If anyone is interested, the offer for an exorcist is still open...

   The time had come. The duel arena buzzed with excitement as I stood across from Liam, the crowd in the stands roaring with anticipation. On one side, I could see the VIP area—Lilith sat with her parents, her two little sisters practically bouncing in their seats, and Zephyra. 

   Not far from them were Liam’s parents, their outfits so gaudy and drenched in gems that I had to squint. Honestly, the glittering glare made me want to gag—they looked like overdressed peacocks at a masquerade ball. I'm surprised that they had guts to wear that. Just looking at them made my stomach churn.

   My eyes wandered across another section of the stands. Luna, Bel, Sakura, and Finn were there. I raised my hand, giving a small wave. Bel, of course, nearly fell over himself waving back, his grin bright enough to light the whole section.

   “...And here I thought you would chicken out.” Liam’s voice cut into my thoughts.

   I smirked, replying, “That’s what I was going to say.”

   Liam frowned slightly, then furrowed his brow. “I have been thinking for a while, but… what is that thing on your face?”

   I instinctively touched my cheek. The faint red, hand-shaped mark stood out against my skin.

   “It’s a long story...”

   Before he could press further, a booming, cheerful voice shattered the tension.

   “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our main event!”

   The judge stood in the center, amplified by her sparkling, crystal-embellished microphone. She was a rabbitwoman, striking in her strange blend of cuteness and allure. Her cropped pink top, fluffy accents, and pleated skirt with thigh-highs weren’t exactly judge-like, but judging from the deafening cheers, the crowd didn’t seem to mind. Her long white hair bounced with each movement, her rabbit ears twitching occasionally as if they too shared her excitement.

   The crowd erupted into cheers. She smiled and gestured to both of us. “On my left, we have the undefeated duelist, Liam Silverbane!” 

   The stadium erupted. Fans roared his name, stomping their feet so hard the entire arena trembled.

   “And on my right, the challenger: the long-lost son of the Naberius clan, Noah Naberius!” 

   Cheers echoed once more, though this time they carried a mix of excitement and curiosity. After all, to most of them, I was a complete unknown.

   The judge raised her hand to quiet the crowd. 

   “Before we begin, let me remind you the rules. Each participant wears a special bracelet, which absorbs any damage they receive during the duel. When the bracelet accumulates enough damage, it will shatter, signaling the fighter’s loss. The defeated fighter will be immediately teleported to a secure room, where he will remain until the duel concludes.”

   She paused for dramatic effect before continuing. 

   “As always the terrain for this duel will be determined by the Wheel of Fortune!” 

   She gestured grandly, and a giant spinning wheel appeared in the air above the arena, shimmering with magical energy. Each segment of the wheel displayed a different terrain: a desert, forest, icy tundra, volcanic wasteland, and more.

   “Fighters, step forward and shake hands before we begin!”

   Liam and I walked to the center of the arena. His extended hand was firm, and his grip carried an unmistakable determination. I met his strength evenly, refusing to flinch.

   “Noah Naberius,” I said, maintaining eye contact.

   “Liam Silverbane,” he replied, his voice steady and resolute.

   We broke the handshake, turned, and walked to opposite ends of the arena as instructed.

   The judge’s voice rang out: “And now… the Wheel of Fortune will decide your battleground!”

   With a flick of her wrist, the wheel began to spin, glowing with vibrant colors as it whirred loudly. The crowd held its collective breath, eagerly anticipating the outcome.

   The dome began to rise, black and seamless, swallowing us from the outside world. The cheering crowd faded until nothing remained but silence.

* * *

   Like a switch being flipped, the darkness began to dissolve…

   "..."

   At the beginning, my strategy had been clear. 

   Liam’s golem-creation spell has a fixed limitation: the constructs can only be summoned within five meters of the caster. By contrast, my Arcana have no such restriction. As long as I can throw or shoot them, the range is virtually limitless. My plan was to take advantage of this difference—strike first from a distance, force him into a defensive position, and then close the gap to finish the fight in close combat. 

   Most of the possible battlefields favored this approach, since they were relatively open and flat...

   Yeah... 

   It was at that moment, when I reminded myself, that the bad luck was always sticking to me like a damn curse...

   The dome’s interior transformed, and a simulated sky emerged above—a brilliant clear blue, dotted with soft clouds. Around us, massive trees materialized out of thin air, their towering forms anchoring a dense forest floor teeming with wildflowers and underbrush. It felt entirely real, down to the faint rustling of leaves and the scent of pine in the air.

   I glanced around, taking in the vivid illusion. The transition was seamless, pulling us into a setting that felt as authentic as any real forest. Then, when I checked one of the trees out of curiousity, I've realized that it was definitely real. It seems like the arena is created with mix of many spells to make it as realistic as possible. 

   “So that's how the battleground is being created...” I muttered to myself, a faint smirk forming on my face. “Quite extravagant, I admit.”

   On the outside I looked composed. But inside, there was only one phrase screaming through my mind:

   DAMN IT!!!

   I forced a breath, steadying myself. 

   "Well… I guess I have to improvise."

   Shifting my focus, I reached for the deck holders secured to my belt. There were four in total, each holding 60 Arcana cards, 240 together. I opened two of the holders simultaneously, drawing two cards with each hand. The cards shimmered with intricate magical designs as glowing orange magic circles appeared on their surfaces.

   Without hesitation, I threw one card from each hand toward my feet. The moment they neared the ground, the cards shattered like glass, releasing energy that surged upward, enveloping me from the bottom up. The other two cards shattered in my hands, sending energy cascading from my palms, merging with the energy rising from below.

   The magic solidified into a sleek suit of armor that radiated with the same orange hue as the cards. The armor wasn’t bulky but rather lightweight and fitted perfectly, allowing for full mobility. Runes glowed faintly along the seams, pulsing with energy. I took a deep breath, feeling the magical aura course through me.

   Kneeling slightly, I placed one hand on the ground, readying myself like a sprinter at the starting line.

   “Let’s play then.” I said, as a grin formed on my lips.

   Without wasting another second, I launched forward, the ground beneath me cracking slightly from the force of my takeoff. Trees blurred past as I accelerated, weaving through the dense forest terrain with precision. The enhanced speed and agility provided by the armor made it feel like I was gliding.

   This was it—the start of the duel, and I was ready to give it everything I had.