Chapter 3: The Duel That Shouldn't Be Won
The academy arena was larger than a stadium.
Floating platforms circled the main stage. Magical barriers shimmered overhead. Nobles filled the upper seats while common students gathered below.
Today's duel was meant to establish hierarchy.
In the original story—
It established fear.
And sealed Lucien's reputation as a future tyrant.
I stepped into the arena calmly.
Across from me stood my opponent.
"Darius Valecrest," the announcer declared.
Tall. Confident. Fire affinity, Rank A.
In the novel, I crushed him in three moves.
Humiliated him.
Burned his pride in front of everyone.
That single act pushed him into the Hero's camp.
So today…
I would not repeat the same mistake.
Darius sneered.
"Shadow boy. Let's see if the rumors are true."
Arrogant.
Predictable.
The barrier sealed.
"Begin!"
Flames erupted instantly.
He attacked aggressively, just like the story described.
A wave of fire surged toward me.
In the original timeline, Lucien countered with overwhelming darkness.
Today—
I used Abyss Step.
My body melted into shadow.
The flames passed through empty space.
Gasps echoed across the arena.
I reappeared behind him.
But instead of attacking—
I whispered,
"Too slow."
Then kicked him lightly in the back.
He stumbled forward, embarrassed.
Laughter broke out from the lower seats.
Humiliation without destruction.
Precision instead of brutality.
Darius roared and unleashed a larger inferno.
The heat cracked the arena floor.
Now this was dangerous.
If I ended this too cleanly, it would look suspicious.
If I destroyed him, the world might accelerate my villain arc.
Balance.
Always balance.
He charged recklessly.
I sidestepped.
Shadow gathered around my hand—
Not enough to terrify.
Just enough to win.
I struck his shoulder.
His flames extinguished instantly.
He collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
"Winner: Lucien Vaelthorne."
Applause.
But not fear-filled silence like the novel described.
This was different.
Calculated dominance.
Controlled strength.
Across the arena—
Caelum Ardent was watching closely.
His golden eyes were sharp.
In the original story, this was where he felt righteous anger.
Today—
He looked thoughtful.
Curious.
Dangerous.
As I stepped off the platform—
A sudden pressure crushed the arena.
The air turned heavy.
The sky darkened unnaturally.
Students screamed.
The elders stood up instantly.
I felt it before anyone else.
That presence.
That correction.
Above the academy—
The golden eye opened fully this time.
Massive.
Ancient.
Judging.
[Warning]
Narrative Correction Triggered
Probability of Forced Event: 63%
Forced event?
Suddenly—
A crack tore open in the sky.
A monstrous creature fell through.
Black scales. Six wings. Burning red eyes.
A Rift Beast.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
The first Rift invasion happens in Year Two.
Not today.
The arena barrier shattered like glass.
Students panicked.
In the original story—
Lucien does nothing.
He lets chaos unfold.
The Hero saves everyone.
And gains admiration.
If I interfere—
I disrupt the Hero's growth.
If I don't—
The world wins.
The beast roared and dove straight toward the lower stands.
Toward the commoner section.
Toward the trembling boy from yesterday.
The one I spared.
So this is the correction.
Force me to choose.
Villain.
Or deviation.
Across the arena—
Caelum leapt forward.
Golden light bursting from his body.
Heroic.
Brilliant.
But too far away.
He won't reach in time.
I could let it happen.
It would strengthen my path.
More fear.
More sin.
More power.
[Significant Sin Opportunity Detected]
Estimated Gain: +300 Points
Three hundred.
That's massive.
All I have to do—
Is nothing.
The beast's claws descended.
The boy screamed.
And for a split second—
I hesitated.
Then I moved.
Abyss Step.
I vanished.
Reappeared directly beneath the falling monster.
Shadow exploded upward.
Not controlled.
Not gentle.
Pure darkness.
The beast shrieked as its body was pierced by a thousand shadow spikes.
It crashed into the arena floor—dead.
Silence consumed the world.
Everyone stared.
The elders.
The nobles.
The Hero.
Me.
My breathing was uneven.
That was too much power.
Too much exposure.
The golden eye in the sky trembled.
Cracked slightly.
[Severe Deviation Confirmed]
Narrative Correction Failed
Destiny Instability Increased
Across the arena—
Caelum lowered his glowing blade slowly.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't grateful.
He was staring at me.
Like he had just seen something impossible.
Not a villain.
Not a hero.
Something unpredictable.
Something outside the script.
And that…
Is far more dangerous.
[Major Sin Reversal Detected]
You have rejected a high-yield sin.
Hidden Path Unlocked: ???
Hidden path?
Before I could process it—
A voice echoed in my mind.
Not the system.
Not mechanical.
Ancient.
Amused.
"So you choose to defy the story…"
Cold dread crawled up my spine.
"You interest me, little villain."
The golden eye in the sky blinked once—
And disappeared.
Leaving only clear blue heavens.
But I knew something now.
The world isn't just correcting me.
Something is watching.
And it has started paying attention.