Nathaniel Leillucis versus Simone Reinhart.
The protagonist of the novel was about to face off against his very own partner.
'Interesting.'
However, a familiar and annoying voice cut through the air, snapping him back to reality.
"Lucky for you, I have to fight my friend instead of you."
Adrian turned to the side and was met with a disgusting smirk that adorned his brother's face, prompting him to roll his eyes in sheer boredom.
As expected of his beloved older brother, clearly savoring the chance to irritate him in every possible way.
Nevertheless, couldn't resist responding, even though he knew it would only fuel his smugness.
"Nah, even if we're matched up, I'll easily defeat you with my magic."
"What??"
Nathaniel's smile vanished without a trace as he looked at his little brother in disbelief; astonished by his egregious level of confidence.
And, of course, Nathaniel couldn't let Adrian's words go unchallenged.
"No way! I'll definitely defeat you!"
"Yeah, in your dreams."
Upon noticing the corner of his brother's lip twitching in annoyance, Adrian couldn't help but chuckle in satisfaction.
"You little—"
"Nathaniel Leillucis and Simone Reinhart, please proceed to arena number 12."
The Master of Ceremonies' voice reverberated through the space once again, interrupting him.
Nathaniel let out a sigh, realizing that the time for banter was over, and spoke.
"I have to go."
Seizing his laugh, Adrian nodded and offered him a thin smile.
"Good luck."
"Thanks, see you."
Nathaniel returned the smile and waved his hand in farewell as he turned to join Simone, who was waiting in the doorway of the Imperial Seatbox.
"See you."
With that, they made their way out towards the arena.
Shortly thereafter, they entered the arena entrance and headed toward the section where the Academy provided weaponry for the students.
It was a necessary measure to ensure fairness, allowing the participants to rely solely on their own strength and magical abilities rather than any external advantages.
Well, that was understandable because some of the nobles' students doubtlessly used extravagant defensive equipment or enhancements to magic resistance.
As they selected their weapons and armor, Adrian discreetly peeked at their stats. **
Just like Péréz, Simone had a high affinity for Fire Elemental.
It seemed that the Reinhart Royal Family had a genetic predisposition for Fire Elemental affinity.
Overall, the disparity between their strength and magical abilities was not too significant.
If Nathaniel were to utilize his gift, victory would undoubtedly be his.
However, Adrian was uncertain as to whether he would use it or not.
Soon, his cerulean eyes fell on the brown-haired young man.
'Simone Reinhart.'
He was the First Prince and the Crown Prince of the Aiden Knightdom.
In the novel, his right to the throne was stripped away through an Abdication Trial orchestrated by his cunning uncle.
This treacherous act took place while Simone was away, visiting a region to partake in their harvest festival and celebrations.
The novel hinted that the plan to overthrow Simone had been in motion for quite some time.
It was evident in the deliberate reassignment of Simone's loyal general, aimed at ensuring a smooth trial process.
During the trial, the loyalist's forces were easily overwhelmed by his uncle's forces.
As a result, the Aiden Knightdom was plunged into a succession war, with Simone and his loyal followers fighting back against the usurper.
Upon hearing the news, Nathaniel, who had been best friends with Simone since their time at the Academy, felt an intense urge to assemble his own army to join the fight.
However, Arthur stopped him and vehemently opposed the idea, stating that the Empire should refrain from interfering in the internal conflicts of another kingdom.
Furthermore, in contrast to the current timeline, the novel depicted Arthur and Nathaniel's relationship as strained, which ultimately exacerbated their conflict.
Months passed, and the battle reached its conclusion, with Simone's ultimate defeat.
Branded as a rebel, Simone faced the threat of execution.
In a desperate plea, Nathaniel knelt before his father, earnestly begging him to intervene and save his friend's life.
Having already lost his little brother, Nathaniel was adamant about not wanting to experience the pain of losing anyone else dear to him for a second time.
Arthur then issued an edict, leading to his uncle eventually banishing Simone from the Knightdom, thus forcing him to leave his homeland behind.
Driven by unwavering loyalty and a strong desire to help his friend, Nathaniel embarked on a relentless search for Simone.
Finally, he successfully located him and extended an offer for Simone to become his aide.
After much contemplation, Simone agreed, recognizing the opportunity to forge a new path alongside his best friend.
Nathaniel also made a promise to Simone, vowing to assist him in reclaiming his rightful throne.
Nonetheless, since Adrian had only read half of the book, he hadn't reached that part yet, so he had no idea when that fateful day was going to happen.
And that was the backstory of how they became partners throughout the series.
However, a thought crossed Adrian's mind.
'Now that Nate knew about his best friend's fate, would he alter the course of destiny?'
After meticulously selecting their weapons and armor, Nathaniel and Simone ascended the stage and approached the referee who stood in the middle of the arena.
Clad in lightweight armor, Nathaniel wielded a long sword, while Simone brandished a spear
The arena was set, with four impartial juries positioned strategically to judge the performance.
To ensure fairness, five referees were placed at each stage, acting as safeguards against any attempts at cheating or foul play.
As the anticipation reached its peak, two transparent barriers materialized, enveloping the entirety of Arena Number 12.
The first was a protective shield, serving as a barrier against any stray attacks that could endanger the spectators.
The second was a silent dome, designed to contain the sounds within the arena.
When the two young men stood facing each other before the referee, the middle-aged man opened his mouth.
"First and foremost, I want to emphasize that this is not a fight to the death."
The referee declared and resumed.
"You will be given a total of 15 minutes to showcase your skills and abilities. The outcome of this battle will not be determined by a winner or loser, but rather by the evaluation of your technique, strategy, and overall performance. Both of you must give it your all within this time frame."
After a brief silence, he continued.
"Furthermore, you are not allowed to use any kind of items such as potions, external aids, or any kind related to enchantment. Do you understand?"
Nathaniel and Simone nodded in acknowledgment and answered in unison.
"Yes, Sir!"
Satisfied with their response, the referee exchanged a brief glance with his fellow officials, silently confirming their readiness.
With a nod, he raised his hand, signaling the start of the battle.
"En garde!"
Nathaniel and Simone soon stood on guard stances.
"Prétz?"
The man eyed Nathaniel and Simone in turn to make sure that both of them were ready.
"Allez!"
The moment the word fell, they lunged forward simultaneously with their weapon poised to attack.
—Bang!
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺