"Mr. Va-an, I wish to challenge you and your friend to a duel."

​​

"...Are you stupid?"

"..."

The other Explorers could not help but look at each other as they heard Van's blunt words. Charlotte and Angela, however, were trying so hard not to laugh, with Charlotte even jumping off the truck so that her snickers won't be heard by the group.

"The boy is right, you are stupid," Angela added, "We're already wasting valuable time just so that you could get a fix of your daily ego boost. Your friends are also wondering what the fuck you're doing, see their expression? No, seriously, look at them."

Duma's eyes, however, did not leave Van for a single second.

"Look, even the White Imvubu wants to see us clash," Duma then pointed towards Charlotte, "She is already trembling in excitement to see her protege match up with a Gold-rank Explorer such as I."

"I'm pretty sure she's laughing because you're stupid as heck," Angela let out a slight scoff.

"I was not talking to you. Don't think that just because you achieved a Gold-rank at such a young age we are already equal to each other."

"...You really should learn how you talk to your elders, brat," Angela stood up from her seat, already visibly annoyed from Duma's words, "Come, let's take this outside and let me wash off the stupid shit that's coming out of your mouth, you fucking shit."

Angela then jumped out from the truck, her feet stomping towards an open area far away from the truck.

"Duma, I think you have disrespected the White Imvubu's friends quite enough!" Adia could no longer stay quiet as she stepped in front of Duma.

"I believe it is quite the opposite. These two are treating our Exploration to the Darkzone as if we're just going to a picnic, perhaps being with the White Imvubu have made them delusional of their strength," Duma's tone was adamant as he returned his gaze towards Van.

"Come out of the truck if you're brave enough."

"And do what, pick up pieces of you once she's done?" Van let out a slight scoff as he grabbed Adia's hand and pulled her to sit right next to him, their hips touching each other. Van already knew why Duma was doing all of this-- he was jealous.

He was jealous of Van's relationship with Adia. If it was Victoria or Latanya, then Van might have been annoyed, but Adia was more like Andrea to him if anything… they had the same temperament, and the way they treated Van was almost the same.

And so, there was this slight urge inside Van to just mess with Duma.

"What did you say!?"

Needless to say, it was working, "Come out of the truck or I will drag you out! This isn't child's play, Mr. Va-an. I need to know if I can entrust you with the safety of my comrades, as well as the Princess!"

"Duma, I think you're overstepping your authori--"

"Fine, fine." Van raised both his hands in the air as he slowly got off the truck. So far, he was the only person to use the steps of the truck instead of just jumping out.

"Va-an, you don't need to do what he says!"

"It's fine, Adia," Van waved his hand as he walked towards Angela, who was already talking with Charlotte about something, "I need to stretch my legs anyway."

"Pft, with how short you are, you could do that on the truck," Angela bantered as he noticed Van approaching them. Van, however, only looked at Angela weirdly, as she was shorter than even Van.

"So, how do you want to go on about this?" Angela then turned her attention towards Duma, who was suddenly already behind them.

"I challenged you, so the two of you can pick what kind of match we will be having," Duma was slightly surprised as Angela managed to follow him with her eyes, but still, he managed to keep his composure.

"Let's just duke it out. I got some nice upgrades with my healing so as long as your heart beats, I can resurrect you."

"You were a Healer?" Duma's expression quickly changed, "Why did you not say earlier? Having a duel with you would be meaningless." Duma then turned his attention towards Van, no longer heeding Angela any mind.

"Choose, let us not make the White Imvubu wait any longer."

"..." Van could only slightly raise an eyebrow. If you didn't want her to wait, then maybe you shouldn't have issued this random challenge out of nowhere literally in the middle of nowhere. "Let's do as what Ms. Angela said then. Let's just… duke it out, Mr. Duma."

Hearing Van's words, Duma quickly let out a slight scoff as he cracked his knuckles, "Wrong choice, bud."

Duma then approached White Imvubu and bowed before her, "I apologize, I will hurt your protege in front of all the people of Africa. But in turn, he will learn a good lesson about humility."

"Hm," Charlotte only nodded, the veins on her neck about to pop out from trying too hard not to laugh. She still has not recovered from how blunt Van called the bearded man in front of him stupid.

The standby unit, as well as the people that were holding the cameras, have already set up their places. As soon as they saw Charlotte coming out of the truck in front of them, they knew something good was about to happen.

Duma was known to be hot-headed amongst the Gold-rank explorers, and so, whenever he was involved, one could be sure that there would be trouble. They just didn't think that it would happen even before they passed the Darkzone.

And so, with their cameras all loaded up, they pointed towards Van and Duma, who were now stretching their arms as they were getting ready for battle.

"Such a bizarre development, everyone!" The announcer during Adia and Van's race was also here, and still responsible for summarizing and telling the events of whatever was happening to the people of Africa that were watching behind their television and monitors.

"Look, look what is happening!"

"Everyone, wake up!"

There was also one platform where the people could watch what was happening live, as well as discuss it with other people. It was what Charlotte told Van before-- the internet.

The small screen was quickly flooded by the comments of the people that were watching. Finally, they all said. Finally, after a few hours of just traveling through the boring cracks of the Deadzone, something was happening.

"I thought so! It's Duma again! They shouldn't have added him to the team!"

"What do you mean not add him? He's the strongest of the Gold-rank Explorers, why wouldn't the King add him?"

"Pft, strongest? The team also has Ms. Kiama. He lost to her before, remember?"

"That was a mismatch!"

"Who is Duma fighting with again now?"

"It's the White Imvubu's protege! The dude sure has guts."

"A silver-rank vs. a gold-rank? Isn't that a mismatch? The guy just probably wants to impress the Princess by bullying the White Imvubu's protege. Shame on that guy, fighting a kid almost half his size."

The comments kept on coming in, Van, however, was completely unaware of their activities. He knew that people would be able to see them, but he wasn't aware that they were seeing him right now at this instance.

"Adia said you were fast, Mr. Duma?" Van said as he rotated his ankles, "How fast are you exactly?"

"Very fast," Duma let out a slight scoff, "But sadly for you, kid. We won't reach that far into the duel so you wouldn't be able to find out."

Van slightly furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Duma from head to toe. Although he looked calm, in truth, there was a slight nervousness in his heart.

The fastest he had fought before was Charlotte, but using her as a basis would be meaningless. If so, then it would be the deceased Reed. He too boasted his speed, but unlike Duma, Van could remember that Reed was only about level 72.

Seeing as how Duma was a Gold-rank Explorer, he should be as strong as Angela?

Van had lost to Angela in less than 30 seconds during his supposed graduation battle, Angela was far stronger than him. Does that mean that Duma was faster than him as well?

If that was the case, then Van should probably end this before Duma could use his speed. He has the advantage of being underestimated, but seeing as Duma wanted to impress Adia, Duma would probably want to end this as fast as possible.

Should he avo--

'What did I say about thinking too much during battle, Mr. Evans?'

Van's thoughts were then disrupted as he suddenly heard Angela's voice inside his mind, 'Just ram through him and use your speed. I have copied some of the big-tittied woman's Skills, I can heal you by the time you would even feel your wound.'

Hearing Angela's words, Van could not help but let out a slight smile as he shook his head. That was right, there was no point in thinking too much.

"Should we start, Mr. Duma?"

"We've already started a few seconds ago, Mr. Va-an. I am just waiting for you to make the first move--"

"!!!"

"..."

"..."

"Oh my fucking god! It's in my mouth, it's in my mouth!"

"Cut the camera, cut the camera!"

"Don't you fucking touch my camera! The people need to see this!"

"Oh my god, oh my god!"

"What... what just happened!?"