Chapter 99: 99. I want my cheese cake back

“Oh no…” Seraphine muttered under her breath the moment she noticed the change in William’s expression.

She had seen him angry before during the trial and she knew it now, he was pissed.

His face had gone completely still, as if something inside him had snapped into place.

The fury in his eyes frightened her far more than the second year bullies ever could.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Ethan shouted as he stepped forward without thinking.

He moved between the approaching group of second-year students and the crashed figure of Desmond lying on the broken table.

His body stiffened, and his aura flared instinctively as he prepared himself for a fight.

The dragonkin leader let out a low, mocking laugh. His sharp pupils locked onto Ethan as his claws flexed openly.

“Step aside, human,” he growled, his voice filled with arrogance. “Before I show you your place.”

The dragonkin raised his arm and prepared to strike.

Ethan reacted immediately. A sword slid out of his spatial storage and landed firmly in his hand.

Before either of them could move any further, a presence crossed the space between them.

William walked slowly from the other side of the table.

His body language was calm and he did not rush.

He did not raise his voice. He simply stopped in front of the dragonkin leader and looked straight at him.

A strange smile appeared on William’s face. It was not warm and neither was it friendly.

William raised his hand and pointed at the smashed table, the spilled ramen, and the ruined maple cheesecake that lay smeared across the floor.

“Points were spent to buy that food,” William said calmly. “Give compensation for everything that was wasted.”

The cafeteria went silent for half a second.

Then laughter erupted.

Every senior in the dragonkin’s group stared at William as if he had said the most foolish thing imaginable.

The dragonkin leader threw his head back and laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the hall.

“Hahaha!” he roared. “Foolish human. Did something hit your head?”

He laughed again, longer this time, enjoying the attention.

William’s fingers twitched slightly as he prepared to move.

Before he could take a step, he felt a gentle grip on his hand.

Seraphine stood beside him and her fingers wrapped around his palm, and her eyes were filled with concern.

William blinked once and looked at her before sighing.

Then he turned back toward the dragonkin leader.

“I challenge you,” he said, his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone “to a duel of oath.”

The words left his mouth and settled heavily over the entire cafeteria.

No one spoke.

For a brief moment, silence setteled ovver the whole area.

Then gasps erupted from every direction.

A second-year SS-rank student had just been challenged by a first-year.

Not just any first-year.

The first-year Archon.

The academy did not allow open battles on its grounds.

Because of this, the system of Duel of Oath had been created to resolve disputes. Two parties could challenge each other to a duel, place wagers, and fight under supervision.

Lives could not be wagered. Killing was strictly forbidden. A professor always acted as a witness to enforce the rules.

The dragonkin leader’s eyes widened for a moment.

Then his lips stretched into a wide grin.

Joy filled his expression.

The truth about William killing Space Mage Vorin was known only to those who witnessed it themselves, the first years had been prohibited to open their mouths regarding the incident.

Most students who just knew but did’nt witness it believed the rumors were exaggerated. To them, this looked like a reckless first-year begging for punishment.

“Accepted,” the dragonkin replied without hesitation.

Soon, the crowd shifted.

Both groups moved toward the Student Center to register the Duel of Oath.

The group of seniors laughed and sneered openly. They whispered among themselves and glanced back at William with mocking smiles.

Among the first-years, tension filled the air.

Desmond, still bleeding, showed a grin full of broken teeth. He knew exactly what kind of monster these bullies had just provoked.

A few minutes later, the arena prepared for the oath duel stood ready.

A junior professor arrived to oversee the duel. He read the rules again and asked for the wagers.

“The challenger must declare first,” the professor said.

“All my points,” William replied immediately.

Gasps spread again.

The dragonkin did the same without hesitation. His smile widened as he imagined taking everything from the first-year Archon.

The arena platform lit up.

Students from all years gathered around, forming a large circle. Excitement, mockery, and curiosity filled the air.

William stood on one side of the arena.

The dragonkin stood on the other, his chest puffed out, his wings slightly spread out.

“Start!” the professor shouted.

“Kneel and forfeit,” the dragonkin said loudly, “and I might spare—”

Boom!

An explosion shook the platform.

Smoke and debris burst upward, covering the arena completely.

Gasps and shouts filled the crowd.

“Tsk! Coward dragon,” a third-year human muttered. “He attacked while talking.”

Others agreed, cursing the dragonkin for ending the fight too quickly.

The first-years remained silent and watched carefully.

“How did dust rise?” someone asked suddenly. “This stage is made of reinforced mortar”

A dwarf sniffed the air and frowned. “This is not dust,” he said slowly. “This is pulverized mortar.”

The meaning hit everyone at once.

The stage had been pulverized by the impact.

The smoke settled around the stage and what appeared in sight was the opposite of expectations of the most.

William stood at the far end of the arena.

His left leg was pressed firmly against the dragonkin’s face.

Blood covered the dragonkin’s features. His body lay completely still. His horns had fractured. His jaw had collapsed inward.

The floor beneath them had caved in, forming a deep crater in the reinforced mortar.

William had slammed him into the ground.

Hard and without mercy.

William lifted his Archon badge and tapped it against the dragon-kin’s badge.

The wagered points got transferred instantly.

William checked the amount and nodded with a smile.

This would be enough to last him a month if he had ramen three times.

He looked at the fallen senior’s lackeys.

“Treat him in ten minutes,” William said calmly, “or get a new master.”

He turned around and walked off the stage with his hands in his pockets.

Seraphine followed him, along with the rest.

“Let’s go have some cheesecake,” William declared casually.

The crowd parted silently to make way.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep