Chapter 57: The Climb Begins
Second Year – Week Five
The first challenge came faster than expected.
It was midweek, between morning lectures and combat theory classes, when the public duel board updated. Dozens of students gathered in the open courtyard between the eastern and central spires, eyes flicking up to the large soul-infused screen suspended above.
Karen Lockwood's name appeared in flickering silver.
> Challenge Accepted: Ranker #92 - Toma Dellan vs Karen Lockwood
A murmur spread across the courtyard.
"Karen Lockwood?" someone asked.
"The new second-year?"
"She accepted a duel already?"
Jim, Marie, and Leslie stood at her side, watching the screen update in real time.
"You sure you're ready?" Leslie asked.
Karen nodded. "If we're climbing, we need to move. We studied him. Toma's reckless, he underestimates his opponents he finds beneath him."
Marie leaned closer. "Then surprise him. Go fast and go clean."
---
The dueling arena was a wide circular platform surrounded by transparent shielding. Dozens of students now filled the stands—spectators, opportunists, and Rankers keeping a close eye on rising names.
Toma Dellan stood on the opposite side, tall and broad-shouldered, layered in obsidian-red armor fragments across his arms and torso. His aura was sharp and metallic, laced with jagged kinetic momentum.
Karen approached calmly. Her black robe fluttered behind her, Abyss Scythe now fully formed at her back, its edge humming faintly.
Toma narrowed his eyes. "Didn't think you'd show up. Thought you people were all bark and no bite."
Karen didn't respond.
The instructor on duty raised her hand. "Ranked Duel. Targeted advancement. One-on-one. No external interference. First to incapacitation or surrender. Begin."
The moment the signal dropped, Toma launched forward, metal spikes forming across his shoulders. His aura compressed into his fists as he lunged with a soul-powered charge.
Karen vanished.
A whisper of violet aura trailed through the air.
Shadow Bloom exploded beneath Toma's feet before he could react. Dozens of ink-black petals erupted upward, cutting through his momentum and shredding the air around him.
Then came the scythe.
Karen appeared behind him, blade arcing silently, her presence like a void.
Toma twisted, bringing up a barrier—but it cracked instantly. Her soul-bound scythe hummed as it cleaved past his defense, slicing across his shoulder and dropping him to one knee.
In one fluid motion, Karen reversed the swing, the petals following, and struck him squarely in the chest with a condensed soul bloom.
Toma flew backward into the barrier wall and slumped, groaning.
The silence in the arena was total.
The instructor stepped forward.
"Victory—Karen Lockwood. Rank advancement granted."
---
Later that evening, the group gathered in the library, Karen now ranked #92.
Marie was grinning. "Okay, I think you've got their attention."
Leslie pulled up more Ranker data. "We've seen at least twelve challenges issued this week alone. Everyone's scrambling."
Jim leaned forward. "Your match was clean. People are going to watch your style now. We can't keep surprising them forever."
Karen took a breath. "That's fine. We'll adapt. Stay one step ahead."
A new alert buzzed on Leslie's interface.
She blinked. "Uh… Jim?"
"What?"
"You just got challenged."
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