At 3:30 p.m., ten minutes before the duel, Tori Reglard gripped his sword and adjusted the academy's standard combat uniform. He stepped onto the arena field, greeted by a crowd larger than usual. His eyes scanned the banners and advertisements until one caught his attention:
"Commoner Resolve vs. One of the Strongest Nobles in Aspin."
He clenched his jaw. He had seen worse— "Idiot vs. Noble," "Ant vs. Lion"—but this one still irritated him. Even so, he focused on the battle ahead.
A few cheers rose from the crowd. Among them, he spotted Mica and Sunless. That was enough. He stood tall, confidence radiating from his posture.
Then Issac Reevire entered the arena.
The crowd erupted. Fangirls screamed his name as his black hair swept dramatically in the wind. His emerald, green eyes locked onto Tori with the same intensity they had during their very first duel.
But Tori didn't flinch.
Issac scanned the crowd, basking in the attention. Confidence surged through him. His gaze settled on Tori, and he couldn't help but notice—again—how strange it was that a commoner could look so striking. Wheat-blonde hair, long lashes, and those golden eyes that still burned with defiance.
He stepped into his stance, ready to fight.
The referee raised his hand.
"The rules are simple: no killing. Fight until one combatant can no longer continue. Ready… begin!"
Tori lunged forward, activating the Reglard Flame Sword Technique. It was a diverse style, honed by his father to incorporate multiple methods of overwhelming an opponent. He parried Issac's initial defense and spun behind him, launching a second strike.
Issac blocked again, but Tori visualized him as the training log he had practiced on for years. His eyes flickered with a golden glint. Issac looked surprised—he had heard Tori lacked an Authority, but the glow hinted otherwise.
Then Issac's eyes Glowed green. His Authority was active.
A crushing wave of pressure dropped onto Tori. He dropped to one knee, struggling to breathe. Issac approached slowly, blade raised.
But Tori had planned for this.
He clenched the dirt in his fist and flung it into Issac's eyes. The Authority flickered and deactivated. Tori kicked upward, striking Issac's chin and sending him stumbling back.
Issac recovered quickly and activated his Stigma: Strings of Fate. Ethereal threads wrapped around Tori, weaving and dodging with precision. Issac slashed Tori's cheek, drawing blood. Tori retaliated, but Issac dodged and kicked him away.
Tori skidded across the dirt, scraping his palms to halt the fall.
"A Stigma, huh…" he muttered, wiping blood from his face.
Stigmas were divine abilities capable of rivaling Authorities in power. They were bestowed upon mortals by Primordial Observers—either during moments of intense battle or through trials. Some could even be created through sheer willpower and the beliefs of those around the wielder.
Creating three Stigmas elevated a person to Semi-Primordial Observer status, unlocking their mental power and Authority to its fullest. To become a full Primordial Observer, one had to die and be sworn in by the System for living a legendary Fable. However, if the Creator deemed someone worthy, they could be sworn in while still alive.
Issac cursed under his breath, rubbing his burning eyes. The crowd roared—students, teachers, and professors alike. Some even praised Tori's performance so far.
Issac reactivated his Authority and began launching compressed air spheres toward Tori. Tori dodged, but one struck his leg, pulverizing it. Blood gushed from the wound.
Gritting his teeth, Tori used a special attribute his mother had taught him to heal the injury partially and stop the bleeding. Special attributes were learned through training and mentorship—like the Reglard Flame Sword Style itself.
Issac's expression turned serious. He lunged again.
Despite the pain, Tori parried and dodged. Their blades clashed at speeds faster than he had ever experienced. The duel raged across the stadium, each strike echoing like thunder.
Tori landed a kick to Issac's stomach, sending him flying.
Suddenly, a System window appeared:
[ Tori Reglard has landed a supreme critical. Mana is surging within him. ]
Everything changed.
Tori's vision sharpened. He could see Issac's Authority, Attributes, Skills, and Stigmas. He could even see his mana pool: 602 out of 1,764 remaining.
Then, strangely, Issac's mana dropped by half. His attributes weakened. Tori lunged, faster than he thought possible, and slashed Issac across the chest. The blow landed cleanly, sending Issac crashing into the arena wall.
While airborne, Issac launched three pressure spheres toward Tori. Tori dodged them with ease, his focus razor-sharp.
He felt exhilarated.
System pop-up windows appeared before Tori.
[ You have awakened an Inherited Stigma from your lineage: Eye of Constellation]
[ Five Primordial Observers are tuning into your Fable and are curious about you. ]