Twin Soul

Chapter 1: (5/7)

"I am Mussius Duh, and this is-"

"Stop. I see... Y'all dueled him before and lost."

"Yes."

"Move along. I don't have time to waste on the losers."

"Boy, if you want to win then you better listen to us. We were once like you, looking down on Arthur Castillon. I have mastered the Novice of Black Magic. Even my [Demon Anatomy III] spell could not defeat him."

"Enough. Losers, get out of my face."

"You! Fine. Let's go guys. If he wants to lose the duel that bad, then there is nothing else we can do."

After Mussius and three other students left, Kain closed his eyes again to continue his mediation. Kain thought to himself, "What a bunch of stupid losers..."

A week later, at the dueling ground. Many students, including professors, showed up to watch the duel between Arthur Castillon and Kain Almos. Four magic professors started talking about this duel predicting who will be the winner. Vincenzo Biersack, a Master Conjurer Mage. Mariel Fenoff, a Master Fire Mage. Faziel Blonigan, a Master Black Mage. Rogal Caligarus, a Master Wind Mage.

Mariel said, "Vincenzo, what is your outlook on this duel as a professor of Conjuration Magic?"

Vincenzo smiled and said, "Arthur Castillon is a great student. I do not doubt that he will be the victor of this duel. Am I right, Faziel?"

Mussius Duh was the Student Mage who used Black Magic. Mussius was one of Faziel's favorite students. He challenged and lost to Arthur in the duel three months ago.

Faziel remained quiet as Rogal said, "Vincenzo, don't make fun of Faziel anymore. One of my best students was also lost to Arthur in a duel, remember? Same for Professor Fenoff, isn't it? Oh wait, why didn't you make fun of her? Is there something going on between you two?"

Mariel and Vincenzo weakly denied that allegation. They saw Mariel starting to blush. Faziel decided to say something to change the subject. He said, "Mussius is considered to be very strong for a sixteen years old Novice Mage. He is one of my top three students. If Mussius can not defeat Arthur, I have no reason to believe this new student will be able to. Arthur is a true genius for reaching level 10 despite being just thirteen years old. No doubt he will be able to advance into Legend-tier in the future."

As the four professors were still talking, Arthur and Kain slowly approached the dueling ground from both sides. The professor assigned to watch over the duel was Cade Lawson, a Master Light Mage. Cade gave the order for Arthur and Kain to step inside the dueling ground to start the dueling process. After both of them have done so, Cade asked, "Arthur Castillon, are you still challenging Kain Almos to a duel?"

"Yes, Professor Lawson."

"And you, Kain Almos, are you still accepting his challenge to a duel?"

"Yes, Mrs. Lawson."

"Miss Lawson!" Cade immediately corrected Kain as he misspoke on her single status. "Now then, do any of you want to admit defeat and withdraw from this duel?"

"No, Professor Lawson," Arthur said.

"No. Why would I want to admit defeat and withdraw from this duel after confirming that I accepted the challenge? Are you an idiot, Miss Lawson?" Kain jokingly asked.

Cade bit her teeth in anger. That was her fault though. She shouldn't ask a stupid question like that in the first place. Cade swallowed her anger then gave the command for the battle to be started.

Jaane and her roommates were so excited to witness another of Arthur's duel. Two minutes later, Jaane asked in confusion, "Why are they not attacking yet?"

Adela said, "Arthur always let his opponent attack first. He said that is how the strong fight. Give the weak some advantage and then crush them down like maggots."

Golda said, "As expected of Arthur. But why is the new student not attacking too?"

Ana said, "Maybe he is strong too and wanted to give Arthur some advantage as well."

Calley said, "They are saying something. Be quiet so we can hear them."

On the dueling ground, Arthur asked, "Kain Almos, why are you not attacking yet?"

"Why should I? You aren't moving."

"I always let my opponent's attack first so they can not complain after they lose the duel. Go on, attack me."

"Ah, I understand now. The strong let the weak attack first. You are too confident in your ability, aren't you?"

"Confidence has nothing to do with it. I know my strength. Go on, I give you the advantage to attack first. Take this opportunity to attack me."

"Haha... don't make me laugh. Do you think I am stupid like you are? You have activated your [Shadow Clone] spell the moment you stepped into this dueling ground. You let your opponent's attack first because you wanted them to fall for your trick. I wanted to see how long you can hold that [Shadow Clone] spell. Your mana pool is draining every second, dear weakling."

"Not bad. Seems like the losers that lost to me before gave you some kind of insight. Still, this won't help you win against me."

"Fool, you are so wrong. I have no time to waste talking with those losers. Did you forget that I am a Conjurer Mage as well? I did not activate my [Shadow Clone] spell because you are not worth it. Weakling, are you going to attack now or you want to hide until your mana pool reaches depletion."

Knowing he couldn't trick Kain, Arthur deactivated his [Shadow Clone] and revealed his true self from a nearby location. Arthur asked, "Should you deactivate your [Shadow Clone] spell too?"

"As I have said, you are not worth me to use that spell. I did not activate the [Shadow Clone] spell, idiot."

"Do you think that I will fall for such a trick?"

"It is up to you to believe it or not. We can stand here and wait for several hours to prove my words were true or not."

Arthur and Kain stood there for another three minutes, neither of them was the first to move. Arthur suddenly laughed when he casted [Conjure Phantom Knight] spell. A Phantom Knight appeared in front of Arthur and waited for his command.

Arthur said, "Kain, you are an idiot. I know you did not activate your [Shadow Clone] spell. I tricked you to stand there and do nothing while I was chanting for [Conjure Phantom Knight]. This duel is over, admit defeat before you get hurt."

Kain opened his eyes widely and was dismayed because of what he had heard. Kain asked, "You... Did you just say that you trick me?"

"Right. My Phantom Knight can seriously injure you very badly. Admit defeat now while you still have a chance. I do not want to hurt a fellow Conjurer Mage."

Kain continued to appear to be confused. He said, "You said you have tricked me, what do you mean by that when I predicted that is exactly what you would do?"

"Ignorant brat. I will show you how painful it is going to be then. Phantom Knight, attack him!"

The Phantom Knight dashed toward Kain and slashed at him using his big black greatsword. Kain casted [Conjure Skeleton Warrior] spell and a Skeleton Warrior appeared on time to block that attack using its shield.