The next day arrived without ceremony.
No ominous sky.
No dramatic tension in the air.
Just… morning.
Which was honestly more suspicious.
As I walked along the stone pathway toward the dueling grounds, hands in my pockets, expression neutral, mind already running through possibilities.
Victoria walked on my left.
Arial on my right.
Which, in hindsight, made this look far more unserious than it actually was.
"…So," I said casually, "let's list reasons someone would challenge me."
Victoria didn't miss a beat.
"Your promotion," she said. "Elite heir status."
"Your survival of an anomaly dungeon," Arial added softly.
"And your proximity to Lady Lenna," Victoria continued, tone dry.
I nodded.
"That one's probably doing most of the work."
Arial hesitated slightly. "There is also… the Academy request."
"Ah," I said. "Right."
Victoria glanced at me sideways. "You do understand what that implies, yes?"
"I understand enough to be slightly uncomfortable."
She smiled faintly. "Only slightly?"
I exhaled.
"Right."
The Academy.
Sage's Vision Academy accepted one thousand students every ten years.
One thousand.
Across an entire continent.
That number alone made the competition absurd.
Normally, applicants had to pass ten entry examinations.
But certain institutions and families possessed recommendation slots.
The Ironcreed family had ten recommendations per cycle.
Those recommendations didn't guarantee acceptance.
But they did allow the applicant to skip seven of the ten entrance tests.
Which effectively removed ninety percent of the competition.
So yes.
People cared about those recommendations.
A lot.
I clicked my tongue.
"So from the outside," I summarized, "I just went from just another 'Elite Heir' to 'one of the chosen 10' with little accomplishments and experience."
Victoria nodded once.
"Which makes you," she said quietly, "a very attractive target, master."
Victoria added pleasantly, "And a good stepping stone."
"Exactly," I said.
I stretched my arms lazily behind my head.
"So this is less about me being disliked…"
"And more about you being convenient," Victoria finished.
"Good," I said. "I prefer convenience over malicious targeting. It's less troublesome."
Victoria snorted softly.
...
The dueling grounds came into view.
And with it—
A crowd.
Not massive.
But definitely larger than necessary for "a simple duel."
I slowed slightly.
"…Of course," I muttered.
Arial glanced around nervously.
"There are… quite a lot of people."
Victoria looked completely unbothered.
"News spreads quickly within the family," she said.
I stared at the gathering.
Clusters of heirs.
Observers.
Servants pretending not to be watching.
Some curious.
Some amused.
Some already judging the outcome.
I sighed.
"…Fantasy world," I murmured. "Same people."
Victoria raised a brow. "What?"
"Nothing," I said. "Just realizing that no matter the place or occasion, people are equally starved for drama."
That part, at least, was universal.
...
We stepped closer to the central arena.
A wide, circular platform of white stone—too clean, too precise, too… deliberate.
I slowed again.
Something about it felt… strangely unique.
I focused.
And activated Higher Appraisal.
Just to test.
Higher Appraisal (SS)
I blinked.
"…Oh."
That worked.
Good.
Then—
The arena responded.
A blue screen appeared.
---
Arena of Proving Worth / SSS Rank
Rarity: Epic
A sacred dueling domain type artefact. When activated, the arena manifests a sealed combat space governed by near-perfect dueling laws, ensuring that strength, skill, and conviction are judged without outside interference.
Once invoked, the arena binds all participants until the duel concludes or the governing rules declare a victor. The arena itself enforces combat law, preventing external manipulation, illegal interference, or violation of the agreed duel conditions.
Effects:
• Perfect Duel Arena: Creates a sealed battlefield that isolates combatants from the outside world. Teleportation, spatial escape, external assistance, and outside attacks are automatically nullified.
• Duel Law Enforcement: The arena enforces the selected duel mode automatically. Any action that violates the established rules is suppressed or invalidated.
• Combat Judgment: The arena recognizes victory, defeat, surrender, or death. Once the result is determined, the domain dissolves immediately.
Duel Modes:
• All-Out Duel – Life and Death
No restrictions. Skills, artifacts, summons, domains, and laws may all be used.
The duel ends only when one participant dies.
• Safe Duel – Barrier Match
Both combatants receive equalized barrier constructs with a visible durability gauge. All damage is redirected to the barrier rather than the body. When a barrier collapses, that participant loses. The arena automatically suppresses lethal overflow damage.
• Proving Worth – Mastery Duel
All external abilities are sealed. Skills, artifacts, buffs, summons, and domains cannot be used. Only the combatant's personal mastery, physical ability, and technical control remain. Victory is determined by: incapacitation surrender or arena judgment.
Cost: Mana Cores (Activation consumes Mana Cores proportional to the participants' level and authority. Normally paid by the challenger.)
Requirement:
• Duel accepted by the target
• Presence of a Knight-type class witness to authenticate the challenge and confirm the outcome
• Both combatants must enter the arena voluntarily
---
"…That's," I said slowly, "ridiculously overpowered and fair."
[It is designed to be.] Nova replied.
I glanced at the arena again.
Falsification (A)
"Wait," I muttered. "That actually worked."
[You are surprised?]
"I thought my authority would not be enough."
[My assistance is only limited in appraisal of living entities.]
I paused.
"…Meaning?"
[Inanimate objects are not restricted.]
That—
That was extremely useful.
A grin spread across my face.
"That's actually amazing."
...
Victoria suddenly turned toward me.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You just used Appraisal," she said.
"…Yes."
She looked at the arena.
Then back at me.
"Your skill is SS-rank," she said slowly. "Your authority is below ten."
I blinked.
"And?"
"That," she said, "is an SSS-rank artefact with epic rarity."
Ah.
Right.
"…Good point."
I thought for half a second.
Then shrugged.
"Maybe because it's a family artefact," I said casually. "And I have an heir token which might grant me access to it."
Victoria tilted her head.
Considering.
"…Plausible," she said finally.
Good.
We're going with that.
...
"Augustus."
A voice called from the arena.
I looked up.
My opponent had appeared.
Taller. Broad shoulders. Earth-toned robes layered with defensive arrays. A heavy staff rested loosely in his hand as if it were an extension of his arm.
Well, he was older than me by several years.
Dear Cousin, Brix Ironcreed.
I activated appraisal again.
---
NAME: Brix Ironcreed
LEVEL – 51
CLASS: Earth Wizard, AA
SYSTEM STATUS: //
STATS:
Authority – 9
STR – 82
AGI – 97
INT – 128
Charm – 37
Luck – 28
World Credit – 543
CLASS SKILLS:
Tremor Sense, S
Stone Bullets, AA
Earth Magic, A
Earth Wall, B+
Logical Magic, B
SYSTEM SKILLS:
Iron Skin, A
Enhanced Reflexes, C
Explore, E
ACQUIRED SKILLS:
Staff Mastery, A
Martial Arts, A
Shock Resistance, B
Metal Magic, C
Elemental Resistance, D
Pain Tolerance, D
Leadership, E
BLOODLINE: –
Iron Stallion, A (Purity 73%, Unawakened)
ELEMENTAL AFFINITY – Earth, Metal
EQUIPMENT(5/5):
1. Protection Talisman, S
2. Mana-Infusion Staff, AAA
3. Storage Ring, A
4. Defensive Robes, B
5. Appraisal Warding Talisman, A
* Ironcreed Family Elite Token, A
---
"…Earth Wizard," I muttered quietly.
Balanced.
Defensive.
Annoying.
And—
Level 51.
I was Level 27.
Nice.
Very fair.
And an 'Appraisal Warding Talisman'.
looks like my personal data isn't as secure as I thought, or maybe someone higher up tipped him off.
I'd bet on the latter.
I stepped forward onto the arena.
The moment my foot crossed the boundary—
A faint hum spread across the ground.
The domain acknowledged my presence.
Brix smiled slightly.
"Thought you might not show."
I shrugged.
"Please," I said. "I don't miss appointments. Especially the ones where I get to hit someone."
A few people in the crowd chuckled.
Brix's expression twitched.
Good.
...
A knight stepped forward between us.
Tall. Armored. Expression unreadable.
Aaa... the Witness.
"The duel will be conducted under Safe Duel conditions," he announced.
"Barrier match. No lethal damage."
"Victory will be determined by barrier collapse."
I exhaled slowly.
Good.
No injuries today.
Preferably.
...
The Arena of Proving Worth activated.
The air compressed.
Light folded inward.
Then the world snapped.
The dueling grounds disappeared.
In their place stretched a vast circular battlefield of smooth white stone beneath a blank sky.
No walls.
No horizon.
Just a perfect ring etched with countless subtle runes.
Barrier constructs appeared around both of us—translucent spheres shimmering faintly with layered durability indicators hovering above them.
My interface flickered.
---
SAFE DUEL INITIALIZED
BARRIER DURABILITY
Augustus Ironcreed – 100%
Brix Ironcreed – 100%
LETHAL DAMAGE SUPPRESSED
---
The knight's voice echoed across the domain.
"Combat begins on signal."