The Mage Of Primordial Chaos Chapter 22
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"I, Feng Mian, challenge thee, to a duel!"
...Uh...what?
I stared at her face blankly (along with everyone else in the classroom). The hell she means, duel? Well, I mean, I knew what duels were, but where did her proposal even come from? Her cheeks slowly began to redden, but didn't back down, finger still pointed at me. Awkward silence ensued. Then, thinking I hadn't understood what she meant, she began to repeat what she had just said.
"I, Feng Mian-"
"Yeah yeah, I heard you the first time," I hastily stopped her before she could make a fool out of herself (she probably already had). "Come with me."
I grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out the classroom.
"H-Hey! What are you d-doing! Let me go!"
Ignoring her protests, I held tightly on to her until we were clear out of sight from the other students, in a remote section of the hallway.
"What's the meaning of this?" I asked impatiently after letting go of her hand.
"That's...I want something from you!" she declared after a slight hesitation.
"...Something from me...that could be misinterpreted in many ways," I replied. "...But what do you want from me that could make you initiate a duel?"
Duels were no casual competition. Established by the IMF and utilized in all schools, they were an official fight between two students that came with wages. The entire process was overseen by The Dueling Committee, a special student body to which you submitted your applications for duels after both parties had agreed to the wagers.
There were three ways to win duels, as stated by the IMF.
1. Knock your opponent unconscious.
2. Touch their school crest, either with your magic or physical body. (every magic school had their own, and every student was required to wear one on their uniform at all times - though I didn't have a uniform in the first place, I still had a crest. But I didn't wear it, and no one seemed to care either). The school crest would transmit a signal when it senses it has been touched by anything not the wielder him/herself, and announce the opponent's victory.
3. Opponent forfeits.
The main reason duels took place was a placement system, also created by the IMF - each school's list of their strongest fighters, The Magus Rankings. Top ranked students were able to receive special rewards and privileges that were extremely beneficial to their training, such as high-tier spell scrolls, elixirs, and exclusive access to a remote cultivation area especially rich in mana. Thus, there's not one student in any school that doesn't want to reach the top of The Magus Rankings.
But I wasn't ranked at all. I mean, how could I be? I had nothing to fight with except my physical body, which wasn't going to do much against magic. I had only awoken my powers yesterday, and as of right now, my mana is completely drained too. So why did Feng Mian challenge me?
After looking around nervously, she began with a flushed face. "Um...b-bring your face closer!"
Huh? I ask you a simple question and you answer with 'bring your face closer'? I didn't understand, but I complied anyway. I leaned in close, and her face reddened even more.
"N-Not that way, baka!" she whispered harshly while averting her gaze. "T-Tilt your head sideways!"
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Ah...so she needed to tell me in secret. We were in a fairly isolated area of the school, but that didn't mean it was completely deserted. I mean, if she hadn't attracted so much attention with yelling at the top of her lungs, she wouldn't have had to do this. But whatever. I did as she asked. Feng Mian then leaned even closer to me, and I could feel her warm breath on my ears. My heart began pounding against my will.
"...The stone pendant." she whispered softly.
...I see.
I had completely forgotten her true objective in joining this school. Memories of the conversation I overheard began flowing back to me as well. Immediately, all the gears clicked into place. She had found out about the stone pendant's whereabouts yesterday, since my shirt had been completely incinerated, leaving the stone pendant in clear view.
But that left one mystery: why hadn't she stolen it already?
After all, I had completely let my guard down. If she had just took it while I was unconscious in the infirmary and escaped, I would've had no way of finding her. She had various other opportunities too, yet out of all the choices she had, she decided to fight me square-on - even after seeing my true power just a few hours earlier.
As I pondered this question in my head, I found myself slowly beginning to admire her. Of course, I had always applauded her beauty and strength. But this time, it was something deep within, something that was part of her inner self.
Soon, I had arrived at my answer:
If a fair duel was what she wanted, then a fair duel was what she was going to get.
*****
- 6 PM, After School -
Under the bright spotlight illuminating the entire vicinity, two figures stood on a large platform, surrounded by cheers and applause from all around. Feng Mian and I were the two fighters on stage. We were currently in the Arena, a room specifically designed to host duels and tournaments.
Earlier today, Feng Mian had rushed to submit a duel application to The Dueling Committee while I hurriedly explained things to Qing Yue. She had been quite confused, but after some explaining she understood, and promised to watch the match (though to be honest, I didn't really care). Feng Mian had bolted out of the classroom as soon as I answered yes along with my own wager, and had apparently gotten approved quite quickly.
Duels almost always took place after school, and were a huge highlight, especially when top-ranked fighters are competing. In this case, neither of us was a top-ranked fighter, so instead of coming to learn, most of the audience was here to catch a lucky glimpse at what's underneath Feng Mian's skirt. That much was pretty obvious, seeing as how all of the onlookers were males (except for Qing Yue), and currently gazing intently at our campus belle, holding phones and cameras alike in their hands. Well, that, and seeing how in the world a person with no magic was going to fight back.
"Crush him, Feng Mian!"
"Xuan Kai, you're done for now!"
"Hahaha! What was he thinking, accepting a duel when he can't even use magic?"
Loud jeers filled the crowd, who still had no idea that I could in fact use magic. But I, having been used to them for a long time now, have already perfected the art of ignoring.
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Feng Mian, who also seemed to have achieved mastery in shutting her eyes (ears in this case) selectively, spoke first. "Are you ready, Xuan Kai?"
"...Yes," I replied.
"Alright. Then...here I come!" she yelled, preparing to unleash her devastating ice magic on me.
I still didn't have mana at the time - it just happened that none of the classes today were practical magic training classes, so no real magic was to be used. But I merely smiled.
If I didn't have mana, then all I had to do, was GET SOME.
Then, in the next moment, Feng Mian snapped open her eyes. "Level One Ice Magic: Blizzard!"
Immediately, a raging flurry of snow coated the stage. It was, however, captured by the invisible magic barrier surrounding the arena, which was always in place during duels to ensure the audience's safety.
I grinned. A smokescreen (snowscreen?) as her first move, huh? I see. It seems this wouldn't be as easy as I thought. She probably predicted the stone pendant's power and flaws based on recent events, and devised a strategy based on that. Or, someone had told her - maybe that mysterious man threatening her? Even if my stone pendant had the ability to suck in mana, I still had to be able to predict where the attack was going to come from. However.
...Why not just suck in the entire smokescreen?
A devious smile painted on my face, I relaxed as I felt the stone pendant absorbing the energy around. I could feel the cold blizzard being converted to warm mana and flowing into my Dantian. After about 10 seconds, my Dantian was stirring powerfully once more - the same feeling, albeit not as strong, that I had experienced yesterday and in the Magic Training Room. It was one that symbolizes power, the mark of strength. This, was where the battle truly began.
To the audience, it seemed as if the entire white landscape unleashed by Feng Mian had just completely disappeared, and were extremely confused. But Feng Mian herself was the most shocked of all.
"What..." she murmured to herself.
But I wasn't about to give her the pleasure of relaxing. I concentrated my mana and let it flow all around my body. Things were going exactly I had expected. "Kuku...let's begin."
Not leaving a second to spare, I began my incantation. "I will end this quickly...Potentia Excitant: Celeritas!"
The adrenaline rush of the speed boost spell (albeit only Level One) was something I could never get used to. I grinned devilishly and lowered my body, preparing to dash directly at her. I still couldn't control the speed very well, but I could at least turn my body to hit the opposite wall with my leg, then use it as a platform to leap off of, changing my direction in the process.
Meanwhile, the crowd was going wild.
"H-Hey...did he just use magic?!"
"S-Since when...?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Feng Mian shook her head, seeming to have finally snapped back to her senses, and quickly prepared a defense. "Glacier Form: Wall!"
A giant wall of ice rose up in front of her, blocking my path. But she didn't stop there. She cast three more Glacier Form: Wall spells that surrounded her completely, leaving me no opening to attack from...
...Is what she thought, but I merely smirked. I leapt back from the ice wall, twisted my body, hit the magic barrier behind me, then shifted at an angle so that I could use the momentum to spring myself all the way to the top of the arena, hitting the ceiling. I then kept going, facing straight down, aiming for directly above Feng Mian while turning so that I could land safely on my feet.
Unfortunately, she wasn't just your average mage either. She noticed me coming from above, and desperately tried to block me off with another ice wall. But realizing that there wouldn't be enough time, she quickly tried to think of another option.
But by the time, I was already directly above her. It was a sure victory - all I had to do was touch her school crest-
And at that moment, she VANISHED.
Completely gone from my vision, I landed right where she had just been standing moments ago.
I was confused at first, but slowly my frown twisted into a devious leer.
Shadow Magic.
Ah...how could I have forgotten? She had reminded me just earlier today (though she didn't know) of that conversation I overheard, between her and the cloaked man. She was a Dual-Element Awakener, Shadow and Ice. She got me good there. But y'know...everything has a weakness. Still...this was troublesome. At first, I wanted to only use one element to defeat Feng Mian in order to not show my true power to everyone watching, but she leaves me no choice...
"Kukuku. Nice one, Feng Mian," I mused. "However, that isn't going to stop me."
I'll say it again. Everything has a weakness. That's why...
"Level One Light Magic: Illumination."
At my calling, a bright but harmless flash exploded in the arena, and at the same time, so did the crowd.
"WHAT?! LIGHT MAGIC?!"
"F-FEI WU KAI CAN USE TWO ELEMENTS?!"
"What in the world..."
I ignored these comments. I had a job to finish. I looked around at the ice walls surrounding me, and cursed inwardly. Feng Mian...why did you have to make it so tough for me? I can't break through these thick ice walls without hurting you accidentally unless I use Fire Magic to melt them away...
I sighed and gave up on hiding my strength.
"Level One Fire Magic: Ring of Embers."
"FIRE MAGIC TOO?!"
"T-TRI-ELEMENT AWAKENER?!"
Immediately, the ice walls around me melted away to nothingness. What was left behind was a beautiful blonde girl with deep amethyst eyes, lying on the cold arena floor. She was tired and derived of any mana left. I walked up to her gorgeous figure, stopping the ring of fire around me just in time. Bending down, a gently reached out and touched her school crest. I then twisted my hand into a handshake posture, and held it out to her.
"...You okay?" I asked.
"...Hehehe...you got me." Feng Mian beamed as she warmly took the hand I offered.
A mechanical voice from above us cut through the silent arena.
"Duel End: Victor - Xuan Kai!"
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The Rise of the Winter Wolf
What would you do if your entire life was suddenly changed at the drop of a hat? The entire population of the world that you were born into suddenly transported to another planet along with the rest of the intelligent inhabitants of the Milky Way Galaxy. A strange System talking to you about abilities and levels without a care for your opinions. Thousands of monster spawning dungeons placed around the new world without a care for the new inhabitants. And if those weren't bad enough, a forced invitation for one thousand random individuals to compete in a livestreamed competition within a dungeon with the rank of Administrator as the prize. You don’t know? Well, it’s actually pretty simple. You survive. Our story follows Wolf Adler as he, along with every other human on Earth, are faced with a strange blue box filling up their vision, warning them about an upcoming reappropriation of every being of sufficient intelligence to a new planet for the initialization of some sort of System. Will he perish in this new world? Or will he thrive? Except for the first 4 chapters, Book 1 has been moved to Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Except for the first 4 chapters, Book 2 has been moved to Amazon Kindle Unlimited. If you do not have the financial means to purchase the books, then you may DM me on discord through my discord channel for a pdf version of the book. There is only one main protagonist, but the story does have more than one perspective that it is told from. It's mostly first person from the main protagonist and third person perspective for the livestreams. The beginning of the story has also been massively rewritten since most of the reviews as of 1/23/2022. The release schedule right now is dependent on my college classes and coursework, but I always try to keep it to at least one chapter every other day, if not one chapter every day. I do not write sexual content or harem stuff. I am also not very interested in writing romance, so if you think you might see some romance, then you are probably wrong unless it's only a slight hint at romance or a slow romance very far into the story. Lastly, know that I don't like long-winding antagonists that get on everyone's nerves and last throughout the entire story. And I do like plot twists, so if you are predicting something that you think is going to happen later on that you dislike, (particularly around the middle to end of book two) then it likely won't happen.
8 408The Rabbit Knight
Lying on her deathbed, hacker enthusiast Ellowyn was about to breathe her last, but not before receiving a hero summon request to a futuristic world. Having little left to lose, she decided to start anew. To her dismay, her weak heart gave up in the middle of the transfer and only her soul was reincarnated. As Ellowyn regained her memories in the new world, she was surprised to find her new body just as frail as the one she had in her last life. With just a half-broken hero system and self-trained hacking skills, she was quick to find out that not all problems can be solved with logic and code alone.
8 207Supreme Lord Shapeshifter
Martin was a serial killer and psychopath,He was working with different organizations for killing the people they want,One day an organization gave him an address of scientist and they said they want that scientist dead.Martin did not think about it so much, he just went and killed the scientist.But one thing he did not know that,Scientist, planted a weird magical bomb in his house, after Scientist dead, Martin died as a result.But this was not the end, The Magical Bomb that Martin was killed was a system, and after Martin died from the bomb, he earned a system in a world people are shapeshifters, Author - Krizantem -
8 454Married To The Don
Don Seth Salvatore was the most dangerous man in London. Living two successful lives both normal and underworld, he was unstoppable. Alana Carsten's world was turned upside down the moment she said her ' I do ' to the vows that tied her entire life to the Don himself, thrown into a dangerous mafia world the fearless spicy twenty five years old was ready for any challenges coming her way.• book one of the Salvatore's series (can read as a stand-alone)• all images in the book don't belong to me, credit to the rightful owners• cover by @myyyraaa_
8 726Squire Named Jack
Jack is an ordinary squire, a servant to his master. He hauls swords for him, does his laundry, cleans his shoes, generally does whatever his master tells him to do. Jack is afraid of battle, he is weak, he is small. But his great lord is mighty and strong, he can defeat all opponents along Jack's path! And all would be fine... if Jack didn't have one little secret.... What is it? You'll find out for yourself! Author's Note: I am translating this book using Google Translate, so the grammar may be lame, but I really care about what people on this site think, so I am posting this book here.
8 169The Girl That Could | ✔|
After the death of Jessie's father, Makayla watches the slow disappearance of her friend. However, when a small note slips out of Jessie's locker promising the impossible, maybe there is hope for Makayla's closest and dearest after all.***Occasional strong languageFirst draft***🥈Lit Awards🥉Moonlight Awards🏅Punk Rock Awards🥉Ruby Awards🥉Mysterious Awards🥉The Aurora Awards: Frost Edition🥇The Butterfly Awards🥉Cosmic Awards🏅ACE Awards🥈Writer's Glory Awards🥇 LY Awards🥈Sunflower Awards🥇Adore You Awards🥇Pretty in Punk Awards🥉 Deli Awards
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