Chapter 22: A Challenge
After learning about the rules, Karen and Lucy led the students to their dormitory district.
The students had four years before they finally graduated, and each year had its own dormitory district.
The first-year dormitories were located at the very end.
"Each of these houses has four bedrooms and two bathrooms with attached bathtubs. Each of you will share a house with three others, except for..."
Lucy glanced at the scroll floating beside her, searching for the top name on the list.
"Sam Tatsuya," she called out. "As a reward for winning first place in the beast hunt with extraordinary scores, you get a house for yourself."
"As for the rest of the Awakeners, the houses have been allocated based on the number of Awakeners, so you have no choice but to share a house with three other students," Lucy continued, sneaking a glance at this year's top ranker.
"This is unfair! Why does he get to have a house for himself?" one of the Awakeners from Yami's group ranted in anger.
"How is this unfair? Explain," Lucy frowned.
"You know, he scored the highest points not just in the last beast hunt but in the history of the entrance exam. So, I suggest you think twice before accusing this of being unfair."
Hearing Lucy's words and seeing her intense expression, the brat who accused of unfair treatment lowered his head and dared not speak up again.
"Now, if you want special privileges, then you have to do something special. Privileges are earned, not given," Lucy looked at the crowd.
"This goes for all of you."
"If you want his house for yourself, challenge him to a duel with it on the line."
"Then I will challenge him right now," Yami declared.
Sam grinned mischievously, recognizing the challenger.
It was none other than Yami himself, asking for a second round of beating. "Like a pig stepping into the slaughterhouse on its own, he's begging me to beat him up."
"I want to challenge him. If we win, he has to give up his house and lick my feet right here," Yami and his group of underdogs stepped up.
Sam could feel their thirst for revenge.
"If you wish to have your bones broken by me again, I will gladly grant your wish," Sam smirked confidently.
"For a man who is about to lick my feet, you talk too much," Yami sneered as a dark, purplish-black aura began to emanate from him, taking the form of a terrifying giant wolf mixed with killing intent.
"We will see about that," Sam retorted.
He was no pushover.
If someone wanted a fight, he would give it to them.
In retaliation, a dark blue aura mixed with a reddish hue grew from Sam, forming a predatory beast with three menacing heads and blood-red eyes and fangs.
The Awakeners instinctively took a step back, terrified by the killing intent in the air.
Even Yuki and Isabelle, who had scored in the top five, couldn't help but take a few steps back from Sam, sensing the extraordinary presence he was emitting.
"That's enough!" Lucy appeared between them before the situation could escalate, and released an invisible aura that pressed on both of them like a mountain.
Yami retracted his aura, taking a step back with labored breaths, unable to handle the pressure from Lucy.
Sam, on the other hand, casually retracted his own aura, shrugging his shoulders at Lucy.
Lucy narrowed her eyes at Sam. 'I put some considerable strength into that killing intent, and he can handle it?'
Putting that fact to the back of her mind, she looked at Yami and Sam.
"If you guys want to fight, go to the arena and lay out your bets in front of a trainer with mutual agreement."
...
"Have you heard? There's a duel between two first-years," one of the seniors said to another standing beside him.
"Already? Didn't they just arrive?"
The news of the fight spread quickly among the second and third years.
Those who were curious and had nothing else to do flocked to the arena to watch the spectacle.
Sam and Yami stood facing each other, with a man in a white martial robe positioned between them.
"I am Trainer Austin," the man began, his voice commanding attention.
"I will be one of your teachers at the academy, and I also oversee duels between students." He glanced back and forth between Sam and Yami.
"This is an official duel," he continued, "which means the winner will be rewarded with credits by the academy. You can keep track of your credits using the device provided to you."
Sam glanced at the device in his hand.
It looked exactly like a mobile phone that mortals used, except it was powered by mana.
Mages had developed this technology based on mortal innovations.
These devices could perform all the functions of modern mortal technology but with much greater efficiency, and they were powered by mana.
"Just for the record, you agree to fight Yami and his gang alone, don't you?" Trainer Austin asked, looking directly at Sam.
"Sure," Sam shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
"And you," Trainer Austin turned his gaze to Yami and his gang.
"Don't you have any shame? Why can't you man up and fight him yourself without the help of your buddies? Are you that scared of him?"
"Heh, it's fine. I'm still going to thrash his ass and his bootlickers," Sam grinned menacingly, eliciting odd looks from the seniors in the arena.
"This guy is arrogant," one of the seniors couldn't help but speak.
"Or confident. I'm pretty sure he's the guy who scored the top place in the entrance exam, and I heard this year's exam was pretty hard," another said.
"He's handsome too," a girl beside them muttered.
"I wonder which group he'll join?"
"Don't you see Lucy standing there? I'm pretty sure she's here to recruit him for the Student Council," another one said.
"A strong and handsome guy like him will definitely choose the strongest group, and the strongest student gang are the Hounds."
"Don't forget, the Student Council is not far off either."
"The Hounds and the Reapers don't exactly abide by the rules like the Student Council. They might use force to make him submit."
"Whatever happens, it's going to be fun," the girl smiled, as if anticipating an entertaining ride.
Back in the arena, Trainer Austin called out, "Now, state your bets."
"If I win, I want his house, and I want him to be my slave for a month," Yami said, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intent.
It was clear that Yami harbored a deep hatred for Sam; he would kill him if given the chance.
"What do you say to that?"
"I agree. And if I win, I want him and his underlings to be my slaves for an entire month," Sam's eyes showed no mercy.
If Yami posed a threat to his life, then he would respond in kind.
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]