With This Treasure, I Summon Primordial Weapons
Chapter 8: First Duel

Chapter 8: First Duel

"You will be hearing from my family."

As much as the professor tried to stay composed, something in his expression changed.

He stood in complete silence for a while, clearly understanding the power difference between an academy professor and someone belonging to one of the Great Houses.

It was a matter of right and wrong. It was a matter of whether the student would follow up with his threat.

"Professor?" One of the students asked, noticing how their teacher was lost in thought.

"Huh? Oh right..." He turned to face the class as a whole, while Raven dismissed her beast and stepped toward the group. "As many of you may know, each second-year student is responsible for mentoring one first-year throughout the semester." The professor paused for a moment, glancing at the pair of heavy metal doors. "Today we were supposed to fill two of those slots, but I suppose we will have to do with just one. Raven will watch all of you duels and pick someone she finds most interesting. That said, please do not go against any of the academy rules."

There weren’t many rules in the academy. Fights happened a lot, and in a society where the strongest stood at the top, there was only one rule the academy could truly recognise.

Injure, not kill.

"Now..." the professor continued. "Go ahead and find pairs."

Students immediately began looking for opponents.

Most looked for someone weaker than one, someone they could defeat without taking any risks.

It was a safe choice; keeping someone you knew was weaker was a guaranteed way of looking good not only in front of the professor but the heir of a great house.

Godric, however, found the opposite happening.

A small crowd drifted toward him.

"That’s him?"

"The Blackstar?"

"Didn’t he fail the Awakening Ceremony?"

"I heard he only awakened yesterday."

"Then he’s basically a beginner."

A few students exchanged amused glances.

"Easy win."

"And if Raven’s watching..." another added with a grin, "beating a Blackstar would definitely get her attention."

"Assuming he even has a beast!"

Laughter rippled through the group. Each student around Godric grinned at the thought of glory they might get from defeating someone who belonged to the once great House Blackstar.

In truth, as much as the crowd around him was irritating, Godric couldn’t fully detest those around him. Their logic, as flawed as it might have been, wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even now, defeating someone belonging to House Blackstar would be enough to start conversations.

Standing in the distance, Raven watched with intrigue as a crowd of students formed around Godric.

The laughter continued.

Godric looked around the crowd surrounding him.

They were all looking at him the same way.

Like prey.

Like defeating him would somehow prove something.

His expression didn’t change as he finally spoke.

"You all seem confident."

The crowd quieted slightly.

"So tell me..." His gaze swept across them. "Which one of you is the strongest?"

A few students exchanged confused looks.

"What?"

Godric tilted his head.

"If I’m going to fight someone, I would rather not waste my time."

"..."

"Have you lost your mind, Blackstar?"

A few of the students stepped forward, anger visible across their faces, but before they could reach Godric, someone from the back of the small crowd pushed forward, the others stepping out of his way.

"I’ll go first," the student said with a bright smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

He had long, light-brown hair and a pair of emerald eyes that studied Godric with a piercing gaze, as though he could see right through him.

Raven’s brow rose slightly as she recognised the figure stepping forward.

The surrounding students reacted the same way.

"Dain..."

Whispers spread through the crowd.

Most of those present knew him.

Not because he belonged to one of the Great Houses, but because he was close enough to one to make people uncomfortable.

Born from the affair of House Valerius’ current head, Dain was a bastard who carried their blood but not their name.

He stood between two worlds, too noble to be considered an ordinary person, yet too illegitimate to ever truly stand among the heirs of the Great Houses.

Of course, Godric had no idea who he was. He simply nodded and moved to an empty area of the arena, which, despite the two dozen students battling all around them, was rather easy to find.

"Before we start, I’ve been meaning to ask, how is your mother? I’ve heard her condition is rather... unfortunate."

Godric frowned.

While his mother’s condition wasn’t exactly confidential information, he still didn’t expect someone, especially not some random student, to know of it.

"She’s doing better than you will in a few moments."

Dain’s smile widened, though it still failed to reach his eyes.

"I guess some of the rumours truly are true. Blackstars do have sharp tongues."

Godric didn’t reply.

Instead, he raised his arm and called for his summon.

In almost an instant, Blackpearl materialised in the grip of his hand, its blade catching the light in all the wrong ways, giving no reflections as though it devoured the light itself.

Dain blinked. "A sword?"

A loud laughter echoed through the arena, so much so that some of the duels paused for a moment, caught off guard by the deafening sound.

"He... He summoned a sword!"

"Is that supposed to be his beast?"

"He has to be joking, right?"

Dain’s smile faltered slightly. "You mean to fight with... this?"

Godric shifted his stance and, realising he was about to attack, Dain summoned his beast.

A massive serpent-like beast materialised beside him.

Its body stretched several metres across the arena, covered in deep crimson scales that appeared almost black beneath the lights. Its narrow golden eyes stared at Godric with cold intelligence, as though the beast had already decided the easiest way to kill him, while two curved fangs extended from its mouth, dripping with venom.

Crimson Serpent. Elite Grade Beast. Tier 2.

The beast charged the second Godric took a step forward.

It came fast, faster than he anticipated. One moment it was beside Dain and the next it was inches away from his face, its long teeth dripping with venom.

Blackpearl rose just in time.

CLANG!

The impact echoed through the arena. The force of the strike sent tremors through Godric’s arms as he held the beast back.

The laughter of the crowd slowly paused as he, who should’ve lost in seconds, managed to push back an Elite Grade beast.

Godric, however, paid the crowd no mind, as a strange sensation vibrated through his weapon, followed by a loud notification which brought a smile to his face.

[Conditions Met.]

[Ability Acquired: Venom.]

[Duration: 24 Hours.]