Damian looked at Nicholas with a confused expression before showing him the number displayed on his bracelet.
"I'm rank 220. Fighting me in a duel would bring no benefits to you," Damian said.
"I didn't know you were foolish as well," Nicholas scoffed. "If you can't tell that this isn't about the rankings, then your brain must've rotted in that head of yours."
Victor was about to step forward to handle this when Damian secretly gestured for him to stop.
It wasn't that Damian didn't know that this was beyond just the rankings, he simply wasn't interested.
But at this point, the entire training hall's attention was now on them. He couldn't reject the duel even if he wanted to without putting a stain on the Greythorne name.
It annoyed him, but he had to accept.
This was no longer just about him. But then again, did he really care that much about the Greythorne name?
The answer to that was leaning more towards no.
Just as Damian was about to speak, Victor leaned towards him and whispered, "It would be in your best interest to accept. You don't have to win, just put up a show."
"I'm not a show pony, Victor," Damian's voice had an undertone of annoyance.
"No one said you are, rejecting his duel would be bad for your image considering you have those two paying attention now," Victor said, and Damian shook his head.
"You're going to need more than that," Damian responded.
It was easy to tell that whoever was watching them from above was high-ranking in the academy, just from the pressure their gaze exerted.
The problem was that nobody in this academy could have a higher standing than Damian. So why should he care about it?
"Ok, then consider the fact that rejecting would make everyone think you're an easy target. Your life in the academy would become a lot more stressful," Victor said.
Damian hissed quietly.
He couldn't deny that the boy was right, but something about this irked him.
"You seem to care a little too much about this," Damian turned to him. "Why?"
"Are you accepting or are you that much of a coward, you little shit stain?" Nicholas called out.
Victor promptly turned to him, an action that made the boy subconsciously take a step back as fear overcame his entire being.
This was the number one student among first years, the person that easily beat up Caesar Birmout. He had been there to witness the fight and he knew Victor was a monster.
The last thing he wanted was to get on his bad side.
Percy, one of the students next to Nicholas, sensed his unease and asked, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Nicholas answered sharply as he steadied himself.
Percy had been friends with Nicholas since before they came to the academy. The latter had always proven himself to be more talented than his peers, a trait that drew people to him.
Even inside the academy, it had garnered him a following and the attention of powerful upperclassmen.
They had been training when they noticed Damian walk into the hall. Just like everyone else, they couldn't stop paying attention to the son of the unrivaled champion.
Percy was about to call his attention back to their training when Nicholas had gotten a message on his bracelet. Before he knew what was happening, he was accompanying him to challenge Damian Greythorne.
It seemed surreal. In fact, it was surreal!
Percy had wanted to meet Damian, but definitely not under these conditions. However, if his friend wanted to fight him, then he would support him all the way.
Damian's aura told that he was an entry level rank 1 but Percy still felt he should be cautious. After all, stronger didn't always mean better when it came to fights between warriors.
"Don't forget to be careful, Nick. He may be weaker than you, but don't forget who he is," Percy said.
"I'm a mid-level rank 1, I'll wipe the floor with this bastard," Nicholas responded.
'Arrogant as ever,' Percy sighed.
Victor turned back to Damian, "So what would it be?"
Damian walked forward, gesturing at Nicholas, indicating he accepted.
The entire hall went in an uproar as everyone gathered to watch.
"Damian Greythorne is fighting Nicholas Oyt!"
"What? No way!"
"Hold on, isn't Nicholas stronger? He wins this easily right?"
"Don't be foolish, Damian is a Greythorne, I can't imagine a situation where he loses even if he is weaker."
"You're just being biased. You adore the Greythorne family."
"I do, but it's simply facts."
"Put your money where your mouth is."
"Fine! 50 silver coins says Nicholas wipes the floor with Greythorne."
As murmurs rose among the onlookers, Nicholas grinned before tapping his bracelet.
Damian heard a sound from his and looked to see a duel request from Nicholas. If he accepted, there was no going back.
Without a second thought, Damian accepted and the moment he did, alarm bells rang in his head.
He looked up to see an axe swinging down at him with full force, ready to split him apart!
Nicholas had shot forward to attack in a split second!
'He's fast.'
There was only a brief window for Damian to respond here. If he tried to block this, the sword in his grasp wouldn't be able to take it. Nicholas had enhanced his already superior weapon with aura and Damian wouldn't be able to do that in time.
The only option here…
Damian kicked off the ground, moving backwards and dodging the axe that lodged into the ground.
But before he could find stable footing, he received a kick from Nicholas straight to the chest!
The force behind it sent him flying, crashing into the wall and knocking the breath out of his lungs.
He fell on one knee as he struggled to breathe, but Nicholas wouldn't give him a chance to recover as he rushed at him and threw a punch.
Damian rolled out of the way, narrowly dodging the blow that left a dent in the reinforced wall.
Nicholas watched as Damian jumped back, creating distance between them.
"How disappointing, I expected much more of a fight," Nicholas said as he brandished his axe.
The crowd was in awe.
Everything was happening so fast and wasn't going in the direction most of them thought it would.
"Victor," Damian called out.
"Yes?"
"That last strike, he was going for the kill. Is that allowed?" Damian asked.
"Yes," Victor answered. "The dueling system alerts a teacher nearby when a duel happens. You can't sense them but they'll intervene before it becomes life threatening."
Damian nodded.
That changes things.
He breathed out as he calmed himself. The earlier kick made his chest feel like it was hit by a war hammer, but his body's resilience kept him standing.
Victor smiled as he noticed Damian's raging aura begin to calm. His rank was consolidating!
Nicholas noticed this too and tightened his grip on his axe.
"This time I'll break those legs so you can't run away you little—"
Before Nicholas could complete those words, Damian threw his sword at him.
It was fast and would have gone right through his head if he hadn't reacted quickly.
Nicholas spun back on his right foot, barely dodging the sword as it grazed his nose.
Just as the hilt of the sword was about to go past him, Nicholas saw a hand grab it and swing it towards him, attempting to take off his head!
There was barely time to react!
Nicholas quickly kicked his foot off the ground with the other, causing him to fall fast enough and once again, narrowly avoiding the blade.
But before his back could even touch the ground, he felt a kick to his midsection! It was powerful! He felt his ribs cracking from the impact as he was sent flying high in the air!
'…find that sweet spot and let the weapon take it in.'
Recalling Victor's earlier advice, Damian channeled his aura into the sword.
This time… it was a success.
Without wasting any time, he threw the aura-infused sword towards Nicholas who placed his axe between him and it.
BOOM~ BOOM~
The temperature in the hall increased as the sword exploded on impact sending Nicholas further up and crashing into the ceiling!
Damian put in a little too much aura into the sword and Nicholas paid the price for it.
He hit the ground hard and extreme pain shot through his body!
He coughed violently, struggling to rise—only for Damian to appear above him, foot raised, before stomping down on his chest!
BAM~
Nicholas felt blood build up in his throat as he struggled to breathe with his chest slightly caved in.
Damian raised his clenched fist and readied to throw a punch.
"Shouldn't the fight be over?"
"No teacher is here yet so I guess it's still on."
"This is horrible," a girl turned her head away from the sight of the bloodied Nicholas.
Percy took a step forward, but felt a vicious aura lock onto him. He turned to see Victor glaring at him with eyes that seemed to promise his death should he move or take a step forward.
He gulped as he gritted his teeth, forced to watch his friend about to be pummeled even further.
Damian turned to the crowd and could see the looks on their faces: surprise, admiration, awe… but the one he saw the most was fear.
He hissed internally as he lowered his fist. This fight was over.
"Yield," Damian said.
Nicholas tried to speak but he gurgled as he choked on his own blood, but the look on his face was one of defiance.
Seeing this, Damian sighed and walked away. The crowd parted as he moved with Victor following some distance behind him.
"So, what do you think?" Rin turned to Kaine who kept his gaze on Damian.
"He'll do."
______
Outside the training hall, a man sat cross-legged underneath a tree that was a few meters away from the entrance.
There were two swords strapped to his back and a scar ran from his forehead, across his left eye then down to his neck.
His pupils were a dull grey and even though he looked towards the entrance, his eyes lacked focus.
The man got up and covered his eyes with the cloth in his grasp, securing it tightly by tying it behind his head.
He tapped his bracelet before speaking into it, "Update rankings, duel between Nicholas Oyt and Damian Greythorne concluded. Damian declared as victor. Overseeing referee: Adam Birmout."