CHAPTER 148: RULES? WHAT

Nova had just taken a step toward them, but then she stopped. Her boots froze against the cracked stone, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of her mother’s face.

Merisa’s expression... it was rare. Unbelievably rare. Nova had seen her mother through battles, negotiations, even executions, and never once had she shown this many emotions at once. Normally, she was the embodiment of cold, unshakable steel unbothered and unmovable. Yet now, her face carried hesitation, sorrow, and something that looked dangerously close to regret and uncomfortable.

Nova’s gaze shifted to Razeal. His expression was completely differentbharsh, unyielding, almost venomous. He radiated rejection so strong it was almost tangible. His eyes weren’t just defiant; they were repulsive, pushing Merisa away without a single word.

Nova hesitated. Maybe I should let her handle it.

The situation felt too fragile, too sensitive. She clenched her fists at her sides, fighting the urge to interfere. But she knew herself too well. She didn’t have her mother’s composure, nor did she have a gentle voice. If anything, her words always came out sharper than she intended, cutting instead of healing.

The last time she had spoken with Razeal, she had tried.. truly tried to be gentle. She had wanted so badly to reach him, to show him she cared. But in the end, her tongue had betrayed her. She had slipped, lost control, and her words had come out vicious, crueler than she ever meant. She regretted every single one of them.

That memory still stung. The look on his face back then was burned into her mind.

If I open my mouth now, I’ll ruin it again. She bit her lip, her chest tightening with frustration. Maybe Mother knows better how to handle something like this. Maybe this is her chance to fix it first.. I’ll try when he calms down . and well get some help from mother ofcourse.

The admission tasted bitter. She wanted to care for him, wanted him to know how much she cared but if her personality only pushed him further away, then what good was her presence now?

And then there was the embarrassment. She was happy.. of course she was that Razeal hadn’t died. But she had cried. Literally cried. In front of everyone. Just remembering it sent a shiver through her. She wished she hadn’t lost control like that. The shame made her want to smash something.

I can’t believe I did that. I looked pathetic. Weak.

"Arghh..." she muttered under her breath, shaking her head sharply.

Her eyes darted away from her mother and Razeal, landing instead on Sylva. The girl was sprawled on the floor, her chest rising and falling in shallow, ragged breaths. Even though the spell binding her had been dispelled by that eighth-ranked spirit’s healing sleep, she still gasped as though choking on invisible air, haunted by the memory of that kind of pain.

Immediately, the three spirits who followed Sylva shifted forward, their eyes glowing with defiance as they placed themselves protectively between her and Nova’s gaze. Their posture was clear: don’t you dare touch her again.

Oh, I should teach her a better lesson... make it an example for why everyone shouldnot touch him, Nova thought, her eyes flashing. She took a step forward, intent on carrying it out. Her aura rippling faintly. The spirits tensed, sparks of elemental energy igniting around them.

But just as Nova took her second step, a voice cut through the air, mocking and sharp.

"Ohhh, I never imagined I would see you crying someday. What a cute baby girl you looked like."

The click of boots echoed against the ruined stone floor. Slow, steady, deliberate.

Nova paused. Her brows furrowed, and she turned sharply toward the sound.

From behind, a figure emerged. Arabella.

Her crimson uniform clung tightly to her frame, the long robe trailing behind her with arrogant elegance. Her hands were shoved casually into her pockets, her steps unhurried, her posture relaxed yet full of mocking energy. She walked like she owned the ground beneath her feet.

Nova’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. She already felt the hostility radiating from the woman, sharp and deliberate. Not that it mattered Arabella had never been a friend or anything she cared about. And even if they had been, Nova wouldn’t have given a damn.

"What do you want?" Nova asked coldly, her voice flat, uncaring, as if Arabella’s presence barely warranted acknowledgment.

Arabella’s lips twisted into a smirk. She raised one hand lazily to cover her mouth, yawning in mock boredom. "Nothing much. Just thought I’d give a few pointers to the younger generation."

Her eyes glinted sharply as she tilted her head. "The duel is already over, and here you are, attacking another participant, trying to kill her? In front of the whole fucking empire, no less." Her smirk deepened. "Tell me are you sure you’re not just doing this because your precious brother you just cried for lost the fight? Are you ashamed? Humiliated?"

She took another step closer, her words deliberate, cutting like blades. "You’re breaking the sacred rules of the Duel of Honour right in front of everyone. Just how fragile is the pride of the great Virelans?"

Her voice dripped with venom as the final words left her mouth. "Pathetic."

"Ohhh, I see where this is going."

A wild grin split across Nova’s face, sharp and unrestrained. Her eyes flashed as she suddenly thrust out her hand toward the far side of the arena.

Clang! Clang!

Dozens of metallic blades light-purple and gleaming faintly with a strange crystalline sheen lifted from where they had fallen earlier. They shuddered in the air for a moment, then flew directly into her grasp. The main sword landed in her palm with a heavy thunk, and she clenched her fingers around its hilt, the veins in her arm tightening with force.

She leveled the blade toward Arabella, each step forward measured, deliberate, filled with fire. "I guess I’ll have to show you," she said, her grin spreading wider, "what happens when you dare put your horns against a Virelan."

She didn’t hesitate. No second thoughts, no calculations. She walked as though the gap in their power didn’t exist, as though sheer defiance was enough to close it.

Arabella tilted her head, her smirk only deepening. Her hands still rested casually in her pockets as she studied the furious girl striding toward her with all the pride of her lineage blazing around her.

Hot-tempered little shit, Arabella thought with faint amusement. What do they even teach these children? This is the Virelan household one of the strongest lineages in the world and yet all they do is throw their egos around like toys. And they say dragon’s are egoistic? Look at these bird feathers.

Her smirk widened into something sharper, crueler. "Let me teach you some manners, girl."

Slowly, deliberately, she pulled her right hand from her pocket. The air rippled faintly as threads of heat shimmered around her palm. Her eyes glittered with amusement as she added, "I wonder... have you even started growing hair down there? To have such a massive attitude problem? Or..." She tilted her head mockingly, her voice dripping with poison, "...is it purple too?"

The insult landed like a slap across the arena. Gasps rippled through the scattered survivors of the duel’s chaos.

Nova’s eyes cold, her grip on her sword fierce enough to make her knuckles pale. but her steps never slowed.

Arabella’s eyes flicked briefly toward Merisa, who was still locked in her tense standoff with Razeal. A sly thought crossed her mind. Good. She’s occupied. She won’t interfere until I go too far. Even the great Merisa Virelan cold as steel was just beaten in an argument by her own son. Let’s see how far this can stretch.

The air between Nova and Arabella crackled as they prepared to clash, sparks of violet and crimson aura colliding invisibly.

Then

Click.

The sharp, crisp sound of a shoe striking stone echoed across the coliseum ruins.

A figure appeared between them, her presence quiet but commanding.

A woman with sleek black hair tied neatly at the back, square glasses resting on the bridge of her nose, and a tailored deep-purple uniform that marked her unmistakably as a high-ranking Virelan official. Her left hand remained calmly tucked behind her back, her right hand adjusting her glasses with measured precision.

Marcella Virelan.

Her presence was like ice poured over the fire. She did not flare aura or draw a weapon she didn’t need to. Authority radiated from her as naturally as breathing.

Facing Arabella with a poker-straight expression, she bowed her head lightly in courtesy before speaking. Her voice was clear, even, and sharp enough to slice the air.

"Apologies, Duchess," Marcella said evenly. "But from this point forward, this field falls under Virelan jurisdiction. Any hostile action taken here will be regarded as an offense tantamount to a declaration of war against the Virelan household."

Her tone didn’t waver, didn’t rise, didn’t crack. The last word.. war was delivered with such icy authority that the air itself seemed to hold its breath.

"So, I suggest.. Behave~."Her eyes remained calm and unclouded, her final words carrying the full weight of authority.

Arabella paused mid-step, her smirk flickering faintly. She tilted her head, studying Marcella. "...Oh? The second-in-command of the Virelan household herself." She let out a low chuckle. "You’re quick to escalate, aren’t you? A declaration of war over such a trivial scuffle? Isn’t that... petty?"

Before Marcella could respond, another voice thundered from above.

A radiant light broke through the dust-choked air. A figure descended slowly, as though carried on invisible rays of sunlight.

He landed beside Arabella with quiet grace, long golden hair cascading behind him like a shining banner. His white and gold garments glowed faintly, etched with symbols of holy authority. His very presence exuded sanctity, the embodiment of order and righteousness.

Duke Luminus the current patriarch of luminus household And Father of Selena Luminus the saintess of the Church of Light.

He stood with calm dignity, but his brow was furrowed, his usually warm smile absent. His voice, though steady, carried sharp disapproval.

"And this," he said firmly, gesturing toward Nova with a hand of light, "is what you call honor? An heiress of the Virelan family, attempting to assault another contestant after losing? In front of the entire empire?" His gaze hardened, cold and condemning. "Such disgraceful behavior. Even among duke households, this is unacceptable. We, as peers, have every right to intervene."

His words carried weight, not just authority but a righteous sting, the kind that turned spectators into judges.

Marcella didn’t flinch. She turned slightly, her lips curving into a professional smile devoid of warmth.

"With all due respect, Duke Luminus," she replied calmly, "no rules have been broken here."

Her voice grew firmer, her words precise and deliberate. "Because, as of today, the rules of the Duel of Honour are being revised under Virelan authority. From this moment forward, it is permissible for the defeated party.. or their family to ’teach’ the victor a small lesson if they so choose. Consider it a... corrective measure."

The coliseum went silent.

Marcella’s face remained utterly unreadable, her tone cool as frost. "Thus, Nova Virelan’s actions fall well within the boundaries of law."

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Finally, it’s here! 😮‍💨 Took long enough to plan everything. Honestly, I had to delete over 1.3k words and rewrite it all... ahhh, it just happens sometimes. I try to get it right, but in the end, it all goes out the window. So much time wasted 😭😭 I hate it.

Anyway, here it is, guys! Don’t forget to drop those power stones and golden tickets ✨

Also for the first time we’ve crossed 1,000 power stones and over 800 golden tickets! 💀 We actually have a chance to break into the top 20. With only about 140 Chapters so far, hitting that ranking... I’m honestly shocked.

All thanks to you guys and your amazing support. Truly, thank you! ❤️

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