Chapter 112: Day of the Duel



"This is KKKickinIt with Controversial News. Three weeks ago, the infamous Devil Archer, known for his pinpoint accuracy and deadly shots, issued a challenge to the youngest warrior currently ranked on the City, Regional, and Union Warrior Charts.

In an unexpected turn, the white-haired 'pretty boy' warrior accepted the challenge and even proposed a handicap. He will close his eyes and allow the Devil Archer to fire three deadly shots at him. Some might call that arrogance.

But there's more: if the Devil Archer manages to kill him with those three shots, Klaus Hanson has promised to drop out of the Regional selection for the Celestial Mountain Academy. That's right, Klaus is putting his future on the line.

It's audacious, to say the least. But it doesn't stop there. Klaus also promises that victory will be handed to Max Duncan if the Devil Archer fails to kill him, but he still manages to defend against his attack.

So, ladies and gents, Klaus Hanson isn't just handsome; he's also confident to the point of arrogance. Today, we'll find out if he's got the skill to back up his bravado.

Betting platforms are open, with odds set at 12 to 120. Choose wisely—some wallets might be emptied by the end of the day.

This has been @KKKickinIT with Controversial News. I'm out."

The Controversial News channel, notorious for its provocative reporting, has been relentlessly covering the duel between Klaus and Max Duncan for the past few weeks.

But it's not just them. Other media outlets have been equally engrossed, eagerly anticipating the big day. Klaus will face off against Max Duncan today, and the entire event will be broadcast live for everyone to see.

Standing in front of his mother with a sly grin, Klaus is ready. Behind him, his friends—Anna, Lily, Danny, Daniel, Mark, Kay, and Kilain—stand in support.

"You better win," his mother warned, playfully twisting his ear. "Or when you get back, I'll spank you until your backside turns purple!"

Klaus chuckled, wincing at the playful threat. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure to bring home a win."

"You better," his mother replied before planting a kiss on his forehead. "Be careful out there, all of you," she added, her voice filled with concern.

Klaus and his friends left, climbing into a sleek, self-driving car spacious enough for ten people. The car hummed to life, smoothly pulling away from the house.

Just a week ago, a representative from Oracle had met with Klaus to give him an overview of the upcoming duel. The location was set at the same place where the City selection exams for Celestial Mountain Academy had taken place. A special helmet had been arranged for the duel. And to ensure fairness and security; the War Goddess herself had been appointed to oversee the equipment transport.

Mark leaned forward from his seat as the car sped towards their destination. "Klaus, how confident are you that you can win this? You're at a disadvantage, after all."

Klaus leaned back with a grin. "Well, I don't know his exact abilities or how strong he really is, so I'd say... I have about a 97 percent chance," he teased. "But that all depends on whether his first shot can actually impress me."

His friends chuckled, though the tension of the upcoming duel still hung in the air.

"You know, you're really arrogant," Anna said with a teasing smile, "but it's kind of cute."

Klaus grinned, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Sister. You'll see soon enough who's staying sharp today. By the way, do you want to make a bet again, like last time?" He flashed her a cheeky smile.

"What do you want if you win?" the War Goddess asked, her curiosity piqued.

"A hug," Klaus replied with a mischievous smile. He glanced at her chest area, knowing full well that a hug would have him face-to-face with it.

"Really? Just that?" The War Goddess asked, clearly unaware of the deviousness behind Klaus's request.

"Of course," Klaus said, "but if you want to add a message to that, I'd be perfectly fine with it." His grin widened as he imagined the outcome.

"Brat, go on inside," the War Goddess said, a knowing smirk on her face. "I'm not falling for your smooth talk."

Her friends couldn't help but smile, enjoying the look of realization on the War Goddess's face. Klaus laughed, then walked into the building, his friends following closely behind.

Once they were inside, the War Goddess sighed deeply. "That kid is something else," she murmured. "I nearly fell for that. I'll have to be extra careful around him." With another sigh, she turned and followed them into the building.

As soon as they entered, the War Goddess caught up with Klaus and led him to a private room. Meanwhile, his friends were shown to a separate area with a large screen displaying the Oracle logo. They settled in, eager to watch the event unfold.

Klaus was guided into a room having a comfortable, bed-like chair, perfect for long gaming sessions.

"The moment you log in, you'll need to select your weapons. Then you'll be transported to the arena," the War Goddess explained.

"Got it," Klaus replied.

"Good luck," she said with a supportive smile.

"Thanks, Big Sister. I appreciate it," Klaus said with a wink.

The War Goddess then helped Klaus put on the helmet. With the helmet securely in place, Klaus maintained a confident smile as his consciousness shifted into the Oracle.

He materialized in the same virtual space as before. He quickly selected a sword similar to his own and willed himself forward. A spacelike effect enveloped him, and in an instant, he found himself in a vast, open arena.

The arena resembled an ancient gladiator coliseum, with thousands of stone seats surrounding the central area. Klaus took a moment to survey his surroundings. Suddenly a figure appeared about a kilometer away from him.

"Klaus, are you ready to die?" Max Duncan's voice boomed across the arena.

Klaus feigned ignorance, a playful smile on his lips. "Excuse me, did you just say you're afraid to die?" he asked, his tone dripping with mischief.

Max's face immediately turned a deep shade of purple with rage.