Before Jilk could fully take in his surroundings, he felt a powerful impact against his armor. It was Leon. His previously invisible armor had finally been revealed, and now everyone could see that he had attacked using a chunk of a tal beam. Hardly the most elegant weapon, but the force behind the blow was imnse—so much so that Jilk was sent flying backward, and a massive dent was left on his armor.
Managing to stabilize himself, Jilk quickly shifted his gaze toward Leon, hoping that he was still at a safe distance. However, Leon was already upon him. This ti, he delivered a devastating right hook straight to the faceplate of Jilk's armor. The tal cracked under the impact, and a deep fracture appeared in his visor.
As he was sent tumbling through the air, Jilk realized that his attempt at diplomacy had completely failed. Rather than defusing the situation, he had only provoked Leon further. And now, to make matters worse, Leon had incriminating evidence against him—evidence that could utterly destroy his reputation and standing.
Finally, Jilk crashed onto the concrete with a heavy thud, landing face-first. He barely had a mont to catch his breath before he heard a cold, nacing voice above him:
— "Threatening and my family was a huge mistake. I hope you've learned your lesson."
With those words, Leon forcefully flipped Jilk onto his back and continued:
— "Just try to break the one and only promise I asked for. Just try. And to make sure you understand what that ans... I'll demonstrate it on your armor."
With that, he tossed the tal beam aside. Then, gripping the arms of Jilk's armor with both hands, he began pulling. The tal groaned in protest, rivets popped from their sockets, and within monts—
RIIIIP!
With a sharp, screeching sound of tearing tal, both of Jilk's armored arms were completely ripped off. Leon halted for a mont, careful not to damage the pilot's compartnt...
The spectators in the stands were utterly stunned. Of course, they knew that fights in the arena could be brutal—after all, this was a battle. But most had expected to see such cruelty from the prince and his friends, not from Leon.
The crowd erupted into murmurs as people whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of what they had just witnessed. So gazed at Leon with admiration, while others looked on with confusion or even fear. He hadn't just won—he had gone much further than anyone had anticipated.
Angelica and Olivia, watching from the stands, exchanged uneasy glances.
— "Wasn't that a bit... excessive?" Olivia suddenly asked, casting a worried look at Leon. "He could've won in a more... humane way. Not this brutally."
Angelica let out a small sigh, pausing to consider her response before replying calmly:
— "I think Jilk is to bla for that. Think back to the previous duels. How did they go?"
Olivia frowned, touching her chin in thought. She closed her eyes, trying to recall the details of past matches. After a few seconds, her eyes widened in realization.
— "They ended really fast!" she exclaid.
Angelica nodded in confirmation.
— "Exactly. In previous duels, we could hear almost everything that was said in the arena. But this ti, Leon and Jilk were speaking too quietly—almost as if they didn't want anyone to overhear them. I have a feeling Jilk threatened Leon."
Olivia turned her gaze back to the arena, where Leon now stood over his fallen opponent. Suddenly, everything about the fight looked very different.
Across the stands, Clarice sat with her followers. Unlike most of the audience, they weren't shocked by what had happened. On the contrary, with every blow Leon had landed on Jilk, their faces had lit up with twisted smiles. They were among the few openly celebrating his suffering.
Their hatred had a simple reason—Clarice.
In the past, she had been a beacon of light for them. Kind, caring, always ready to help and support others, she had brought warmth and happiness to those around her, like the sun gently embracing the world. They adored her, revered her, and would have done anything for her.
But then Jilk had ruined everything.
After what he did, Clarice had changed. She beca cold, withdrawn, and at tis, even cruel. It was as if a shadow had engulfed her heart, swallowing the person they had once known. Her followers blad Jilk entirely—they knew he was responsible.
But lately... she had started to recover.
She would never be the sa radiant girl they once knew, but little by little, step by step, she was coming back to life. And now, seeing Jilk battered and humiliated in the arena, her followers felt an overwhelming urge to leap down and strike him themselves—nobility be damned. They didn't care that he was of high status. They wanted revenge.
But Clarice raised her hand, signaling them to stop.
She didn't want them to get into trouble.
Her gaze...
Unlike her followers, she wasn't smiling. She wasn't clapping. She wasn't exchanging triumphant looks with those around her.
She simply sat in silence, watching the arena.
More specifically—watching Leon.
Her eyes were fixed solely on him.
The Duel's End
Finally, after surveying the battlefield, the judge raised his hand and announced in a loud voice:
— "The victor of the fourth duel—Leon Bartfort!"
A wave of noise swept through the stands. So spectators clapped, while others congratulated Leon on his victory. But not everyone was celebrating. To so, he was a hero. To others, a monster who had revealed his cruelty.
Yet Leon himself seed completely indifferent to it all.
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