"Callius Augustride… I challenge you a duel…"
The classroom fell into a hushed silence as everyone was surprised by the unexpected challenge. They had heard of, witnessed, and knew Callius' reputation as a first-ranked student, and the thought of someone challenging him head-on was intriguing and surprising at the same time.
Their attention was naturally drawn to the source of the commotion. There they could see a girl with yellow hair and red eyes.
"Who is this person?"
"I don't know. Another class?"
Most of the students had no way of knowing the girl, but that was different for Callius. After all, the girl was someone who both appeared in the game and appeared before the eyes of Callius.
However, to make sure there were no open ends, he pretended like he didn't know the girl.
"Callius Augustride… I challenge you to a duel," she repeated, her voice firm and unwavering. Her yellow hair and red eyes were striking, and he could sense a strong determination emanating from her—a determination filled with anger and hatred.
Callius raised an eyebrow, curious about the girl's intentions. "And who might you be?" he asked, his voice calm and composed. No matter who this girl was, there was no way his traits would let him act like a random normal student.
"Grrr…." However, seeing his nonchalant attitude, someone was not happy with this. "I am Emilia Green. Student Rank 57."
"So, you're Emilia Green," Callius said, his expression unchanged. "Rank 57, huh? Impressive."
Emilia's eyes narrowed, her anger palpable. "Don't patronize me! Do you think that just because you're a first-ranked student, you're invincible? I'll show you!"
????????????????????????????????.????????????
The hatred in her eyes was evident as Emilia was glaring daggers at Callius.
The surrounding students watched with anticipation and excitement. The challenge from a student of a lower rank against a top-ranking mage was a rare occurrence, and they were eager to see how Callius would respond.
"Does she have a death wish?"
"Really? Does she think she stands a chance? That guy is a monster; just forget it?"
However, not everyone thought the same. After all, even if it was intriguing, a person's school life and notes were at stake there. And those who witnessed Callius' magic prowess beforehand knew how much of a suicide this was.
'The feeling of revenge, huh? I guess I should give you a chance to vent your anger for a little, though don't think I will go easy on you.' Callius thought, seeing Emilia's attitude.
While he was thinking that, Emilia brought the yellow ticket and she showed it to everyone.
"Yellow ticket?"
"Is she going to challenge him in a 'Challenge Duel'? That girl is crazy.
Since it was a type of duel where no ranks were suppressed, most of the time, the students would challenge people with closer rank for this since even a one-star rank difference mattered quite a lot in duels.
'Yellow Ticket, huh? I guess you really want to get burned.'
"Very well, Emilia," Callius said calmly, accepting her challenge. "I will take your challenge seriously."
The moment Callius accepted the duel, Emilia tore the yellow ticket into two while mumbling the name. "Callius Au-"
"Just Callius."
"Callius." The moment she finished mumbling, Callius' bracelet shone.
-----------------------
Duel Challenge: Emilia Green
Type: Yellow
Student Rank: 57
Remaining time until duel commences: 59.58
Do you wish to commerce with duel now
Yes No
-------------------------
Seeing this, Callius didn't think much as he instantly tapped on the yes button.
"I have accepted your challenge to a duel."
Callius said calmly without bothering with anything as if he was taking leisure.
"Good," Emilia answered with a cold tone.
'Though, don't think everything will go as they want, Arthur.' With the sides of his gaze, Callius was able to see the small smile on Arthur's lips… making him feel disgusted.
With the duel accepted, the two students moved to the designated dueling area. Though the news started spreading rapidly, the moment they left…
********
In the center of the spacious dueling arena, Emilia and Callius faced each other, a crowd of students surrounding them.
The arena was specially designed for dueling, with a smooth, circular floor covered in magical runes that prevented any collateral damage to the surroundings. It was different from the duel arenas that the students had used before.
This time it was an open field where the students could observe from wherever they wanted.
And it was not even the only circular arena here, as there were a lot of different arenas scattered around the huge landscape.
As Emilia and Callius stood opposite each other, the tension in the air was palpable. The surrounding students watched with bated breath, eager to witness the clash between the fire mage and the skilled swordsman.
Emilia gripped her sword tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her anger and determination seemed to fuel her every movement. She had a score to settle, and she wasn't going to back down.
Callius, on the other hand, remained composed. He studied Emilia carefully, analyzing her stance and movements.
'Her stance is better than what Arden showed at that time. Certainly, she is talented at using swords more.' No matter how strict one grew, in the end, talent was what mattered most when it came to such sword skills.
The instructor stepped forward, his authoritative voice resonating through the arena. "This is a Challenge Duel between Emilia Green, Student Rank 57, and Callius Augustride, our top-ranked student. Remember, the duel will continue until one of them admits defeat. Now, let the duel begin!"
The moment the instructor finished his words, Emilia wasted no time.
/SWOOSH/I think you should take a look at
With her aura augmented on her legs and feet, she dashed towards Callius, waiting at the end of the Arena.
/BOOM/
Her speed was impressive, but Callius was no stranger to fast opponents. He summoned a ball of fire into his hand and hurled it toward her instantly.
Emilia didn't stop as she dodged the fireball and rushed towards him.
/BOOM/ /BOOM/ /BOOM/
But Callius didn't stop either, as he kept firing fireballs at a rapid speed.
"He doesn't even chant."
"What a fast speed."
The onlookers were surprised, seeing him attack with such a rapid pace. It was even faster than the one he displayed against Arden.
Just like that, before even a second could pass, Emilia's charge was blocked by the barrage of fireballs, leaving her no room to gap close.
/SHINE/
But Emilia didn't mind the fireballs at all; she was expecting such a result.
As she chanted at a fast speed deploying a beam of light on top of her sword she looked for the openings Callius were showing.
/BEAM/
"Beam of Adamance."
Then fired it with a low tone.
Emilia's beam of light soared through the air, heading straight for Callius amidst the barrage of fireballs. Her eyes were sharp and focused, and she seized the moment when she saw a split-second opening in his fiery assault.
'Heh….. She really mastered this move….' Callius thought, a smile forming on his face. The beam of light approached him at a rapid speed, almost instantly.
/TOK/
But it was blocked by a barrier.
"Mana barrier?"
"What? He can make a mana barrier?"
"What is this shape?"
It was a technique far higher for normal students, but Callius did it instantly. The shape was also specialized for such cases where Callius knew where the attack came from. The amount of time he had put into his training and forging his mana was already showing its effects.
'All Seeing Eye is for sure a cheat.' He thought. 'Else, I would probably get hit by that attack.'
/BOOM/ /BOOM/ /BOOM/
But he still kept firing fireballs even in the midst of his thoughts.
'I am giving you a chance to prove yourself. Don't let me down.' With that thought, Callius increased the strength of the fireballs, with each explosion releasing more and more mana.
'This bastard…. When is his mana going to deplete?' Emilia gritted her teeth as she looked into spells of fire aimed at her constantly. 'But, I can't go back now. I need to overcome this, for Arden.'
Her eyes filled with determination, and she channeled her aura and mana onto her feet as she took the posture of a special pose.
'Radiant Seraphim Sword, Dance of Divine.'
/SWOOSH/
With a burst of speed, Emilia moved like a phantom, evading the fireballs with graceful precision. She weaved and twisted, her movements fluid and unpredictable, as if she had become one with the air itself. Her red eyes containing a small amount of light mana, protected her from the relentless fire assaults as she approached the mage.
/BOOM/ /SWOOSH/ /BOOM/ /SWOOSH/
The students watched in awe as Emilia's dance of light and grace unfolded. Her blade sliced through the air, leaving trails of radiant energy in its wake. The combination of her aura, mana, and swordplay was nothing short of mesmerizing.
The arena seemed to glow with ethereal light as Emilia's sword and Callius' fireballs clashed in a dazzling display of power and finesse. The duel had turned into a breathtaking spectacle, with the two duelists pushing each other to the limits of their abilities.
Emilia's eyes never wavered as she continued her relentless assault. She had a goal in mind, a promise to fulfill, and she would stop at nothing to achieve it. The memory of Arden's defeat spurred her on, filling her with determination to prove herself and honor her friend's efforts.
"The more I watch your moves, the more I want to clash swords with you," Callius mumbled to himself as she watched the girl move gracefully. It made the swordsman inside his heart fill with excitement, but sadly the time was not right.
Everyone knew Callius was no pushover.
As Emilia's dance intensified, he, too, adapted his strategy, his eyes reading her every move even though the audience couldn't realize that fact.
He began to utilize his fireballs more strategically, aiming not just for direct hits but to create barriers and disruptions in Emilia's movements.
However, no matter how Callius used his fire element, Emilia, whose speed was increased, was able to reach him.
'Because I allowed to.'
"CALLIUS!" A violent scream echoed inside the field as the girl raised her sword. She finally managed to reach him; she was not going to let this opportunity slide.
/SWOOSH/
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The students held their breath as they saw the blade approaching the young man with black hair….
-----------------------------A/N--------------------------------
Hope you liked the chapter.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested. This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
