Amidst the astonished gazes of countless spectators, William stared in disbelief at Alan.
He hadn't expected Alan to evade his sudden attack.
Although it wasn't the technique of a magus, relying on the affinity of the Hellfire bloodline for fire elements and his operational magical skills, the Fire Piercer allowed for a swift strike akin to that of a magus.
Even a tier-bronze beginner mage would struggle to dodge and would be severely injured!
Why was Alan able to evade so effortlessly?
While William was still frozen in shock, Alan coldly looked at him, slightly shaking his head. "Is this really your limit? It's rather disappointing."
In preparation for a solid victory today, he had endured the agonizing pain of the Soul Grindstone, wave after wave.
But William's combat power truly disappointed him; even without using magus techniques, he could suppress him!
Seizing the opportunity, Alan advanced towards him, delivering a punch that shattered the flames swirling around William.
The fierce energy combined with mana transformed into a searing fireball, sending William flying to the edge of the arena.
A searing pain, akin to skin being stripped from his chest, surged through William.
Coming to his senses, he looked down to see his shirt burned away and his skin charred, a mouthful of blood surging uncontrollably.
He was injured from just one strike!
William's expression darkened, his eyes filled with pain and disbelief.
Despite the support of his family, his power growing day by day, and breaking family records to become the fastest to advance to tier-bronze, why was Alan's combat power superior to his?
He couldn't accept the result and charged at Alan in a mad frenzy. "This is fake! It must be fake!"
"How could your strength surpass mine? I'm the pride of House Roan!"
His face twisted in rage as red flames flared around him, heat radiating outward.
However, having grasped the intricacies of the Hellfire bloodline, Alan only wore a scornful smile.
As soon as William charged again, Alan kicked out like a whip, striking him in the abdomen and sending him flying once more, while he leaped into the air and brutally stomped down on him.
"William, you've lost!"
Alan's icy yet determined words echoed out.
The scene fell into complete silence.
From Alan's sudden explosion of power and swift suppression of William, it all happened in the blink of an eye.
The defeat came too quickly, too unexpectedly.
After all, William had just demonstrated what seemed to be magus-level abilities!
Before the crowd could process this, they suddenly saw the seneschal rush towards the duel stage, panic and fear etched on his face, shouting at Alan, "Stop!"
As he spoke, Alan had already drawn a dagger from his waist, mana flowing like cold water over the blade, ready to slice at William's neck.
In a life-and-death duel, it was kill or be killed.
Alan showed no mercy and completely disregarded the seneschal's shouts, instead quickening his strike.
Clang!
Just as the dagger was about to hit William's throat, the seneschal hurled his staff forward, intercepting Alan's lethal blow.
"Alan, confess! What despicable means did you use?"
"You've clearly shattered your mana core and are a cripple! How can you still possess such strength? Was it that sickly sister of yours who concocted some forbidden drug?"
Before Alan could respond, the seneschal kept questioning him.
The fact that Alan's mana core had been ruined was his doing. He couldn't believe that Alan still had such terrifying combat power without some shady tricks.
Alan's anger surged as he felt the seneschal's accusations were a direct insult to his sister. "You old fool! You're already using underhanded tactics against me, but how dare you insult my sister?"
"Since you doubt my strength so much, let's have a life-and-death duel—no mercy!"
Without waiting for the seneschal's agreement, Alan threw a punch right at his eye.
The seneschal, a mere tier-iron level 8 mage, had no chance to react and was struck squarely in the eye, sending him crashing back.
Struggling to steady himself, the seneschal touched his bloodied cheek. The pain and humiliation ignited his fury. "In this duel, Alan has used despicable means! He must be dealt with!"
With the frantic voice of the elder beside him echoing, several family guards quickly surrounded them, forming a tense formation with weapons drawn.
"Haha! William lost, yet I'm the one using despicable means? I didn't see you showing any face before, you shameless old fool!"
"What's more, your shame is minor; in front of so many, you broke your word. I feel embarrassed for you!"
The onlookers in the square had already begun to murmur about the seneschal's actions.
They had seen shamelessness before, but never to this degree.
"I heard Alan's mana core was destroyed because of this seneschal's machinations. Initially, I didn't believe that someone from the same family could disregard their bloodline like this, but it seems the seneschal has crossed a line this time."
"In a life-and-death duel, no one should interfere; this rule has been passed down for generations. The seneschal has already violated this tradition by openly guiding William; now he seeks to find an excuse to intervene. He truly can't be called a noble!"
The murmurs among the crowd grew louder.
The lords of House Black, House Manson, and House Quixote, who had been oppressed before, now joined in with mocking remarks:
"This is the first time I've heard of intervening in a life-and-death duel; this is truly an eye-opener."
"I think it's better to just throw Alan into the gaol than to let him embarrass himself further. If you can't match your opponent, it's better to spare yourself the shame."
"I heard someone say their grandson is the best in the Northern District? Now I see that losing a life-and-death duel and refusing to acknowledge it is indeed the mark of a 'first.'"
Countless mocking voices surged like a tide into the seneschal's ears, his expression darkening to the extreme. He realized that after today, his reputation would be utterly ruined.
But as long as he could keep his grandson alive and eliminate Alan, what did it matter if he tarnished his name?
"Seize him! Use severe torture! How dare you employ tricks before this elder? Do you think I'm easy to fool?"
The seneschal firmly asserted this and urged the family guards to take action.
As the guards prepared to move, a chilling wind suddenly swept through, followed by a voice full of authority booming out, "Stop!"
The guards looked toward the source of the voice and saw an elder with white hair walking out from the Roan Castle.
The head of House Roan, Shuster!
"Patriarch!"
Seeing him, the guards immediately relaxed their weapons and looked at him with some relief.
The situation had become chaotic, and it was time for the patriarch to step in and restore order. Deep down, they felt some guilt about targeting Alan.
The seneschal quickly approached Shuster, embellishing the situation and detailing Alan's past actions to him.
"Patriarch, Alan is out of control! His mana core is shattered, making him unfit to inherit the position. William has just awakened a special bloodline…"
"Now that Alan is using underhanded methods, we ask the patriarch for justice for my grandson!"
Initially speaking in an official capacity, the seneschal grew more and more agitated, wishing nothing more than to see Alan executed on the spot.
Other family heads also crowded around Shuster, chattering about Alan's defiance.
After a moment of silence, Shuster turned his gaze to Alan on the stage.
He had actually been out of seclusion for some time now.
After all, Alan was someone he had promoted as his successor, but he also wanted to see how Alan and William's talents compared.
While Alan had indeed won, he had observed William's exceptional talent, which was worth cultivating.
Conversely, with Alan's mana core shattered, despite his unexplained surge in power, it wasn't a long-term solution; he could fall again at any moment.