Chapter 644: Her Confidence [1]
Instructor Kade’s calm voice brought the crowd back to silence.
She turned to the side and gestured toward a tall stone pillar near the edge of the platform. At its top rested a glowing crystal orb that pulsed faintly with blue light. "The duel will take place within the academy’s Combat Space," she explained. "Once both of you place your hands on this orb, you’ll be transferred inside. Everything inside is real but when damage accumulates to a certain degree, it brings you out."
She did not continue on the implications of this and allowed them to figure it out themselves.
Kade’s gaze returned to Michael and Rynne. "Before entering, there’s one thing you both should understand clearly. Because Michael Norman lost his previous position by default and not through actual defeat, he retains the right to request a rematch at any time of his choosing. Similarly, if Rynne Halvane were ever to lose her rank through a default, this same condition would apply."
"Only true defeat—a clean, decisive loss within combat—invokes the one-month challenge restriction," Kade continued. "In that case, the losing party will not be able to reissue a challenge for thirty days. And if the lower-ranked individual wins"—her gaze briefly flicked to Michael—"the defeated party will be barred from challenging again for two months. Do you both understand?"
Michael nodded. "Understood."
Rynne gave a calm, wordless nod of her own.
"Good." Kade’s tone softened slightly. "Then we’ll proceed."
She motioned toward the orb. "Place your hands on the pillar. Once you do, the formation will activate, and you’ll be transferred to the combat space."
Michael stepped forward first, resting his hand lightly on the orb’s surface.
Rynne mirrored his movement on the opposite side.
The orb brightened, its light shifting from blue to white. The ground beneath their feet hummed as complex runes ignited across the arena floor.