Chapter 26: Strangers!
"I believe in you, Boss Alex! I believe in you so much that I'll bet my eternal bachelorhood on your victory!"
Benny Lane clenched his fists, his face a mask of desperate sincerity. "If you lose, may I never find a girlfriend for the rest of my life!"
Alex chuckled, reaching out to pat Benny on the shoulder. The morning sun cast long shadows across the school entrance, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air.
"Hey, hey, don't talk like that. That's a heavy curse, man. Besides," Alex's grin widened, a confident glint in his eyes, "I am absolutely going to win. Your love life is safe."
"Right! Of course! I unconditionally trust you, Boss!" Benny's smile grew brighter, practically blinding.
However, beneath that seemingly certain expression, waves of worry were crashing against the shores of his heart. He knew the opponent. Elara Vance. An S-Rank Ice Elementalist backed by the wealthiest clan in the city. The odds were stacked so high they scraped the sky.
"Alright, time to go in," Alex said, adjusting his collar.
Just as they were about to step through the school gates, a voice, cool and clear as a mountain spring, called out from behind them.
"Alex. Can we talk privately?"
Alex paused. The familiar voice triggered a flicker of memory. He turned around slowly.
Standing there, bathed in the soft morning light, was Elara Vance. Her silver-white hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her expression was as aloof and beautiful as ever, though her eyes held a complicated emotion.
"Sure."
Benny, sensing the atmosphere, immediately read the room. He gave Alex a thumbs-up, shot a wary glance at Elara, and then tactfully retreated. "I'll save you a seat, Boss!"
Alex and Elara walked side by side toward a quieter section of the campus grounds, near the old library. The noise of the gathering crowd faded into a distant hum.
Leaves rustled in the wind. Swish... swish...
Elara stopped abruptly. She turned to face him, her posture stiff.
"In this match... I hope you win," she said softly, her voice devoid of its usual icy edge. "When the time comes, I will hold back. I will let you win."
The Vance family owed Alex too much. His parents had died saving hers. And now, her father was humiliating him. Letting him win... it seemed like the only compensation she could offer.
Alex looked at her, his expression unreadable. He scanned her aura.
Tier 1, Rank 2.
She was talented, certainly. Reaching Rank 2 within three days of awakening was a feat that placed her at the pinnacle of Riverdale's youth.
But compared to Alex, who was sitting at Tier 1, Rank 7... she was fragile glass.
"There is no need for you to hold back," Alex replied calmly. "I hope you go all out. Otherwise... you won't even be able to withstand a single move from me."
Elara's brows knit together slightly. A trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.
In her memory, the Alex she knew wasn't this arrogant. He was quiet, perhaps a bit dull. The young man standing before her now, radiating a sharp, dangerous confidence, felt like a completely different person.
"Do you really want me to go all out?" she asked, her voice hardening. "You know I have an A-Rank weapon."
"I know. Use it. That is the best choice for you, and for me."
Alex didn't hate Elara personally. She was just a girl following her family's orders. The one he truly despised was Victor Vance, that treacherous, ungrateful backstabber.
"Have you really decided?" Elara asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Yes. I've decided," Alex said, his tone final. "After today's battle, you and I... we will have nothing more to do with each other. We are strangers."
Without waiting for a response, Alex turned and walked away. His stride was purposeful, never looking back.
Elara stood rooted to the spot, watching his retreating back. The wind picked up, blowing her hair across her face.
Whoosh...
Her beautiful eyes were filled with confusion and a strange sense of loss.
What did you go through, Alex? What changed you so much?
She sighed softly, a puff of white mist forming in the air, and turned toward the Arena.
The Grand Arena.
The massive stadium was packed to the brim. Thousands of people—students, teachers, city officials, and members of various factions—filled the stands. The noise was deafening, a roar of anticipation that shook the very foundations of the building.
Buzz... Chatter... Roar!
Not only were the representatives of the major clans present, but members of underground organizations and students from neighboring cities had also come to witness the spectacle.
An S-Rank vs. S-Rank duel was a rare event. No one wanted to miss history in the making.
In the VIP section, the air was thick with tension and perfume.
"Distinguished Representatives, allow me to introduce myself. I am Victor Vance, father of Elara Vance."
Victor Vance, dressed in a suit that cost more than most people earned in a year, approached the five representatives from the Great Academies with a beaming smile.
Gideon Lance (Arcane Martial) and Seraphina Frost (Capital Warrior) merely glanced at him before looking away, their expressions indifferent bordering on disdain. To them, a local clan leader was nothing special.
Professor Alaric (Expanse War), however, offered a polite, diplomatic smile. "To raise such an outstanding daughter, Patriarch Vance must have put in great effort."
"You flatter me! It is my daughter who strives hard," Victor replied with false humility, though his chest puffed out.
Professor Alaric nodded. "I look forward to the duel between Alex and your daughter."
"Hahaha! Rest assured, my daughter's performance will satisfy everyone," Victor laughed loudly, his confidence overflowing.
Seeing that the representatives weren't keen on chatting further, Victor tactfully retreated to his own seat.
"Did you bring Alex's uncle?" Victor whispered to his butler, his voice low and malicious.
"Yes, Master. He is sitting over there, in the general stands," the butler whispered back, pointing a gloved finger toward a corner of the arena where James Whitefield sat alone, looking anxious and out of place.
Victor followed the finger. Seeing James's worried face, he sneered. "Well done."
"It is all thanks to the Master's guidance," the butler fawned.
Victor waved his hand, dismissing the servant.
Around him, leaders of smaller factions swarmed like flies to honey, eager to curry favor with the man who was about to become the father of a superstar.
In their eyes, Elara Vance was guaranteed to win today. The Vance Clan was about to ascend to new heights.
As for Alex? He was just a stepping stone. A sacrificial lamb for the Vance family's glory.
"Patriarch Vance, you truly have a phoenix for a daughter! After today, the Vance Clan will surely rise to the top of Riverdale!"
"Indeed, Patriarch Vance! I was thinking, perhaps our families could deepen our business ties in the future?"
Listening to the endless stream of flattery, Victor felt as if he were floating on clouds. The feeling of being worshipped was intoxicating, like fine wine.
"Rest assured, everyone. When the Vance Clan rises, we will not forget our friends!" Victor declared grandly.
Today, his clan would be the protagonist. They would shine brilliantly!
In a private box nearby, Cyrus Xander watched Victor's smug performance and shook his head gently.
"The higher they climb, the harder they fall. I fear the Vance Clan is about to take a plunge."
"Dad, where is Alex? Why don't I see him?" Sia peered over the railing, scanning the floor anxiously.
"I don't know. Wait for Principal Higgins to finish his opening speech. He'll appear when the match starts."
Sia huffed, sinking back into her chair. "Boring." She muttered under her breath, "If it wasn't for Alex, I wouldn't be caught dead in this noisy place."
The Center Stage.
Seeing that the venue was at capacity, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
Principal Arthur Higgins stepped onto the central podium, his voice amplified by magic, booming across the stadium.
"Welcome, everyone! Welcome to the duel between our school's top prodigies, Alex Whitefield and Elara Vance! And a warm welcome to the representatives of the Five Great Academies!"
Cheer! Clap! Whistle!
"Now, without further ado... please welcome our contestants!"
On the northern side, the prep area door opened.
Elara Vance walked out first.
She wore a streamlined white combat suit that accentuated her figure. As she walked, frost seemed to form on the ground beneath her boots. Her cold, breathtaking beauty was illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the open roof, instantly capturing thousands of hearts.
"Goddess Elara! Victory!"
"Go, Elara! Show them women are strong!"
"Woohoo! Elara Vance is invincible!"
The cheers crashed down like a tsunami, wave after wave, deafening and passionate.
"This girl... she has a good presence," Gideon Lance nodded slightly, a flash of appreciation in his eyes.
"Indeed. I suspect this will be a crushing victory," Professor Alaric commented, his tone certain.
Ice was generally considered superior to Darkness in direct confrontation. Elara had the backing of a clan, resources, and weapons. Alex was an orphan with no support. The odds were overwhelmingly in her favor.
"Don't be so hasty. The boy, Alex, hasn't appeared yet," Seraphina Frost interrupted coolly, her eyes fixed on the empty southern gate.
"Let us welcome... Alex Whitefield!" Principal Higgins announced loudly.
However... silence.
The southern prep area remained empty. No one walked out.
The crowd murmured. Confusion spread like a ripple.
"Is he scared?"
"Did he run away?"
Just as the audience began to jeer, a heavy, grinding sound echoed through the arena.
Creak... Boom!
The massive main iron gates of the arena, not the small prep door, slowly groaned open.
A figure stepped out from the shadows into the blinding light.
Alex.
He wore a long black trench coat that fluttered behind him like a cape of shadows. He walked with a steady, rhythmic pace, like a king returning to his throne.
Facing thousands of spectators, his eyes showed no panic. There was only a pool of calm, chilling stillness.
He didn't look at his opponent. He didn't look at the VIPs.
His gaze swept the stands until it locked onto a solitary figure in the corner.
James Whitefield.
Seeing his uncle, a warm, genuine smile broke through Alex's cold facade. He raised his hand and waved.
James, seeing his nephew, stood up. His face was etched with worry, but he shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice hoarse:
"Alex!! You can do it!!"
Alex nodded, giving him a look that said, Don't worry.
Then, his expression hardened again. He turned and walked straight toward the central ring.
Up in the VIP box, Seraphina Frost leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.
"That kid..." she murmured to herself. "He gives off a very mysterious feeling..."