CHAPTER 91: I HAVE A PROPOSAL THEN

"I can’t young master." Florina looked right into Luke’s eyes, not wavering.

"Luke! Stop!" Layla called out Loud.

"I don’t care if you insult me. But you crossed the line when you mocked my sisters and my friends. Apologize to them, and I’ll leave this matter." Luke moved his hand and looked at Leo as he said in a cold voice.

Florina pulled her hand back and moved it behind her back, clenching and unfurling her palm as it went numb from the pain of Luke’s punch.

"H-hahaha! W-Why the hell would I apologize? I said nothing wrong you manaless bastard!" Leo screamed at Luke, trying to hide his fear and shame.

Luke sighed helplessly and looked dead into Leo’s eyes. "Alright then. What about a bet? A spar with this manaless you speak of. If you win, I’ll lick your feet and apologize, but if I win, you get on your knees and apologize to my sisters and friends."

"You don’t need to accept this young master Leo. If Lady Hela hears of this, she will..."

"Shut up! You want me to become a coward!? I will kill this bastard. Alright. I accept!"

A wide grin spread on Luke’s face.

"Let’s move to the training grounds then."

*****

"I think It’s my right and personal decision on whom I chose as the successor Duke Argon." Danver said.

Both Danver and Argon were sitting opposite each other in Danver’s office room and Navajo stood behind Argon.

"Absolutely Duke Danver. But as a well wisher of yours, I think it’s always better to announce these kinds of decisions when there’s time."

"Who knows what may happen to oneself in this war torn world. It would be very unfortunate if a civil war breaks out among your children, if something does happen to you." Argon said in a concerned tone.

"Are you threatening me Duke Argon?" Danver asked in a cold voice with his brows creased.

"Hohoho! If I wished to do something to you, do you really think I have the need to threaten you Duke Danver?" Argon said in a cold voice.

Just then a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in."

The doors opened as Anna and Drake entered inside.

"I greet the empire’s sword." Anna bowed in greeting towards Argon as she and Drake stood behind Danver.

"HoHo! That little girl has grown into such a fine young lady! Oh how time flies." Argon shook his head, being lost in nostalgia.

"How have you been dear?" he asked.

"I’m fine Duke Argon." Anna answered politely.

"She used to call me old man when she was small. Hahaha!" Argon laughed out loud.

"Let me ask you something dear. What are your thoughts about being the successor to the duchy?"

Anna was taken aback by the sudden question. Danver and Drake were shocked. They now realized where Duke Argon was taking this.

"I-I..."

"Hahaha! See Danver. Wasn’t I right? Aspirations are alive though." He looked at Danver with a wide grin, as if what he said was being proved right in front of their eyes.

"I don’t want to! I think Luke should be the rightful heir, and no one else." Anna spoke hurriedly. Trying to clarify the doubts raised upon her intentions.

"Oh! Interesting."

Just then another knock was heard on the door. When Danver asked to come in, a soldier moved inside gasping for breath.

"What’s the matter?" Drake asked.

"Y-young master Leo and young m-master Luke are going to fight over a bet in the t-training field, my lord." The soldier blurted out in a hurry.

Anna and Drake were shocked. They had just left them, how could this happen in such a short time. Danver was a bit surprised while Argon was intrigued by it.

"This is just some children’s quarrel. Don’t come with such small matters when I’m with an important guest." Danver said in a scolding tone.

The soldier shrieked back, fearing the duke would throw him out, he hurriedly moved out.

"Isn’t Luke your first son, who was born with the shattered circles?" Argon asked.

"He is. I had banished him. but I guess someone still brought him in." Danver looked at Anna as he said.

"It seems quite interesting. Why don’t we take a look at the fight."

"It’s just some child’s quarrel. Why waste your time Duke Argon?" Danver said.

"They are no simple child. They are successor candidates. There’s quite a big difference. Also, I want to see how a manaless child will fight." Argon said with a wide smile.

*****

In the training field, Leo stood on one end of the circular platform with his red sword in hand, while Luke stood on the opposite end, his gauntlets covering his arm.

The others stood at the stands above, with Duke Danver, Duke Argon and Navajo along with Anna and Drake sat at the special stands above.

Leo channeled mana into his sword as it started glowing bright red, a small fire lit up at the edges of the blade as his confidence rose. He swung his sword, releasing small ambers of fire that spread all over the platform, making it difficult for Luke to approach him.

"Haha! Come. I’ll let my crimson fable taste your blood today." Leo yelled at Luke as he taunted him.

Luke gave out a deep sigh as he shook his head at the novice fighter in front of him. Leo’s stance was pitiful. His mana flow wasn’t smooth at all and being a second circle, his mana was that of a first circle awakened, showing that he hadn’t progressed through hard work.

Luke channeled prana into his gauntlets and feet. He instantly vanished from his spot. Leo was shocked seeing Luke vanish, but he believed it to be a cheap trick, as no one could pass through the fiery field he had made, and Luke didn’t even come into consideration.

But his eyes opened wide in shock when Luke suddenly appeared in front of him and a punch came flying towards his face.

"Tch! Moron!" the fist hit squarely on Leo’s face, blasting him away to the distance as a teeth flew out of his mouth and fell on the floor.

He hit the high raised wall of the stands and slid back to the ground, his face caved in, a teeth missing and eyes rolled back, unconscious.

Florina was stumped, she knew she had to rush to Leo, but her feet didn’t move, she froze on the spot, still digesting what just happened. Danver and Drake were shocked too, but to a limit they knew what Luke was capable of, but they didn’t expect it to finish in an instant.

But Argon Jumped up in excitement. "Hahahahaha!! Brilliant! Wonderful! I have the perfect proposal Duke Danver."

Danver looked at him questioningly.

"Let’s decide this question of successorship with a duel between Luke and my Disciple Navajo!"

A wave of shock spread amongst the people present on the scene as all eyes focused on Danver’s answer.