Across the room, near the entrance, Nuna stood calmly, smiling from ear to ear. She was enjoying the expressions on everyone's faces.
'He's finally being noticed!'
Sebastian's reaction was no different from the spectators. He was yet to see Kyle in his element after all.
This kind of domination, a one-sided massacre, was what it was, with no use of Qi, while his opponent used techniques, Qi, and everything at their disposal.
Even if he was stronger, Noah never landed a single attack! Not once! Kyle's robes were just as pristine as when he entered the duel.
Kyle hadn't even broken a sweat.
With a single flick of his blade, he knocked Noah's sword from his hand.
The clatter of steel hitting the ground echoed like thunder.
Noah collapsed to his knees, gasping.
"Why!!!" he roared in rage and humiliation, fists pounding the earth. "Why won't you just fall!?"
Kyle stepped forward, his blade lowering slowly to hover just inches from Noah's throat.
"Surrender." His voice was calm. Unbothered. Almost bored.
Then, with a cruel tilt to his smile, he added, "Or do you want me to fight you with my eyes closed next?"
Noah's teeth clenched so hard his jaw trembled, blood seeping from his gums onto his white teeth.
He wanted to refuse. He wanted to scream, to attack, to-
But he couldn't move.
His arms were shaking. His Qi reserves were dry. His pride lay in ruins.
He had been utterly overwhelmed, from start to end. Using just sword skills.
And Kyle's sword hadn't once been touched by his power.
Noah never stood a chance.
The crowd was silent. No one cheered. No one dared to speak.
Finally, Noah bowed his head in shame. He couldn't bear to look at his father, to look up at the retainers.
He would not let them see the tears welling up in his eyes.
"…I surrender."
Silence.
Then the Duke stood, his expression unreadable, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed his fury.
"The duel is over," he declared, voice strained. "Victory goes to Kyle Ravenshade."
He felt like ripping Kyle apart there and then. But that would be going too far. He hadn't done anything wrong.
There were too many eyes here.
But still, he could ask questions. Something unexplainable had just unfolded, and the person to ask was right here.
...
As Noah slumped in defeat, still panting on the floor, the silence hung heavy, oppressive, and suffocating.
The Duke slowly descended from his elevated seat, every step echoing ominously across the polished stone of the training hall.
His gaze was fixed on Kyle, sharp as a blade and twice as cold.
He stopped a few paces away, his voice tight but controlled.
"Explain yourself."
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Explain?"
The Duke's composure cracked, just slightly. "You were hiding your cultivation. Foundation Establishment at your age? That kind of concealment is not simple. Who trained you? What artifacts did you use to hide it?"
The words came fast, tinged with a hunger for information, for leverage, anything to reassert control over the situation he had just watched spiral out of his grasp.
But Kyle's gaze remained steady, unreadable.
"I'm not sure what you mean? I don't owe you an explanation," he said flatly.
The Duke's eyes narrowed. "You—"
Kyle cut him off, stepping forward with the calm confidence of a man who had already won.
"You asked for a duel."His voice rang out through the hall, echoing with finality."And you lost. That's it."
"Unfortunately for you, if you think the truth will stay hidden forever, I'm sorry to say you are very mistaken. I will find out how you did it, sooner or later."
Kyle suddenly laughed, "Really? Well, all I can say is good luck. You might want to put more effort into training your useless son. Don't focus too much on me."
Kyle's words caused the duke's expression to darken, "Watch your mouth, boy! I suggest you be careful, you have just painted a huge target on your back..."
Kyle waved his words off, nodding slowly, "I will keep that in mind."
Gasps and murmurs stirred among the onlookers again, cultivators and retainers alike who hadn't yet recovered from what they'd witnessed.
Was this nameless young Lord disregarding the Duke?
The disdain! It was unprecedented!
Kyle glanced down at Noah, still kneeling in the dirt, humiliated and silent. He gave him no more than a passing look before sheathing his sword with a clean, precise motion.
He proceeded to store it back in storage.
Then he turned to the Duke with a cool smile.
"If you'll excuse us…"
He turned without waiting for permission.
'This brat! The audacity!'
"We'll be leaving."
Nuna was already at his side, falling into step beside him with a proud, quiet smile. Sebastian followed, silent and vigilant, sparing the Duke only a low bow.
Their footsteps echoed down the marble halls of the mansion as they left the training grounds behind.
Sebastian did not even bother retrieving the carriage. Kyle told him they would return using a flying treasure since it was faster.
Just in case.
No one moved to stop them.
No one dared.
Kyle didn't speak until they stepped out into the afternoon light, the heavy doors of the Duke's mansion closing behind them with a final thud.
'Faceslapping is so fun. It's addicting.'
He was smiling like a schoolboy. Technically, he was, but...
They were back in the streets of the city.
The sun was high above Dragonvale City, casting golden light across the cobbled streets and sprawling rooftops beyond.
Kyle took a deep breath of the fresh air and exhaled.
"Come on," he said quietly."I've had enough of petty men for one day."
He glanced toward the distance, where the city stretched out in all directions, markets, alleys, pavilions, and esteemed establishments.
"Let's explore Dragonvale City."
And with that, the three of them walked off, disappearing into the vibrant heart of the city, leaving the Duke, his shattered pride, and his broken son behind in stunned silence.
Inside the training hall, silence lingered long after Kyle's departure.
Noah remained on his knees, trembling with exhaustion and humiliation.
His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white, and his face was red with fury.
His pride had been shattered, and worst of all, he had been defeated in front of everyone, effortlessly.
A soft shuffle of footsteps approached.
One of the Duke's household servants, an older man with a cautious expression, knelt beside him. Without a word, he offered Noah a small glass vial, pale blue liquid swirling inside.
"A recovery potion, young master."
Noah snatched it from the man's hand, uncorked it angrily, and downed it in one gulp.
The potion's warmth spread through his limbs, easing the burn in his muscles, closing the shallow cuts littering his body, and replenishing the Qi he had recklessly exhausted.
But it did nothing for the wound to his pride.
He stood abruptly, shoving the servant aside with a snarl.
"He cheated!" he barked, spinning toward his father. "You saw it! There's no way he's at Foundation Establishment already. There's no way he beat me without using Qi, he used something, some hidden art, some technique—"
His voice cracked with frustration.
"You have to do something! You have to avenge me, Father!"
The Duke did not respond immediately. He raised a hand, signaling his retainers to clear the room. When they were alone, he motioned for Noah to follow.
They exited through a side corridor into one of the mansion's private chambers, a quiet, dimly lit room lined with tall bookshelves and a single round table at its center.
The door closed behind them with a muted click.
The Duke turned to his son, his expression unreadable.
Then he spoke, voice low and measured. "Calm yourself, Noah."
Noah's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
The Duke stepped closer, his back to the shuttered window.
"Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment. That boy… is not ordinary. You learned that today."
Noah looked away, bitterness in his eyes.
"But," the Duke continued, "that does not mean he will leave Dragonvale alive."
Noah blinked. "What…?"
The Duke leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur.
"Is the assassin you ordered in position?"
A grin began to spread across Noah's face.
"Yes," he said, almost gleefully. "He's been following them since they arrived. Just like we planned. Once they move away from the main square… it'll be easy."
His eyes gleamed with hatred.
"Kyle Ravenshade will breathe his last today."
The Duke allowed himself a small nod, steepling his fingers.
"Good. See that it's done properly. No mistakes. No traces. You must also get rid of his two escorts; it should all look like an unfortunate accident."
"Yes, father." Noah found himself grinning once more, despite the wound to his pride.
'You might have won this fight, but it will also be your last.'
Noah left, going to get hold of his contact, to make sure the task was carried out properly.
The Duke walked to the window and peered out at the city, the sun now beginning its slow descent into late afternoon.
"The boy may be talented," he murmured, "but talent is wasted if you die young."
'I had no quarrel with you, boy. But you have disrespected someone you should not have, prepare for the consequences.'