Chapter 9: Why Am I Still Here?
Lucas stood frozen, staring at his next opponent—Raven Nightshade.
Unlike Behemoth, who was all about brute force, Raven radiated pure danger.
She had an icy glare, her movements were calculated, and the way she held herself screamed "I can end you in five moves or less."
Lucas gulped.
"Hey, uh… we don't actually have to fight, right?"
Raven's voice was cold and sharp.
"I don't waste time talking to dead men."
Lucas' soul left his body again.
Claire grabbed the nearest person. "WHO LET THIS HAPPEN?!"
The Headmaster just smirked.
"This will be interesting."
Claire turned to Lucas. "LUCAS, LISTEN TO ME—"
Lucas held up a hand. "Nah, I got this."
Claire blinked. "You… WHAT?!"
Lucas nodded. "Yep. I just have to trip at the right time, and I'll win again."
Claire lost all hope.
The referee raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
Lucas did what he did best—
He turned around and tried to run.
Except this time—
Raven was already behind him.
THWACK!
Lucas felt a sharp pain in his ribs as Raven kicked him across the arena.
SMASH!
Lucas crashed into the wall.
The audience: "OOOOOOOH!!"
Claire: "LUCAS, DO SOMETHING USEFUL FOR ONCE!"
Lucas groaned. "Okay. New plan."
Lucas staggered up, rubbing his side.
"Alright. If running doesn't work… I'll distract her!"
He turned to Raven and pointed behind her.
"LOOK! A DRAGON!"
Raven didn't move.
Her icy stare bore into his soul.
Lucas laughed nervously. "You're supposed to turn around."
Raven cracked her knuckles.
"I'm not Behemoth, idiot."
Lucas sighed. "Yeah, I figured."
Raven dashed forward, faster than Lucas could react.
WHAM!
She kicked his legs out from under him.
THUD!
Lucas hit the ground.
Before he could blink, Raven's knee was on his chest, her dagger-like fingers pressing against his throat.
The audience fell silent.
Claire's heart stopped.
Lucas just stared at the sky.
"…Huh. So this is how I die."
The referee stepped forward.
"Lucas Vance is—"
Before he could finish—
Raven suddenly leaped away, her eyes widening.
Everyone stared.
Lucas blinked. "…Did I scare her?"
Claire slapped her forehead. "NO, YOU IDIOT, LOOK AT THE GROUND!"
Lucas looked down.
And saw—
The arena floor beneath him was caving in.
CRACK!
The stone collapsed.
And Lucas—
Fell straight into a secret underground chamber.
Lucas landed with a thud in complete darkness.
The audience gasped.
The Headmaster's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting…"
Raven stood at the edge of the hole, frowning.
"…This wasn't part of the fight."
Claire was losing it. "LUCAS, ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!"
Lucas groaned from the hole. "Physically, yes. Emotionally? No."
Then, he noticed something.
In the darkness, something glowed faintly.
Lucas squinted. "What the…?"
In front of him, a mysterious object pulsed with energy.
It was a strange, glowing emblem embedded in the wall, ancient and forgotten.
Lucas reached out and touched it.
The moment he did—
A surge of power shot through his body.
His vision blurred.
Images flashed in his mind—visions of an ancient warrior, a lost technique, and… a really nice sandwich?
Lucas gasped. "Holy crap… I think I just unlocked a hidden power."
Above, the Headmaster's eyes widened.
"So… the rumors were true."
Claire grabbed the nearest person. "WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!"
Raven narrowed her eyes. "Tch. This fight isn't over."
Lucas, still dazed, stumbled back into the light.
His body felt different.
He didn't know it yet…
But Lucas Vance had just awakened something that would change everything.
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End of Chapter 9.