"I'm not stopping the fight or anything, it's just that, could you guys please have this duel outside? I don't want my dining hall being destroyed is all."
{"Sure."} Lucifer shrugged.
"Yes!" Cabian said as he saluted Marlos. "Watch your tone, Monster!"
"That's enough out of you Cabian."
Cabian eyes widened. "But your highness!"
"Anyways! That's not all. I'll like to make a bet."
When Marlos said that, the group that followed him went into an uproar. Everyone except for one person who stood at the very back of the group. A female who only watched, had her eyes trained on the prince and no one else. I could barely see her but from the glimpses, I believed it was Fina.
Why was she standing all the way at the back? I wondered.
"Your highness, a bet?"
"Yes, instructor Lubio, a bet. Sounds fun?"
"Ah! Your highness, how can we make a bet when it will be a one sided stomp by Cabian and his elites?" Instructor Lubio bowed his head whilst asking the question.
"Wait your thinking I'm making a bet for the elites to win?"
"I'm sorry? You're not betting on the elites, your highness?"
"Of course not. I'm betting on the monster to win."
"Th-the monster to win?" Instructor Lubio asked in shock.
"Of course, so who wants to bet against me? Who wants to bet on the elites?"
Everyone looked at each other but no one responded.
"No one?"
It must've been a minute of silence before someone shouted something.
"Your highness! Why would you bet on the monster to win?" The voice came from the group of noble drunktards who were still surrounded by the leaders of Shadow Legion.
Anyce, Rasuk, Lucilia, Taki and Toshi surrounded the noble drunktards whilst Lucifer and Gambert were standing around the guy on the floor. Posika, Amilie and Curlin were the only leaders that didn't show up. Posika couldn't appear because his a giant; Amilie and Curlin on the other hand were attending to Curlin's Uncles.
From what I gathered, Curlin's Uncles were seriously injured somehow and when they were founded, we had discovered a seal had been placed on them. Amilie is trying her best to unravel the seal but it's causing her trouble. Faron is much more formidable than I thought he was.
I've been constantly been boosting her power to speed up the process but it's nearing four hours now. I could feel my energy slowly draining, I just hope I could simultaneously boost Amilie whilst aiding Lucifer, if this battle goes ahead.
"Why not? I'm the prince, I can choose who I want to bet on. That's the answer, take it or leave it."
"…"
Everyone was silent once more, I couldn't tell what Marlos is thinking, whilst what he said was inline of what a prince would say, it was too on the nose. Marlos must be planning something.
"So no one wants to bet? Okay fine then we won't. But how about this. If Luc… I mean if the monster wins, I will give 10,000 coins to the new recruits budget. But if the monster were to lose, I would award the person or group, double the amount. If there are more groups joining in, then more money will be added to the pile. If more than one person is left standing after the battle, then the award will be divided equally. However, if the monster beats you all, all the money will go to the new recruits budget. How does that sound?"
New recruits budget? I could've sworn Grayson told me that there was no budget for the new recruits…
"…"
"So far, only the elites will take up this challenge so if they win, they get 20,000 coins, anyone else wants to join this battle? The money prize will go up for any additional person or groups that wants to join in."
"Your highness… do you think this is wise? That's a lot of money…" A retainer from his side bowed her head as she tried to reason with Marlos.
"Yes it's a lot but it's my money. This money will not be coming out from my father. I'm putting up the stakes and also providing a spectacle for everyone. And besides, father won't put anymore money into the new recruits program. It's like he wants it to fail. I won't allow that to happen and this is my way of solving this issue."
"But your highness, there is no budget for the new recruits…"
"Exactly. Now then, who would like to also join the elites in this battle?"
"I will!"
A tall and bulky man walked forward.
"Halland? You sure?"
The tall and bulky man smirked with arrogance.
"Of course, your highness! I will crush this monster!"
"Okay, who else?"
"We will!"
A group of two men and three women stepped forward.
"Special A team? Okay, who else?"
"Me and brother will fight!"
"Oh, the Haymper siblings. Okay anyone else?"
"…"
The dining hall fell quiet once more.
"No one? Okay, the ones that will be joining the elites are Halland, Special A team and the Haymper siblings…"
"Wait! And us!"
"Beast Master Corp? Didn't you guys lose to a three headed puppy?"
"We want a rematch! Please your highness!"
"Sure, the Beast Master Corp will also join the lineup." Marlos smirked as he looked over everyone that's participating in the battle. "Okay let me reiterate the stakes. If the monster wins, 10,000 coins will be placed into the new recruits budget. Whoever wins against the monster will be rewarded with double the coins of 20,000. If the monster takes out any of you, your reward money will be added to the new recruits budget. That's the stakes, you all accept?"
"Yes!" They all shouted.
"Do you accept? Luc… monster?"
Lucifer shrugged. {"Why ask me? I'm just doing this for master."}
"Okay… do you accept the stakes, Ryan?"
"Sure."
"Wonderful! Let's all head down to the battle arena!"
Everyone started to filed out of the dinning hall.
Before we exited the dining hall ourselves, I told Marlos through the communication system, that the guy on the floor is still alive and that he needs immediate medical attention.
Instructor Lubio apprehended the noble drunktards and gave them a stern talking to, under the watchful eyes of Marlos. Marlos and his group left the dining hall right after instructor Lubio escorted his failures of students out of the dining hall. Valah followed after her instructor but not before giving me a quick glance over her shoulder. A worried look on her face. I gave her a smile in return before she turned her head back around.
"Teach. Who is that?" Stella asked, staring into my eyes.
"She's badass is what she is!" Kevin exclaimed.
"She's Tavish's daughter…" I answered and she arched an eyebrow. "Alright let's go before they call us chicken or something…"
My group was the last to leave.
I walked across the courtyard with my students
and arched an eyebrow as they displayed different expressions.
Hmm… I followed their gaze and instantly, I understood.
Lucifer and the leaders of Shadow Legion all walked beside me and seeing shadow beings for the first time can be a little bit intimidating, especially if one of them is named Lucifer.
"Hey sir?"
I turned my head and saw Hannah walking beside me, on the other side. I turned head a bit more and saw that Stella, Rain and Lucy was walking behind me and Hannah, all staring at the shadow beings.
"Hey what's up?"
"I was wondering eh…"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I could say thank you to him!" Hannah pointed a finger to Lucifer.
Lucifer smiled and walked over to Hannah.
{"I'm glad you're safe little girl."}
"Thank you for saving me!"
{"Not a problem. We're here to protect master's students."}
"Do you think you can win against them?" Kevin asked in a stuttering voice, I could tell his trying to warm up to him.
{"Yes."}
"What are you?" Asked Ann.
{"We're shadow beings and we live in master's shadow."}
"Sir, is that true?" Asked Ann, her eyes looked down to my shadow with curiosity.
I nodded.
"Could we see the little puppy? He was so cute!" Asked Chloe excitedly, her scared expression not a second ago was no where to be seen.
Even without me saying anything, Cerbi jumped out of my shadow and ran around my students.
"Oh my god! So cute!" All the girls exclaimed.
Cerbi walked up to everyone, asking for some pats.
As everyone was preoccupied with Cerbi, I took my chance to communicate with Marlos. I wanted to know what is he up to.
Connect to Marlos.
[Connected.]
"Marlos do you have a moment?"
"Oh, General! Sure! I'm guessing you are wondering what I'm up to?"
"Yes."
"Those new recruits will sooner or later, join the Knight's Order. I'm just lending a hand, for you to get everything you need to train them well."
"Then what's with the battle?"
"Just a front… My father is watching closely at everything right now after Faron's disappearance. We don't know where he's gone but my father is fearful that Faron may have gone rogue. The magic association is now under investigation, secretly."
"Interesting… what do you think Faron is up to?"
"Not sure, but I think the best way for us right now is to stay vigilant."
"Mm… okay."
"I'll talk to you about it later, we have arrived at the battle arena."
"Sure."
Disconnect from Marlos.
[Connection ended.]
As I disconnected from the channel with Marlos, I noticed that I was now walking towards the battle arena.
When we arrived, we walked into the arena and what I saw, caused my jaw to nearly drop to the floor. This was my first time stepping a foot in here and it looked like all the arenas I've seen in anime. There was a large stage in the middle of the arena with seats circling around the perimeter of the arena.
Everyone from the dining hall had already taken their seats and the ones that's going to be in the battle are already on the stage. Marlos and his group were already there too.
I told my students to take a seat before I walked onto the stage and stood next to Marlos and his group. Everyone from his group except for Fina gave me a stare, as if I wasn't supposed to be here but Marlos told that I was which cause them pull their gazes away with annoyance.
Lucifer left my side and walked over to the opposite side of where everyone else was and started to do some stretches.
"This will actually be an official match as I will be present as a witness. This means that all artifacts can be used if so desired."
Everyone on the opposite side of Lucifer, eyes all lit up with excitement. I'm guessing that they don't get much use out of their artifacts if they are showing this much excitement.
"The stakes has been set, get ready!"
Everyone took out some very unique weapons. Weapons that I would see in a manhua.
The Beast Master Corp summoned beasts that looked ten times more frightening then the ones back at the dining hall and for some reason all of them have a reddish glow.
I looked over to Lucifer, who was just standing there with a large grin on his face as he watched his opponents prepare themselves. He didn't look fazed at all. He also has no weapon on him. Is he going to fight them bare handed? I wondered.
"Hey monster! Aren't you going to use a weapon?!" One of his opponents shouted out to him.
{"Don't need it."}
"How arrogant!"
"Is the monster already conceding?" Asked another one of his opponents.
"Should we not use our artifacts? To make it fair…"
"Quiet you. The monster brought this on it's self. This is good, that money is mine!"
"Halland!"
{"You guys better stop underestimating me and work together or you all are going to lose."}
"What did that monster say?!" Shouted Halland, "is he mocking us?"
"Alright!" Marlos shouted over Halland. "If you're ready, let this battle begin."
{"I will only use 5% of my power. Good luck."}
"What the fuck?" Halland shouted in anger. "Oh now your going to get it!"
Halland charged forward with a battle axe in each of his hands. Both of them started to glow green once he reached the middle of the stage.
Lucifer only grinned even wider as he watched Halland approach him.
[Lucifer is requesting to use 5% of his power. [Accept] or [Decline]]
5%? Why is he asking for 5% and not all of it?
Accept.
As soon as I said that, a powerful force started to emit from Lucifer.
I suddenly felt my heat beat started to accelerate and then, I felt myself starting to cough out blood.
"Ryan! You okay!" Marlos looked over to me and whispered.
"Yeah… I'm alright."
As the immense pressure started to ramp up, I felt my nose started to bleed.
"You sure?"
I wiped the blood from my nose. "Yeah… I think Lucifer just released 5% of his power…"
"Wait… did you just say 5%?"
I nodded.
"If that was just 5%, how much is his full power?"
I shrugged.
"Look at Halland!" Someone called out.
"Oh my god! Why did he stop?" Shouted another.
I looked over to where Halland was and in the middle of the stage, Halland was just standing there. Underneath him was a puddle of liquid.
{"Have you conceded already?"} Lucifer asked with a stoic expression. {"How disappointing…"}