-Ring!

The final bell rings through the halls, marking the end of another school day. Today's lessons blend Magic and Science, a hybrid subject that melds arcane arts with empirical studies.

It's fascinating but admittedly challenging, especially for someone from Earth like me, where the laws of physics firmly deny things like time travel—which, thanks to magic here, isn't just possible but banned.

With classes over, it's time to shift focus to the more pressing event of the day—my duel with Lumi. Throughout the day, my overly formal attire doesn't go unnoticed, drawing whispers from classmates and indifferent looks from teachers.

"Hey, Doms, it's finally time for your duel." Arthur breaks into my thoughts, his voice pulling me back to the present.

I let out a deep sigh. "Yeah."

"Want me to walk you to the gymnasium? Knowing you, you probably forgot the directions."

I appreciate Arthur's gesture. He thinks I have forgotten the way to the gymnasium, unaware that I'm not the Dominic he used to know, who would have remembered such details.

"Thanks, Arthur."

As I stand up from my chair, Lumi's voice stops me.

"I wish you good luck; you need it." Her face is as impassive as ever.

"Uhh…thank you?"

It's uncharacteristic of her to wish luck to an opponent, at least based on what I know from the web novel.

Arthur's hand clamps down on my shoulder, his body tense as he glares at Lumi.

"Keep to yourself, Everheart, and spare him the false display of concern."

Arthur's aggression spikes whenever Lumi is nearby. It could be due to the rivalry between their families, both leading figures in Verdant Haven's top Stargate Raiding guilds.

"This duel is between me and him, Lyon," Lumi responds coldly before exiting the classroom.

Arthur lets out a frustrated sigh. "She's seriously annoying."

I place my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to soothe him.

"Calm down, Arthur."

"How can I calm down? She's being a menace to you, Doms."

Menace? That is a harsh interpretation. From what I understand of Lumi based on the web novel, her actions aren't meant to belittle me but to provoke thought about my chosen path as a Stargate Raider, especially being Manaless.

"She's not being a menace, Arthur."

"She is. She called you 'weak' after our introductions."

That's true, but then again, she attempts to make me reconsider being a Stargate Raider.

"I know."

Arthur looks at me with exasperation and disbelief, then exhales heavily.

"Anyway, let's go."

With that, we head towards the gymnasium, the site of the impending duel, ready to face whatever comes next.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

We finally reach the gymnasium; stepping inside is like entering a different world.

The basketball hoops and bleachers transform into a grand arena setup, and the place buzzes with a crowd of students and teachers gathered to watch.

"Good luck, Doms. I'll be cheering for you."

"Thanks, Arthur."

With a final nod, Arthur heads off to find a seat among the spectators.

Glancing through the crowd, I catch sight of Celine. She's smiling warmly, and her presence alone lifts my spirits.

I smile back at her, drawing a bit of comfort from her supportive gaze. Turning back to the arena, I notice Lumi has yet to arrive. The anticipation is building.

-Slam!

Suddenly, the door on the opposite side of the gymnasium slams open. A security guard-looking figure steps through.

"Let us all welcome the one and only Lumi Everheart!"

-Bling!

With his announcement, a blinding flash of light erupts, forcing me to shield my eyes.

As the light dims, Lumi emerges, transformed. Her hair is pulled back into a sleek high ponytail, and she wears a snowflake-themed dress that shimmers under the gym lights.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Despite its impracticality for combat, it's undeniably stunning—true to Verdant Haven's flair for the dramatic.

-Poof!

Just then, a puff of white smoke appears at the center of the arena. As it clears, Maurice stands there, his presence commanding the room. He glances at Lumi and then at me, nodding, which I return.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We're here to witness the duel between two aspiring Stargate Raiders!"

He turns towards Lumi. "In this corner, we have Lumi Everheart!"

-CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

The applause that follows is thunderous, filled with cheers and praises.

Then, he faces my direction. "And in this corner, we have Dominic Eñeforte!"

The response to my introduction is starkly different—silence hangs in the air, punctuated only by a faint, awkward pause.

However, when I feel a chill of isolation, I hear it…

-Clap! Clap!

Looking over, I see Arthur and Celine enthusiastically clapping for me. Their solitary applause cuts through the silence, and I can't help but smile, their support bolstering my courage.

With the crowd's eyes on us, the duel is set to begin. No matter the odds, I know I must give it everything.

"Let us all…BEGIN!"

As Maurice's voice thunders the start, the duel erupts into chaos.

“Icicle Lance Barrage!”

Lumi quickly summons her first attack, her voice cutting sharply through the tension.

From the glyphs that flare into existence at her sides, three massive ice lances hurtle toward me. Knowing Lumi's vulnerability in close combat, I see my opening to narrow the distance between us.

[Ironclad Barrage]

I draw Galahad's Judgement and dash forward, unleashing a barrage of bullets at the incoming ice lances.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets clash with the lances, enveloping the area with dense white smoke. I don't slow down, sprinting through the obscuring fog, firing ahead to maintain pressure.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Frost Knight Phalanx!"

Lumi's voice echoes from somewhere within the smoke.

-Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Instantly, I hear the familiar clinks of my bullets striking metallic shields.

"She summoned the knights…"

I mutter, remembering the spell from my training sessions with Maurice, Frost Knight Phalanx. I'm up against her ice knights, complete with claymores and shields.

Bursting through the smoke, a gleaming white claymore swings into view.

!

I sidestep, narrowly avoiding the blade, and quickly aim and fire where I predict the knight's head will be.

-Bang!

-Clank!

The sound of metal rings out, and the claymore clatters.

One knight down.

As the smoke dissipates, I see two more ice knights flanking Lumi, their weapons poised for battle.

It strikes me as odd that there are only three ice knights. In training, Maurice summoned ten. I thought Frost Knight Phalanx was a spell that could summon ten knights.

-Rumble! Rumble!

The remaining knights charge, their blades sweeping horizontally toward me.

I sprint forward, using the flat of a claymore as a makeshift springboard to launch myself into the air.

Soaring above, I look down to find Lumi staring up in surprise.

Seizing the moment, I aim Galahad's Judgement directly at her.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Lumi reacts swiftly, dodging to the side, her movements just as quick as the bullets whizzing past her.

I hit the ground in a roll and spring up, continuing my charge. Lumi's strategic retreat suggests she feels pressured as I close the distance.

My plan to exploit her weakness in close combat is working, but I know I can't underestimate her. She is sure to have more tricks up her sleeve, and I need to be ready to counter them.

[Gravity's Gambit]

I aim both pistols backward, propelling myself forward with the recoil, soaring directly toward Lumi.

Mid-air, I twist and launch a kick.

"Haa!" I yell as I watch Lumi's eyes widen in shock.

My foot connects, but instead of feeling the impact against flesh, her figure disintegrates into a flurry of snow particles.

I hit the ground and roll, a sharp sense of déjà vu hitting me.

-Clunk! Clunk!

I hear footsteps, turn around, and see an ice sword slash toward me.

Thanks to Maurice's training, I remember the Everhearts' tactic: the "Ice Clone" is a diversion to cover their weakness in close combat by allowing the real fighter to attack unsuspectingly from behind.

Reacting instantly, I spin and aim my gun at the real Lumi's thighs.

-Bang!

"Agh!"

Her scream of pain echoes in the gym as she drops to her knees, clutching at the wound.

But I don't let up. Closing the gap, I deliver a forceful kick to her face.

"Gah!"

She rolls backward from the impact, and I pause, slightly taken aback by the power of my kick.

As Lumi lies on the ground, I realize: have I just won the duel?

QUEST COMPLETED! You have beaten Lumi in the duel.

You have received 50 Stat Points!

"Lumi Everheart is down; Dominic Eñeforte is the winner!" Maurice's voice booms across the gym.

The System confirms my victory, and as I scan the crowd, I see a sea of stunned faces. Nobody expects a Manaless like me to win against someone like Lumi.

"Wohooo! Go, Doms!"

Arthur's voice rises above the murmurs, his cheer punctuated by Celine's clapping. They are the only ones celebrating amid the audience's shocked silence.

I glance at Maurice, who offers me a thumbs up, his expression teasingly suggesting, "You could do better."

I can't help but chuckle at his unexpectedly high expectations. Turning my attention back to Lumi, still on the ground clutching her thigh, I approach her and extend a hand to help her up.

"…Why?" she asks, her voice a mix of confusion and pain.

"Well…the duel is over," I reply simply, hoping to ease the tension.

She reaches out to take my hand but winces sharply as she moves.

"School nurses are coming through!" someone calls out, signaling that medical help is coming.

As medical staff hurries into the arena, I step back to give them space.

I did not expect the duel to be this…easy. To be honest, I expected more. Maurice's training was valuable.

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Arthur Lyon

Doms…just…won?

I am stunned. To think that Doms, who hasn't trained in over a week, could defeat someone as skilled as Lumi is beyond my comprehension. A whirlwind of emotions surges through me—shock, envy, admiration, and frustration all mixed, each vying for dominance.

Why does he excel in everything?

In everything I do, he always does better than me!

Unintentionally, I clench my fists, the knuckles turning white as I struggle to contain the storm of feelings inside me.

I thought Doms didn't want to become a Stargate Raider and had settled into being a Magitist. It seems I am wrong; he suddenly changed his aspirations a week ago, leaving me blindsided.

I take a deep breath and sigh, trying to steady my racing heart.

But…I have to not let these feelings show.

Even though I've been feeling this way for almost a decade, I must suppress them. As Dominic's best friend, I should support him.

Besides, I have made a reservation at a fancy restaurant, La Table Royale, whether he wins or loses. I want to celebrate with him and share in his joy despite my inner turmoil.

I glance at Doms, who is walking out of the arena and force a smile.

Deep down, I know that I have to be there for him no matter how hard it is. Friendship means standing by each other, even when it's complicated. And so, with a heavy heart, I push my feelings aside and prepare to celebrate his victory.