The news of Ethan accepting Hadrian's challenge was soon known by the entire school. Everyone, students and teachers alike, was already placing bets on who would win. Many placed their bets on Hadrian because of how skilled he is and how many opponents he has defeated despite only arriving at the school four months ago. The others bet on Ethan because he is a candidate for one of the six arcs because of his excellence.
The Villainous Hero vs. The Heroic Villain. Will the battle be worth the excitement of the students?
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Ethan didn't care about the excitement around the school; right now, he's in his favorite class of the day. Meditation. This is a special class for those with uncontrollable, powerful abilities. Although he is not proud of it, he doesn't have the best control over his ability, which the head master called 'Seven Ranks'. Lame name? Yes. But he has one of the most powerful rare abilities in the five existing realms.
He doesn't know much about his ability, but there's one thing he knows, and that is that his ability could corrupt his mind, body, and soul. Because of this, he has to wear a nullifying gem and attend meditation classes.
Fortunately, he loves meditating classes; the teacher always picks a cool and relaxing place for the session, and Ethan always uses this as an excuse to fall asleep. Is it uncomfortable to sleep in a lotus position? Yes. But it's nice to sleep with the cool breeze brushing gently against your face, isn't it?
When the class was over, Ethan was called back by the teacher. An elven man. "Is there a problem, Mr. Taegen?" he asked.
Sontar Taegen is secretly a higher-up and Ethan's caretaker. Taegen looked at Ethan seriously, then said, "I got the news that you accepted a challenge from Hadrian."
"Is there a problem with that?" Ethan asked.
"No, no, I don't think there's a problem with that," Taegen said.
"But the rest of the higher ups think there's a problem?"
Taegen nodded. "They want to cancel the match, but they are unable to do so because of the excitement," he said.
"Are they afraid something bad might happen?" he asked, mocking the other higher ups.
Taegen flicked his forehead. "Don't speak about your elders like that," he said while Ethan rubbed his red forehead. "Try not to lose control of your ability; if you feel your head getting clouded, give up. I don't want you to do something you'll regret."
This was the same thing Taegen said the last time he accepted a challenge: he was worried about losing control of his abilities. It is impossible; he still has the nullifying gem around his neck.
"Okay," Ethan said. It doesn't matter if the possibilities are low; he doesn't want Taegen to be too worried about him. Besides, he never planned on using his ability, just like in the last battle, but he never planned on losing the battle at all; he bet on himself that he would win.
He plans on spending the money he gets from the bet on premium food for himself and Midnight. He silently drools at the thought of premium food. He has to win.
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The battle was set to take place a week later at 8 p.m. in Stray Arena. The battle was being broadcast live throughout the campus, and those in the arena were cheering loudly for the upcoming battle.
"Good evening, Silver Field!"
The crowd cheered loudly for the host. "It's the Arc of Heart!" Someone in the crowd said
A beautiful girl appeared on the podium. Her hair was a gradient of blue and pink, her eyes were opal, and she has blue and pink scales across her face.
"I love you, Aquamarine!" Many shouted from the crowd.
Aquamarine smiled cheerfully, giggling. "Now don't you forget about my partner," she said, and a short-haired platinum blonde girl walked to the podium. Snowflakes appeared in the arena, making everyone awestruck.
"Wow! It's the Arc of Focus!"
"Please welcome my lovely partner, Crystella!"
Her cold, icy blue eyes look at everyone in the arena, causing the crowd to cheer even louder.
"She looked at me!" Someone in the crowd screamed.
Aquamarine nudged Crystella.
Crystella looked at the crowd again, and she sighed. "Tonight is going to be a glorious night," she said, her voice calming.
"Yes, yes!" Aquamarine said cheerfully. "A week ago, Hadrian Ignia challenged our Villainous Hero, Ethan Remore, to a battle," she said. "Who do you think would be Crysti?"
"I don't care; it's probably going to be a tie, though."
"Oh," Aquamarine said in surprise. Before she could say anything else, Crystella spoke.
"Now let's welcome our main characters," she said. Aquamarine pouts and then cheerfu
"Hadrian Ignia and Ethan Remore!"
The stadium rumbled as the crowd cheered loudly, and the fighters of the day walked into the center of the ring.
Ethan walks up to the stage with a small frown on his face. The crowd is being too loud. He walks to the center of the ring, and the first thing he noticed about Hadrian before getting to him was that he was shorter and leaner next to him.
"They are so handsome!" Aquamarine exclaimed. Crystella covered her ears when Aquamarine shouted and said, "You are very loud."
They shook hands for good sportsmanship, and Ethan noticed another thing. "Well, life's unfair," he said quietly. Hadrian's hand is bigger than his; he can't wrap his fingers around his hand for a proper handshake.
He didn't notice that he was frowning intensely at Hadrian's hand. "Please don't break my hand before the battle starts," Hadrian said all of a sudden.
Ethan was confused. "Why would I want to break your hand?"
Hadrian smiled at him weirdly. He murmurs something that Ethan couldn't hear before saying, "You're holding my hand a little too tight."
Ethan realized that it was true. He loses his grip immediately. "Sorry for that," he apologizes.
Hadrian whispered something that Ethan didn't hear properly. "What did you say?" he asked.
Hadrian shook his head, smiling. "It's fine," he said.
Ethan squints his eyes at him, looking into his eyes, and Hadrian diverts his eyes elsewhere. Is he being shy?
"Now everyone here knows the rules," Crystella said. "If you don't remember, I'll remind you. You are allowed to use your ability or weapon to win! But you are not allowed to kill or permanently disable your opponent; anything else is allowed. Failure to follow these rules will result in a month's worth of work suspension," she said strictly.
"You heard the Arc of Focus; now get to your places!"
They both walked to their places on opposite sides of the ring, waiting for the countdown.
Aquamarine started counting down. "Three, two..."
Then Crystella finished the countdown. "Battle!"
Ethan and Hadrian moved almost immediately, clashing at the center. Neither of them used their abilities, but the impact they made was felt around the arena.
"Wow!" someone said, feeling the impact, and then the crowd cheered.
"Wow, Crystella, did you feel that?" Aquamarine said.
Crystella smiled. "And this is only the beginning."
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Ethan was fighting as hard as he could without using his ability; Hadrian too isn't using his ability as well, and they are both trying to analyze each other as they fight, looking for an opening.
Although they aren't giving it their best, it's good to know that the person you are fighting isn't weak, especially given that they challenged you. He's currently thinking of his last challenger, which is so disappointing.
Ethan barely noticed Hadrian was already using his ability until it was too late.
There was a deep cut in his arm already. He takes a few steps back as his blood drips to the ground.
How could he make such a mistake?
"Oh! It seems like Ethan has been hit!" Aquamarine exclaimed.
He watches as his blood floats from his arm to Hadrian. When his blood reaches Hadrian, he watches it get absorbed. "Hadrian is doing his special move!" Aquamarine said.
Crystella nodded. "Absorbing the blood of his opponent to analyze their powers and moves," she said.
Ethan knows of this move, but it is useless if it takes time.
He goes ahead and attacks Hadrian. He could hear the crowd booing, but he could care less about what they thought. In reality, your enemy wouldn't wait for you to finish your special move, which is so lame.
Just as he was about to reach Hadrian, he was pushed back by a gust of wind. A dodecagram star symbol appeared on his forehead.
"It's the Curse of Restraint! Someone shouted.
Ethan frowned. The Curse of Restraint? 'Why would the curse of restraint be placed on the reincarnation of the Bloody Tyrant?' he wonders. No, that isn't the question he should be asking. 'How does someone know how to perform a forbidden curse?'
One of the forbidden curses, the Curse of Restraint, was a curse that was famous during the Realms War. This curse was usually placed on soldiers by their monarchs so they wouldn't betray their nation and realm. This curse removes the soldier's will and replaces it with the will of their master. Sometimes, no one knows when a person is placed under the Curse of Restraint until their master gives them a specific instruction. That is when the mark would appear.
The only question Ethan has now is: who placed this curse, and what does it have to do with him?