"No sir, I said next victim... I mean challenger."
"Your next challenge doesn't have to be until next week, perhaps we should wait until after the ranked games..."
"To my understanding that's to make sure the challenged is fully prepared for the challenger. I'm prepared so bring out the next."
He pauses as he realizes that I speak the truth, and I can feel his mana flash with defiance.
I stop him before he does or says anything.
"Stalling is for the challenged not the challenger. Are you prepared for the consequences of disobeying your traditions?"
He sneers, then turns to the slowly retreating crowd, "Mr. Eric is ready for the next who challenged him."
The crowd pauses as they realized they read the situation wrong and the teacher was not going to win the banter against me and they would potentially be witnessing another torture.
A guy nervously steps to the platform, not so confident of his victory.
