Chapter 159: Cards Duel (2/2)

”120% of your strength.”

”Hoo.” He heard Yurirl breathe out. ”Where did you learn this rune?” Yurirl asked.

Arthur paused his inscribing and didn't reply. He then resumed and another four minutes passed. The second card was finished. He turned to Yurirl and looked him in the eye.

”That's none of your business,” Arthur said and Yurirl stared back at him before nodding and sitting back down. Arthur stared inscribing the third rune.

”This rune is for support and it would weaken your opponent.”

***

Yurirl strode toward the arena equipped with the fifteen runic cards that Arthur Silvera has inscribed. He could barely stop himself from shaking at the sight he had witnessed.

Unprecedented inscribing speed. Runes that far exceeded the basic tier. And the most terrifying thing of them all, those golden eyes. He stood against his opponent who also had a set of cards strapped to his belt.

”The duel shall start in five,” Several duels were taking place at the same time. The arena has been divided into five smaller arenas where the duels would happen. Ten rounds over five arenas until fifty duels are over. ”Four.” The staff counted down.

Yurirl looked at his opponent who had a smug expression of confidence. Hasn't this guy heard that he'd be challenging Arthur Silvera, the champion candidate? Yurirl felt slightly sorry. He took out the support rune Arthur had inscribed and held it lightly between his fingers.

”Three! Two!” The crowd counted as well. ”ONE! BEGIN!” Yurirl used the rune and it found its mark instantly. The blonde man in front of him cursed as he must have felt his mana decrease.

”That's cheating!” The blonde man shouted but Yurirl didn't care and took out the fire rune. Flames gushed out of the rune like a raging wave as it burned the air and headed toward the opponent.

The opponent used a card and a wall of water protected it. The water and fire collided as steam rose, hindering everyone's vision.

Yurirl felt the air twist and used the protection card. A barrier rose around him and deflecting the incoming lightning attack. The crowd cheered as they witnessed such a rare card being used and even Yurirl was taken aback.

The lightning managed to break his barrier and reduce his health points by fifty percent. These points were recorded by the Limiter they used and they would lose if it reaches zero.

Yurirl felt anxious. Even if he had the protection runes, another lightning would defeat him. Strangely, the opponent didn't use another lightning card and simply used a rune that produced water darts.

Yurirl used the protection barrier again and used a fire runic card. The darts were deflected effortlessly without breaking through the barrier as the fire rushed to the opponent. This time, he used another water wall but the fire broke through it, reaching the partner directly.

The Limiter of the opponent beeped and the staff shouted for Yurirl to stop. The water vapor died down and Yurirl saw the empty belt of the opponent who shrugged and left the stage.

'They used an hour to inscribe a lightning card, two water defense cards, and a measly water darts?' Yurirl looked with confusion at his cards.

He used only a third of the cards Arthur gave him. Furthermore, the protection card that Arthur didn't waste more than four minutes one managed to block the card the opponent spent all of his time working on.

”Arthur Silvera and Yurirl win!” The staff broadcasted through the microphone and the crowd cheered.

Yurirl walked back as the crown kept chanting his and Arthur's name. These cards have shown their might. Arthur Silvera has proved himself to be more than a Ghost, but a bona fide genius.

Yurirl walked into the room where Arthur Silvera sat, eating snacks he got from somewhere. As he munched on those raisins, he looked at Yurirl with an unfazed expression.

”Welcome back,” Arthur said when he saw Yurirl. ”Good duel.”

Yurirl nodded blankly as he looked at Arthur who seemed unconcerned about the outcome since the beginning. He studied that average face and golden eyes, hoping to peel some truth of them.

'Does this man know?' Yurirl thought. 'Does he know that I've come all this way just to meet him?' He sat next to Arthur as they watched the other matches.

Arthur sat there munching on his snacks and offering some to Yurirl. Yurirl took them and sat there eating as well. It was the first time he ate something like this since he joined God's Blade guild.

'Does he know what I read in the ruins?' Yurirl wondered to himself as he sat there, feeling the prominent existence of the man next to him.