Chapter 16: Duel
The steam curled around Jefel's body as he leaned back in the washroom, chest still heaving from the storm of battle. His reflection in the water rippled—eyes glowing faint streaks of orange, blue, and silver. Something inside him had changed.
Tink—
[System Notice]
—Detection range: +12m
—Instinctive response speed: +15%
—Mental resilience to illusions increased.
He sighed heavily. Assassins, already? On the first day?
The academy bell chimed outside. Evening already. He dried himself, slipped into bed, and fell into a restless sleep.
RIIING—!
An alarm woke him. He cursed when he realized: the third bell of the day. He'd slept through every dining session.
"Damn… I missed food."
His stomach growled in protest. After washing up, he put on his academy robe—already cleaned by its self-maintaining enchantment—then layered the black invisibility robe he had claimed. It molded onto him like a second skin.
Tink—
[To activate Invisibility Magic Robe → charge with essence]
The cloth shimmered faintly with his breathing.
---
The moment he stepped outside, whispers prickled his ears.
"Did you hear? Aman and Ruby vanished yesterday…"
"Someone swore they went into the first-year orange dorms and never came back."
"No, no, I heard blood filled the halls—then disappeared! Cursed!"
Dozens of students stared, suspicion mixing with envy and fear. Jefel walked on in silence, ignoring their whispers.
The smell of food dragged him to a small store. He pointed at a steaming steak and soup on the menu.
"How much?"
"Ahhh, newbie, huh?" the old lady chuckled warmly. "Normally 25 credits, but I'll give you a discount—20."
Jefel twitched. He only had the 20 credits he looted from the assassins, and it was already going to food. Still… "I'll buy."
The first bite melted his doubts. Rich, tender, savory. "Delicious. Thank you."
"You're welcome, child."
Satisfied, he headed to the training hall.
Inside, the sound of clashing steel and shouted instructions filled the air. Students sparred while instructors barked corrections. His entrance drew eyes—and murmurs.
A tall youth with crimson hair and a predatory grin blocked his path. His aura was oppressive, hot as molten iron.
"So you're the boy who thinks lightning makes him untouchable." The youth cracked his knuckles, metal ringing faintly beneath his skin. "I'm Karth of the Steelblood line. I heard you crushed some juniors at the test center. Time to prove it—or crawl away and admit the rumors are lies."
Tink—
[Challenge Detected]
Objective: Defeat challenger without forfeiting badge.
Reward: Attribute points, academy recognition.
Failure: Badge confiscated → Reputation loss.
Jefel's eyes narrowed. His hand brushed the dagger hidden beneath his sleeve. "If it's a fight you want…" His aura flared, arcs of lightning crawling across his arms. "Then don't regret it when you taste blood."
Karth's grin widened. His skin hardened to silver steel as cracks split the floor beneath him.
"Good. Let's see what kind of beast you are."
The air thickened with tension. The crowd pressed in, whispers drowned by anticipation.
Tink—
[System Alert: Combat engagement imminent]
[Predator Autonomy: 5% synced]
The bell rang.
BOOOM—
They vanished, colliding in the center of the square. Shockwaves cracked the reinforced stone, dust exploding upward.
Tink—
[Battle Instinct Autonomy: Activated]
Jefel's dagger sparked with lightning against Karth's blazing steel blade. Each clash rattled the hall, fire and storm tearing at the air.
"Finally," Karth growled, his silver eyes glowing, "someone worth killing!"
The next clash split the ground, flames and arcs devouring everything between them.
Tink—
[System Alert: Duel Engaged]
Opponent: Karth Veyran (Fire Physique 12%)
Danger Level: High
Quest Updated → Defeat Karth in front of the academy.
Reward: Hidden.
The crowd roared as afterimages flashed across the stage—Karth's flaming blade slicing waves of molten heat, Jefel's predator aura answering with jagged streaks of blue and silver.
"Predatory Beast Art—Devouring Fang Blitz!"
Jefel blurred, leaving arcs of stormlight.
Karth roared, his sword igniting into a blazing pillar.
"Fire Dominion Slash!"
The explosion shook the hall—BOOOOM—fire and lightning crashing like clashing gods.
Instructors hidden in the shadows exchanged glances.
"…That boy. His growth… it's unnatural."
But Jefel didn't care. His dagger spun, elemental sparks dancing—fire, wind, lightning, and stone fusing in his hand.
Tink—
[Microscopic Effect Awakening: 4%]
Warning: Body strain increasing.
His predator eyes glowed.
"This ends with your head."
The arena floor cracked as his body vanished forward—blade screaming with elemental fury.
"Impossible!" an examiner gasped as Karth barely raised his steel-forged spear in time.
CLANGGG—!!
The shockwave rattled shields, students collapsing in awe as sparks and fire rained from the air.
Karth snarled, veins bulging. "You… shouldn't have made it this far!!" He erupted in golden flames, point-blank.
BOOOOM!
The crowd thought Jefel was consumed—until the predator's roar tore the fire apart.
Tink—
[Predator Beast Art – Second Form: Flash]
A streak of lightning ripped through the blaze. Jefel reappeared above Karth, dagger glowing like a storm.
"Fall."
He vanished—
SLAAASHHH—!!
Blood sprayed. Karth staggered, steel armor torn open, chest slashed deep.
Tink—
[Opponent severely injured. Battle autonomy urging kill.]
—Finish him: +200 points, rare shard.
—Spare him: ??? Hidden reward.
The crowd froze in silence.
Jefel stood over his enemy, dagger trembling, aura flaring like a storm unleashed.
The system whispered in his mind like a devil.
The examiner's staff glowed, ready to intervene.
Jefel's predator eyes burned as the choice hovered before him.
The arena held its breath.