CLANG!

  The sword soared through the air, a glimmer of steel reflecting the afternoon sun before crashing onto the arena floor. A tense silence followed, broken only by the faint rustling of the wind.

  The crowd leaned forward. Every breath, every heartbeat hung in suspension.

  ?? "Whose sword was that…?"

  ?? "Did… did Lucius win?"

  ?? "But wait—why is he still standing?"

  Lucius stood tall, his back straight, his gaze steady.

  He was not trembling.

  He was not faltering.

  He was simply standing.

  But... he wasn’t holding a sword.

  Gasps rippled through the audience, confusion settling in like an ominous fog.

  ?? "If Lucius lost, then… why does he look so calm?"

  ?? "Where’s Darius…?"

  Slowly, all eyes turned.

  Darius was there—kneeling on one knee.

  A deep gash ran across his abdomen, blood dripping onto the arena floor. His sword lay several feet away, its once-unyielding grip now abandoned. His breaths came ragged, uneven.

  ?? "He did it… he actually won…"

  And then—

  The arena exploded.

  ?? "Lucius won! He beat Commander Darius!"

  ?? "A nine-year-old just took down a war veteran! Impossible!"

  ?? "What kind of monster is this kid?!"

  At the highest platform, Duke Magnus Ardentis sat motionless, his face a mask of unreadable intensity. But in his eyes, something shifted.

  For the first time… his hardened gaze softened.

  Not in disappointment.

  Not in frustration.

  But in approval.

  A barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

  ?? "I underestimated him."

  Beside him, his eldest sons, Cassius and Julius, clenched their jaws. Their hands balled into tight fists as they exchanged glances.

  ?? Julius (whispering, tense): "Father… is smiling."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  ?? Cassius (gritting his teeth): "That boy… he’s becoming a threat."

  For years, they had dismissed Lucius as weak. Insignificant. A failure.

  But today, their illusion shattered.

  Lucius wasn’t just growing stronger.

  He was surpassing them.

  The crowd waited with bated breath for the final verdict.

  Then, Reynard raised his hand.

  ?? Reynard: "Commander Darius wins this duel."

  Silence.

  Then—

  ?? "WHAT?!"

  ?? "HOW?!"

  ?? "THAT’S NOT FAIR!"

  Even Darius himself looked stunned. He turned to Reynard, frowning.

  ?? Darius: "Are you serious? He—"

  ?? Reynard (firmly): "The rules of swordsmanship duels are clear. The first to lose their weapon is considered the loser. You lost your sword, but Lucius did as well."

  The crowd erupted in protest.

  ?? "That doesn’t make sense! Lucius clearly won!"

  ?? "He landed a fatal strike—how can this be considered a loss?"

  Then—

  A single voice shook the arena.

  ?? Magnus (sternly): "Silence!"

  The murmurs died instantly.

  ?? Magnus: "The verdict stands. The rules dictate the victor, not the battle itself."

  No one dared argue.

  But deep inside… they knew.

  Lucius had truly won.

  As the arena quieted, Reynard turned his gaze to Lucius.

  And for the first time in years, he felt something stir within him.

  Respect.

  ?? "This battle was never meant for him to win… yet he still struck the final blow. He didn’t just fight—he strategized."

  In that final moment before their clash, Lucius had done something remarkable.

  ?? "At the very last second, he extended his Aura Blade. That requires incredible mana control and concentration… yet he did it flawlessly."

  This was not a duel of just brute strength.

  It was a duel of intelligence. Of precision. Of willpower.

  ?? Reynard (muttering): "If this were a real battle… Lucius would be the last one standing."

  And that realization alone sent chills down his spine.

  Reynard strode toward Lucius, his sharp eyes observing the boy.

  ?? Reynard: "You did well, kid. You impressed me more than I expected."

  Lucius, still catching his breath, looked up.

  ?? Lucius: "But I lost."

  Reynard chuckled.

  ?? Reynard: "Darius is a war veteran, one of the strongest knights in Ardentis. You didn’t just hold your ground—you wounded him. That’s more than anyone expected."

  Lucius was silent for a moment before nodding.

  ?? Lucius: "I understand."

  Reynard smirked.

  ?? Reynard: "You have a long way to go, kid. But trust me… after today, no one will ever underestimate you again."

  As Lucius picked up his sword and turned away, the crowd erupted.

  ?? "You did it, Lucius!"

  ?? "You were amazing!"

  ?? "We’ll be watching your next battle!"

  Lady Seraphina smiled softly, a rare warmth in her expression.

  ?? Seraphina (softly): "My son… you’ve done more than enough."

  Meanwhile, Cassius and Julius remained silent.

  ?? "We can’t let him continue to grow stronger."

  For the first time in years, they felt fear.

  And they weren’t the only ones.

  The battle between Lucius and Darius spread across the empire like wildfire.

  The nobles, the knights, the academies—all whispered his name.

  ?? "Lucius Ardentis… the rising prodigy."

  And as Lucius gazed toward the horizon, he clenched his fists.

  ?? "This is just the beginning."

  Because the real battle was yet to come.

  As Lucius returned to his family’s area, Adrian ran up to him with a grin.

  ?? Adrian (teasing): "You hid this from us, you dummy! A third-circle mage and an Aura Blade?!"

  Selena smirked.

  ?? Selena: "What else are you hiding? Are you secretly the Emperor’s lost son?"

  Erene giggled.

  ?? Erene: "Maybe he’s actually a dragon in disguise!"

  Lucius sighed.

  ?? Lucius: "…You all are ridiculous."

  Adrian threw an arm around Lucius, still grinning.

  ?? Adrian: "No, but seriously… that was insane. You were amazing, little brother."

  For a moment, Lucius paused.

  Then—

  A small smile crept onto his lips.

  ?? Lucius (softly): "Thanks, Adrian."

  As the sun began to set, the battle’s outcome echoed across the empire.

  Nobles and warriors alike whispered his name.

  ?? "Lucius Ardentis… the rising prodigy."