The arena erupted into a stampede of chaotic noise as Vanis triggered his movement technique, vanishing just as a web of blinding crimson lightning flickered out, punching straight into space from multiple angles and shattering it like glass, leaving a wide, swirling dark hole in mid-air that closed up as soon as it appeared.

  By the time Damien's eyes shifted away from the brief and colorful awe-inspiring display, Vanis was already on the other side of the field, appearing behind the quickly retreating Uzeer scion.

  "OH HOO!!!," The commentator cheered. "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY! MAGNIFICENT!"

  Damien watched, not realizing that he'd stood up at one point, as Zein turned around, his storm of shadow daggers swirling around him in a synchronized formation. By the time the man had finished turning, Vanis had already disappeared into another hole in space, this time appearing again behind the Uzeer lord.

  Zein had already been in motion when Vanis disappeared for the second time, so he had no time to react as the Verrille lord brought his bident down on him in a flash of crimson, causing an explosion that rippled through the field in a horizontal wave, dispersing the fog of shadows in one bright display.

  The crowd oooh'ed as Zein Uzeer was bounced off the ground and flung into the air like an unwanted doll, rolling uncontrollably to crash with a loud thump on hard, compacted sand.

  His clothes were destroyed, hair burnt off in patches, and his armor was nearly completely destroyed, revealing red, tender, smoking skin.

  "OUCH! THAT MUST'VE HURT VERY BADLY!" The commentator hissed into whatever construct they were using to project their voice all around. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT, ZEIN? TALK TO US."

  "I don't know whether to laugh or sympathize," Sareina said. "On one hand, Zein and his family had challenged Vanis, knowing fully well what they'd be getting into." She sighed. "On the other hand... That strike ought to have hurt, and hurt badly."

  Solis grunted. "I don't pity him. He is actually lucky, in fact. Had my brother wanted, he could have killed the Uzeer in three different ways by now. In my estimation, his life is already forfeit, and I reckon his family knows it."

  He raised his head.

  Across from them, on another wooden tower similar to the one they occupied, an aura erupted, powerful and yet without the crushing feeling Damien was used to. No, this one carried a creeping feeling of dread, deeper and more intense than Damien had ever felt.

  The arena darkened as shadowy smoke seeped down from the tower, rippling down towards the field in a wave of horror. It dispelled the noise and lights, plunging the arena into a state of utter darkness and silence. The sky was blotted out as something began forming; a pattern? An image?

  "THAT IS ENO—" A rich, deep voice began, with a tone that demanded absolute obedience.

  A single Crimson lightning flickered, appearing out of nowhere like a pillar to strike at the middle of the field. When it disappeared, the voice had been cut off and the shadow workings dispelled.

  There was no sign or reply whatsoever from the being that had conjured the lightning, but still, silence reigned, untouched by neither commoner nor aristocrat.

  "WOW! WHAT A WAY TO PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE!" The commentator chuckled, breaking the silence and leaving air to flow in a rush into Damien's lungs. "CHILLING, I SAY! VERY CHILLING! YOU VERRILLES KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEM FAST AND HOT!"

  On the field, Vanis could be seen standing over the unconscious body of the Uzeer scion. His bident had disappeared and he was wearing nothing more than the simple attire he'd worn for the fight, which looked surprisingly untouched given the destructiveness of the duel.

  The Verille lord placed a boot on the back of the downed Uzeer and then raised his head towards the tower structure where the others of the family were being hosted.

  He said nothing nor did anything else that was considered provocative, yet Damien swore he could feel the aura of rage rippling from the tower opposite them. It was like a dam waiting to burst, held only by whoever had sent down that crimson lightning.

  After a brief stare down between Vanis and whoever was on the other side of the tower, the aura retreated and then the same rich deep voice took its place.

  "STATE... YOUR REQUEST."

  "You have the armor of twilight," Vanis said without pause. "I want it."

  Once again, silence reigned and the aura of anger returned, simmering like hot oil on fire.

  "THAT IS TOO MUCH. REQUEST ANOTHER," The voice answered again, slow and powerful as before.

  "Maybe you should have thought of that first before you challenged my house," Vanis replied with zero change in his expression. "I want it."

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  Damien frowned and then turned towards Sareina, since Solis was likely not going to answer him. The Duveyar heir's eyes were wide open in surprise, and her mouth also opened slightly in the same expression.

  "What is this armor of twilight?" He asked.

  "An exquisite armor of Spirit King make, meant to carry the most talented scions of the Uzeers family up through their Ascension and far into the Spirit King tiers," Sareina answered as she turned to face him. "It is their family heirloom, and there exists only one of its kind."

  "And Vanis is just about to take it," Damien murmured. "Will they give it away? It is their heirloom, after all. I don't imagine they would willingly give it away."

  "They have to, not only because their reputation depends on it, but refusal would simply give the Verrilles justified reason to take it by force, Alongside... Other things." She looked to Solis, who pretended not to have heard.

  "Will you acquiesce, lord Scirax?" Vanis said again, this time with a soft tone of gentle preparedness, like a predator with prey in its grasp yet waiting patiently for its struggle to end.

  "They sent DarkMoon," Sareina said with surprise. "Hmm... They really did take this duel seriously."

  Everywhere was silent as they waited for the Uzeers' reply. The Tower was silent for a while, the simmering rageful aura still in place yet contained. Finally, the voice said with obvious reluctance.

  "IT SHALL BE DONE."

  Vanis nodded and then removed his foot from the downed Uzeer, who was already beginning to stir. He didn't wake fast enough before he was whisked away by a maw of shadows, followed by the presence of the Uzeer Spirit King which disappeared a second later.

  "WOW, AND SO GOES THE LOSERS!" The voice of the commentator came back, cheerful and jestful as before. "NOW LET'S STAND UP AND GIVE IT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR VERY OWN GOLDEN BOY, CHALLENGED AND VICTORIOUS OF TWO HOUSES, LORDDDD VANISSSS!!!"

  The crowd erupted in a roar, this one much louder than the previous ones.

  Vanis nodded as the crowd clapped for him. He raised his hands to wave to every corner, after which he simply disappeared in the same lightning flickers he'd done before, and then suddenly appeared back in the room.

  "AND WITH THE SAME GRACEFULNESS THAT I CAME IN WITH, I TAKE MY LEAVE WITH," The voice flickered, and then sounds from the background slithered in.

  "...what's taking so long? I want that door opened an hour ago!"

  "Yes ma'am."

  There was a loud crack and an excited voice sounded. "We've got the door opened ma'am!"

  "Good, I want that scoundrel flushed out immediately!" The female voice paused. "And somebody shut that projector up!"

  "Yes ma'am!"

  The sound cut off, and then one more figure joined them in the room.

  "Phew!" The young man spoke, making a gesture of cleaning out sweat from his brows. "That was close. Good fight, Vanis."

  "Close indeed," Solis raised his head. "A second later and you'd have been a bundle of muffled voice lying at the feet of Governor Turan."

  The young man, whom Damien assumed to be Huiron, shivered. "Thank goodness I escaped when I did then."

  "Good to see you again, Huiron," Sareina pitched in. "I thought you were on vacation?"

  Huiron moved to take a seat. "I was on vacation, until I woke up this morning and heard Vanis had been challenged." He glanced at the other Verrille lord who'd just moved to take his seat. "Sorry that I missed your first duel."

  "No offense taken," Vanis waved it off. "I'm more offended that you came. Do you know how much trouble you've just gotten yourself into? The Uzeers will hate you for life."

  Huiron shrugged. "They can, but what does their hatred mean if they can't act on it?"

  "Fair point."

  Huiron turned towards where Damien and Keilan were seated. "I assume these are the marvellous gentlemen who rescued poor Vanis here from the jaws, or should I say, beaks, of the Aveanii?"

  He stood up, strolling calmly across the room to stand in front of both brothers. "Even proud Nalon here owes his freedom to you both."

  The giant wolf lying at the feet of Vanis raised its head and growled, but Huiron seemed to have no care at all for the warning.

  "Oh, get over it, Nal. The truth hurts."

  The wolf glared at the young man for a bit, after which it returned to its rest with a huff.

  Huiron, on the other hand, shone a blinding smile at Damien. And for the first time in his life, he was glad he wasn't into men.

  For a long time, Damien had always considered Keilan the most handsome man he'd ever seen. The blond hair, so bright it almost shone gold. The ocean blue eyes that had a near resemblance to a crystal. Even his smile was like a warm afternoon sun, rich and bright.

  Huiron, on the other hand, was the moon to Keilan's sun. His face was pale, near white, like he'd been drained almost completely of blood. Dark, short curly hair framed a face that almost hid his deep-set, dark eyes, which gazed at Damien with a quirky smile that made him instantly suspicious.

  Truthfully, the man looked just as handsome as Keilan was, but the dark nature of it seemed somewhat more attractive than that of Keilan's.

  He stretched his hand. "I'm Huiron, wielder extraordinaire of House Saulae, at your service," the young man, whom Damien already guessed was the scion of the third founding house of Lese, House Saulae, said.

  He offered an exaggerated bow, with a smile that wasn't mocking but had a mischievous edge to it.

  "Damien Elason," Damien said, catching the other man's outstretched hand. Keilan came after, introducing himself with one hand while the other cradled the still sleeping Pinky.

  Huiron smiled when he shook Keilan's hands. "Ooooh, so you are the mysterious Keilan who brought rugged Solis to his knees. Quite a portentous achievement, I should say. I heard you did it with only your mind?"

  Keilan smiled, returning the other man's smile. "It wasn't much, really." He shrugged. "The caliber I was fighting didn't require much of my strength."

  Vanis raised an eyebrow from where he sat. Sareina covered her mouth to hide the smile that was blooming, and Solis scowled with a retort almost spewing from his mouth when Huiron interrupted with a loud laugh.

  "Word! And with the power to back it up, too." His laugh settled down into a calm smile. "I like you already, Keilan. You wouldn't mind a spar somewhere in the future, would you?"

  Damien watched his brother shrug with a raised eyebrow. "Sounds great. Bring your A-game, 'cause I would."

  His eyebrows rose more and more as Keilan continued. And though he kept his mouth shut, in his mind he wondered where this sudden bravado had come from. Keilan must have forgotten that he still couldn't make use of his essence, and even with the soul treasure that had been gifted to him by Vanis, it still would take a while before he was back to full strength.

  "Challenge accepted!" Huiron chuckled. "I'll hold you to your word and hope you survive long enough to put a smile on my face."

  He turned away with a last nod to both brothers. "In the meantime, Vanis, who do you have next? I need to know so I can prepare an appropriate insult."