After effortlessly dispatching Doug, Charles encountered no further serious challenges. Each opponent fell in just a few moves, and soon enough, whispers of his prowess filled the arena. Crowds swelled around him, even drawing the attention of senior students. Another West family genius was making his mark!
Uninterested in fame, Charles stayed focused on his objective: crush the competition, choose a team, and finalize his deal with Merlin. Yet even he was amazed at his strength, powered by the Red Dragon Heart. Fighting his fellow students felt like mere child’s play now. He could withstand Doug’s third-order lightning without injury, and even explosions near the fourth order barely touched him. His body was on par with any seasoned fourth-order fighter.
After thirty matches through the night, dawn broke as Charles defeated his final opponent. A crowd stood transfixed by his stamina and skill, and Rebecca, perched on his shoulder, was in awe.
“Only one match left,” she said. Her voice carried both admiration and pride.
Charles glanced around, realizing he was the only one left standing. As the crowd murmured, a silver-haired girl made her way to his ring. Everyone stepped aside to let her through, and voices filled the arena.
“Is the West family young master truly that good?”
“You bet! Didn’t he take down the Wilton family’s Dao Pavilion?”
“But who’s she? She looks like a noble herself.”
The girl hopped onto the ring, her serene gaze fixed on Charles. Something about her looked familiar, though he couldn’t place her. Charles extended a hand, but she remained silent, her hands clasped in prayer.
Feeling a bit awkward, Charles withdrew his hand and drew his dagger. Fatigue from the night’s battles tugged at him, but he was ready for one final bout. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and prepared to unleash his strongest technique.
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This wasn’t just any move—it was Wind Injury, a third-order fighting skill known to few. His stance became one with the blade, his momentum building as he prepared to strike with deadly precision.
Just then, the girl opened her eyes, and Charles froze. Her gaze held the vastness of the stars, an ethereal beauty that seemed to reveal secrets beyond comprehension. He lost focus, the dagger nearly slipping from his grasp. All his built-up energy dissipated.
The girl’s soft voice broke his trance: “I give up.”
Charles gaped, barely able to register what he’d heard. Before he could react, she turned and left the ring, her silver hair flowing behind her in the morning light. Her face, though serene, held a trace of disappointment.
“Lord God, where is the real dragon you mentioned…” she murmured as she walked away.
It took a moment for Charles to process what had happened. Had he really won just like that? Who was this mysterious woman? The crowd, too, seemed baffled and intrigued, their eyes locked on him with admiration and envy. Standing there, Charles felt the power of his position, the allure of fame—but he was wary. Attention could be dangerous, and he’d learned that too much limelight brought complications. Fame wasn’t always worth the risk.
Down among the spectators, Okogie West fumed as Tina, a voluptuous blonde, jabbed him with her elbow, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Look at your brother up there, Okogie! Maybe one day you’ll stop being the family disappointment.”
Okogie forced a smile. “Sister Tina, Charles has a blue-blood concentration of 50%. That’s rare even among the nobles.”
Tina chuckled, her voice thick with derision. She tapped her pipe’s ash onto Okogie’s head, making him flinch but not daring to retaliate.
“Blue blood? That just makes him more appealing. Go tell your brother he has three days. Either he shows up in my bed, or I’ll make sure he never stands tall again!”
A thrill flashed in her eyes, her interest in Charles piqued as Okogie revealed that he was only twelve. Okogie’s face darkened as he forced a reply, hinting at Charles’s connections and romantic interests. But Tina only laughed, giving Okogie a hard kick with her high heels.
“Do you think I care about that lunatic Freya?” she sneered, smirking. “No, now I’m even more interested. I’ll make sure Charles West remembers me, and I’ll do it in front of her.”