After a long lunch, Gray finally managed to slip away from those annoying pests.

The moment he stepped out of sight, the strange glow inside his eyes faded as he cancelled the magic that created the hypnotic rings.

He didn't like them much.

Currently, he was walking back to the training grounds since he didn't want to waste such precious time doing nothing.

But then...

"HEY, YOU!"

A loud voice echoed from behind him.

Gray didn't even bother to turn around. He continued walking like the air itself were more important.

"BASTARD! I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

The shout was filled with anger, pride, and wounded ego.

Gray finally stopped.

He stared ahead for a moment, exhaling slowly, before turning his head just a little, only enough so his cold black eyes could see the one who dared to yell.

It was a young man wearing a silver badge on his chest, showing that he belonged to one of the special elite groups.

His face was flushed with fury, and behind him stood four other students, all glaring like loyal dogs behind their boss.

'The fuck does this fucker want?'

Gray's expression stayed calm… maybe even a bit bored.

"…What do you want?" he asked plainly.

The young man pointed at him with a shaking finger, his voice loud and proud.

"I, Damien of the Silver Wolf Division, challenge you to a duel! And if I win… Lyra becomes mine!"

Gray blinked twice at Damien's words, his gaze falling on Damien's friends who remained behind him like guards, all wearing proud smirks.

Then, he slowly turned his body to face them completely.

"…Repeat what you just said," he spoke softly.

Damien clicked his tongue and stepped closer, practically shouting so everyone could hear.

"I said that I, Damien of the Silver Wolf Division, officially challenge you! And when I win, Lyra will belong to me. She will stop being your woman and become mine instead!"

The area around them suddenly exploded with whispers.

"Wait, did he just say Lyra? The girl from the FE-Class?"

"No way… challenging Gray over her?"

"Is he insane or just wants to die?"

Students nearby quickly pulled out communication crystals and recorded the scene, sending short messages to their friends who weren't present.

Some even began running toward other buildings to spread the news by mouth.

It only took a few minutes before a small crowd gathered, forming a rough circle around Gray and Damien.

Gray did not move, his calm expression not changing even a little. He was just a little curious about Damien... what problems did this guy have to challenge him so openly?

After a long moment, he finally spoke.

"You want her?" Gray said calmly and without emotion. "And you think winning a fight gives you the right to own her?"

Damien smirked, wiping his nose proudly.

"That's how the Silver Wolf Division settles our claims. Whoever is stronger deserves the better woman. And everyone knows Lyra is one of the most beautiful girls in the academy. I have no reason to lose to a lazy first-year brat like you."

Gray stared at him, expression still empty, but his eyes slowly darkened.

"So you're not only weak," he murmured, "you're also stupid."

"Tsk!" Damien's face twisted with anger.

"You can talk big now, but let's see how long that attitude lasts in the arena! Unless," Damien leaned forward, laughing, "you're actually scared?"

Gray shrugged lightly.

"You're too fucking loud... let's just get this over with."

Students around them burst into noise again, some shocked, some excited, some almost screaming like hungry wolves wanting blood.

"He accepted, right?"

"Yeah, there's no way he backs off now."

"Get the teachers, this is going to be official!"

A nearby third-year student wearing the uniform of the duel referees stepped forward, raising his voice.

"A formal challenge involving relationship rights requires approval at the arena. Both sides must sign!"

Damien agreed instantly.

"Fine by me! Let's go. I'll destroy him in front of everyone."

Gray slipped his hands into his pockets and began walking.

He didn't bother looking at Damien again, almost like he was walking to buy snacks and not to fight for someone's future.

After all... even though Damien was a second-year student, his power level had barely reached the peak of the Master realm.

And Gray had the absolute confidence of being invincible within the same realm.

The walk to the arena created even more noise. Students followed behind them like a parade of excited children.

By the time they reached the arena, over a hundred spectators were already there, and more were running from all directions.

Meanwhile…

Inside the girls' dormitory, Lyra sat on her bed, staring at her hands with a tired look.

Her heart felt heavy because she could still feel the strange distance between her and Gray, even after he returned to his usual teasing self.

After all, he didn't even ask her if she wanted to hang out after lunch.

A faint knock suddenly echoed.

Tok, tok, tok...

"Lyra! LYRA! Open the door now!" a girl shouted from the hallway.

Lyra opened it quickly, confused.

"What is it?"

"You need to go to the arena! Right now! Someone challenged Gray for your hand!"

Lyra froze, her eyes shaking.

"What…?"

The girl grabbed her arm.

"Hurry up! The news is spreading everywhere! They said the challenger is Damien from Silver Wolf Division!"

Lyra's heart dropped like a stone.

She didn't even waste time changing clothes as she rushed out immediately, sprinting across the walkways, ignoring the strange looks from everyone she passed.

At the same time, word reached Selene, Selina, Lira, and Ronan as well.

All of them headed there, fast.

Back at the arena, Gray casually signed the battle contract with a bored expression. Damien signed his copy with a wide grin, raising his hand toward the cheering audience.

"No backing out now, Gray! Today, I will take everything from you—your pride and your woman!"

Gray stepped inside the arena ring, his body relaxed like he was ready for a nap.

He cracked his neck slightly and spoke in a quiet, cold tone that sent chills through every person who heard it.

"You made one mistake."

Damien grinned confidently.

"Oh? And what is that?"

Gray raised his gaze, his eyes turning darker… and darker… until the air itself seemed to freeze.

"You challenged me."

Damien scoffed loudly at his words, rolling his shoulders with a smug smile.

"Hah! Listen to yourself. A first-year trash like you wants to talk about ownership? You won't even last twenty seconds in front of me. After that, Lyra will walk away with a real man."

Gray didn't reply to his words.

Talking, for Gray, was a reward.

And Damien hadn't earned even one more word.

And just outside the arena gate...

Lyra finally arrived, breathing hard, her boots scraping the stone floor as she ran. When she saw the packed seats and heard the excited noise, her heart tightened painfully.

"Did… did it really start?" Her voice shook.

Before anyone could answer...

DING!!!

A sharp metallic sound from the referee's bell cut through the entire arena, making thousands of heads turn toward the stage.

"THE MATCH BEGINS!"

The reaction was instant and explosive.

"LET'S GO!!!"

"BEAT HIM, DAMIEN!"

"GRAY, DON'T DIE TOO FAST!"

"This is going to be crazy—FINALLY real drama!"

Lyra froze at the entrance, eyes widening with panic.

"No… no… Gray—!"

Fwip!

Inside the ring, Damien slammed the bottom of his boot into the ground like he was marking ownership, and a silver glow formed around his right arm.

In a bright flash of light, a long silver spear appeared in his grip, its blade thin, elegant, and shining with a sharp metallic aura.

"Oh? A spear user," Gray muttered softly, reaching behind his waist, pulling out his rapier.

Damien twirled his spear above his head, arrogance shining in his eyes.

"Don't regret coming here."

Gray held his rapier loosely with one hand, the blade angled down.

Swoosh!

Damien kicked the ground first, his body rushing forward like a charging wolf.

The tip of his spear shot toward Gray's chest with a clear killing intent, air splitting sharply around it.

Gray slightly tilted his body left, letting the attack pass right beside him.

His coat fluttered, but his feet didn't even move more than half a step.

"Tsk!" Damien clicked his tongue and spun the spear around, attacking again with a wide horizontal slash aimed at Gray's ribs.

Gray bent backward smoothly, like his spine was water, the blade of the spear passing right above his nose.

With the same motion, he raised his rapier slightly and tapped the spear shaft with a soft, metallic ding, breaking Damien's flow.

"What was that? A greeting?" Damien hissed.

Gray remained silent, taking a few steps back as Damien charged again, this time stabbing three times in quick succession.

First, a straight thrust to the throat.

Clang!

Then, a ow sweep at the knee.

Clack!

And finally, a Reverse swing aiming for the shoulder.

Ping!

Gray blocked each strike with minimal effort, twisting his wrist to move the blade to the right angle with calm precision, letting their blades spark but never shake his arm.

Damien's eyes twitched with irritation at his, causing him to grit his teeth as he jumped backward, spinning his spear once in his palm.

"I guess you're not just a clown who likes attention…" he muttered.

'...That description would actually fit the other me,' Gray sighed inwardly,

Then, he slowly lifted his rapier, pointing the tip straight at Damien's throat.

"You speak too much."

Damien smirked and lowered his stance again.

"Then shut me up."

Fwoop!

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