The atmosphere in the arena was tense and charged with anticipation. The crowd murmured and buzzed as servants carried Chris to the medical office. Chris had put up a valiant effort, but Leon's strategic use of guns had brought a swift end to the duel. Now, all eyes turned to Jilk, who was furiously making last-minute preparations for his battle.

Jilk threw himself into preparations, giving rapid instructions to the mechanic overseeing his Armor. "Install every weapon you can. I want regular bullets and magical ones, too."

The mechanic's eyes went wide. "You're not supposed to use those in a match!"

"This is a duel!" Jilk barked. Normally gentle and kind, he was terrified and had no luxury for niceties. His green Armor, adorned with decorative wings that gave it a delicate appearance, was now outfitted with a massive rifle and an ax, replacing the sword. It looked ready for war. "Remove the adornments and attach extra plating," Jilk instructed. "Prepare some hand grenades as well."

The mechanic looked uneasy. "Lord Jilk, we're limited to the supplies we have on hand."

Jilk glanced down for a moment, then lifted his gaze, determined. "That's fine. Just give me what you can."

While the mechanic and his assistants worked, Jilk's thoughts drifted toward the battle ahead. He had to end this duel. Even if he couldn't win, he needed to inflict enough damage to stop Leon. Otherwise, the prince's reputation would be at risk. Julius was Jilk's entire reason for being. They were best friends, brothers (albeit not by blood). If they lost here, Julius's image would suffer immensely. Jilk couldn't accept that. He would do whatever he needed to make sure that didn't happen. With that thought, he grabbed a nearby bomb, muttering, "I'll be back in a few," and slipped out of the room.

Leon took advantage of the temporary break between matches to head to the bathroom. As soon as he returned, Olivia and Angelica burst into the waiting room.

"Leon, where were you?!" Olivia cried.

"We were worried," Angelica added.

Leon tilted his head. "Huh? Why?"

They exchanged looks. Olivia hesitated. "Oh, um, I heard someone say you looked like you weren't feeling good."

Leon's eyes narrowed. "Me? I just need a short rest."

Angelica's brows furrowed in suspicion. "A woman claiming to be your sister arrived. Olivia recognized her. She told us you didn't look like you were doing well, so she wanted us to come visit you."

Jenna, worried about me? Suuuure. She hadn't even looked at leon since he picked a fight with the prince. Why would she swing by at a time like this?

Luxion chimed in, his voice quiet enough that the two girls couldn't hear him. "Master, a bomb has been set on your Armor. Your sister planted it, acting on someone else's orders."

Of course. Most likely, she'd been threatened into it. Leon supposed he put her in an awkward position at the academy after he pissed off the prince and his crew. No doubt Jilk was taking advantage of that. If Leon was scum, then Jilk was worse—a scumbag. Well, Jilk will do anything for the prince. As far as he's concerned, the ends justify the means.

"The one who gave the orders is your next opponent," Luxion confirmed. Bingo.

Leon let out a small sigh before turning toward the two girls, who looked anxious so to distract them and get a chuckle he said. "So my sister figured me out. I had to take a huge number two and I was struggling to hold it in the whole time I was out there. My stomach hurt so bad I thought I was gonna die. Honestly, I was having more trouble with my bowels than I was with my opponent."

Olivia looked utterly bewildered. "O-oh, well, I guess…I see why she was worried—I suppose she just had the wrong idea."

Angelica pinned Leon with a cold look. "Don't you think you could word that a little more delicately for the ladies in the room?"

"My bad. I, uh, 'had to go powder my nose in the arena's nonexistent powder room and not do anything with my butt.' Better?"

Olivia gave a strained smile. Angelica slapped her hand to her forehead. "That isn't—no, you know what, fine. Although you really should mind your tongue, lest you embarrass yourself in a more formal setting. But I digress. It's time for you to return."

"Then let's get going," Leon said. As they made their way to the arena, Luxion gave him his report.

"The bomb is set on the back of Arroganz. That's a fatal weak point for the Armor of this country, so your opponent really does mean to eliminate you. Given the amount of blasting powder, I can confidently say it would immolate the pilot as well, if they were in a normal suit."

So the nicest-looking guy of the bunch is actually the scariest. That's a pretty common trope.

By the time Leon got to the arena, Jenna was nowhere to be seen. Not that he minded. He had no idea what he would even say to her after she'd agreed to hide a bomb on his Armor. Angelica glanced at the green mobile suit on the other side of the arena.

"Your opponent is waiting for you. It looks like one of them finally means business."

Jilk was loaded down with so much equipment it looked like he was ready to meet his death in the line of duty. As Leon climbed into his Armor, Luxion reported, "This bomb appears to be triggered by a special type of magic."

The same kind of explosive had been available in the game, but Leon had never used them personally.

"Types like him are the most terrifying," Leon said. "He's great with a gun, but he's also skilled with other weapons—a real all-rounder. No matter the situation, he can adapt to it."

While the prince and the other high lords largely excelled at melee combat, except for Brad, Jilk was proficient at long-range combat. Furthermore, in the game, his skills had the easiest learning curve. Leon had relied upon him a lot—although he still pissed him off because his route was insanely difficult to complete.

The Duel Begins

As Leon stepped onto the field, Jilk called out to him. "You're strong. I respect that."

"Thank you."

The moment the referee called for the match to begin, Jilk turned the barrel of his rifle toward Leon. He flew up into the air and fired, then threw what looked like a grenade. A white shroud enveloped Leon's surroundings.

"A smoke screen," Leon remarked. "He's not going easy on me."

Smoke swallowed the arena, and Jilk flew almost as high as he could. Too high and he would be disqualified, so he carefully stayed within the boundaries. He planned to launch an aerial attack with his rifle and hand grenades.

"Hopefully this is enough." Jilk hadn't wanted to take the underhanded route, but he had contacted Leon's sister—through another male student, of course—and handed the bomb to her. This way, if someone did reveal the exchange, it wouldn't affect Julius's reputation. Jilk could pass it off as another student's overzealousness for the prince's sake.

A magic circle floated in front of Jilk's eyes, and through it, he saw Leon down below, searching through the smoke. "You're too dangerous, so I'm going to get rid of you now."

People wouldn't look fondly on him for carrying this ammo—it was a special piercing type used in the army to combat enemy Armor—but his opponent had shown overwhelming power. Jilk couldn't waste time debating the morality of his tactics. "The moment you opposed the prince, your life was forfeit. You'll meet your glorious end here!"

Jilk aimed right for Leon's head, a clear attempt to take his opponent's life. He pulled the trigger.

"What the—?!" Leon glanced up, unscathed, as if the fired gun had been meant to get his attention. He waved leisurely.

"Tsk!" Jilk threw another grenade, then loaded more bullets into his rifle. He aimed and started to pull the trigger again—but seeing the grenade bounce harmlessly off of his opponent, Jilk played his trump card. He activated the magic required to trigger the bomb on Leon's Armor.

"A point-blank attack will take care of you!"

Leon disappeared. He was no longer in the arena. Yet…it didn't look as if he'd been blown to pieces. It was like he was just…gone.

"What? Where in the world did he go?!"

A shadow passed over the sun, and Jilk sensed something wrong. There hadn't been a single cloud in the sky. He glanced up to find Leon floating behind him. "Heya."

Jilk plummeted, whipping his rifle around and aiming at Leon. His finger clenched around the trigger, but something repelled the bullet. It should have pierced Leon at this distance!

"So. You actually withstood that bomb," Jilk said.

"It was rough," Leon admitted. "In more ways than one."

Jilk grabbed his battle-ax and lunged, but Leon parried the attack with his shovel.

Jilk dropped his voice so the audience wouldn't be able to hear him. "You don't know anything."

"Look in a mirror and say that again. You and your friends are out of your minds."

"You really intend to face the prince in a duel? Your life as a noble will be over," Jilk spat.

"Good! Being in the higher class makes me sick! I'd do anything to be free. Guess the two of us are similar in that way, huh?"

Any normal man would understand what Jilk was implying. Even an idiot would be desperate to negotiate after being forced to hear the consequences of his actions. Leon was the opposite. He seemed even more fired up than before.

Jilk suddenly pictured Marie's face. She was a mysterious woman. She truly understood him, as if she were the embodiment of his ideal partner. He knew no one like her in the palace—or anywhere. With her, his heart felt at ease. In no time at all, he had become obsessed.

"I finally found the woman of my dreams!" Jilk blurted.

"Good for you. When your team loses and the prince has to stay away from her, that'll be one less rival for you to contend with! You can play at being lovers all you like."

Jilk managed to block Leon's incoming strike with his rifle, but the impact sent his gun tumbling to the ground. His power is overwhelming. Jilk thought of the prince. Whenever they talked of Marie, the prince smiled in a way he never had before.

"What do you even know?! The prince and I both truly love her! We don't want to possess her. We just want her to be happy!"

"Then why not step aside?" Leon sounded bored, but he maintained his relentless assault. With each blow, Jilk's Armor creaked and groaned in protest.

"I don't care what I have to do to win. I'm not going to lose to you! If you intend to harm the prince, I'll do everything in my power to make you pay—no, not just you, your entire family!"

When Jilk first found out that he and the prince loved the same person, he'd hated himself and planned to bow out for the prince's sake. But his love for Marie was too powerful to let him bend so easily. However, he wasn't dueling for himself but for Julius and Marie—for them, he would do anything.

"That's a pretty underhanded threat to use in a duel," Leon said.

"Say whatever you want!" Locked in aerial combat, they soared too high for anyone in the stands to hear them. Jilk felt the battle turning in his favor. He moved to renew his assault. "I don't care what I have to do to win. I'm not going to lose to you! If you intend to harm the prince, I'll do everything in my power to make you pay—no, not just you, your entire family!"

Jilk's voice—his own words—were being played back to him!

"H-how?" He'd never heard of any magic like this before! Was it rare? Or maybe it was some newly developed type of technology? Perhaps Leon had merely mimicked his voice… But no. Somehow Leon was playing their conversation back to him.

Jilk gritted his teeth in frustration. "You're the one who threatened me," Leon said. "I know, how about I deliver a copy of this to your family? I wonder what they'd think. How shameful would it be for them to discover their son threatened someone because he was about to lose? They'd be devastated! Oh, maybe I should deliver it to your precious prince and Marie instead? They'd be disgusted. You know what, better yet, let's give it to the academy. Then we can have the whole school listen!"

Jilk composed himself. "My voice alone isn't proof of anything." If Jilk knew of no magic or device that could record people's voices, then neither did anyone else. Therefore, it would be difficult to prove this recording was legitimate. Difficult, but…

"It might not work as hard evidence, but it'll inspire plenty of doubt," Leon said. "Besides, if you really do follow through and try to pressure my family, everyone will grow suspicious. 'So he really was behind this,' they'll say. You think they won't start to suspect the prince, too, after that? Everyone'll start thinking it. 'The prince put him up to it.' Your precious prince's public image will be destroyed!"

Jilk tried to maintain a mask of calm, desperately thinking of some way to get out of this. "The prince isn't involved. I said what I said."

"But that's not actually up to you to decide, now is it? People connect dots, they start to suspect who's involved with what. Remember when Angelica was trying to talk, and you guys refused to listen? What makes you so confident the same won't happen to you?"

Jilk gaped, at a loss for words. Leon was right; when Angelica claimed she knew nothing of Marie's torment, Jilk and his friends hadn't listened.

"But that was—"

"I'm tired of this. Eat shit." Leon's voice was chilly as he slammed his foot down on Jilk, sending him careening toward the ground. Upon impact, Jilk felt consciousness slipping through his fingers. Leon's mumbles floated through his mind: "I caused a lot of trouble for Jenna. How should I go about fixing this…?" As if he had already lost interest in Jilk, lying in the shattered pieces of his robot.

The last thought that crossed Jilk's mind was, Your Highness, this man is dangerous. You can't…fight him. Then the darkness claimed him.

Leon stood triumphant over the defeated Jilk, his Armor gleaming under the arena lights. The crowd was stunned into silence, unable to comprehend the sheer ferocity and tactical genius Leon had displayed.

The referee, regaining his composure, declared Leon the winner. The announcement was met with a mix of muted applause and uneasy whispers. Leon's friends, Olivia and Angelica, rushed to his side, their faces a mix of relief and concern.

"Leon, are you alright?" Olivia asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Leon nodded, his expression calm but tired. "I'm fine. Just a bit exhausted."

Angelica, ever the pragmatist, looked at him with a mixture of admiration and exasperation. "You certainly know how to put on a show. But you should be careful. These kinds of tactics will earn you powerful enemies."

Leon shrugged. "I did what I had to do. Jilk and his friends were playing dirty. I just turned their own game against them."

As the arena began to clear out, Leon's thoughts turned to Jenna. He would have to confront her about her involvement in the plot. But that was a matter for another day. For now, he had to focus on the next duel. The battle was far from over, and he needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

/

In the infirmary, Jilk lay on a bed, staring at the ceiling. His body ached from the impact, and his pride was wounded even more. He had been bested by Leon, a commoner who had turned the tables on him and exposed his underhanded tactics.

As he lay there, Jilk's mind drifted to Julius and Marie. He had failed them both. He had promised to protect Julius's reputation and to ensure Marie's happiness. But now, he had put them both at risk. Leon's threat to expose the recording to the academy would undoubtedly cause a scandal.

But amidst his regret, a seed of determination began to grow. He would not let this defeat define him. He would find a way to redeem himself and protect those he cared about. He would learn from this loss and come back stronger.

The Next Challenge

Back in the waiting room, Leon was preparing for the next duel. His Armor was being checked and repaired by the mechanics. Olivia and Angelica were by his side, offering their support.

"The Prince is up next I guess." Leon asked, his tone serious.

As Leon prepared for the next battle, his sister Jenna approached him, her expression a mix of guilt and determination. "Leon, I need to talk to you."

Leon turned to her, his eyes serious. "Jenna, I know you were forced to plant that bomb. Why did you do it?"

Tears welled up in Jenna's eyes as she explained the situation. "They threatened me, Leon. They said they would ruin our family if I didn't do it. I didn't know what else to do we would loose everything."

Leon sighed, his anger tempered by understanding. "I get it, Jenna. They put you in a tough spot. But you choose to go along with it. You tried to kill me. I wont tell dad this time but you need to be better and not let them use you like that."

Jenna nodded, wiping away her tears.

With that resolved, Leon turned his focus back to the upcoming duels. He knew that the battles ahead would be even more challenging, but he was ready to face them head-on.

/

The anticipation in the arena was palpable as the final duel approached. Leon's next opponent was none other than Prince Julius himself. The prince had watched Leon's previous battles with keen interest, recognizing the threat Leon posed to his plans.

As the two fighters took their positions, the crowd fell silent, aware that this duel would determine the outcome of the entire tournament. The stakes were higher than ever, with both fighters aware that their reputations and futures were on the line.

The referee signaled the start of the match, and Julius wasted no time, launching a powerful magical attack at Leon. Leon, however, was ready, dodging the attack with ease and countering with a swift strike of his own.

The battle between Leon and Julius was a spectacle of skill and strategy. Julius's magical prowess was unmatched, but Leon's ability to adapt and think on his feet kept him in the fight. The two fighters exchanged blows, their Armor clashing in a dazzling display of power and precision.

As the duel progressed, it became clear that neither was willing to back down. Julius, driven by his desire to protect his reputation and his love for Marie, fought with a fierce determination. Leon, on the other hand, was motivated by his desire for freedom and his commitment to proving himself.

The duel reached its peak as both fighters began to tire. Julius, realizing that his magical attacks were not enough to defeat Leon, decided to close the distance and engage in close combat. He summoned a blade and charged at Leon.

Leon met Julius's assault head-on, his shovel clashing against Julius's blade. The two fighters exchanged blows, their Armor sparking with each impact. It was a fierce and intense struggle, with neither willing to back down. Leon took a second to speak out.

"Your Highness, think about what you're doing. Your actions have consequences, not just for you, but for the entire kingdom."

Julius, still catching his breath from their fierce battle, scoffed. "I don't care about status, Barfort. If you understood love, you would step aside."

Leon shook his head. "You're right, I don't understand love myself. But I can see it in others. You're being manipulated by someone who doesn't even love you, and the one who truly does love you, you've cast aside. Even for a prince, there are consequences."

Julius's face twisted in anger. "Then it will be a battle to the death."

Leon scoffed. "So you plan to order me to surrender? Even I'm not stupid enough to kill the prince."

Julius was taken aback, momentarily speechless.

Leon continued, his voice calm but firm. "Do you know how awful the girls at the academy are to the lower-ranked nobles? You and your friends had it made, already being engaged before coming here, and you threw it all away for a flat board."

As Leon's words echoed through the arena, murmurs began to spread among the spectators. Some of the crowd started to nod in agreement, their voices rising in support of Leon's statements. The whispers grew louder, and a few even shouted their approval.

"He's right!" someone yelled. "We've all seen how those girls treat others!"

Julius's face turned red with rage. "Silence!" he shouted at the crowd, but their support for Leon only fueled his anger further.

Unable to contain his fury, Julius lunged at Leon, his blade drawn. "I won't let you insult Marie!"

Leon sidestepped the attack, his expression unchanging. "This isn't about insults, Julius. It's about reality. You're so blinded by your anger and obsession that you can't see the truth."

The crowd watched in tense silence as the two faced off again. Leon's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Julius's rage, highlighting the prince's lack of control.

As the duel continued, it became clear that Julius's anger was his greatest weakness. His attacks were wild and unfocused, while Leon remained calm and strategic. With each passing moment, the crowd's support for Leon grew stronger, their cheers and encouragement bolstering his resolve.

Finally, in a decisive move, Leon disarmed Julius once more, sending the prince's weapon clattering to the ground. He stood over the defeated prince, his voice firm but compassionate. "It's not too late to change, Julius. Think about what's truly important. Think about the people you care about and the kingdom you're supposed to protect."

Julius lay on the ground, breathing heavily. The crowd's cheers for Leon rang in his ears, a stark reminder of the reality he had been blind to.

The referee quickly stepped in to declare Leon the winner. The crowd erupted in displeasure, not even cheering for the victorious Leon.

As the duel concluded, the medical team rushed to the arena to tend to Prince Julius. Leon stood back, his heart heavy with the gravity of the situation. The prince was placed on a stretcher and carried off to the medical wing, his followers trailing behind, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.

Angelica watched the scene unfold, her heart aching for Julius. She knew she needed to see him, to speak with him, and to try to make him understand the depth of her feelings. With a determined look, she followed the medical team to the infirmary.

The atmosphere in the medical wing was tense. Julius lay on a bed, his injuries being treated by the academy's best healers. As Angelica entered the room, the princes friends glanced at her but said nothing walking out of the room, allowing her to approach the prince.

"Julius," she said softly, her voice trembling. "How are you feeling?"

He turned his head to look at her, his expression weary. "Angelica," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Why are you here?"

"I needed to see you," she replied, stepping closer. "I needed to tell you how much I love you."

Julius closed his eyes, a pained expression crossing his face. "Angelica, please. I don't want to hear it."

Her heart shattered at his words, but she steeled herself. "Julius, I know things have been difficult. I know I've made mistakes, but I love you more than anything. I've always loved you."

He turned away, his voice cold. "Angelica, there is no way you love me you don't even know me. I'm in love with Marie."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "If that's truly how you feel, then I won't stand in your way. But you need to understand the consequences of your actions."

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on the wall.

Angelica took a deep breath, her voice steady despite the pain in her heart. "I'll talk to my father about breaking our engagement. I won't force you to be with me if you don't want to but that woman is not in yours or the kingdoms best interest."

Julius's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to face her. "Angelica, you don't have to—"

"No," she interrupted, her voice firm. "I do. I can't keep pretending that everything is fine when it's not. You deserve to be with someone who makes you happy, and if that's not me, then so be it."

He looked at her, his expression a mixture of guilt and relief. "I'm sorry, Angelica."

She managed a sad smile, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "So am I, Your Highness. I hope you find the happiness you're looking for."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room, her heart breaking with each step. As she left, Julius watched her go, a weird sense of loss and regret settling in his chest. He knew he had hurt her deeply, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake.

Outside the medical wing, Angelica paused to collect herself. She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. She had made her decision, and now she needed to follow through with it. She would speak to her father and end the engagement, no matter how much it hurt.

As she walked away, she couldn't help but think about Leon. He had been right about so many things, and his words had struck a chord with her. She knew she needed to find her own path, one that wasn't defined by her love for Julius. It was time for her to stand on her own and figure out who she truly was.

With a newfound resolve, Angelica made her way back to her dormitory. The future was uncertain, but she was determined to face it head-on. She would heal from this heartbreak, and she would become stronger for it.

And maybe, just maybe, she would find a way to be happy again.