Chapter 43


    vin stood upon a stone bucket, observing Galos''bat style with keen interest.


    With a thunderous explosion, Galos withstood Broden''s mighty broadsword. At the same moment,


    lightning surged from his body, assaulting Broden with the ferocity of hundreds of silver needles,


    eliciting gasps from all around the arena.


    Broden screamed in agony, and staggered back over a dozen paces. His body was marred with


    cuts andcerations, tingling with numbness.


    Seizing the moment, Galosunched a rapid session of lightning punches, throwing Broden''s


    offensive into disarray.


    "Well fought!" The crowd in the arena roared with excitement, cheering wildly.


    vin clenched his fist in silent admiration for Galos'' prowess. Combat Magic was a tool, inert in


    itself, but versatile in the hands of a skilled wielder. The fluidity with which Galos executed


    ''Thundervein Valor'' was a testament to his status as an Elite Protégé, a clear sign that the Grand


    Elder had invested heavily in his training.


    However, just when victory seemed certain for Galos, Broden struck back from the brink of defeat.


    His broadsword miraculouslynded a blow on Galos. The sight made many onlookers gasp,


    unsure of what had just happened.


    Galos narrowly dodged, but not before the de tore a crimson gash across his chest, not deadly


    but bleeding nheless. Galos was stunned; victory had seemed within his grasp, yet things didn''t


    go as nned.


    The stark red wound was a ring contrast to his pale chest. Galos touched the wound with his


    finger, brought the blood to his lips, and tasted it with a cruel smile curling his lips.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "I yield!" Broden dered, sheathing his greatsword with a show of grace, acknowledging his


    inferiority to Galos.


    "Yield? I''m not done yet. We''ve only just gotten to the blood," Galos'' expression twisted as he


    lunged at Broden once more.


    Broden frowned slightly but stood his ground, taking a deep breath and boldly meeting the attack


    with his heavy sword swinging.


    "Broden''s in trouble," vin muttered to himself.


    "Hey,d, what are you looking at?" A cold voice suddenly interrupted from behind.


    vin turned to see several young Protégés climbing the steps towards him.


    Upon hearing of the spectacle, these neers had hurried over, racing to the summit only to find


    vin perched atop the stone bucket, engrossed in the duel.


    Ignoring them, vin continued to watch the thrilling contest on the dueling tform.


    "You still watching?" The leader of the group shouted arrogantly.


    These were Intermediate Protégés who had bullied vin in the past.


    "Is it bothering you?" vin nced at them dismissively.


    "Heh, you''ve grown bold, haven''t you? Thinking you''re tough as a Stage III?"


    "I''ve always been bold. I had no trouble thrashing you before," vin sneered. Two years ago,


    before even bing a Novice Mage, he had used his brute strength to beat these Protégés, who


    were then only Stage I. He had beaten them so badly they had avoided him for over half a year.


    Two yearster, these Protégés had advanced to Stage III.


    Their taunting words riled the group.


    "Back then, we were only Stage I, not well-versed in Combat Magic. Now, with our Combat Magic


    refined, we''re not the same as before."


    "We''re no longer afraid of your brute force."


    "We''ve been looking for you these past few days, and now you''vee to us."


    Remembering their past humiliation, the five Protégés spread out, encircling vin, ready to


    publicly humiliate him.


    A pretty girl nearby scoffed at them, "Don''t overestimate yourselves. Gudmund was knocked down


    with two punches by vin and rolled all the way down the mountain from the path you came. Do


    you think you’ll win?"


    "Are you joking?" The five Protégés frowned, their bluster visibly deted.


    "Joke with you? You aren’t even worth my time." The girl, quite fetching, paid them no further mind,


    and her attention returned to the fierce battle in the arena.


    "Stop making a fool of yourselves and get out," others shouted, engrossed in the excitement of the


    arena''s sh, with no interest in the sideshow.


    The five Protégés looked at each other, bewildered. vin had beaten Gudmund? If memory


    served, wasn''t Gudmund a Novice Mage Stage V? Could it be another Protégé with the same


    name?


    Seeing them back off, vin returned his gaze to the arena.


    The battle on the tform was bing increasingly perilous. Having already conceded several


    times, Broden could no longer stand his ground. Galos was relentless and kept pushing him back. A


    mighty roar of thunder sent Broden reeling back a dozen steps, staggering to the edge of the arena.


    “You dare to wound me?!” Galos sneered inwardly. His left fist delivered a feint to distract Broden,


    while his right palm thrust viciously toward his face, aiming for the eyes.


    "Broden, be careful!" Someone shouted from below.


    Broden''s eyes widened in terror. It was toote to dodge.


    Crack! A surge of lightning erupted from Galos'' palm. A blinding sh and scattering sparks seared


    Broden''s eyes.


    Broden screamed, blinded. Galos'' firm palm struck true, sending Broden flying backward, tumbling


    into the crowd below.


    "Ah!" Broden clutched his eyes, wailing in pain as blood seeped through his fingers.


    Nearby Protégés rushed to help, pulling Broden to safety and ring resentfully at Galos on the


    tform. Wasn''t this supposed to be a friendly bout? Why did he use such a ruthless strike?