Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Duel #02
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Eye of Arcturus.
That pendant with its grandiose name inflicts various curses on the wearer, according to the black magic incantation engraved on the purple gem.
That's right. Curses. Not buffs.
It might look utterly useless, but the item invented by Rexton Wise—a genius in necromancy and black magic—plays an important role even in the original story.
That's because Rexton, who had his eyes on one of the protagonist's heroines as a sacrifice for necromancy, used that pendant to brainwash her, leading to a frustrating plot twist of ally betrayal and weakened combat power that forced her retirement.
Of course, it kept showing up at just the right moments in past regressions too. In any world line where that bastard didn't die first, he'd mass-produce those damn things and hand them out to villains left and right. Thanks to that, I've got experience disassembling and analyzing over 300 varieties of them.
"You were so full of yourself just a moment ago, but now your face has gone pale? Now that you're facing me, do you finally realize who you dared to mess with?"
Just looking at Sion, she's spouting lines like some mid-level boss from an evil organization, but her eyes are cloudy, as if she's been hit by a hypnosis app or something—only raw, primal emotions peek through.
'Eight strokes of green lines and a pentagram. Curse of madness and murderous intent.'
Of course, at this early stage where the academy arc is just beginning, there's no way Rexton could have engraved any powerful curse. He's the type of villain who grows stronger over time.
If it's only a single-digit number of curses, someone with strong mental fortitude or even basic defenses would suffer nothing more than mild discomfort.
But looking at Sion's eyes right now, she'd probably try to kill me even if I surrendered.
Her head's already messed up, so even a light curse hits her hard.
"Scared now? Too late. I'll make you atone for your rudeness to Young Master Rexton with your death."
"Those lines are straight-up brutal. You won't even hear me with your eyes rolled back like that."
Look at that—she's giggling like she loves it, even though I just mocked her.
'Still, one weight off my mind.'
I'd been agonizing over how far to go with that bastard Rexton, but now that he's openly trying to kill me, it makes things easier.
"This time, I'll make you piss yourself in terror. Look forward to it."
I muttered while glaring at Rexton watching from below the arena, and Sion must have heard that part—her grip tightened visibly.
"Still spewing blasphemy at the Young Master? I'll rip your head off right—"
"Oh dear, oh, you've been waiting a while, haven't you? Both of you, p-please step back."
The familiar stammering voice and footsteps made Sion, who was about to tear my head off, grit her teeth and retreat.
The officiant for this duel—and the academy-appointed referee—was Professor Urdan Helik.
"A-are both of you ready?"
While Sion nodded silently, I scanned the surroundings.
The gazes of countless spectators in the stands were now fixed on me.
Among them were some standout figures.
Important people looking down like Roman nobles from between the student council and the stands, or villains slithering like snakes with hidden fangs.
And in the center of the stands, the protagonist Kaiyen Silversword, whose eyes met mine.
'This regression won't let things slide.'
To make every bastard who's fed me frustration—and every one who's about to—taste it just as bad.
That's why I started this damn duel: to make my presence known.
"Th-then, to your positions."
Sion and I turned our backs and took our stances at opposite ends.
"I-I can't intervene until one passes out or surrenders. K-keep that in mind."
The professor's worried glance and halting words as he looked at me.
Sion's attitude brimming with confidence in her victory.
From now on, no one will dare take that attitude with me again.
"Then... B-begin!!"
***
As the duel began, Arthin moved first.
He quickly retreated, widening the distance from Sion, then began drawing up mana at an astonishing speed.
It wasn't just clumsy backpedaling—a few students who recognized the skilled footwork couldn't hide their surprise.
"That newbie's stance is better than I thought."
"Hey, you blinded by the newbie? Look at the Wise Family's proxy. That's imperial knight class."
In stark contrast, Sion slowly advanced, drawing her rapier.
The astonishing part was how, with every click of her high heels on the ground, vast amounts of mana vibrated the arena air.
"Hmm, not bad for someone retired from active duty."
"You think? Mana exploding everywhere without control screams skill issues—or mental ones, at least."
Even among the academy professors, opinions varied on her skill level, but judging by the sheer mana leaking out, everyone could see she was an exceptional powerhouse.
Aside from a tiny few, no one doubted Sion's victory at that moment.
Rexton down below felt the same.
'Yes, perfect. Punish that Arthin punk and get rid of Sion in one go!'
Rexton's goal wasn't just Sion winning.
With her sadistic personality, Sion would toy with Arthin mercilessly.
Once she crushed his spirit and tortured his body to the brink, he'd break eventually.
That's when he'd deploy the Eye of Arcturus he'd prepared.
The pendant would amplify Sion's madness and aggression, making her unstoppable until Professor Helik intervened, ending the match in a disqualification for her foul play.
"Even I have to say it's a flawless plan."
The variable was who the referee would be, but with Professor Helik, he'd stop her before she killed Arthin—even if she went berserk like a mad dog.
"First, I'll put holes in both your arms!"
Sion struck first.
Mana burst from her high heel soles, closing dozens of paces in an instant as her rapier slashed toward Arthin in a sharp arc.
Ching—! Cliiing!
The rapier's tip barely missed Arthin, scraping the floor.
Betraying the gamblers who bet on an instant finish, Arthin evaded by a millimeter and formed hand seals.
'Just as expected—she's coming at me aggressively like a maniac.'
Sion wasn't just failing to control her mana; she was dominating the space with it, preventing spellcasting.
If Arthin were truly just a 1-circle mage, the duel would have ended right there.
"Acceleration! Foxfire Entwine!"
And so, shattering even the predictions of mana prodigies, Arthin activated two auxiliary spells from different schools.
His body visibly sped up, and flames of mana wrapped his arms, granting them the power to deflect blades.
"What? A 1-circle mage dual-chanting two different auxiliary spells?!"
"Impossible! Dual-chanting higher-circle magic beyond your level shouldn't be feasible!"
'Idiots—even 3-circle mages can handle up to nine.'
Sneering inwardly at the crowd's shouts, Arthin deflected Sion's onslaught head-on.
Sion was nearly twice as fast in raw attack speed, even with acceleration, but Arthin's grappling arts—preempting and redirecting trajectories—drew a groan from her.
"What the hell? You think dodging like a squirrel will beat me?!"
Of course, Arthin wasn't planning to just evade.
His potion-boosted mana regen helped, but dragging it into a prolonged fight was hopeless against Sion's overwhelming physical specs.
Thud!! Ching—! Kang—!
Mana detonated in chains, metal clashed and shattered.
"...Did you see that?"
"I missed it..."
In a blink, they exchanged dozens of blows.
Arthin stumbled first, his legs buckling under the speed.
The expert in interpersonal combat, Sion, didn't miss the opening and pursued.
"...That crazy bastard said he'd show me, and damn if he isn't!"
As Sion closed in, Arthin—from his collapsing stance—landed a precise crescent kick to her midsection. Marianne, watching from the student council seats, was stunned.
Arthin forcibly regained balance from his frail frame.
The reason such recklessness was possible: he'd solidified mana, synced it with his muscles to create mana-forged ones, massively boosting his physical abilities.
"Mana-generated muscles—a feat only the royal guard can pull off!"
Moreover, his follow-up punch to Sion's staggering torso traced a meteor-like streak, sending her tumbling dozens of meters.
"Lin Shaopang's Meteor Fist...! And the extra power is from mana burst explosions!"
The combat arts Arthin displayed fused mana techniques from three nations—a near-perfect martial form.
Marianne was certain: in 5 years—no, 3—she couldn't guarantee victory over him.
*
"Kuhk... Cough!"
Sion clutched her gut, coughing violently but barely rising.
I didn't dare close in recklessly either.
In that brief exchange, I'd burned through even the mana refined by Mana Essence—my vision swam.
'Good thing I filled the glove interiors with ogre blood.'
⚔ TITLE ⚔ Academy's Red Madman Your blood-soaked fists are infamous throughout the academy. Combat power rises based on the quality and quantity of blood on your body. I'd come out barehanded with just gloves to maximize this title's effect.
Inside the gloves, connected via Jorba, were vials of red liquid: blood from black ogres in the Dark Forest.
Mid-fight, I burst them with my mana, so from then on, my punches carried a weight even Sion couldn't ignore.
That's how Meteor Fist landed properly, but dumping all my mana at once meant potions couldn't fully restore it.
"Kek, you damn brat. I won't forgive you...!"
Whether partially recovered or overriding pain with madness and adrenaline.
Sion picked up her dropped rapier and began drawing mana again.
"Tch, tougher than a Death Knight. Stubborn bitch."
With no intention of taking it, I grabbed another vial from my belt.
Then, blatantly uncorked it and poured it over my head, drenching myself in blood.
"I don't care what stupid stunt you're pulling—just die quietly!!!"
Sion's bloodshot eyes bulged as her form blurred; blue mana light flashed across the arena.
Before I could blink from the glare, her rapier pierced deep into my left chest.
"You damn brat...! Making me look bad in front of the Young Master...! Just die already!!"
Sion must have poured heavy mana into that strike—grimacing from her own chest pain, yet laughing maniacally.
But I felt a bit sorry for her, screaming in certainty of my death.
Without that pendant clouding her judgment, the duel would have been tougher. She probably hadn't even noticed my punches' unnatural power.
"Let's end this, Sion."
Crackle—the rapier shattered, leaving only the hilt. Sion's face filled with shock.
Of course. What I'd drenched myself in was starfish blood from the Republic Federation.
They grow by eating metal, with hides impervious to most alloys.
No imperial knight could pierce that rapier without a specific counter—even less so.
Plus, starfish swim rocky zones with elephant-strong force.
Naturally, my gripped fist now dwarfed the ogre blood's power.
"Didn't I say I'd make you crawl? You shitty whore."
Thwack—
My full-force punch hammered Sion's gut; the mana shield around her shattered, and her body crumpled limply to the floor.
"..."
In that instant, the 1st Arena fell silent.
Even Professor Helik, who should declare victory as referee, stared at me in a daze.
"No victory call? Hitting a knockout is a foul, you know."
Staring at Rexton—frozen in shock on stage—I pictured what came next and couldn't hold back my laughter.