Arslan, with a devilish smile on his face, walked toward Lucian, his eyes cold and determined. "So you went as far as sacrificing your hand, huh? Do you think it was worth it? All you've done is delay your death," he said mockingly.

Lucian writhed in pain, staring into Arslan's eyes. His gaze held both ambition and deep hatred, yet there were clear signs of fear as well. "I'm scared," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm terrified, but I can't give up now. What happens if I lose here? What happens if I give up with a crippled hand? The other families' children will see it as an opportunity to come after me, and maybe they'll even send assassins to finish me off instead of dealing with me themselves." His voice trembled with the fear and desperation he was experiencing.

Arslan quickened his pace as if he was enjoying Lucian’s weakness. "Do you think I can't kill you?" he asked in a threatening tone. His eyes were filled with darkness. "Maybe I'll get punished, and then what? Everyone will forget about you, and they'll keep talking about the one who defeated Marquis Arthur’s son. Even Marquis Arthur would be happy to be rid of such a weak child like you. Everyone will abandon you!"

Despite Arslan's every step forward, Lucian stood firm. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the fear within him. "Coach," he said with a longing in his voice, "it would be nice to hear a few words from you right now. You'd probably tell me I shouldn't have entered this fight, and after seeing me like this, you'd give me tips on how to beat my opponent. After all, you're as obsessed with boxing as I am. I won't let your legacy end here."

Arslan's patience had worn thin. He took another step toward Lucian and raised his sword into the air. "We've reached the end of the road!" he shouted. But when he looked where his sword had struck, Lucian was no longer there. His eyes widened in shock, and he roared with rage, "Again! How!?"

Lucian, breathing heavily, spoke with determination in his voice. "I think you misunderstood something," he said, his words filled with pain and exhaustion.

Arslan, still stunned, looked around and replied, "What!?" Lucian's body was in shambles; his left arm was limp, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. Yet the fire in Lucian's eyes burned brighter than his weakened body. It was the willpower that kept him standing, feeding his survival instinct.

Arslan couldn't believe how Lucian was still moving. "How are you moving? Your legs shouldn't even be able to function!" he asked, his voice growing more astonished.

With a faint smile, Lucian said, "You can't scare me with death because I've already died once." A glint appeared in his eyes. "Mages focus their magic output through their hands to control the direction and placement of their spells. But for someone like me, whose entire body is filled with mana, is that really necessary? If every part of my body is overflowing with mana, then I can cast spells from anywhere. That means I can release magic from my ears, nose, or even my eyes. Or... my feet."

Hearing Lucian’s explanation, Arslan's shock turned to fury. "You’re right; if you kill me, everyone will forget about me and start talking about you. But what happens if I kill you? No one will care because you're nothing but worthless trash," he shouted. Enraged, he swung his sword, each strike cutting through the air with a deafening sound.

Lucian, focusing his magic on his feet, swiftly dodged Arslan’s attacks, formulating a strategy in his mind. "I've made him angry," he thought. "I can't fully use my legs, but because he's enraged, he’s not focusing on his attacks. This is my advantage. You’ve fallen into my trap."

Arslan, unable to control his rage any longer, screamed, "Stand still!" He continued to slash viciously. Lucian dodged using wind magic, but each time he collided with the walls or tumbled to the ground.

Taking a deep breath, Lucian whispered to himself, "If I keep going like this, I’ll burn myself out. This needs to end now." He focused, preparing for one final, perfect attack.

The audience gasped in shock. "W-What!" "This can’t be real, right?" "Isn't he just a kid who's been learning magic for a few years?" they whispered among themselves.

Lily gazed intently at Lucian and calmly said, "I’ve seen enough," as she turned and began walking toward the arena exit.

Arslan, seeing the determination in Lucian's eyes, was left in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?" he muttered in shock. Lucian was floating in mid-air.

Serenna, unable to believe what she was witnessing, whispered, "A flight spell? Isn't that an advanced spell? Lucian should only be a level 4 mage." Marquis Arthur, however, continued watching the fight in silence, showing no reaction.

Lucian grumbled to himself, "Damn it, this is far more complicated than a flight spell! I have to constantly adjust the direction and amount of mana output. I can’t keep this up for much longer."

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Arslan laughed mockingly. "Did you learn to fly out of fear? What are you going to do, escape by flying? Do you think my attacks can't reach you?" he taunted.

Lucian, with one last effort, murmured, "It would be nice to glide in the sky until your Overheat state ends, but I’ll run out of energy before you do."

Arslan, his patience exhausted, shouted, "I’m coming!" as he slashed his sword toward the sky. The energy waves from his sword exploded in the air, making it even more dangerous for Lucian to stay aloft.

Lucian, breathing heavily, thought to himself, "Damn it, what kind of monster is this?" His strength was fading, and dodging was becoming increasingly difficult with each passing second.

Arslan, preparing for one final strike, yelled, "This attack will end you!" But at that moment, he lost his balance, feeling something odd beneath his feet.

Alice shouted excitedly, "D-Dad! This is the swamp spell Lucian cast at the beginning of the fight!"

Hugo, Alice’s father, stared at Arslan’s feet in disbelief. "W-What? I can’t believe it. Was this his plan all along?" he exclaimed.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lucian roared, "Now!" He let himself go, diving toward Arslan at full speed.

As Lucian released himself into the air, he flipped upside down, focusing all his magic energy into his feet and diving swiftly toward Arslan. He gathered every last ounce of magic left in his body for one final blow. The target was clear: Arslan’s head. Lucian’s eyes gleamed with determination; this was the final strike, and there was no turning back.

Below, Arslan, realizing Lucian was speeding toward him, smiled bitterly. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, then shouted, "I'll be waiting for a rematch in the afterlife..."

When Lucian and Arslan came face to face, Lucian concentrated all his aura into his fist, bringing it down on Arslan like a meteor crashing from the sky. As his fist hit the ground, a massive explosion erupted, flames and shockwaves engulfing the arena. The blast was so powerful that even Marquis Arthur’s aura shield began to crack. For the first time, Arthur shifted his stance, looking at the fractures in his shield.

"I think I made the right decision," he muttered quietly, then began leaving the arena without hesitation.

Serenna called after him, "F-Father! Where are you going? If you leave, who will maintain the shield?" But there was no longer any need for the shield. The fight was over.

As the blinding light from the explosion faded, silence fell over the arena. The audience stared at the destruction before them. A massive crater had formed in the ground, the walls were in ruins. Lucian’s attack had buried the arena several meters deep. When Marquis Arthur was far enough away, the aura shield disappeared, and a wave of hot air swept across the spectators’ faces. Everyone was in disbelief, trying to make sense of what they had just witnessed.

Lucian stood in the center of the crater. One foot was planted on Arslan's body, his hands completely shattered. But without showing any sign of pain, he raised his right hand into the air, making a victory sign.

The spectators murmured in shock, "Did Lord Lucian win?" "Did he kill him?" "No, he’s still alive, look!" "Then... did he fail to hit him?" "What’s happening here?"

Amid the confusion, a massive voice rang out. People tried to understand what they were witnessing as Arslan looked at Lucian. "Why didn’t you kill me?" he asked, but received no response from Lucian.

Arslan persisted, asking again, "Answer me! Why?..." But as he observed Lucian’s stillness, he realized something was wrong. Upon closer inspection, he saw that Lucian had lost consciousness. Lucian's body had collapsed, but it refused to fall. It was his willpower that kept him standing.

With a bitter smile, Arslan said, "I understand..." and removed Lucian’s foot from on top of him. Slowly standing up, he cradled Lucian in his arms. Then, he turned his head towards the crowd in the arena and shouted at the top of his lungs: "EVERYONE, SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!"

Suddenly, an eerie silence took over the arena. All eyes were on Arslan.

Once he had everyone's attention, Arslan loudly declared: "I concede. The winner is Master Lucian Wintergate."

These words started whispers again in the arena. The audience was talking in shock: "He’s conceding?" "What is this? Was this a show?"

Arslan raised his voice once more: "If anyone has an objection, they can face me right now, or they can shut their mouths and get the hell out. I, Arslan Wintergate, from this day forward, dedicate my life to Lucian Wintergate!"

With those words, he continued to carry Lucian and headed toward the exit of the arena. The crowd was in awe. The whispers rose again: "He’s dedicating his life?" "He can’t be serious, can he? That oath he just swore!" "You fool, it’s a Wintergate Oath. Don’t you get it? Arslan Wintergate didn’t avoid the attack. He was spared."

Serenna was in shock at what she had just witnessed. "Is this even possible? I’ve never seen magic like this before. Forget about whether it’s magic or not. None of that matters. I need to check on Lucian."

She ran toward the exit of the arena. When she saw Arslan carrying Lucian, she shouted angrily at him: "Let him go! Can’t you see he’s lost his arms? What more do you want?"

Arslan rolled his eyes as if he couldn’t care less. "Ahh... these people really don’t get it, do they?" he said, and began to release his red aura in anger.

Serenna responded defiantly: "You think you can fight me in this condition? I won’t leave my brother with you!"

Arslan softened his gaze slightly and responded with a mocking smile: "Your brother? Ah, please forgive my rudeness. I didn’t realize you were my master’s sister." Then, he withdrew his aura.

Serenna replied, confused: "What? My master?"

Arslan patiently explained: "I suppose you didn’t hear me because of these foolish people. I, Arslan Wintergate, from this day forward, have dedicated my life to Lucian Wintergate. So, allow me to heal him."

Serenna was skeptical of the offer: "Heal him? How do you plan to do that… unless!"

Arslan proudly nodded: "Yes, your family isn’t the only one with a dragon slayer. I’ll give him the blood of the dragon, the treasure of my family."

Serenna protested in surprise: "Are you sure about this? Marquis Arthur wouldn’t even give such a thing to his own son."

Arslan, anxious about Lucian's condition, responded impatiently: "That’s why I’m taking him with me instead of giving him to you. If we delay any longer, even the dragon’s blood might not work. Let’s go."

Serenna nodded, and both of them quickly headed toward the manor of the Red Snowflake family...