Chapter 102: Lance Personally Steps In

The golden afternoon sunlight, which had originally streamed through the wooden window lattices, now filtered through the dust motes hanging in the air. The floorboards creaked intermittently, and it sounded quite loud. A faint scent of gunpowder lingered in the room.

However, the atmosphere in the building began to ease when Lance stepped in to replace Frey. He had offered a sincere apology and appealed to both reason and emotion as he explained the origins and details of the misunderstanding. Through persistent communication, the tension in the hall gradually subsided.

A cool breeze drifted through the dilapidated doorway, causing the bamboo blinds to rustle softly. It was like a gentle lullaby that helped soothe the agitated tempers of the warriors during this quiet afternoon hour.

Lance's measured, unhurried speech and his friendly demeanor were starkly different from Frey's brutish actions. Therefore, he managed to convince the people present that perhaps a compromise was possible.

Hyperion found herself momentarily at a loss for words while watching this farce play out. Frey had nearly torn the roof off the place right at the start. In comparison, Lance's act of simply "opening a window" seemed like a trivial matter.

After some negotiation, Zirvini pointed at Frey, who was standing some distance away, and declared with a scowl, "What he did earlier was way out of line. That guy has to be banned from competing. He's not allowed back in the arena. If you agree to that, then I'll accept another match against you!"

No matter how Zirvini looked at it, the mere sight of Frey made her anger flare up all over again. She would never allow such a despicable fellow, devoid of any true warrior spirit, to step onto their arena again, even if he vowed that he would follow the conventions of a fair duel this time.

Lance promised, "No problem. Frey is banned from competing."

Hyperion stood in the background, watching the rapidly shifting situation with a sense of bewilderment. Lance had taken control of the situation at light speed, and things were stabilizing. Despite that, she couldn't shake a nagging, ominous premonition.

Lance took a pen and paper from his coat pocket and walked over to the other group. With their approval, he began drafting a set of meticulously detailed terms for the duel. It even started to make the warriors feel a bit embarrassed.

After all, compared to a guy like Frey, who was cunning and played dirty, Lance was genuinely sincere and reasonable.

Lance held the contract and read it through from beginning to end for the members of The Warrior's Soul team, confirming the terms with them.

"...So, the core rule is that the use of hidden weapons, explosives, or magical items, other than enchanted cards, is strictly prohibited during the match. It is as if this fair duel is being conducted within the Shadow Realm. Any damage to the building caused by the duel is the responsibility of The Warrior's Soul team. The Student Management Council bears no liability.

"Regardless of the outcome, neither party may seek post-match retaliation against the other, as that would violate the spirit of combat and the honor of their family names. In addition, they also may not tarnish the other's reputation or use force and authority to threaten or harm them. A spirit of friendly interaction must be maintained."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "No problem."

Zirvini found this well-mannered, dark-haired young noble far more agreeable than that utter thug, Frey. She gradually realized that interacting with an honor student from the Sages' College, who was clearly someone who valued reason, was actually quite a pleasant and relaxing experience. It was largely due to his approachable and friendly persona.

In fact, Lance's attitude was so sincere that Zirvini felt a twinge of reluctance about going too hard on his team. She pointed at Hyperion and asked, "So, is she the one stepping up this time?"

Since their Rank 5 vice president was no longer fit for combat, and she wanted to ensure the club's stability, she had decided to step into the ring herself.

Lance folded the contract, tucked it into his coat pocket, and smiled at Zirvini. "No, I'll be the one fighting you this time."

Zirvini asked with a look of disdain on her face, "Are you sure? Your life won't be in danger, but don't expect me to go easy on you."

She had heard the rumors around school. Friends who watched the Shadow Realm challenge broadcast that night had said this guy was incredibly tricky, almost uncanny, in the Shadow Realm. However, this was the real world, and there was a binding agreement in black and white. She didn't think Lance stood a chance of winning or had any opportunity to pull a fast one on her.

Lance nodded solemnly in confirmation. "Sure, give me a minute to warm up, and then we can start the duel. Is that alright?"

Zirvini was momentarily taken aback. Did this Rank 3 support mage possess a trump card capable of turning the tide in a one-on-one duel? She didn’t think so.

"Mm, no problem. Win or lose today, I'll regard you as a worthy opponent." Zirivini flashed a bright, open smile. Her gaze toward Lance held a newfound touch of admiration.

To her, the contrast between Lance and Frey was so stark that Lance's courage in issuing a fair challenge stood out brilliantly. It was the very embodiment of the spirit of combat.

Lance then walked back to where Frey and Hyperion were standing. Hyperion asked, looking worried, "Lance, is there anything I need to do?"

She was the only person present who knew the composition of Lance's enchanted cards. Without teammates to stall for time and build up the necessary "Rage" beforehand, even combining the forced kneel from Basic Etiquette with the Poet of Boundless Love would hardly make Zirvini faint from anger. Instead, it would likely just send her into a berserk rage.

As for using Enchanting Notes, which Lance had renamed from Voices of Purgatory, the question remained of how long a Stun could actually hold a Rank 6 powerhouse like Zirvini. After all, the red-haired warrior needed only a split second to instantly defeat Lance.

In short, while Lance was certainly no slouch in a duel for a Rank 3 mage, he couldn't simply overpower an opponent of such vastly higher rank head-on without the coordination of teammates!

Lance simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, Hyperion."

The unspoken rapport between them made further conversation unnecessary.

***

A minute later, they were ready for the next match, and the tension that had previously filled the arena gave way to an atmosphere of anticipation and mutual respect. This was the true spirit of combat.

In the four corners of the arena, the weathered marks on the old wooden walls stood out sharply, as if evoking memories of past glories. The two combatants stood facing each other on an open stretch of ground on the far side of the arena. It was the only part untouched by the earlier explosion and was the perfect setting for a fair, unconstrained, and wholehearted duel.

Zirvini and Lance stood facing one another from a distance. Their focused expressions lent a solemn air to the scene.

Zirvini announced, "Lance, let me reiterate: I will give this my all. I regard you as a formidable opponent."

Lance smiled. "I appreciate the sentiment, Senior."

Every gesture and expression revealed their serious commitment to the match and their deep respect for one another.

"The duel now begins!" A resounding voice, from the warrior acting as the referee, cut through the silence of the arena like a blade. It echoed through the hall, signaling the official start of their fierce clash!