The room fell into absolute silence.
Not a single word was spoken.
Rick's request lingered in the air like a blade—sharp, undeniable.
A duel to the death.
The kind of duel that did not end until one person stopped breathing.
The Duke's gaze hardened as he looked at his son.
"Do you even understand what you're asking for?" he said at last, his voice low, controlled. "A duel to the death… is not decided until one man is dead."
Rick didn't flinch.
"I know," he replied calmly. "I'm fully aware of what that means."
Their eyes locked.
Neither looked away.
For a moment, it wasn't father and son standing across from each other—
It was two wills colliding.
Then—
"…Very well," the Duke said.
Leon's head snapped slightly toward him.
"I will permit it."
"—My lord—" Leon began, stepping forward, but the Duke raised a hand, stopping him instantly.
The decision had been made.
No one would change it.
The Duke leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze still fixed on Rick.
"Who is your opponent?" he asked.
Rick's lips curved faintly.
"Three people," he said.
A pause.
"Drake. Vine. And Huke."
Recognition flickered in Leon's eyes.
"They belong to the second knight unit," Rick added casually, as if listing names meant nothing.
The Duke went silent again, his fingers lightly tapping against the armrest as he fell into thought.
Then—
"Fine," he said. "Wait in the training grounds."
He stood, his presence once again filling the room.
"I will have them brought there."
Rick gave a small nod.
"As you say… Father."
Without another word, he turned and walked out, Biller following close behind.
The door closed.
Now, only the Duke and Leon remained.
Leon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"My lord… wouldn't it have been better to explain things to him first?" he asked, his voice serious.
The Duke didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he rose slowly to his feet.
"I need time," he said. "Time to gather my thoughts."
He moved toward the window, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon.
Then, after a brief pause—
"Go," he ordered quietly. "Bring those three."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
"Let's see… just how strong he has become."
Leon hesitated for a fraction of a second… then bowed.
"As you command."
He turned and left the room, the door shutting softly behind him.
Left alone, the Duke remained standing by the window.
Silent.
Watching.
Because this duel wasn't just about strength.
It was about truth.
About what Rick had become…
And whether House Vleck was ready to face it.
In the Asther Kingdom, knights were not ordinary warriors.
To even be considered worthy, one had to reach at least the level of an Aura Master—or beyond. While ranks varied between houses, no respectable noble family would allow a knight below that standard to represent them.
No house—
Except one.
House Vleck.
House Vleck stood on the edge of quiet collapse.
Its situation had deteriorated so far that even an External Art Master could become one of its knights. Remove the presence of Duke Van Vleck and the Grandmaster Leon, the strength of the entire house Vleck would barely rival that of a small town.
In other word-Rick who can fight toe to toe with a peak level Aura - Master is easily above the knights of House Vleck. And of course no one about it except some few master who sensed his mana.
The training grounds were quiet.
Rick stood at the center, waiting.
The air was still, but not peaceful. It carried anticipation—like the calm before something inevitable.
"Is this really the first thing you do after returning home?"
A woman's voice broke the silence.
Rick turned.
Veronica.
His half-mother.
She stood a short distance away, arms crossed, her gaze sharp, filled with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.
"Well," she continued, her tone edged with sarcasm, "I suppose her blood really does run through your veins."
Rick looked at her, his expression unreadable.
Their relationship had never been warm. In fact, he could barely remember a time they had ever spoken without tension. The only memories he carried of her were distant… cold… filled with words he had learned to ignore.
"Thank you for the compliment… Mother," Rick said calmly.
Veronica's expression darkened instantly.
"That wasn't a compliment," she snapped. "And don't call me that."
Rick said nothing.
He simply watched her.
Veronica let out an annoyed breath before continuing.
"Listen to me for once," she said. "I heard what you did. Killing guards… and then asking for a duel to the death?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"If you want to live, leave. I can speak to the Duke. I can make him spare you."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then Rick smiled.
Not mockingly.
Not arrogantly.
Just… calmly.
"Don't worry," he said. "I can handle this."
That was all.
Veronica stared at him for a second longer before turning away sharply, irritation clear in her steps.
"Then go ahead and die," she muttered under her breath as she left.
Rick didn't respond.
Time passed.
Then—
Leon arrived.
And behind him—
Three figures.
The moment Rick saw them, something inside him shifted.
Not outwardly.
But within.
His blood began to boil.
Because standing before him…
Were the same men.
The ones who had ruined his childhood.
The ones who had caused his mother's suffering.
Drake.
Vine.
Huke.
Rick's gaze darkened, the calm within him hardening into something far more dangerous.
This wasn't just a duel anymore.
This—
was reckoning.
The moment Rick saw them—
He moved.
Without hesitation, without a word, he stepped forward into the arena.
Above, seated in the viewing stands, Duke Van Vleck and Veronica watched in silence. Their presence alone made the air feel heavier, more suffocating.
Across the field, the three knights stood together—Drake, Vine, and Huke.
Smirking.
Confident.
As if this was nothing more than entertainment.
"So," Drake said, rolling his shoulders lazily, "when do we start?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Vine added with a grin. "I'm going first."
"No," Huke cut in, his tone sharper. "I will."
The three began arguing among themselves—over who would have the honor of fighting Rick first.
As if he were already defeated.
As if it didn't matter.
Rick watched them for a moment.
Then—
"Don't bother."
His voice cut through their argument like a blade.
All three fell silent.
Rick's gaze didn't waver.
"I'll fight all of you at once."
For a split second—
Nothing.
Then—
Laughter.
"Arrogant brat," Drake said, shaking his head. "It's better if we go one at a time. You might actually last a little longer."
Rick smiled.
A calm, almost indifferent smile.
"You don't need to worry," he said. "No one's going to get hurt."
A pause.
"Because all of you… are going to die."
The words echoed across the arena.
And just like that—
The smirks vanished.
Vine frowned, confusion flashing across his face.
"What—?"
But before he could finish—
"Enough."
Leon's voice rang out, firm and commanding.
He stepped forward, his presence instantly restoring order.
"This duel will now begin."
His gaze swept across the field.
"On the right side—three knights of House Vleck: Drake, Vine, and Huke."
He turned slightly.
"On the left side—the challenger… Rick Van Vleck."
A murmur spread faintly among the onlookers.
Leon continued, his tone unwavering.
"A barrier will be deployed around the arena. Once it is active, no one will be able to escape."
At the edges of the field, mages stepped into position, already beginning their incantations.
"The battle will continue… until one side is dead."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
"No one will be held responsible for the outcome."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at each of them.
"Do you all agree to these terms?"
The wind stirred faintly across the arena.
Rick gave a small, almost indifferent nod.
"To me… it doesn't matter."
The words fell lightly—
But to the three standing before him, they felt like a verdict.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed their faces. A duel to the death was not something to be taken lightly… yet Rick stood there as if it were already decided.
Then—
A voice cut through the tension.
"What the hell is going on here?"
All eyes turned.
A man stepped into the arena, his presence commanding immediate attention.
George.
The captain of the Second Knight Unit.
His sharp gaze swept across the field before settling on Leon.
"Why are knights from my unit here, Sir Leon?" he demanded, his voice loud, edged with authority.
Leon met his gaze calmly.
"Because they are about to fight a duel to the death… against Young Lord Rick."
Silence.
Then George's expression hardened.
"What?" he said, his voice dropping. "And who gave permission for this?"
"I did."
The answer came from above.
All heads turned toward the viewing stands.
Duke Van Vleck sat there, watching.
George's breath caught for a fraction of a second. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head deeply.
"My lord… I didn't realize you were here."
The Duke's gaze remained steady.
"It's fine, George," he said. "But tell me—since when does a captain of the Second Knight Unit began to question the head of the Knight?"
The words were calm.
But the pressure behind them—
Was crushing.
In an instant, the air grew heavy. An invisible force pressed down on George, forcing him further toward the ground. His body trembled under the weight of it.
"I—I apologize, my lord…" George said through gritted teeth, pain evident in his voice. "I overstepped."
The Duke watched him for a moment longer.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Just like that.
George gasped slightly, catching his breath as the invisible weight lifted.
"Know your place," the Duke said coldly. "Your loyalty is to the house… not your personal attachments."
"Yes… my lord," George replied, his voice low.
"Good," the Duke said. "Then stand aside. If you know what's best for you… don't interfere."
George clenched his jaw.
For a moment, it seemed like he might argue.
But he didn't.
Slowly, he stood… and stepped back, moving to the edge of the arena. His fists tightened at his sides, anger flickering beneath his controlled exterior.
Yet he said nothing.
Because this was no longer something he could stop.
But Rick…
Rick had not moved.
Not even slightly.
He stood there, untouched.
Watching.
"So this…," he thought," is the power of an awakened one."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
On the other hand, the three of them began to hesitate seeing there captain getting treated like that.
The Duke noticed there hesitation so he leaned forward slightly, his voice echoing across the arena trying to reassure them.
"In the name of House Vleck, I declare—none of you will be held responsible… even if my son dies today."
Those words sealed their fate.
The three knights looked at one another.
Then slowly—
They nodded.
They accepted.
The duel… was now irreversible.
The barrier shimmered.
The wind returned.
And somewhere deep within the silence—
Death began to breathe.