BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 36: The First Duel – A Narrow Victory

The Arena – A Stage for Battle

The academy's dueling grounds were an open coliseum, surrounded by rising stone stands where students gathered to watch. A vast crowd had already formed, eager to see the first official clash between two of the empire's strongest noble families.

At the center, Kael Veyrin stood calm but focused. Across from him, Leonel Faelthorne rolled his shoulders, his usual confident smirk never wavering.

"Let's see what the youngest Veyrin can do," Leonel said, mana already swirling around him.

The instructor stepped forward. "This is a formal academy duel. Victory is decided by incapacitation, surrender, or the referee's decision. Use of lethal force is forbidden." He glanced between them. "Understood?"

Both nodded.

"Then—begin!"

Summoner vs. Sigilist

Leonel wasted no time. Mana surged from his hands as he slammed his palm into the ground.

"Arise—Shadowfang!"

A pulse of dark energy erupted, and in a flash of violet-black light, a panther-like beast emerged beside him. Sleek, muscular, and covered in shadowy fur, its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Kael. Its claws gleamed like sharpened obsidian.

Kael tensed. A combat summon.

The crowd murmured. Summoning magic was rare but devastating in battle. Leonel wasn't fighting alone.

Shadowfang lunged first—fast. Kael barely twisted aside, feeling the wind from its claws slice past his coat.

Leonel was already moving. With a flick of his fingers, vines laced with mana erupted from the ground, trying to snare Kael's legs.

He's pressuring me early, forcing me to react.

Kael didn't hesitate. He activated two pre-drawn runes at once—"Ignis" and "Aero."

A burst of flame erupted beneath him, propelling him up and backward, escaping both the panther and the binding vines in one move.

The Struggle for Control

Kael landed smoothly, but Leonel was already adapting.

Shadowfang flickered, disappearing into the ground like a shadow itself. Kael narrowed his eyes. Stealth ability.

Suddenly—a blur from the side.

Shadowfang pounced from Kael's blind spot.

Kael barely managed to shift his weight and raise his arms in a defensive block. The impact sent him skidding backward, his arms tingling from the force.

Leonel pressed forward, delivering a swift series of strikes—fists laced with mana, aimed precisely. Kael blocked and parried, but each hit sent jolts through his arms.

"He's fast…" Kael muttered, realizing Leonel wasn't just a summoner—he was a close-combat fighter too.

Kael tried to counter with a Crimson Sigil rune, slashing with a mana-infused arc, but Leonel weaved past it, ducking low and aiming a sweeping kick.

Kael barely jumped back, but his balance wavered.

Shadowfang came again.

This time, Kael had no time to dodge.

The panther's claws raked across his chest—not deep enough to be lethal, but enough to sting.

Damn it… he's controlling the tempo.

Breaking the Pattern

Kael knew he couldn't keep defending. He had to take control.

He quickly inscribed two runes onto his left forearm:

"Fortis" – Strength boost

"Aegis" – Barrier defense

As Shadowfang pounced again, Kael didn't dodge this time.

He met it head-on.

His barrier rune absorbed the brunt of the impact, and with his boosted strength, he grabbed Shadowfang mid-air and threw it aside with raw power.

Leonel's eyes flickered in surprise.

Kael dashed forward. His speed had increased, his footwork sharper.

He feinted left, then twisted right, bringing his fist up in a mana-reinforced strike.

Leonel blocked—but the force sent him sliding back.

The crowd gasped.

Kael pressed his advantage. A quick rune inscription—Ignis. He released a concentrated burst of flame, forcing Leonel to jump away.

But Kael had anticipated it.

The moment Leonel landed—Kael was already there.

A perfectly timed mana-infused palm strike landed against Leonel's chest.

BOOM!

Leonel was sent sprawling across the arena floor.

The Final Moments

Leonel coughed, slowly pushing himself up. Shadowfang reappeared beside him, growling, but it was panting heavily—it couldn't maintain its form much longer.

Kael stood firm, blood dripping slightly from his chest wound but otherwise steady.

Leonel stared at him for a moment—then let out a soft chuckle. "Tch. You got me."

The instructor stepped forward. "Winner—Kael Veyrin!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

But Kael wasn't smiling.

Even though he had won, he knew the truth—he had barely done it.

If Leonel had fought with his full strength, the outcome could have been very different.

He clenched his fists. I'm still too weak.

Leonel walked over, offering a hand. "That was fun. But don't get cocky, Veyrin. Next time, I'm not holding back."

Kael shook his hand, his expression calm. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

As he stepped out of the arena, he could feel the eyes of the other students on him. Some with respect, some with envy, and some—with a dangerous interest.

Darius Zephyrion, standing in the crowd, grinned.

"Well, well. Looks like things are going to get interesting."