The midday sun streamed through the wooden window, casting a muted golden hue on the slightly dusty floor.

A gust of wind rattled the doors of the arena, creating a series of creaking sounds.

Beside the left-side pillars of the arena was a well-worn training area with a large sparring platform. Due to its age, the platform was visibly old, with weathered dents and cracks.

Standing on this training area were several martial artists, their auras clashing.

"Even though we're taking this duel seriously, I wouldn't stoop so low as to bully you by crossing two ranks."

Tzilveni pointed at Frey, speaking with righteous indignation.

As one of the top experts of the third years, no matter how much she wanted to win, she wouldn't do something so dishonorable as to bully a freshman who had just entered the school.

Then,

Tzilveni waved her hand, and a burly fighter stepped forward, looking like he couldn't wait to start beating Frey up.

"He's our vice-minister, a fifth-tier second year. Let him give you a lesson."

After Tzilveni finished speaking, she folded her arms and stepped outside the dueling area.

In the silent clearing, the light and shadow were dim, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air.

The two martial artists, their auras clashing, wore serious expressions as they warmed up and prepared.

Simple, small jumps, landing with soft thuds.

Their eyes were resolute, as if the only thing left in the world was the opponent in front of them.

Observation was an important step in close combat.

Frey loosened his coat, twisting his neck and relaxing his shoulders with a confident and calm expression as he faced his opponent.

Everyone else gradually retreated.

Ensuring they had enough combat space.

"What do you say?"

Tzilveni looked at Lanche, who was far away on the other side, asking if he could start.

"Please begin."

Lanche nodded.

"Begin!"

Tzilveni's voice echoed in the dilapidated arena.

As her words ended, the atmosphere, which had been suppressed to the extreme, instantly broke free.

The roar of the strong man cut through the silence, as he charged toward Frey like a wild beast!

His figure instantly turned into a bolt of lightning, his muscles exploding with tremendous power as he moved, seemingly intending to bury Frey with a single, devastating kick!

Frey seemed much calmer, quietly watching the rushing strong man, as still as a mountain facing a storm.

Frey's hands, held in front of his chest, were already in a defensive stance, as if he had been prepared to deal with the opponent's surprise attack.

Even the fighters in the back row couldn't help but hold their breath, all eyes focused on this moment.

Victory or defeat could be decided in an instant!

Just as the two figures were about to cross paths, about to meet with fists and feet.

The next moment—

Frey's right hand "whooshed" out from the inside pocket of his coat, took out a sphere flashing with magic crystal light, and slammed it out, while falling to the ground in a battlefield-veteran-like defensive posture.

A thunderous explosion rang out in the arena, even shaking the building slightly.

Smoke and sparks flew through the air, and the ear-splitting blast seemed to freeze time for a moment, with only the burning sparks jumping in the air.

The strong fighter's body was instantly lifted by the huge explosion, his body drawing a large arc in the air, then falling to the ground like a bird with broken wings.

His body rolled a few times, finally stopping in a corner of the arena.

The fighter, lying unconscious on the ground, was covered in black, his eyes tightly closed, his mouth spewing black smoke like an octopus.

This dilapidated arena, which had just been a tense silence, was now a scene of stunned silence!

All the fighters stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded by this sudden situation.

"...Lanche!"

Hyperion lowered her voice and muttered through gritted teeth next to Lanche.

She felt like there was going to be a big problem!

Even if the group of fighters hadn't completely understood what was going on yet, Hyperion knew that what Frey had taken out was a light demolition bomb from the Student Council's Magic Engineering Department, and it would be no problem to knock out a fifth-tier fighter at close range!

Lanche smiled at her with a subtle motion, seemingly thinking the problem wasn't serious.

On one side of the field, Frey dusted off the smoke and stood up unscathed.

"I won."

Frey easily shook his collar, his eyes flashing with bright light, and said in a calm voice,

"Times have changed, and the soul of martial arts also needs to ride the wind of the times and step onto the airship called Magic Engineering."

"You *!"

As expected, the remaining fighters showed great rage.

Hyperion felt the terrifying surge of anger, like a volcano gathering energy.

Although she felt a little scared, she was also amazed that Frey's simple operation seemed to be about to push this group of people entirely into Lanche's [Great Poet of Love] kill zone!

But today, in this situation of mediating conflicts on campus, she absolutely couldn't let Lanche use [Great Poet of Love] to cause a campus-wide chaos!

"Frey!! You despicable guy, how dare you mention the soul of martial arts!!"

"You actually used a hidden weapon in a fair duel!! How can the Knight Academy have trash like you!!"

It seemed that this group of people couldn't help but rush up and beat Frey up, but they were afraid that Frey would take out a few more bombs.

Mainly, Frey's explosion just now damaged a roof beam of the wooden house, making the wooden house precarious.

The fighters were afraid that if Frey continued to rampage under the guise of defense, the entire arena might be reduced to ashes!

Facing the other party's accusations, Frey frowned:

"But, you didn't say that new weapons couldn't be used in a fair duel."

"Shut up! Knight duels don't allow bombs!!"

The dueling methods of the Knight Academy are mostly unwritten rules, and everyone can't find specific clauses, mainly relying on default.

But no one has ever taken out something as outrageous as a building demolition bomb from the Magic Engineering Department in a duel!

The two sides maintained their distance, arguing endlessly.

If it continues to develop, perhaps they will eventually lose their minds due to anger and trigger a war!

Just then,

Lanche, who had been watching everything from the back, seemingly uninvolved, finally stepped forward. He walked past Frey and briefly exchanged a glance with Frey.

"Please calm down, everyone. Harmony is the most important thing. I know everyone's points of contention and the problem."

Lanche looked at everyone on the opposite side and said calmly and confidently,

"At the beginning, both sides had deviations in their understanding of the rules, so the current situation has occurred. So, I suggest that this match doesn't count and we rematch. Moreover, next, we will sign a contract before the competition begins, and write all the specific terms on it. That way, no matter who wins or loses, everyone will be convinced."

His words were rational and his expression was fair and magnanimous.

Reaching a harmonious agreement to solve the problem seemed to be his responsibility.

Burning out in the evening, I will try to update more tomorrow... coded until I almost fainted...

(End of this chapter)