, making him difficult to read.

After a moment of contemplation, Charles shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, forgive my ignorance, but I do not know this person. He may have some surprises, but I have absolute confidence in my daughter's strength."

King Aldric nodded slightly, agreeing with Charles's view.

Owen might be unusual, but Madelyn's strength was not something that could be easily shaken.

Under their watchful and interested gazes, Madelyn suppressed her anger and, with great poise, made a gesture for Owen to begin.

"You may strike first; otherwise, you won't have another chance."

As the daughter of a duke, she highly valued noble etiquette.

Hearing this, Owen shook his head slightly, his expression growing serious.

"Madelyn, you shouldn't be so careless. I came to this battle with the determination to defeat you and marry you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the massive plaza fell silent.

Everyone looked at each other, their mouths agape, unable to believe their ears.

Owen had openly declared his intent to pursue Madelyn in front of everyone!

What confidence, or perhaps arrogance!

After a brief silence, the plaza erupted with noise, discussions soaring to the sky.

"This Owen is audacious! How dare he desecrate the goddess of my heart!"

"Madelyn, teach him a good lesson!"

"Talking such big words before the fight even starts. If he loses miserably, he'll be a laughingstock!"

"I think he's arrogant, but he's also a man of passion. What young man could resist Madelyn's beauty?"

"It's been a long time since the empire has seen someone like this. I hope Owen can survive Madelyn's wrath."

The crowd around the stage glared at Owen with anger.

To them, Madelyn was an untouchable goddess, and Owen, an unknown figure, dared to insult her. It was outrageous.

"Interesting. It's rare to see young people with such courage nowadays."

In the crystal palace, King Aldric squinted slightly, taking a closer look at Owen.

Though he didn't believe Owen had any chance of winning, he couldn't help but admire his bravery.

"Having courage is good, but blind courage is foolish," Charles said, shaking his head, growing more disdainful of Owen.

"Duke, what if... what if he really wins?" someone asked hesitantly.

"That's absolutely impossible!" Charles thumped his chest, confident.

Madelyn's tier had already broken limits, far surpassing other prodigies.

Combined with the family's talent, she could even catch high-level Gold-tier warriors off guard.

How could Owen possibly defeat his daughter?!

As they spoke, Madelyn, on the stage, glared at Owen.

Her cheeks flushed slightly; after all, being so openly declared to in front of everyone made her feel a bit flustered.

But this shyness quickly transformed into burning anger.

The person she was going to marry had to be the most outstanding genius and strong enough to stand at the pinnacle of the world, at least capable of defeating her.

And Owen was far from meeting her standards!

"Arrogant boy, shut your mouth!"

Madelyn, her heart ablaze with anger, only wanted to deal with Owen as quickly as possible.

She immediately slammed her staff onto the ground, causing the stage to tremble slightly.

The fire elements in the air instantly became agitated.

But strangely, no flames gathered in front of her.

"What's happening?"

The spectators were bewildered.

Judging by the turbulent fire elements around Madelyn, she must have cast a powerful spell. So why was there no effect?

Unlike the others, Owen had already seen through her methods. Mana gathered from all directions, filling his body.

Then, he suddenly leaped forward like a leopard, charging at Madelyn.

Almost the instant Owen left his spot, glowing patterns appeared on the obsidian floor, and then, like a volcanic eruption, a pillar of boiling magma shot up from below.

The magma hissed loudly upon contact with the air, causing the air to ripple and emit thick black smoke.

Even the sturdy obsidian stage was slightly dented, scorched by the erupting magma.

Had Owen been a moment slower, he would have been instantly vaporized by the magma!

"Interesting, but this is just the beginning!"

Watching Owen dodge the lethal attack, Madelyn felt something was off.

However, considering Owen's tier, she shook her head slightly.

This move was very subtle, even a Gold-tier mage would have difficulty noticing it. Owen's timely dodge must have been a coincidence.

Next, with the successive eruptions of magma pillars, he would have no way to survive!

Under Madelyn's gaze, Owen continued to advance.

Boiling magma pillars erupted from the ground one after another, their speed increasing and becoming more frequent, making it impossible to avoid them!

Every time a magma pillar was about to hit Owen, he managed to dodge at the last moment, as if he had already seen through this family technique.

Madelyn's brows furrowed, and the sense of unease in her heart grew stronger.

At this moment, Owen had maneuvered himself to within three meters of Madelyn.

The confident smile on his face was clearly visible.

Madelyn snorted softly, her aura surging, instantly reaching Silver-tier lv10.

An astonishing wave of power began to spread, distorting the air around her.

"To fall under my Silver-tier lv10 Transcendent Power, you'll be the first."

Breaking through the limits not only made her mana purer, but it also enhanced her ability to manipulate and perceive surrounding mana several times over.

It especially granted her a unique power that no one else had—Transcendent Power!

"Fire Elemental!"

She shouted, and the fire elements in the distorted air exploded like fireworks.

A massive flame, nearly ten meters tall, emerged around her, with scorching waves of heat ready to incinerate everything nearby.