Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1497: The Duel’s First Words

The crowd erupted once again. Murmurs rippled through the stands, low voices swelling into shocked gasps, then into open exclamations. "Oohs" and "ahhs" echoed like waves, rolling across the vast colosseum. The entire arena trembled, not from magic, but from the sheer disbelief of what had just been declared and, more importantly, what had just been accepted.

Ibarin, the Grand Magus himself, had answered. He had accepted the challenge of a student.

Many among the audience clapped their hands together, half in admiration and half in stunned approval. Some muttered that this was humility at its finest, that the Grand Magus, a man with no obligation to respond, had chosen to descend from his position of power to grant the wish of a mere student. To them, it seemed like a display of kindness, a gesture to make the final day of the event all the more spectacular and memorable.

But in the Wilton preparation room, there was no mistaking the truth. They knew Raze too well.

"Wait, he wants to go up against the Grand Magus, and the Grand Magus actually accepted!" Moze shouted, his hands flying to his head in disbelief. His voice cracked, as if he had just been told his entire world was turning upside down.

"You didn’t figure that out already?" Chiba rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. Her tone was sharp, biting, and impatient. "What other reason would someone like him, someone tied to the Dark Guild, be here in the first place? And not just any member, but one that strong. Everything he’s done, every step he’s taken since this event began, has been for this very moment."

The realization sent shivers down the spines of several students.

"You mean... he’s going to try and kill him, isn’t he?" Yolden asked. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or horrified. She had never thought, not once in her life, that she would find herself silently rooting for a Dark Guild member over the Grand Magus himself. But after everything they had seen, after all the truths that had clawed their way into the open, the world felt distorted.

"With the way Ibarin has been acting, and with everything we now know he’s done, this fight will be to the death," Redrick said firmly, his jaw tight. "And I’ll say this plainly, I believe Ibarin has already killed our principal."

Gasps filled the room. The students didn’t know what to say. Their faith in Alterian had already been shattered piece by piece, and now, with Redrick’s words, another piece of the illusion crumbled. They were inclined to believe it, because every truth they had clung to had betrayed them already.

"My question is," Piba said, her voice trembling slightly, "is Raze even strong enough? We’re talking about the Grand Magus here. A nine-star mage. One of the most powerful mages not just of our generation, but in all of history. I thought, honestly, I thought, that maybe all of you, his allies, would stand with him to fight the others. I didn’t think he’d walk onto that stage alone."

At that, Safa and the others from Pagna, the allies who had crossed into this world with Raze, straightened their backs. Their eyes were calm but resolute. They hadn’t moved yet, but their bodies were tense, ready. If the situation demanded it, they would leap into the fray without hesitation. But not yet. Not now. This was his moment, and they knew better than to steal it.

"I wouldn’t worry too much," Liam said, scratching his head, his tone casual despite the tension. "I mean, Raze already beat one of those guys, right? What was his name again, Bnaxx? Doesn’t sound right..."

"Enaxx," Londo corrected quickly, his eyes wide. His voice rose, almost cracking. "Are you saying he defeated Enaxx? The Grand Magus Enaxx?"

The words shook the room. It sounded impossible. Absurd. Surely they would have heard about something so monumental if it had truly happened. And yet... when they thought about it, when they replayed the recent weeks in their minds, they realized something chilling.

Hadn’t news of Enaxx gone strangely quiet? Normally, he was everywhere, constantly moving, constantly making his presence known, always paraded as one of the faces of the Grand Magus’ strength. And yet recently, there had been nothing. No sightings. No words. Silence.

The students exchanged glances. Doubt and belief tangled in their hearts. What if it was true? What if the impossible had already happened, and they were only just now catching up?

Back on the arena floor, Ibarin lifted his voice again, smiling as he addressed the entire colosseum.

"First," he said smoothly, "I believe we need to be clear on some rules. I’ve seen how skilled you are. I know you must have some tricks hidden up your sleeve. If the two of us fight without restraint, then there is a chance, just a chance, that you could be seriously hurt."

The crowd murmured again, but Raze only smiled inwardly. He could hear the edge in Ibarin’s words, the mask of courtesy covering teeth sharpened with malice. A true nine-star mage wouldn’t even need to make such disclaimers against a lower-ranked opponent. In Ibarin’s mind, Raze was, at most, a six-star. Perhaps, if he was generous, a seven. This excuse wasn’t about safety. It was permission. Permission for Ibarin to go all out, to unleash his power under the guise of protecting the student.

"Right, I understand," Raze replied evenly. "I want to test my full capabilities and use everything I have. So I expect no less. That means it’s fine if I hurt you as well, yes?"

The crowd gasped.

Students could be arrogant, yes. Many were bold, cocky, and eager to prove themselves. But this... this was different. This was Raze speaking directly to a Grand Magus with no hesitation, no visible fear, no sign of intimidation. His words weren’t reckless, they were calculated, deliberate.

Ibarin’s jaw tightened behind his smile. His teeth ground together though his lips never faltered. "Very well. Understand that the other teachers will have no chance to intervene. The scale of our spells, the weight of our power, it will be beyond them. When this duel begins, no one will be able to help you. I simply wanted you to be aware of that."

Then his smile sharpened further, his voice turning low. "Tell me, young one. What is your true goal in all of this? Do you want to prove your strength to me, so that I might one day select you as a candidate for the next Grand Magus?"

Raze chuckled. His hands rose slowly, deliberately, palms open as wind magic flickered to life, spiraling and dancing in his grasp.

"I’ll let you know the answer," he said, eyes locked firmly on Ibarin, "you’ll find out the reason for all of this, today!"

*****

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