As the tension slightly eased, Linggis let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He spun his cane before turning his gaze toward the two newcomers who had just attacked him.
"Okay, before I forget my manners—who are you? If you want to fight, at least tell me your names first."
The young girl scoffed, her eyes clearly filled with dislike. "I'm Nyra, Arcelia's younger sister. And I still don't believe you're not an enemy."
The more mature silver-haired woman looked at him calmly, though her sharp aura hadn't faded. "My name is Elira. Arcelia's cousin. And I'm here to make sure nothing bad happens to them."
Linggis nodded slightly, then shifted his gaze to Arcelia. "So, you gathered your family to defeat me, huh? That's so unfair. I feel like the villain here."
Arcelia opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, the air around them suddenly changed. Linggis felt a bone-chilling cold, and from a distance, a woman with deep blue hair appeared. The aura she radiated was so powerful that Linggis instinctively took a step back.
"Who's this now?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow. But before anyone could answer, the woman lifted her hand, and a massive wave of water magic surged from the ground.
"Watch out!" Arcelia shouted, but it was too late.
The magic struck Linggis with immense force, sending him flying backward. He crashed hard against the arena wall before collapsing to the ground. Blood trickled from his forehead as he struggled to rise, his hands trembling. His cane lay far from his reach.
"What the hell is this?" Linggis groaned, trying to stop the bleeding from his temple. "I haven't even finished my duel, and now there's an extra boss?"
The woman walked closer, exuding an aura of authority. Her voice was cold yet soft, like a deadly river current. "I received an emergency signal from Nyra. She said her sister was in danger. And now, I see a suspicious man clearly fighting my daughter."
Arcelia stepped forward, trying to explain. "Mother, this is just a normal duel. Nothing serious. I was the one who brought him here—he didn't attack me."
But Nyra interrupted, her eyes teary. "But he looked dangerous, Mother. I thought he was going to hurt you! I just wanted to make sure you were safe!"
Linggis, now sitting against the wall, chuckled weakly despite his injuries. "This is hilarious… I just wanted to finish this stupid duel, but now I'm almost dead because your family misunderstood."
Elira stepped forward, trying to calm the situation. "Aunt, Arcelia is right. This is just a duel. There's no real threat from this man. At least listen to their explanation first."
The deep blue-haired woman stared at Linggis sharply. "Who are you, cunning man? And why should I trust you?"
Linggis struggled to stand despite his trembling body. "My name is Linggis Joe. I'm just an ordinary man brought here by your daughter for a duel. And yes, I'm cunning, but that's just my way of fighting. If you want me to surrender, you could've just said so earlier. I don't want to die over this."
Arcelia looked conflicted, glancing at her mother. "Mother, stop this. I started this duel, and I will finish it. Please don't interfere."
However, the woman shook her head and fixed her gaze on Linggis again. "You say you don't want to die, yet you fight like someone who doesn't care about his own life. I need to make sure my daughters are safe."
Linggis scoffed, even as blood continued to drip from his forehead. "Sure, just make sure you don't kill someone who never had any intention of harming your family. At this rate, I might just surrender so I can go back to sleep in my home."
Arcelia stepped forward, standing between her mother and Linggis. "That's enough. This fight is between him and me. If he surrenders, I win. But if not, let us finish it. This is my business, Mother."
Linggis sighed, then gave a small, wounded smile. "So, who wins now? I'm half-dead, but I haven't surrendered. If this keeps up, we might be here forever."
The woman remained silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "Fine. But if you hurt my daughters any further, I won't hesitate to end you."
Linggis let out a weak chuckle. "Of course. I don't plan on dying today. Can we continue this duel nowL without any more unnecessary drama?"