"I challenge you to a duel, Mr. Bloed." Nathan's voice resounded in the office.
Both Bloed and Eres were stunned. For an instant, they could not believe Nathan's words.
But then, Eres sneered.
"What? Are you going to be this shameless? You are an entire rank stronger than Bloed. Do you think that a duel like this is fair?"
Nathan frowned. But quickly, his frown was replaced by a calm smile.
"Of course, I know it's unfair. Thus, I won't be using my entire strength during the challenge. I will limit my mana to the peak of B-Rank just like Mr. Bloed. If I fail to keep my promise, I will lose automatically. I think that it's fair enough, right?"
This time, both Bloed and Eres were really surprised.
"Are you serious?" Bloed could not help but ask.
But Nathan just nodded calmly.
"I am. Mr. Bloed, I want to challenge to a duel. If I win, you will tell the Princess to stop these rumors. And if you win, I will become your follower as long as we are in Academy City. The conditions of the duel were the ones that I just said. I think that you don't have any reason to refuse right."
Nathan was right.
But just for that reason, Bloed was warier of Nathan's proposal.
It was too advantageous for him, and Nathan was risking too much.
But as though understanding his worries, Eres's lips curved up.
"Nathan, you look very confident. Are you not afraid of being defeated?"
Nathan nodded. But then, he smiled helplessly. "My situation is already this bad, Princess. If I do nothing, then the club that I painstakingly built for many years will be destroyed. Plus…" He then looked at Bloed and grinned. "I don't think that I will lose."
When Bloed heard that, he finally understood.
Yes, that was the reason that Nathan dared to propose something like this.
Nathan was the sixth strongest student in the city. He was confident that few people could defeat him at the same level.
Hell, he was confident that if he went all out, perhaps he could win against the students ranked third and fourth, and if he was lucky, perhaps he could defeat the student ranked second.
True, he lost when he fought Eres. But how many geniuses as strong as Eres existed in the world? Nathan was sure that not even Mu Quan, the strongest student in the city, was strongest than her.
Eres was an exception. In all honesty, after being defeated so thoroughly, Nathan stopped seeing Eres as a normal human. To him, she was some kind of human-shaped monster.
And Bloed?
Nathan had seen several of Bloed's battles. And although he admitted that the leader of Machine Revolutio was outstanding for his age, he did not think that he would lose if they fought at the same level.
When Bloed felt the confidence in Nathan's heart, he could not help but smile wryly.
'Do I look that weak?'
Well, he did not dislike this development. Quite the opposite, he found it pretty great.
"Then, are you going to accept my challenge, Mr. Bloed?" Nathan asked again.
Bloed stopped hesitating. Looking to his sister and seeing that she left the decision in his hand, he took a deep breath.
Then, he stared straight into Nathan's eyes.
"I agree."
…
Bloed did not announce the duel with Nathan publicly. Only the core members of the club learned about it.
Thus, half an hour later, Bloed and Nathan, plus Regina, Liu Ying, Aya, and the others, were in the training hall of Machine Revolutio, ready to start the battle.
Nathan was meditating silently, adjusting his condition for the battle. Bloed, on the other hand, was on the other side of the hall, taking a deep breath and checking the condition of his mechanical pets.
"… Are you confident, Bloed?" Liu Ying asked at that moment.
Bloed looked at his girlfriend and nodded.
"Don't worry, I won't lose."
"Don't underestimate him, brother," Eres spoke up suddenly. "That Nathan is very strong. He is one of the strongest A-Ranks that I have seen in my life."
Bloed nodded with a serious expression. In fact, he already knew it.
Nathan was the sixth strongest student in the city. In this place, where countless geniuses of the entire continent gathered, being the sixth strongest represented an overwhelming talent.
Even so–
"I don't think that master will lose."
"Mm. Bloed will not lose."
"Yes, my hero. Defeat him!"
Bloed nodded to Regina, Aya, and Gina's words. Just like they said, he did not think that he was going to lose either.
He was confident that at the same level, nobody was stronger than him.
Eres saw that and smiled. But then, she put on a serious expression again and spoke again with a grave tone.
"Even so, don't underestimate him. Especially his speed."
Bloed was startled and fell deep in thoughts.
Just then, Nathan opened his eyes.
"I'm ready." He said.
Bloed took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's start then."
The girls looked at each other and moved away. Soon, only Bloed and Nathan were left on the stage as the others observed the situation from outside.
"Mr. Bloed, regardless of the result of the battle, I'll keep my promise. I hope that you do the same."
"Don't worry." Bloed nodded. "I'm a man of my word."
I hope so." Nathan nodded. He then took a sword out of his storage device and held it calmly as he looked at Bloed.
Bloed did not fall behind. He held his saber firmly, and at the same time, Tito turned into armor, Leto appeared around him, and Oculus hovered in the air, completely invisible.
Both of them were ready to start the battle.
Nathan narrowed his eyes with a sharp expression. Mana surged out of his core, flowing through each muscle of his body.
Right then, Regina opened her mouth.
"Start!"
Instantly, Nathan moved.
Taking one step forward, his body flickered and disappeared.
Then, Bloed opened his eyes wide.
Because just then, he could see Nathan's sword about to pierce his forehead.