IT'S A DRAW

The moment Halze's scythe was activated, the earth beneath Arex began to shake. It caused him the struggle in finding the balance he needed.

"Damn. What trick is this now, farmer!" Arex exclaimed as he fought to evade the monstrous cracks that were threatening to part wide enough to engulf him beneath the ground. 

"That's not a mere trick, but the furious power of my scythe Raquor. It has the ability to control the earth and summon the minerals to generate these rock formations according to my will." Halze provided an explanation.

Arex was too busy dodging the massive stones erupting from the ground to fully comprehend the information Halze had just shared. What he just seemed to understand was the fact that this Halze could actually control the sudden appearance of these large sharp stones that aimed to crash against Arex.

As Arex was trying to dodge every single one of those large rock formation that was after him, Arex was slowly feeling that his body was beginning to feel his body wearing down. 

He found himself at the struggle for strength while trying to evade the springing sharp rocks that lurked along his every path.

Arex noticed himself lost in thought, realizing that he couldn't keep avoiding the dangerous rocks forever. He needs to figure out how to eliminate them before he becomes exhausted from constantly avoiding them.

"What seems to be the matter, human? Are you tired now?" Halze couldn't resist teasing Arex as he effortlessly swung his scythe, causing sharp rocks to burst forth from the earth. 

Lost in his contemplation of how to defend against Halze's relentless attacks, Arex was taken by surprise when a jagged rock jutted out of the ground and struck him unexpectedly.

"Ahh!" Arex couldn't help but wince as the pain washed over him. He sustained an injury to his left ribs. 

"You're still lucky you were able to get away from that despite slacking off." Halze continued to taunt Arex as he relentlessly launched more attacks.

Arex, who had not been able to rest a bit plus the fact that he was also wounded, swiftly had to evade the consecutive attacks that Halze made. Halze's laughter grated on him, as though he was really enjoying the fact that he was able to make Arex struggle for his life. 

However, Arex wouldn't let this go on, as it would put him at a significant disadvantage in the long run. His injury was already causing him to feel even more tired. And on top of that, he had been skillfully avoiding the jagged rocks for quite some time.

"Have you had your fill of enjoyment?" Finally, Arex confronted Halze. 

Arex's breaths grew labored, his body pushed to its limits. Yet, he refused to give in, determined to hold on until an opportunity presented itself for a powerful counterattack.

From the very moment that he had began evading the sharp rocks that were emerging from the ground to crash against him, Arex was able to figure out how he could manage to turn the tides into his favor.

As he waits for Halze's response, Arex takes a moment to gather himself and plan his counterattack.

"The fun has just begun, mortal. I haven't finished with you yet, if that's what you believe. Halze responded just as Arex had anticipated.

Suddenly, Halze was taken by surprise when, after he finished speaking, Arex swiftly glided across the ground and delivered a powerful kick to Halze's legs, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards. 

Halze struggled to maintain his balance, but his efforts were in vain. Inevitably, he lost his footing and tumbled backwards, his head colliding with the rock formations he created. 

As a result to that, Halze ended up with bruises and a sizable wound on his left shoulder when a sharp rock pierced through it.

Everyone from behind were shock to see that Arex was able to find his retribution despite his current condition and the disadvantage of those rock formation that Halze made to stall him.

They never had the slightest idea that Arex would be able to get back up and be able to turn the tides to his favor. From the very beginning, it would really appear that Halze had already won the fight as Arex seemed to be too weary to make a counterattack.

But observing the unwavering determination etched on Arex's solemn countenance, it seems as if Arex was prepared to risk everything to defeat Halze, even his own life.

And just like that, Arex seized the moment, swiftly capitalizing on Halze's vulnerable state as he struggled to regain his footing. With unwavering determination, Arex surged ahead, completely focused on his objective of targeting not Halze, but his scythe, Raquor.

Halze saw Arex rushing towards him, and in a split second, he instinctively swung his scythe in an attempt to protect himself, even though he was still on the ground. However, Halze's efforts to defend himself were in vain as Arex swiftly advanced and effortlessly kicked the scythe from his grasp.

Arex's powerful kick was able to propel the scythe outward from Halze, leaving Halze's eyes wide in shock and out of disbelief. Just as what Arex theorized, without the scythe being in Halze's possession, the sharp rock formation would eventually cease to exist.

Hazle was astounded by the seemingly impossible feat of Arex, a mere mortal, gaining such incredible strength that he could challenge a powerful Lord of the black parade.

"Just who do you think you're showing off, human!" Halze screamed angrily at Arex as soon as he got back to his senses. 

Fury burned in the hazel brown eyes of Halze, directed fiercely towards Arex.

Meanwhile, Arex stoically endured the pain from his injured ribs. Despite his potential success in executing the assault on Halze, Arex couldn't shake the feeling that it might be his final and most crucial move.

He came to the realization that he had exhausted his energy and pushed himself to his utmost limits. However, considering the current circumstances, if Halze were to recover and continue the battle, Arex realized that his chances of victory would be slim or even impossible.

And much to Arex's dismay, Halze managed to recover and stand up again. He stood resolutely, showing no signs of the pain he had endured from the previous assault by Arex.

As Halze struggled to regain his footing, Arex pondered the possibility of mounting another offensive. Yet, the problem was that he was already exhausted and no longer had the strength to continue battling Hazle. 

"Shit," Arex found himself murmuring softly, desperately attempting to stem the flow of blood from his wound. 

As Halze emerged from his fall, he confidently streched his body muscles, unfazed by Arex's feeble attempts to wound him earlier. 

He couldn't help but burst into laughter as he looked at Arex. Unable to contain himself any longer, Halze teasingly asked, "Is that the best you can do? Well, I had high expectations. Seems like the other Lords who made such report were just as feeble as you're to think you're really that strong." 

Hazle's comment fired on Roxina, Kiyo and most especially Valkas who made the report. Although Kiyo wanted to defend himself, upon witnessing the silence from both Roxina and Valkas end, Kiyo was left to remain silent in end while thinking of getting his revenge on Hazle's accusation on another time.

Meanwhile, Arex couldn't help but found Halze annoying simply hearing him make his statement sound as though it was intimidating when it was not.

"You should be thankful that I am injured, farmer!" Arex fired back, refusing to be mocked by Halze.

And Halze let out a raspy chuckle once again upon hearing that from Arex. "You dare to display arrogance despite being well aware that you're no match to me. Do you really think you're someone more omnipotent just because you were able to bring me down once? One should not claim victory until their adversary is no longer a threat. meaning, unless you were able to kill me, this battle is not over." Halze relayed the information to Arex. His voice trembled with fear.

Halze stared at Arex, consumed by a burning desire for retribution. Meanwhile, Arex continued to ponder his strategy for countering Halze's impending attack.

"So, you're probably thinking that just because you managed to take the scythe away from me, you already have the advantage? I'm afraid you're mistaken. What a regrettable choice you've made, displaying such foolishness." Halze added.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting what would unfold next. Many of the other Lords were confident that Halze would put forth his utmost effort to defeat Arex, in order to avoid any potential embarrassment in front of their peers and the grand necromancer observing their duel.

Halze, in contrast to Arex, had a need to protect his reputation from potential mockery after being bested by a mere mortal who had recently gained the power of a jinnx. And so, Halze extended his right hand outward.

After witnessing the astonishing sight, Arex couldn't help but be amazed at how Halze effortlessly reclaimed his scythe with the aid of the towering rocks. Hazle skillfully rearranged the rock formations, fashioning a claw that effortlessly snatched the scythe from the earth.

It quickly returned to Hazle, rendering all of Arex's efforts to keep it away from him futile. 

With no more options available for him, Arex felt like this was the end of him. He was cornered and at the same too weak to fight back. 

However, Halze remained determined and refused to give up, even though Arex was no longer able to defend himself. Hazle believed that impressing the grand necromancer would be easier if he could accomplish what other lords had failed to do, and that was to completely kill Arex.

However, just as Halze was on the verge of striking Arex with his scythe, the cauldron's green flame erupted uncontrollably.

Shortly after, Grecko stepped in to break up the fight, calmly stating, "That's enough, Halze. Don't you think our guests have been greeted enough?"

Halze didn't appear to support the grand necromancer's decision and abruptly objected, "But high Lord, I'm on the verge of getting rid of this aberrant, if you just let me--"

However, as those words were spoken, the grand necromancer's emerald flames erupted once again from the cauldron, a clear sign that Halze's objection did not sit well with Grecko.

Halze quickly released his hold on Arex and humbly knelt in the presence of Grecko. "I beg for your forgiveness, high Lord."

Grecko didn't respond to Halze, and instead, he looked over at Merfestina's direction and said, "Merfestina, please tend to the guest's injuries and then escort him to the garden." 

Following his last orders, Grecko vanished in a flash of vibrant green mist, abruptly concluding the conference he had convened with the seven lords. The Lords' dissatisfaction lingered as the duel between Halze and Arex ended in a draw.