Chapter 27: Everfrost · Ice Vine Spear!
The time returns to not long ago.
Shaya arrived early at the arena’s waiting area, sitting on a bench with his eyes closed to rest. Since only the duelists were allowed in the waiting area, no one disturbed him at that moment.
Outside, the noise gradually grew louder as students entered, with discussions and laughter echoing throughout the venue, as if a grand opera was about to begin.
Of course, in the eyes of the vast majority, Shaya might be seen as Don Quixote, charging at windmills with a wooden spear, a madman with a misguided sense of heroism.
After a while, a light-footed sound called him back to reality.
Shaya looked up and saw the adjudicator walking briskly from the entrance of the passage.
The adjudicator displayed a formulaic smile and handed him a somewhat yellowed piece of parchment. “Shaya, this is the magical contract provided by your opponent. The terms have been verified as reasonable. If there are no questions, please sign your name here.”
Seeing this, Shaya nodded and carefully read through it.
Out of a hypocritical sense of fairness, the stakes of this duel, apart from the title of viscount, included two additional clauses.
If Shaya lost, he would have to return to that viscount territory under the jurisdiction of Randy City and could never leave for the rest of his life. If Angelica lost, she would have to give him ten thousand gold coins as compensation.
This farce was filled with oppression and injustice from beginning to end, yet was now embellished as a fair and just duel, forcing Shaya to make a choice.
But he said nothing, simply nodding, accepted a quill dipped in magical ink, and signed “Shaya Adelaide” at the end.
A flash of golden light passed through, and he felt a deeper connection with the contract.
If either party violated the contract after the match, they would face penalties enforced by it.
After completing this, Shaya slowly stood up and gazed towards the distant arena.
Today, he was in formal knight attire and tall boots, with a tall and handsome figure, looking like a promising young knight officer.
At this moment, the audience outside erupted with a wave of cheers.
It was obvious that the heroine of this grand opera had appeared.
Shaya smiled, bent down to pick up a bundle of items resting beside him, and effortlessly slung it over his shoulder as he walked out into the arena passage.
The bundle swayed slightly with his steps, clinking as it moved.
Upon closer inspection, it contained many seemingly worn-out knight swords, including several rusty spears, with the blades showing obvious cracks and chips from excessive use.
These were the standard long swords for knight students, which would soon be decommissioned after regular training—some were one-handed, some were two-handed broadswords, and there were even thin rapiers.
Roughly counted, there were at least four or five dozen discarded swords in that bundle.
So when Shaya emerged from the passage carrying this heap of junk swords and spears, laughter erupted from the surrounding audience.
“This…” In the corner, Rod frowned as he watched the boy slowly walking out. “You’re quite the unconventional student, aren’t you?”
Hearing this, the dark-skinned man Sital chuckled, “He says this is his persistence. I don’t understand what he intends to do either.”
Rod sighed.
After a while, he spoke, “The opponent is a genius from a grand noble background, no need to mention the magical devices; even ancient enchanted items are guaranteed. This creates a significant disparity just in terms of weapons.”
“As a knight, how can you not even have a reliable weapon? If this were one of my subordinates, I would have to discipline him severely!”
“Let’s wait and see.”
Sital shook his head, quietly awaiting the start of the match.
…
“Did Shaya say anything before he left?”
Xivista asked nervously, observing the scene before them.
In such a duel, what use could a bundle of scrap metal possibly have?
Hadn’t he just been given over twenty thousand gold coins?
Why not spend it all?
Xivista was filled with confusion and worry.
Deyora glanced at her, shook her head, and softly said, “No, but I believe the young master will not enter the arena unprepared.”
Xivista forced a smile, not responding.
In her view, the likelihood of winning this match was less than one percent.
Having spent so much time with Angelica, she knew exactly how terrifying her sister’s true strength was.
I hope… she doesn’t get hurt.
Xivista lightly placed her small hand on her chest, gazing calmly into the distance.
On the other side.
Tilius had his head bowed to his chest, wishing he could cover his face with both hands.
Around him, Selly and others laughed wildly.
“Your good buddy isn’t really thinking he can defeat the president with a bunch of scrap metal, is he?”
“If he wins, I’ll eat this pile of junk!”
Damn it.
If it were Shaya’s character, he would have definitely said that by now.
Thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west, do not mock the youth for their poverty!
Tilius silently shouted in his heart.
…
When Angelica saw Shaya step onto the arena, she immediately cast a scrutinizing look at him.
Then her brows furrowed deeply.
What does this guy want to do?
Does he think that since he can’t win anyway, he’ll carry a heap of soon-to-be-decommissioned broken swords to insult me?
Angelica, who already disliked the atmosphere of the arena, looked even more grim.
She gently brushed her hair back from her forehead and said softly, “Thanks to you, I’ve got to be watched by this bunch of guys like I’m at some beast fight. But even so, I prepared for this duel with one hundred percent seriousness.”
“And what are you doing?”
“Do you think it’s better to turn this duel into a farce since you know you can’t win?”
“Hah, a tasteless guy.”
Hearing this, Shaya from a distance placed the bundle of swords on the ground with a ‘clunk’ and smiled slightly, “Are you calling your mom?”
Saying this, he snapped the tied rope, and the assorted knight swords scattered across the ground with a jangle.
He bent down and casually picked a one-handed sword from the pile, lightly waving it a few times.
He had no idea if such poor-quality swords could withstand his strikes.
But it didn’t matter; there were plenty to replace them if they broke, and he had received Mr. Sital’s agreement that he wouldn’t have to pay for damages.
Thinking this, Shaya reversed the sword and planted it in the sandy arena floor.
Then he picked up two more and repeated the same action.
Seeing him look so relaxed, a glint of light appeared in Angelica’s eyes.
She raised her hand, and a silver bracelet adorning her wrist sparkled with a rainbow-colored gem.
This bracelet, called the “Lament of the Glacier,” served as Angelica’s “magic wand.” Any ice magic cast through this magical device would be enhanced by fifty percent.
This was one of the top-tier enhancing magical devices within the Hiren Empire, arguably a half-proto artifact, with no usage restrictions.
Even if a Sorcerer used it, they would receive the same boost!
A cruel smile spread across Angelica’s face.
“I’ve made my decision.”
“In this battle, I will tear that disgusting mask off your face, forcing you to display your unparalleled shame in front of everyone, and then humbly kneel before me, begging for forgiveness.”
“Because this is the punishment you deserve.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the rainbow-colored gem radiated dazzling light.
“Everfrost · Ice Vine Spear!”
