The duel ended.
The battle that intense ended just like that…
Melia, who had prepared those 5 Blood Spears using half of her Mana stood still with a dark expression.
One didn't have to know her to realize that she was angry.
Her clenched fists trembled nonstop, the red eyes continued to stare in a fixed direction, and the unusual silence around her.
All these things clearly showed how irritated, annoyed, and frustrated she was.
"What? Are you still not going to come out after you won?"
Melia spoke in a hoarse yet chilly voice.
"Close your eyes, dammit!"
Nux, who was currently inside another dimension shouted as well.
He was frustrated as well.
Not at Melia, but at himself,
He should have guessed something like this would have happened. What kind of idiot would close her eyes when her opponent disappeared right in front of her eyes?
Everyone would prepare themselves for the upcoming sneak attack.
However, Nux was just too busy thinking about his future moves that he completely miscalculated Melia's reaction, and this annoyed Nux.
"Heh. What? Too ashamed to come forward?"
Melia chuckled, of course, there was no trace of amusement in her tone.
She just sounded even more irritated.
In the end, Melia gulped and closed her eyes, trying to calm her down.
"Melia, I apolo-"
Nux, who finally had the chance to come out of another Dimension walked out and tried to talk to Melia, however, before he could even complete his sentence,
The 5 Blood Spears turned towards him and attacked.
Nux's eyes widened in surprise.
He could feel it, those Blood Spears were danger- no, they were life-threatening.
He quickly jumped away, trying to dodge the Spears, however, the Spears miraculously changed direction and shot toward him with increased speed.
Caught midair, Nux had no choice but to take this attack head-on, he prepared [Mirror] to shift a little amount of Impact away while preparing himself to take on the rest,
However, just as the Spears were around 20 cm away from him, they stopped.
Nux and Melia frowned in confusion.
And seeing that even Melia was frowning, Nux frowned even more.
Melia, however, quickly understood what happened and lifted her head as she glanced at Orpheus, floating in the air, on top of them.
"The Duel is over,
Winner, Nux Leander."
Orpheus announced with an expressionless look on his face.
Melia wanted to complain.
However, in the end, she had nothing to complain about. What could she say?
'Father! I don't agree with the result because Nux used his ability to waste time!'
There is no way she could say those words.
Not when she shamelessly fought an Emperor Stage Cultivator.
Honestly, now that she thinks about it, Nux was not wrong here. She was the one who set up the time limit in the first place.
He was just using it to his advantage.
Isn't that how everyone fought?
Capitalizing on their advantage and using it to grab the victory, wasn't that the basics of the Battle?
In the end, Melia just gritted her teeth and,
"I accept my lo-"
"Let's consider this a draw."
Suddenly, Nux interrupted.
Melia frowned as she glanced at Nux. Nux, however, looked into her eyes and replied,
"I am not satisfied by the outcome of this battle.
I never intended to end the Battle like this.
Let's just call it a Draw.
No one needs to join the other's clan, the two of us will create our own clan, however, I suggest that once we form our clans, both of us should form an Alliance. Of course, the terms of the Alliance could be discussed later, once we both out mature and know what our clans want.
What do you think?"
Nux suggested as he glanced at Orpheus.
Orpheus started thinking.
Honestly, if it was a normal situation, he wouldn't even consider it. Melia lost fair and square, and since he was overseeing the contract, he would have forced her to join Nux's clan. However… the thing was…
Melia was his daughter.
And he knew how much his daughter wanted to stand on her own feet and create her own clan.
Orpheus didn't have the heart to take that opportunity from his daughter.
He may be an all-strong Vampire Duke who is always fair and sticks to his word, however, in front of his daughter…
He was just… a father…
As a father, even if he had to swallow his pride a little…
For the happiness of his daughter… he would do it…
"Alr-"
"No."
However, before Orpheus could say anything,
"As I said, I accept my loss, and I will honor my word.
I will join your Clan."
Melia spoke with a determined look on her face.
"Melia, it wasn't a fair battle," Nux spoke up.
"Yes, it wasn't. I, a Great Sage Cultivator was fighting against an Emperor."
"If you had fought me by limiting your Cultivation, it wouldn't have been fair for you."
"Why not?" Melia questioned.
"Because he is a Complete Cultivator."
Orpheus replied.
"Complete Cultivator?"
Melia's expression changed.
"Yes, that is correct."
"B-But the only Complete Cultivators in the world are…"
"The 7 Heroes, yes."
Orpheus nodded, then, he glanced at Nux and smiled,
"You can say that he is the 8th Hero. The Hero who no one knows about."
"The 8th Hero…" Melia muttered with a strange look on her face as she glanced at Nux.
"You stood no chance against him if you had fought him on his level. This fight was not unfair, Melia." Orpheus spoke up.
Melia glanced at her Nux for a while, and then,
"I understand."
She nodded.
"You are a complete Cultivator, and possibly the 8th Hero. I get it.
However, the fact remains, that I still lost to you.
I made the wager, and I lost.
I will honor my word and will join your clan.
Unless, of course, you don't think I am good enough to join your clan. Then you can officially kick me out once you successfully register your clan in the Ancestral Order."
"There is no way I am kicking you out.
If you decide to join, then you will be coming with me."
"Coming with you it is then."
Melia smiled.
A small smile appeared on Nux's face as well.
The two of them then glanced at Orpheus and seeing the look in their eyes, Orpheus realized that they have already made their decision.
In the end, he sighed, he glanced at his daughter again, then, his expression returned to his usual, emotionless one, and he spoke,
"Melia, leave and take them away with you as well.
I need to talk to him, alone."
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