18 Chapter 18: 1v5

I walked towards the arena, not failing to notice the murmurs my arrival seemed to have caused.

Some were surprised, others were confused and a few seemed to cheer.

Holding back an amused chuckle and ignoring the crowd, I walked toward the center, finding two people already present.

In front of me, a purple-haired boy stood proud, with his rather fancy-looking staff in hand. On the side, a member of the faculty stood, acting as a referee.

"We have both the participants of the duel on stage now. Are the two of you ready?"

The referee spoke.

The purple ranger, also called Brad, made some poses with the staff, trying to… I don't know. Maybe look cool? It didn't really work, though.

"I am quite shocked to see the famed adventurer being my opponent. But it matters not. I am the best at magic here and I shall be happy to teach you a thing or two about it. Do not be sad if you lose, Leon Alpenwind, because you and I have a big difference in skill and power. I don't know why you chose to side with Angelica, but it was a foolish decision on your part. Now, you shall regret it…"

'<Observe>'

[Name: Brad Fou Field

Race: Human

Level: 21

Thoughts about you: Nervousness, Annoyance]

'Weak. And seems like he's trying to act tough.'

Not wanting to hear his nonsense anymore, I spoke, my voice even toned.

"I don't care what you have to say, bub. Stop blabbering and fight. Or is that staff just for show?"

My taunting seemed to have worked as his face turned from proud to annoyed.

"Very well. I shall show you your place, then."

"Begin!"

The referee, seeing our readiness, announced and the fight was on.

"Take this!"

The purple ranger charged his magic and with a yell, shot a fireball.

I stood still.

The fireball moved at a fairly decent speed, reaching me in a second or so.

And then, it came in contact with my body.

The crowd, Brad, and the referee watched in shock as the fireball just simply disappeared after hitting my abdomen.

"Wha?"

"Hmm. That was… weak."

I muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"How? What did you just do?!"

The purple ranger asked, flabbergasted; His staff pointed at me while his face looked like he had seen a ghost.

"You want me to tell my opponent about my trick? How silly. But sure, I'll tell you what just happened. Your magic just now was canceled. Figure out the rest yourself."

I explained with a half-lidded and bored stare.

"What? Canceled? My magic? How?"

I just shrugged.

'Yeah, like hell I'm gonna tell you this sci-fi-looking suit I am wearing has special anti-magic enchantments woven to it by Eris.'

Any spells before a certain level would just be negated completely. The spell just now was well within the limit of what my suit could handle.

"Now, are you done or do you have more to show? I have 4 more to go through after that. So, let's hurry up, yeah?"

"Kh! Fine, then. Let's see if you can handle this!"

Another magic circle was constructed as I watched, letting him have one last try before I ended him.

And lo and behold, the boy actually did something mildly interesting.

"Block THIS!"

5 javelins made up of ice were formed around him, and then with his yell, all 5 were shot like arrows fired from a bow. Still flow, but they were faster than the fireball before.

"Hmm. <Mana Barrier>"

A translucent shield dome surrounded me as the 5 javelins homing towards me crashed on its surface and then were crushed by their own momentum.

I released the barrier and then spoke.

"Okay. My turn. <Magic Missile>"

'Times 3.'

3 bluish balls of light, roughly the size of my fist were formed in an instant and then launched with a velocity that easily escaped the eyes of an untrained student. Only a few caught the 3 zooming balls of bluish light that traveled from my side to Brad's, hitting him directly in the chest, abdomen, and right shoulder.

The next moment Brad's anguished cry was heard as he was thrown backward due to the force behind the three simple magic attacks, immediately getting knocked out.

"Brad Fou Field is unconscious and can no longer fight! The winner is Leon Alpenwind!"

The referee exclaimed and soon a loud volley of cheers and murmurs erupted from the crowd.

'Welp. Too weak to handle even my most basic Magic Attack. And the guy had the gall to brag in front of me.'

I quietly humphed and waited for my next opponent.

***

[-Angelica's POV-]

She sat in the open space reserved especially for the duel participants.

"So, he's even skilled in magic."

She muttered to herself, thinking about the attack that had knocked out and disqualified Brad in less than a second.

She could now see the source of his confidence.

Not only was he physically superior to his peers, but also possessed magical talent. And add to that…

'That armor he's wearing. I've never seen anything like that. It has a unique design. And then, there's the fact that it canceled Brad's fireball. A magic cancellation armor? That's wild and unique! It might be a lost item he found in his adventures.'

"Wow, that was… so fast. I couldn't even see the attack. One moment Ian had three balls of light and then suddenly his opponent was down…"

She heard an awed voice from beside her.

"It was fast."

She nodded to the other blonde's comment.

'4 more to go. But the opponents now are all stronger than Brad.'

Much to her surprise, she had begun to enjoy this duel. She had come to this arena in a rather complicated mood, feeling anxious. But now, she found herself slowly relaxing.

Leon, as promised, was going to win this duel for her. She had confidence in his abilities.

***

[Marie's POV]

"Kh"

She held back a choking sob, seeing the opponent take Brad in a single attack without any issue whatsoever.

'Damn it, damn it, damn it! Why did HE have to be my opponent?!'

A lump built up in her throat as she felt increasingly nervous and afraid.

Seeing the monster-in-a-boy's-clothing, she couldn't help but shudder as she remembered their first and only meeting.

That horrifying day still gave her PTSD and she had tried to forget and avoid him like a plague since that day. But now she was reconsidering her choices.

'Uuuuu… Should I have gone to him after all? He did tell me to meet him later to talk about something. But… I-I was too afraid of him, damn it! Why would I ever go to a monster like him willingly?! I'm not stupid! … But now he's fighting against me. Ugh! This is a mess. Am I really going to lose?! And I bet my entire savings on this match too! Uwaaaa!'

*Sniff*

She sniffled, trying her best to not scream and cry at the likely dire situation she had found herself in.

Looking around, she could see the surprised and annoyed faces of the remaining members of the prince's entourage.

'Any one of you! Please defeat that monster! I'll be broke if I lost! Not to mention that bitch's condition was that I'll be separated from the prince. Gaah! What the hell!? This is so unfair!'

"Marie."

"Eep!"

She jolted, suddenly finding herself in the center of attention of the prince. It was soon followed by others as they too looked at them.

"Do not worry. Our opponent may have won this round, but we won't accept our defeat so easily! We will win the next round for sure! For you, Marie!"

The prince's declaration was genuine, and along with his charming face, it made her heart flutter a bit. She tried to shake off all the negative feelings and with a practiced meek and innocent tone, she replied.

"Y-Yes. I believe in you, my prince! And everyone! I know you will not lose! And I'm praying for you! Let's win so we can check up on Mr. Brad. He seemed to have been injured from that (monster's) attack."

After giving her most sincere performance, she tried to think of a way to get around this issue. She had to win. She must win!

Because if she didn't… she'll be royally fucked, damn it!

[End of Marie's POV]

***

My next opponent was the short red-haired boy wielding a large two-pronged spear.

[Name: Greg Fou Seberg

Race: Human

Level: 25

Thoughts about you: Annoyance, Mild interest, Battle-lust]

'This guy… I don't like his thoughts…'

I mentally cringed.

"Greg Fou Seberg and Leon Alpenwind, are the two of you ready?"

The referee asked as I was done glancing at his <Observe> page.

"Hey, Alpenwind."

I blinked at the unexpected call from my red-haired opponent.

"Yes?"

"You may have won that first round because Brad was overconfident even though honestly he's the weakest of us. I have accepted your talent to be worthy. So, I'll be sure to show you a real fight. Not that lame-ass magic battle. It's my body and weapon against yours! Don't expect to win so easily this time."

I blinked again, feeling somewhat speechless. But my momentary surprise soon turned to a bored half-lidded stare as I spoke.

"Okay."

The referee raised his hand, signaling the start.

"Fight—"

"Wait!"

Only to be interrupted.

I stared at the redhead who, for some reason, had stopped the fight before it even began.

"What is it, Greg Fou Seberg?"

The referee asked, confused.

"I don't see your weapon. You are not planning to fight me without one, are you?!"

He pointed at me who was in fact empty-handed.

"Hm?"

I tilted my head in mild curiosity and amusement.

"My weapon is right here."

I said, then pointed at my clenched left fist with my right palm's fingers.

"Wha?"

The redhead seemed to have been taken aback by my words for some reason.

"What does that mean?! Are you seriously going to face me without a weapon?!"

"Uh, yeah. I don't really need one for this fight. So, if that's done, let's begin. I have 3 more to go after you."

I spoke, dismissing his questions.

Honestly, if I used a weapon, it would turn from an unfair fight to a straight-up massacre. Besides, I thought it would be amusing to win this duel with just my bare (armor-clad) hands.

With that little scene over, the referee finally announced.

"Ahem. Now! Begin!"

"Fine! I'll just make you regret looking down on me!"

With a loud yell, the red bull—I mean, the redhead charged with his spear.

I stood on my spot, awaiting his arrival.

"Hyaah!"

His spear came from above, aiming to slash me from my left shoulder to my right hip.

*Clank*

Unfortunately for him, the spear was caught before he could even try to tear the armor. Not that it could.

With my armored left palm, I held the sharp blade with ease and to return the favor, I kicked him with my left foot.

"Gah!"

Feeling the air knocked out of his lungs as my kick easily connected to his armored stomach, he was thrown back a fair distance away, leaving behind his spear in my hand, as his body bounced like a rock thrown on the surface of the water with a certain angle and force.

His rolling body finally came to a halt after he had almost reached the end of the arena.

The crowd once again erupted in a series of murmurs and cheers. Interestingly, the cheers were much louder this time.

I wondered if the audience had started to take my side or did they have something against Greg. Knowing his personality, it was certainly possible.

The man in question finally pulled himself after a short break I had graced him with. Hitting a downed opponent sounded a bit too cruel and improper.

I had no intention of giving people excuses that I won using unnecessary violence and showing "un-knightly" manners. Fucking bullshit.

"It's not over yet!"

The redhead growled, his face and armor now dirty and scratched from my previous attack's consequence.

"Then, come at me, bub. With everything you've got. Consider your next attack your last because I'll be eliminating you after it."

I spoke with a calm and even tone, my posture easy-going.

The redhead readied himself and took some breaths to compose himself, this time not wasting his energy with words.

His muscles flexed, and with a face that kinda seemed like he was trying his best while suffering from constipation, he launched himself toward me.

His speed was greater than before and his strikes held much more fury. Reaching me, he unleased a series of attacks, each aiming for my vitals or trying to make me lose my balance.

The crowd seemed to have gone ballistic, enjoying the adrenaline-inducing fight.

But too bad for him, it wasn't enough. Not even close.

Each of his attacks was parried and dodged with relative ease.

The level difference was simply too great here.

Catching his strike once again, I pulled on the spear, causing him to falter.

Then with a cocked fist, I punched his stomach with a little more force than my kick had.

The sound of metal thumping resounded as his breastplate helped dull the impact a little. But he wasn't unhurt.

On the contrary, he stopped moving, losing his tight grip on the spear, and then, after a moment, fell on his knees, his hand clenching his stomach.

"Ghh! Ugh!"

He groaned, his body shaking lightly.

His head was down so nobody saw the tears building up in his eyes which were clenched shut from the pain he was likely feeling right now.

'That punch should have knocked him out. Guess he's more resilient than I thought.'

I thought, looking at the sorry state of my opponent.

"Excuse me."

"Huh?"

The faculty who was watching the fight looked at me with surprise at the unexpected call.

"I don't think he can fight anymore. Take him to the infirmary. My last punch seemed to have caved his armor and he might have suffered from internal injuries."

I pointed at the kneeling and writhing boy who was trying his best not to succumb to the pain he was likely feeling. His groans were getting worse, as he gritted his teeth and his now bloodshot eyes were glaring daggers at the arena grounds.

The referee, heading my advice, came close to inspect the downed boy.

"Greg Fou Seberg. Can you fight? Or do you give up?"

The boy in question didn't reply, merely groaning in his place as he tried to fight the seething pain. The referee waited for another 10 seconds before finally announcing.

"Greg Fou Seberg can no longer fight! The winner is Leon Alpenwind!"

This time, the crowd was much quieter as many seemed to have realized that I might easily win this duel and, more importantly, that they might lose the money they'd bet.

***