"My future boy toy!"
Qiyana winked at Duke, licking her lips. She was almost bursting with anticipation—already imagining his dejected expression after losing, and the awestruck faces of her sisters when she brought him back.
Seeing her posture and expression, Duke couldn't help but recall that time Miss Fortune had given him the same look… and the miserable aftermath that followed.
A shiver of distaste ran through him, and he smacked his lips.
"Hope you won't cry when you lose."
Duke rubbed his nose, hands tucked into his pockets, and faced Qiyana.
"How about I pick the challenge?"
"Of course," Qiyana straightened her back, raising the golden Ocelotl ring blade in her right hand while resting her left on her hip. "After all, for you outsiders, I should at least show a little…"—she flashed a regal smile—"…generosity and tolerance."
"In that case," Duke said, "let's compete in creation and destruction."
"A wise ruler can bring creation and prosperity to their people… and destruction to their enemies."
"Creation and destruction?" Qiyana arched a brow. "Not a bad idea. So, how do we bet?"
"Each of us creates something," Duke explained, "then lets the other try to destroy it. Whoever's creation stands while the other's falls—wins."
He fixed her with a deliberate look. "What do you think… Your Majesty, Elemental Queen?"
"You'll regret your choice, outsider."
"I look forward to your performance."
Duke stepped back and gestured toward the village elders, the governor he'd just released, and the crowd.
"These people will be our witnesses."
"I have no objection," Qiyana said, her eyes landing on the governor. "You're the governor here?"
The poor man—still shaken after Duke's earlier treatment—crossed his arms and gave the Ixaocan salute.
"Daughter of Yu'en, we welcome your presence."
"No more nonsense, Governor. Call every villager here to witness how I make these outsiders bow to my elemental magic!"
The governor bowed deeply. "As you command."
Soon, the elders were gathering every resident into the central plaza.
Meanwhile, Duke deployed drones, adjusting their cameras to broadcast the whole thing live.
Before long, the plaza was packed—over a hundred people crowding around to watch Qiyana and Duke face off.
When all were assembled, Duke rose from his seat. Qiyana slung her ring blade across her back, chin tilted high.
"You go first, outsider."
"After you, Your Majesty." Duke politely gestured for her to begin, patting "Pride" beside him. The steel beast snorted at Qiyana, venting steam. She smirked.
"Then watch closely."
Qiyana spun her ring blade around her body, drawing murmurs from the elders and villagers as elemental energy gathered in shimmering streams.
"No wonder she's said to be the most gifted Ixaocan of this age."
"Look at how smoothly she draws the elements!"
"It's like they're part of her own body."
"I heard many elementalists admire her."
"Well, she did defeat her elder sister in public combat—who's twelve years older."
Qiyana's brow rose with confidence as she pulled more power in, weaving it together.
Ice, stone, and vine erupted from the ground, intertwining with a resonant hum.
Stone formed the foundation, vines wove a skeletal frame, and ice filled every gap—binding all three elements into a seamless whole.
In moments, a massive, frost-rimed monument stood on the plaza. Qiyana, still brimming with energy, arched a brow at Duke and smiled knowingly.
"Your turn, outsider."
She returned to her place. Duke simply said, "Pride—go."
"As you wish, Father."
The steel beast strode forward, pressed its massive hand to the ground, and channeled raw crystal power.
In a flash, a dazzling crystal pyramid rose beside Qiyana's monument—its inner triangular lattice visible through the outer shell.
When Pride finished, it vented steam toward Qiyana before returning to Duke's side.
"This is your trump card? A steel beast making pretty shapes?" Qiyana sneered. "Useless except for decoration."
Pride rumbled dangerously, but Duke just shrugged.
"Until the end, you can't say who's won."
The pyramid was nearly diamond-hard, reinforced by the most stable geometric form—a triangle. Destroying it would be… impossible.
"Now for the destruction!"
Qiyana crouched, amber eyes locked on the crystal pyramid.
"Feel the might of the Queen!"
She spun the ring blade, channeling all three elemental glows into its edge, then lashed out.
Ice froze, stone smashed, vines tore—all at once, striking the crystal.
The impact boomed, dust and shards flying—until the air cleared.
The pyramid stood untouched. Not even a hairline crack.
"This… impossible!" Qiyana exclaimed. She struck it again, but the rebound knocked her weapon from her hands and shoved her back several steps.
"Any problem, Your Majesty?" Duke asked mildly. "We can stop here. Take me to the Apex of Ixaocan, and I'll pretend this wager never happened."
"Don't get smug, outsider!" she snapped. "I couldn't destroy yours… but can you destroy mine?"
She wiped sweat from her brow. "Bey'al, I told you—don't let me sweat."
"Apologies, noble Yu'en," her servant replied, fanning her with elemental mist.
"You insist on continuing? Then you've already lost." Duke raised a hand, and the cicada, Mingchan, landed on his palm.
"Watch closely. Don't accuse me of cheating later."
"Humph."
"Mingchan—go."
The insect chirped, fluttered… then promptly settled back under Duke's collar.
"This is your attack? Making a bug chirp?" Qiyana laughed outright.
"Patience." Duke stepped forward, exhaled gently toward her monument—and it shattered instantly. Ice crumbled to frost, vines snapped, and the stone base collapsed into rubble.
"Looks like I win, Your Majesty… Queen Qiyana."
Qiyana's face darkened. At that moment, a metallic chuckle rumbled from Pride.
"Ha. Elemental Queen? Just this?"
Steam hissed from its vents as it crossed its arms. "What a joke."
(End of chapter)
We're still in the early chapters fam! and to everyone who's joined the Patreon, thank you so much! 🙏Your support truly means the world. You're the reason this story keeps growing, chapter by chapter, world by world. I promise to give it my all! more content, more depth, more epic moments, to make sure your support is always worth it. You're part of the foundation that keeps this universe alive.
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
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