The scorching midday sun baked the bluestone duel arena, while Gothic arches cast jagged shadows on the sandstone ground.
After lunch, the Magic Knight's dueling ground was bustling with people;
However, most of them were lower-grade students.
On Mil's side, besides Lilith, there were only Lilith's admirers and her little fan girls;
Of course, Mil was also a big name...
There were people who admired him, but they weren't as fanatical, and most of them revolved around Lilith.
This was Fafner's home ground, after all, his profession was a Magic Knight, while Mil was just an ordinary Elemental Mage;
However, the proportion of Magic Knights was very small, probably five or six people in each grade.
Mil's adoptive father, the Lyata Family, was a famous Magic Knight family.
Looking at the Demon-Slaying Sword in Fafner's hand, Mil gave a mischievous smile:
"Kid, how about I change the victory conditions again?"
Fafner pressed one hand on the platinum dragon-patterned scabbard at his waist, his snow-colored stand-up collar school uniform outlining his slender figure.
He seemed a little tempted but swallowed his words back:
"Don't even think about it, you have no chance of winning!"
Saying that, he carelessly tucked his silver-white hair behind his ear, revealing his fair earlobe; as sunlight shifted, his long eyelashes cast butterfly-wing-like shadows on his porcelain-white face.
But Fafner felt increasingly fatigued, and the sword in his hand grew heavier and heavier.
Before the match, many people had advised Mil not to accept the challenge...
The physical quality of the Dragon Race is equivalent to a Human Race's second-tier warrior; it requires a third-tier magic to strengthen physical ability to contend with them;
At that time, losing to a 16-year-old student would be quite embarrassing.
But Mil didn't care at all...
His identity was a zero-tier magic apprentice, but he didn't bring a staff or a sword;
Instead, he brought a soft weapon—a whip.
While twirling the coiled whip, he said to Fafner:
"Kid, don't blame me for not telling you, not everyone likes you. There are plenty of people who hate you, and they don't want you to win today, so they will be unfavorable to you. If you regret it now, it's still not too late to concede."
"Hmph... You're the one who should concede!"
As the instructor announced the start of the match, Fafner stomped his left foot, and a phantom appeared behind him—
"Roar—!"
A giant dragon's battle roar echoed, shocking the entire arena, and Fafner charged over quickly with his sword;
Mil first activated a Wind Demon Barrier, but Fafner cleaved it open with a single sword strike:
"Such a move won't work on me a second time!"
After speaking, he flashed closer.
The way he lifted his chin was like an arrogant Persian cat, his silver-white hair, damp with sweat, clung to his temples, reflecting a pearl-like halo in the sunlight.
Mil lightly tiptoed, stepping into the boundary of the Wind Demon Barrier, instantly retreating backward and creating distance from him;
He dismissed the barrier, and with a flick of his fingertips, three wind blades flew towards Fafner.
Fafner's movements were sharp, and with a graceful turn, he easily dodged them...
"Tsk... What's the use of such minor tricks? Awakening your magic talent at 20, you're not even as good as those 2nd and 3rd graders!"
With that, he again pressed closer to Mil.
This time, Mil did not retreat again, only revealing a faint smile.
The people around also noticed something unusual: the three wind blades that Fafner dodged did not disappear but spun behind him;
Mil hooked his finger lightly, and the three wind blades attacked Fafner's back.
"Wow!"
And the moment Fafner lost his balance, Mil suddenly closed in, thrusting his knee sharply into Fafner's stomach;
His body collided violently with the wind blades behind him, and his torn clothes fluttered like petals.
Immediately after, Mil delivered another Sky-Shattering Palm, a heavy blow to the jaw.
Fafner staggered, and before he could regain his footing, Mil suddenly lunged forward with a Heart-Striking Elbow, sending him flying.
Everyone gasped, as if the entire dueling ground had dropped a few degrees.
The surroundings were silent, Mil shook his hand, feeling that the kid's chin was quite sharp...
He squinted at the young man opposite, whose ear tips were flushed with anger, then straightened his clothes and spoke in a deep voice:
"My name is Mirfak, 20 years old, residing at the Laiyata Estate in the Holy See District, engaged. I serve as a Cardinal Deacon in the Tribunal, and I return home no later than 5 PM. I have no bad habits, occasionally appreciating red wine. I go to bed before 9:30 PM, ensuring eight hours of sleep. Before bed, I drink a glass of warm milk, then do 40 minutes of Magic Nerve exercises, which ensures I sleep soundly until dawn. Although I have experienced many failures and pains, I never carry fatigue and stress to the next day; even the Holy See's Chief White Magic says I am very healthy."
A plain and unremarkable statement gradually caused a stir in the crowd—
"His life is so disciplined!"
"Ordinary and common, but steady and handsome, no wonder he can create so many miracles!"
"Just by looking at his lifestyle habits, you know he must be a healthy and good person."
Fafner stood up...
Although Mil's set of forbidden combat techniques had left Fafner breathless for a while;
But pain aside, the actual damage caused to the young dragon was almost negligible.
Fafner was red-faced, feeling immense humiliation...
He had never been so disheveled in a fighting arena!
His clothes on his back were torn, revealing his slender waist and skin as smooth as jade; many girls who saw it felt somewhat ashamed of themselves.
Mil's eyes were indifferent as he continued to speak:
"Besides completing my work at the Tribunal and my studies at school, I also set aside three hours daily for physical training, swordplay, and combat techniques. Even performing 200 push-ups is completely effortless for me."
"Hmph, even so, you cannot contend with the Dragon Race! I... I'm getting serious!"
Fafner clenched his sword, and Mil continued to speak to himself:
"Although I enrolled late, I have currently used fragmented time to complete my foundational magic theory knowledge, and in the last assessment, I achieved an S+ grade. I have also not fallen behind in Potions, Elemental Transmutation, Golden Numerology, Black and White Quintessence Theory, Introduction to Alchemy, and Introduction to Astrology, and I have invested a great deal of time in honing my magic control to its peak."
"What exactly do you want to say?!"
Fafner's voice was clear like a silver bell, making him seem unable to be fierce...
Mil sighed:
"I just want to say, I don't care if others are better than me, nor do I care if the world revolves around me. I just want to do my own duties to the best of my ability, because as long as I do these things..."
At this point, the angle of the sunlight just cut across the window sill, and Mil naturally spread his hands, receiving the sacred light:
"The world is at my feet."
The entire arena fell silent, and all eyes converged on Mil.
He was so calm and reserved, yet so arrogant...
But that arrogance was not off-putting; instead, it had an inexplicable charisma and a strong infectiousness.
Everyone only saw Mil's miracles and achievements, only saw him quickly promoted to Cardinal Deacon, only saw him marrying the enchanting Lilith...
Only now did they understand how much sweat and effort lay behind this?
Mil was also waiting...
Waiting for Fafner's medicine to take effect.