The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

The excitement and shock from the earlier battle were yet to end when Elder Hakar announced the next duelers.

"Aria Ainsworth and Wilson Thunder!"

Hearing his name, Wilson smiled as he stood up from his seating place in the crowd and walked down. His headband fluttered in the wind as he approached the stage. Dust rose slightly as he jumped down onto the stage.

"I’m Cool!" He exclaimed with a sharp smirk that flashed his teeth. The arena turned awkwardly silent as everyone looked at him in speechlessness. Even Elder Hakar felt second-hand embarrassment for him.

Aria walked onto the stage with a scowl on her face. Her hair was tied in a bun as she patted her clothes while looking at Wilson as if he’d stolen her apple pie.

"I paid a lot for a custom-made uniform!" She snapped at Wilson like an angry dog. Elder Hakar, for the first time, sighed with exhaustion. These two were very special breeds, even among special breeds. He could only commence their duel.

"Start!"

For a moment, nothing happened. Then Wilson struck a pose.

It was not a normal stance. No. This guy angled his body sideways, one leg stretched out, two fingers raised near his face like some legendary martial artist from a forgotten scroll.

"What is he doing?" someone whispered in the stands.

"I’m... Cool." Wilson muttered under his breath, just loud enough for absolutely nobody to care. Across from him, Aria’s eye twitched.

"If you touch me with even a speck of dust..." she said slowly, her voice dangerously calm, "I will personally make sure you regret being born."

Wilson grinned.

"Relax. I’ll defeat you cleanly."

"YOU are the dirt!" she snapped.

And just like that...

BOOM!

Wilson dashed forward.

His footwork was sharp, controlled. He moved like flowing water, each step precise, calculated. He wasn’t just posing... he actually knew what he was doing.

SWISH!

A spinning kick cut through the air toward Aria’s head. She leaned back just enough, and then immediately jumped three steps away.

"Nope. Not happening."

"Stand still!" Wilson shouted.

"Why would I do that?!" Aria shot back, hopping lightly from spot to spot, her movements quick but deliberate, careful not to disturb the dust beneath her feet.

Wilson paused mid-step.

"You’re running?"

"I’m preserving my cleanliness."

"That’s cowardly."

"That’s intelligent."

"Fair."

The arena fell silent again.

WHOOSH!

Wilson rushed in again, this time faster.

He launched into a flurry of taekwondo strikes, kicks chaining into kicks, each one flowing into the next like a practiced routine.

THUD! THUD! SWISH!

Aria dodged, and dodged, and dodged again. Her movements weren’t flashy. She didn’t counter. She simply... refused to be touched like a cat avoiding water.

Wilson’s brow twitched.

"You’re not even fighting back!"

"You’re trying to make me dirty!"

"That’s how fighting works!"

"Then I refuse your version of fighting!"

Wilson froze.

"What?"

"I will win without getting messy."

"That’s not how this works!"

"It is now."

Wilson’s eye twitched.

"Fine."

His aura shifted.

A faint ripple spread from his body. His Circle of Mind activated, enhancing his perception and control. His movements sharpened instantly.

He stepped forward slowly.

FLASH!

He vanished, appearing directly in front of Aria. Her eyes widened.

Too fast!

His palm stopped just inches from her shoulder.

Aria froze.

"...You almost touched me."

Wilson smirked.

"I could’ve."

"But you didn’t."

"I chose not to."

"You hesitated."

"I didn’t hesitate!"

"You did."

"I was being cool."

"That wasn’t cool."

Wilson’s confidence cracked slightly.

"You don’t understand coolness."

"I understand hygiene."

The crowd burst into laughter. Even Elder Hakar rubbed his forehead.

"What am I watching..."

Wilson exhaled slowly.

"Alright. No more playing."

He lowered his stance... this time, no flashy poses, just pure intent.

BOOM!

He moved again, faster than before. His strikes came sharper, tighter, more efficient. Aria’s expression changed. She couldn’t just dodge casually anymore.

Step, slide, twist...

She began weaving through his attacks with precision, her own Circle of Mind activating as her eyes sharpened. Their movements became a strange dance.

He attacked, and she avoided, he adjusted and she adapted. Neither was gaining ground.

At one point, Wilson launched a sweeping kick. Aria jumped, but mid-air, she realized dust below her and her face paled.

"Oh no."

Wilson saw it. His grin returned.

"Got you!"

He surged forward, but just as his hand reached her, Aria twisted mid-air in the most awkward, ungraceful way possible and landed on his shoulders.

The entire arena froze.

"Huh?" Wilson blinked.

Aria balanced there, completely still.

"This works."

"Get off me!"

"If I get off, I touch the ground."

"That’s how gravity works!"

"Then you stay still."

"I am NOT your furniture!"

He started shaking but she held on. He spun and she adjusted. He jumped but she tightened her grip. It became chaos. Pure chaos. The audience couldn’t even process what they were seeing anymore.

"Is... is she riding him?"

"I think she is..."

"Is this still a duel?"

Elder Hakar closed his eyes.

"Enough."

A pulse of force separated them instantly. Both landed on opposite ends of the arena. Aria checked herself immediately. She was still clean.

Perfect!

She sighed in relief.

Wilson pointed at her.

"She cheated!"

"You tried to make me dirty!"

"That’s not cheating!"

"That’s barbaric!"

Elder Hakar raised his hand.

"Enough."

Silence fell. He looked at both of them and sighed.

"Draw."

Wilson froze.

"What?"

Aria nodded calmly.

"Acceptable."

"I was winning!"

"You were sweating."

"That’s part of being cool!"

"You were not cool."

"I was extremely cool!"

"No."

The crowd erupted into laughter again. Wilson stood there, defeated, not by strength but by dignity.

"I’ll prove it next time..." he muttered, walking off dramatically.

Aria followed, dusting her clothes with utmost seriousness.

"Uncivilized."

And just like that, the most ridiculous duel of the day ended in a draw. But strangely enough, no one would forget it, especially Bahamut, who looked at both of them with interest.

...

A young lizard beast-kin youth sat in the crowd with his head bowed. His hands transformed into claws and reverted with his breathing.

Gabi didn’t bother watching the battles. The person whose battle he wanted to witness was yet to fight, so what was the point? But for some reason, he felt like he would meet him... very soon.

’Did Master do something?’