As Rien entered the arena, the crowd's enthusiasm surged to a fever pitch, with loud cheers echoing throughout the dueling grounds.
"Go, Damon! Defeat this scoundrel who has defiled all our academy's goddesses!"
"Go, Damon! Sophia the Goddess is watching you!"
"Damon, you're so handsome! I want to marry you!"
The arena was filled with voices cheering for Damon, including several hired by the Mick family and naive commoners swept up in the frenzy.
Though the Stan family had also employed some supporters, few believed in Rien due to his past reputation. As a result, the cheers for Damon soon overwhelmed those for Rien.
Damon, watching Rien enter the arena with a yawn, sneered wearily.
"Rien, if you're afraid, why bother showing up to embarrass yourself? You're so slow, you're only just arriving."
Hearing this, Rien looked at Damon, who had been roasting under the sun for some time, with a hint of amusement.
"Heh, I wasn't wrong calling you a shrimp. I set the time for noon, but who says it has to be exact?"
"Such rudeness, no sense of noble decorum. You speak nothing but filthy words. You're sure to lose today."
Rien, uninterested in Damon's insults, couldn't care less about such noble etiquette. Just as the two exchanged harsh words, a teaching assistant entered the scene, followed by a group carrying weaponry and equipment, placing it beside them.
The assistant stepped between them, speaking politely.
"Young Masters Damon and Rien, I suggest you consider entrusting your magic rings to me for safekeeping, though you're welcome to keep them if you prefer."
"However, if either of you retrieves anything from your rings during the duel, it will result in an automatic disqualification."
Both Rien and Damon shook their heads, signaling that they didn't need such assistance. The assistant nodded and gestured toward the nearby weapon racks.
"Please, feel free to select your weapons and equipment."
In no time, both men had selected their gear. Rien's mentor, Jonah, frowned as he observed Damon's choice of equipment and turned to the headmaster with a questioning look.
"Headmaster, when did our academy start using magic-resistant stone equipment? This is unfair to Rien."
Jonah, having studied magic-resistant stones extensively, was the first to sense something was wrong. Other mages nearby soon noticed the same and voiced their concerns.
"Indeed, magic-resistant stones severely restrict our abilities as mages. This duel is far too unfair."
"Headmaster, say something!"
The headmaster, Woodward, didn't immediately respond. Instead, he exchanged a confused glance with his secretary, Jenny, unsure how the academy had acquired such gear.
Jenny scanned through her documents, and her expression changed upon finding something. She whispered urgently into Woodward's ear.
Woodward's face darkened, but before he could speak, Branford, the head of the Mick family, interjected.
"Everyone, this does not violate the rules of the duel. The rules state that only weapons and equipment available within the academy can be used in combat. If the academy possesses magic-resistant stone equipment, then why shouldn't Damon be allowed to use it?"
Woodward, frowning, addressed the assembled mages.
"Everyone, I only learned of this myself. Last night, the academy was gifted a batch of equipment laced with magic-resistant stone powder. The donor is..."
Woodward glanced at Branford, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Branford Mick."
Woodward was deeply irritated. The younger generation's duel had been interfered with by their elders, and he felt this situation had gone too far.
"Bang!"
Anason, hearing this, stood abruptly, slamming his chair to the ground in anger.
"Branford, are you seeking death?! All your underhanded schemes, now used on your own people?"
Anason's eyes burned with fury as he glared at Branford, his body radiating a dangerous tension. He was willing to take matters into his own hands if necessary—he would not let this underhanded manipulation lead to Rien's defeat.
Branford, facing the furious stares of Anason, the headmaster, and the other mages, broke into a cold sweat, but he maintained his composure.
"Everyone, I have not violated any rules. The Mick family indeed donated magic-resistant stone equipment to the academy. But which law forbids us from gifting equipment to the academy?"
"And if the academy has this equipment, why shouldn't Damon use it?"
The room fell silent. It was true—the Empire's laws regarding mages were still developing, and Branford had exploited this gap.
Just as Anason moved forward to strike Branford, Pantheon intervened, stepping in to prevent the altercation.
The force of their collision caused a ripple of unease among the onlookers. It was only now that they noticed Pantheon's own formidable power as a Sixth-tier mage, a hidden strength of the Stan family.
Pantheon whispered something into Anason's ear, and after a moment's pause, Anason shot Branford one last fierce glare, snorted loudly, and returned to his seat.
The headmaster also withdrew his gaze from Branford, his previously good mood completely evaporated.
The mages, dark-faced, now quietly resolved among themselves to never sell magic tools or artifacts to the Mick family again.
Branford sighed inwardly, knowing he had made powerful enemies today, but he quickly dismissed his concerns. After all, this was all in service of strengthening Damon's position—there were always pros and cons to every action.
On the dueling platform, Damon donned his magic-resistant stone armor, wielding a magic-resistant sword and shield.
Rien, in contrast, selected only a mage robe designed to amplify his magical strength.
"Rien, there's no chance for you today."
Damon, fully aware of the strength of his equipment, exuded an arrogant confidence.
Rien, unimpressed, merely smirked and muttered, "Shrimp."
The assistant, seeing both participants ready, handed them each a jade token. The token was a life-saving measure, to ensure their safety in case they became too reckless during the duel.
"Please step back a hundred meters."
Rien and Damon took their positions, stepping away from each other.
As the two prepared to begin, the arena fell into a hushed silence. The assistant raised a magic device and fired a beam into the air.
"Boom!"
A dazzling explosion of light filled the arena.
The duel began.
With a loud thud, Damon launched himself forward, the ground cracking under his powerful steps. His shield was held high, and he charged straight at Rien.
A hundred meters disappeared in an instant.
Seeing the unstoppable force of Damon approaching, Rien's hand crackled with energy as a thunderous javelin appeared in his grip.
Thunderbolt Spear
With a swift motion, Rien hurled the javelin at Damon.
The spear collided with Damon's shield, breaking into pieces upon impact, leaving behind scorched marks all around.
Damon closed the distance swiftly, swinging his longsword at Rien.
Guardian's Cross Slash
Barrier Spell
Rien, as the sword neared, cast a Barrier Spell, a faint blue shield forming to deflect Damon's attack.
Rien then stomped his foot, casting Earthquake, shaking the ground beneath them and destabilizing Damon's footing.
Quickly, Rien retreated, widening the gap between them.
The power of the Thunderbolt Spear had left him puzzled. Lightning magic was one of the most destructive types, and yet Damon's shield showed no signs of damage.
Insulated?
As if sensing Rien's confusion, Damon sneered.
"Rien, I told you—today, you are sure to lose. My gear has been enhanced with magic-resistant stone powder. Its resistance to magic is off the charts. How do you plan to defeat me?"