Roderick's body convulsed violently as the fireball disrupted his magic even further. His chest heaved, his magic circuits overloaded, and the energy that had once given him strength now began to tear him apart from the inside. He fell to his knees, screaming in agony, his magic went completely out of control. The disordered energy ravaged his body, breaking down his magical circuits.
For a brief moment, the battlefield was filled with nothing but Roderick's pained cries. Then, with a final gasp, he collapsed to the ground, his body limp and lifeless. His eyes were wide open, but they saw nothing except black.
Alexander didn't move forward this time. He, still standing, covered his chest still ached from Roderick's earlier blow, his breathing labored. He stumbled backward, as he slowly distanced himself from Roderick's fallen form.
After what felt like an eternity, the duel master stepped onto the field. He glanced at Roderick, then at Alexander, and finally raised his hand to signal the end of the duel. The duel master's voice rang out across the arena. "The winner of this duel… Alexander of House Noctis!"
Silence fell over the arena. After the words of the duel master, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause again. But for Alexander, the noise felt distant, his body swaying slightly as he struggled to remain standing.
The moment the dust finally settled, Lira bolted from the stands, her heart racing as she sprinted toward Alexander, her eyes filled with concern. Alexander turned his gaze to Lira and allowed himself one final, shaky breath before the darkness at the edge of his vision finally consumed him. He collapsed to Lira's arms, his body giving out.
In the shadows of arena, Dorian's serious expression slowly shifted back into his familiar, cynical smirk. He leaned back, glancing toward the servant standing beside him, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Things are getting interesting," Dorian said with a playful look, as if everything that had just transpired was nothing more than a game to him. "Hold off on contacting Elara for now. Let's wait until Alexander can survive the next round."
With a final grin, he rose from his seat and left the duel field, his figure disappearing into the night. The servant bowed slightly before following.
"Got it, Master."
In the stands, Tomas and Elara were making their way toward the exit when Elara suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing in concern. She grabbed Tomas's arm and whispered, "Something's wrong on the field."
Tomas, glanced at Elara with a grim expression. "Roderick is dead," he said in a low, trembling voice. His words seemed to echo in the space between them, hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
Under his magical gaze, Roderick's once vibrant aura had vanished. The magical power that had fueled his every move was completely gone, dissipated into nothingness. There was no question about it. Roderick, who had fought with such ferocity moments ago, was now a lifeless body.
Elara's heart sank, her eyes widening in alarm. "Dead? But… how?"
Meanwhile, on the field, Lira cradled Alexander's limp body in her arms, his unconscious form heavy but familiar. With determined swiftness, she moved, prepared to leave, intent on getting him far from the chaos before any more trouble could find them.
But just as she neared the stairs leading out of the duel field, a voice echoed across the square, cutting through the still air. It was the duel master, his tone carrying an unexpected weight of authority. "Ms. Lira," he said, his voice echoing across the quiet square. "Please stay for a moment. You can't take Alexander away yet."
Lira's steps froze mid-motion, her body going rigid. Her back was turned to the duel master, but her expression darkened instantly. Slowly, she turned, her face cold and unreadable as her gaze met his.
"Oh?" she asked, her voice icy. "You think you can stop me?"
The duel master bowed slightly, his tone measured, but his expression remained serious. "I dare not, Ms. Valen. But Alexander violated the academy's strict bans during the duel. We are required to take him to the court of trial."
Lira's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. "What if I say no?" she asked, her voice dangerously low. Lira's magic flared suddenly, dark energy coiling around her like a living force. The sound of it hissed in the air, her power suffocating the atmosphere as the temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
The duel master, sensing the threat, stood his ground but his expression grew colder in response. "I'm sorry," he said with an edge to his voice. "It's my duty."
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, A cold, predatory gleam flashed in her eyes, and a mocking smile played at the corners of her mouth. Then, the ground beneath Lira's feet rippled, a pool of black liquid materialized at her feet, dark and viscous, swirling with an ominous energy. From it, several long, black tendrils shot out, writhing and twisting in the air before lunging straight toward the duel master with alarming speed.
The duel master reacted quickly, summoning a magic barrier to shield himself. The translucent shield shimmered to life, blocking the initial attack. But Lira's control over her magic was too precise, too ruthless. A black tentacle suddenly emerged from the shadows beneath him, slipping past his defenses and wrapping itself tightly around his leg then his body, immobilizing him.
The students who had stayed to witness the aftermath gasped in shock, and whispered among themselves, shocked by the sudden escalation.
"You are worthy of being the next generation of the Valen family," the duel master hissed, his voice strained as he struggled against the tentacle's grip. "But you can only protect him for so long."
Lira ignored his words, her gaze still sharp and unforgiving. Without another word, Lira turned and, with Alexander still in her arms, strode toward the exit of the arena. She knew There were too many secrets tied to him, that could not fall into the hands of the academy's authorities. She wasn't about to let them take him, not while he was unconscious and vulnerable.
As she and Alexander broke free of the conflict, hidden eyes watched from the shadows. Under the shadow of Roderick's body, a pair of black, gleaming eyes observed the scene with unsettling stillness, watching Lira and Alexander closely. When they were finally out of sight, the eyes also faded into the shadows, disappearing as quietly as they had come.
The duel master, still entangled in Lira's magic, struggled for a moment longer before the dark tendrils finally released him. He staggered slightly but quickly regained his composure, his expression grim. Without wasting another moment, he signaled for the academy's staff to come forward.
"Take Roderick's body to the infirmary," he ordered in a stern voice, his eyes hard as he watched them carry the lifeless form away. Then, the duel master turned and made his way toward the student union office. The academy would demand answers, and this was now a matter far beyond a simple duel.