Chapter 69: Chapter 69 : Unbreakable Will

Arthur exhaled, rolling his shoulder as if shaking off the lingering impact, then glanced toward Julia.

“Well… that makes it twelve to twenty.” He smirked faintly. “Sadly, twelve are mine… and twenty are yours.”

There was no bitterness in his voice, just quiet acknowledgment.

“But as you can see…” he added, flexing his fingers as faint Qi flickered around them, “it won’t take long to even the odds.”

Julia didn’t respond.

Arthur walked up to her and extended his hand. “Come on.”

For a brief second, it looked like she might accept it.

Then she slapped his hand away.

Not aggressively.

But firmly.

Arthur blinked. “…Oh.”

That was new.

She had never done that before.

Without a word, Julia pushed herself up. Her movements were slower than usual, slightly uneven, a faint limp in her step. Her face remained blank, empty.

She turned and started walking toward the mansion.

Arthur scratched the back of his head. “C’mon… don’t be rude now. You almost won this time.”

Julia didn’t stop. “Please… don’t say anything.”

Her voice was quiet, flat, carrying something heavier than anger.

Arthur frowned and took a step forward—

A hand landed on his shoulder.

Firm. Unmoving.

“Leave her alone for now,” Yuna said.

Arthur glanced at her.

Yuna’s eyes stayed on Julia’s retreating figure. “It’s time for her to realize that the world is much bigger than what she has seen so far.”

Arthur sighed lightly, then shrugged. “Well, as you command.”

Then his grin returned. “But at least tell me… I was awesome back there, wasn’t I?”

Yuna’s mouth twitched.

Her fingers curled slowly.

Crack. Crack.

“I just remembered…” she said calmly, too calmly, “you broke several of my favorite trees.”

Arthur froze.

“You do know how long it took to grow those, right?”

He raised both hands. “Hey, come on. You didn’t say anything when Julia broke them before.”

Yuna smiled softly. “Can’t you see she’s emotionally hurt? How could I possibly scold her right now?”

Arthur’s expression dropped. “…So?”

Her smile widened. “You’ll be taking her share of the beating today.”

Arthur clicked his tongue. “You really know how to bring me down, Master.”

Yuna stepped closer. “And the only reason you won is because of that ridiculous constitution of yours. You can use absurd amounts of Qi without overheating, and you circulate both mana and Qi like it’s nothing.”

She tapped his chest lightly. “With that level of output, a normal person’s brain would’ve been fried by now.”

Arthur scratched his cheek. “So don’t call me a genius, got it.”

“Exactly.”

Arthur sighed dramatically. “Yeah, yeah… message received. I’ll stay grounded and not fly with small victories.”

“Good. Then build a home on that ground and stay there.”

Arthur gave a mock salute. “Duly noted.”

Yuna cracked her knuckles again. “Now then… where were we?”

Arthur slowly stepped back.

Yuna smiled.

“Oh right. I was about to give you a beating.”

Arthur’s mouth twitched. “I suggest I run.”

“I suggest you switch your breathing technique,” Yuna replied casually. “You know which one to use.”

Arthur’s eyes widened. “No—wait—hold on—”

He stepped back again.

BAM.

“THIS IS SO UNFAIR—DAMN IT!”

His voice echoed across the training ground.

—

Inside the mansion, Julia sat on the edge of her bed, completely still. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, unmoving.

The room felt quiet… too quiet.

The fight replayed in her mind again and again. The impact. The loss of control. The moment her structure broke.

Her fingers tightened slightly against the bedsheet.

’Defeat…’

The word felt unfamiliar.

Heavy.

She had never known it like this.

In her generation, she had always been above everyone. Faster. Sharper. Better.

And then came Arthur.

A boy who hadn’t trained like she had since childhood.

And yet—

He broke through her.

Her jaw tightened.

’Is this how they felt…?’

Faces flashed in her mind—people she had defeated effortlessly. The ones who called her a monster… a freak of nature.

Her grip tightened further.

’Is this what it feels like… to see someone better than you…?’

Her breathing slowed.

A thought surfaced.

’Should I just go back…to my family…?’

Knock. Knock.

“I’m coming in.”

The door opened, and Yuna walked in without waiting.

She looked at Julia and smiled. “Feeling like trash?”

Julia didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Yuna nodded. “Good. That means the time to test your limits has come.”

She raised two fingers. “Moments like this will come more times than you can count. And every time, you get two choices.”

She lowered one finger. “Stay down and remain in someone else’s shadow.”

Then raised the second. “Or choose the other path… which you’ve already seen.”

Julia looked at her. “Can you please explain.”

Yuna chuckled. “How many times did you beat Arthur half to death?”

“Fourteen consecutive duels. I won every one,” Julia replied instantly. “After that, wins became rare… and every time, I broke him badly… I thought he would give up.But he never did.”

Her voice lowered slightly.

Yuna smiled. “And yet he didn’t. He kept getting back up. He kept improving.”

She leaned slightly forward. “And now… the result is standing right in front of you.”

Julia slowly lifted her head.

“You’re more talented than him,” Yuna continued. “I can guarantee that. But talent isn’t enough.”

Her gaze sharpened. “You need that same unbreakable will that he possess. Only then will you be able to surpass him.”

Silence filled the room.

Then something changed.

A spark lit in Julia’s eyes.

Yuna noticed. ’Good… now for the final push.’

“Oh, and one more thing,” she added.

Julia blinked. “What?”

Yuna smirked. “If you give up now, Arthur will make fun of you for the rest of your life. He won’t let you breathe in peace.”

Julia froze.

“And don’t forget,” Yuna continued, “you’re both joining Celestia Academy soon.”

That did it.

Julia shot upright. “NEVER! I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN! EVEN IF I DIE… I’LL DEFINETLY SURPASS HIM!”

Her fists clenched tightly, her eyes burning with resolve.

Yuna nodded. “That’s my girl.”

Julia lowered her head slightly. “Thank you, Master… I almost acted like a coward.”

“Good thing you didn’t,” Yuna replied.

Then her expression shifted slightly. “Oh right, there’s something else.”

Julia looked up. “What is it?”

Yuna smirked. “The Celestias Academy entrance test is in ten days… but we still have time.”

She folded her arms. “So I was thinking of sending you two on a small mission.”

“A mission?” Julia asked.

Yuna nodded. “An old friend asked for a favor… and I think you two are perfect for it.”

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