Zeke's words were met with a temporary silence, soon interrupted by a single clap echoing through the hall. All eyes turned to Veer Varun, the person responsible. The old man had a pleased smile on his face as he addressed the crowd.
"Excellent, excellent. It seems both parties have willingly agreed to the Yuddha. It has been quite a while since the sacred duel was called, and it would be my honor to host this event. I invite all of you to stay and watch."
Zeke regarded the man dubiously. He hadn't exactly agreed willingly to the fight, and Jaihar's challenge sounded nothing like a noble duel or sacred tradition. It had seemed more like the taunting of a backstreet hooligan.
However, the word Yuddha was something he had come across before. He just couldn't remember where exactly.
[Notice]
The Yuddha is a traditional conflict resolution method in Korrovan, employed when influential houses or groups cannot resolve disputes through other means. In essence, it is a fight to the death. Before the duel, both parties state their terms and select a champion to represent them. Champions must be legitimate representatives of their respective houses, with no servants or slaves permitted. The fight takes place publicly, with spectators serving as witnesses to ensure the terms are upheld.
Upon hearing Akasha's words, Zeke remembered where he had heard the term. While studying the laws of Korrovan, he came across a few scrolls describing archaic rules and traditions. He had been under the impression that none of those were still being enforced. Yet, judging by the cheers of the crowd, it seemed he had been wrong.
Zeke's gaze shifted between the two men. Veer appeared inscrutable as ever, but Jaihar couldn't conceal his emotions nearly as effectively. A massive, shit-eating grin adorned his face, confirming Zeke's suspicion that they had been plotting this from the outset.
"State your terms," Veer announced to the hall.
Jaihar didn't even have to think before stating his demands directly. "I request that our feud is settled with this duel and that the other party instructs his allies not to seek troubles with me after this."
A frown quickly appeared on Zeke's face. This… was troubling.
It wasn't just that they had been manipulating him, but the fact that Jaihar had agreed to this plan suggested he was likely not as deranged as he seemed. Clearly, there was a method to his madness. Killing Zeke here and now would effectively eliminate the threat to his life. While Ravi might hold a grudge, he probably wouldn't pursue Jaihar after this. Meanwhile, the Nair family lacked the strength to avenge him…
Before he could consider this any longer, Veer addressed him next. "What are your terms, Blood Dragon?"
However, it was already too late to back out. Zeke pondered the best course of action for a moment before resolutely pointing at Snow. "I request ownership of this girl. Furthermore, she is not to be hurt or mistreated in any way until our duel is concluded."
Veer raised his arms, gesturing to both contestants. "Do both parties agree to the terms?" Jaihar nodded eagerly, and Zeke concurred. "Your agreement is acknowledged, witnessed by all. The fight will commence in one hour. Prepare yourselves accordingly and get your affairs in order."
Zeke stepped away from the window and smiled at his companions. "Stay with Aisha until this is over. Don't worry too much; this will be a piece of cake." Under their tense gazes, he left. A servant was already waiting for him.
Zeke was led outside and across the open ground behind the Treasure Pavilion. Soon, they arrived at a colossal complex, almost as vast as the auction hall itself. It appeared to be a scaled-down replica of the Rings of Samsara. The servant came to a halt next to one of the contestants' entrances.
"You may use this room to prepare yourself," the man said.
Zeke observed him carefully. This was the same servant who had guided them before. However, his polite facade was now replaced by a mocking sneer. He must've assumed there was no need to put on a front anymore, considering him as good as dead.
Wordlessly, Zeke stepped past the man and closed the door behind him, paying no attention to the antics of the servant. The moment he was alone, his mind started to spin.
"Akasha, what are my chances?"
[Notice]
If Host employs all his abilities, he has approximately a 65% chance of victory.
Those odds were worse than he expected. However, recalling his fight with Ishaan, the number seemed about right. He had been completely unable to injure the man and had to collapse the building in a last-ditch effort to win. Even if Ishaan was likely stronger than Jaihar, it wasn't much consolation.
Zeke recalled their last fight. Back then, he had faced Jaihar alongside two companions. Granted, they had gotten in each other's way more than anything else. With a wince, he remembered how his left arm had been disintegrated after a single hit. The damage would have been even worse if he hadn't already been doused in water at that point.
He had only survived that fight by using his Draconic essence to hold out until Gravitas overcame her opponent. However, there would be no such luck this time. Also, there was one more fact to consider…
"How are my chances if I only use my Blood affinity?" Zeke asked mentally, already dreading the answer. Akasha remained quiet for a long moment.
[Notice]
If Host only uses his blood affinity, he has approximately a 31% chance of victory.
Zeke winced at the number. His chance of survival was around a third while holding back and two-thirds when going all out. However, the second method was even more likely to get him killed in the long term. This didn't look great.
"How confident are you, Dragon?" Zeke asked.
"Even odds," the Dragon responded after a moment of thought. "Less if I have to protect you as well."
"Just that much?" Zeke asked, deflating slightly. He had expected more.
The Dragon scoffed. "If I were in my real body, I wouldn't even fear this so-called Lightning Exarch, but there is only so much I can do with the inferior shell you provide. You should not underestimate the difference in tiers just because you got lucky last time."
Zeke's eyes lit up; a new idea was already forming in his mind. "Then, what If you had a better body?"
The Dragon didn't respond, but Zeke got the impression that it was grinning wolfishly. That was answer enough for him. He cut open both of his palms, guiding the blood out of his body. "I'll be counting on you."
***
The hour passed in the blink of an eye. Jaihar was already waiting in the center of the arena when Zeke arrived. A cocky smile was plastered on the young man's face as he addressed the crowd. "…It is but the first step in taking back the former glory of my family, of the Firebrand school."
Zeke stumbled out of the tunnel, his gait unsteady and his complexion pale. His appearance immediately drew the attention of the crowd, and many hushed voices mentioned the possibility of foul play.
Even Veer furrowed his brows when he saw Zeke's wretched state. "What happened to you, boy?"
Zeke took one more step, fully emerging from the entrance's shadows and blinking against the afternoon sun. As his eyes adjusted, he gazed at the open sky and smiled. "Nothing," he replied. "My current state is the result of my own preparations, nothing else."
"What preparations—" Veer started, but a loud noise cut off his words. The commotion came from the tunnel behind Zeke. The audience went quite as well, listening carefully.
Boom, Boom, Boom.
This noise… It sounded like heavy footfalls accompanied by the scraping of metal against stone. Zeke smiled widely, raising his pale arms. "Behold…" he announced theatrically.
The next moment, a long maw emerged from the shadows behind him, followed by a long, sinuous neck with razor-sharp teeth and gleaming red scales. The beast towered over Zeke by a good bit, even walking on all fours.
"...The Blood Dragon," he finished his announcement, feeling the last strength drain from his legs. However, before he could collapse, the Dragon lowered its head and supported him. With unexpected deftness, it bit his robes and carefully moved Zeke's limp body onto its back. Summoning his last reserves of strength, Zeke grabbed onto the Dragon's towering horns.
Zeke had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Over the last hour, he had lost many times his body weight in blood and now barely had enough left to remain conscious. The constant generation had taken more of a toll on him than expected. However, the look of absolute horror on Jaihar's face was enough reward for his troubles.
"This… is clearly against the—" Jaihar stammered, but he was interrupted by a loud roar. It wasn't anything like the noise the Dragon made in its smaller form. It was a deep, guttural bellow that could have cowed the bravest man. Even Zeke, sitting on the creature's back, felt the hairs on his neck stand on end.
The arena fell quiet, with only pale, frightened faces staring back at him. Even Veer and the other Archmages stood frozen, not because they couldn't defeat the Dragon, but out of fear — it was a primal fear of prey facing a hunter far higher on the food chain.
Zeke marveled at the sight. It was the first time such gazes were directed at him, and the sensation of power… was strangely addicting.
"Remember this feeling, whelp," a deep voice rumbled in the back of his mind. "This is what it means to be a Dragon."
Zeke nodded, and a small smile emerged on his lips. His current state didn't diminish the sense of accomplishment he felt at the current moment. Even though he had borrowed the Dragon's power, it was still his spell that had silenced those high and mighty Mages, his creation.
Eventually, Veer shook off his momentary daze and remembered his duties. His eyes wandered from Zeke to the Dragon he was riding. Next, his gaze slid toward Jaihar. Zeke couldn't be sure, but his eyes seemed to contain a silent apology as their gazes met. However, there was nothing either of them could do to stop this.
"Are both contestants ready?" he asked.
Zeke nodded, and even though Jaihar gritted his teeth, he eventually agreed. He must have had some confidence to defeat the monstrosity in front of him. He was a Grand Mage, after all.
"Very well. On my mark: 3… 2… 1… FIGHT!"
Jaihar immediately erupted in a flurry of movement, bombarding them with a barrage of spells. Zeke recognized some of them from his time at the Elementium, while others were completely foreign. Yet, before the first attack reached their position, the Dragon was already moving.
"Hold on tight," it commanded.
Zeke gritted his teeth, attempting to summon strength into his limbs. However, Akasha was already one step ahead. Thin, red tendrils emerged from his hands and feet, fastening Zeke to the Dragon's horns and scales. The sanguine threads were so fine that he hadn't even noticed the additional blood loss. Yet, they were strong enough to hold him in place securely.
Yet, he was given no time to observe the spell as the Dragon pushed off the ground. A single flap of its wings seemed to take them out of the arena, and a further flap brought them far out of reach.
Zeke had been forced to close his eyes due to the quick acceleration, but now that they were circling, he was enjoying the feeling of the wind in his hair. It reminded him of his first time flying on an airship. Yet, this feeling was even more liberating.
Peering down, the battleground appeared tiny, the spectators barely visible, and Jaihar, nothing more than an ant. Zeke could barely make him out at this distance, but it appeared like the Fire Mage was blasting spells into the sky. His attempts were laughable, unable to reach halfway. After a few moments, he seemed to realize the futility of his efforts and gave up.
"What now?" Zeke asked.
His reply was a predatory grin, followed by a downward tilt of the Dragon's wings. Zeke held onto its horns with all his might as they transitioned into a dive. Their current momentum easily put the earlier movement to shame. Zeke felt his stomach lurch as the ground closed in on them.
"Now, little whelp," the Dragon said. "It is time to hunt."