Chapter 19:

Nascent Storm

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Now is the second day of Vinci’s Free Time.

As he sat cross legged on his bed, his eyes was closed. With his brows tightly knitted together, one could easily tell that he was in deep thought.

The boy was in the middle of contemplating how to become the headmaster of his school.

“Hmm...should I just go directly attack her? No, no...that would stir up too much trouble...maybe request a formal duel with her?..”

As Vinci said this, he glanced over at his +Arena laying on the drawer near him. Although Arena Academy gave off an astute and grand feeling on the inside, the true situation was closer to being like a battle royal. And going off this idea, it also meant that a student can challenge anyone within the academy if they desired --- and this includes teachers and even the headmaster. But, this was only a theory Vinci had. He himself have not heard of any one challenging a teacher to a duel, much less the headmaster herself, but then again he was quite new and had only attended school for a week.

After thinking for a while, Vinci reached for his +Arena as he opened up his device and tapped the “Battle” icon. He immediately typed in the “Headmaster Ember.”

Within a second, a basic profile of the headmaster with her picture at the center popped up on the screen. Under her image and name there was simply a large rectangular green button labeled “Request a Duel.”

Vinci’s eyes lit up when he saw this.

“Yessss!! I can formally challenge the headmaster! But...how do I convince her to give me the headmaster seat if I do win?...hmmm….”

Although the boy was in joy a moment ago, he quickly became quiet again when he realized that he still had not completely solved his issue at hand.

“Arghh, whatever. I’ll just challenge her for now and win, then I’ll think about what’s next.”

As he said this, Vinci’s tapped the large green button on the screen. Suddenly, a box appeared on his screen.

“!?”

[table][Special Warning]You are requesting a duel with the Headmaster. If you are victorious, you will be eligible for the title of Headmaster at Arena Academy. Because of this, this duel will be treated as an official qualification match for the title. The current Headmaster is allowed to utilize anything, anyone, and everything to confront you. There is no restrictions to who or what the present Headmaster may bring and use in the match. But, only You are permitted to fight. No one else are allowed to assist you. Do you still wish to challenge?YESNO[table]

Vinci’s stomach churned with excitement as his eyes widened. Sparkles could be faintly seen within them.

“This is it!!”

The boy would have never thought that to challenge the headmaster through +Arena would have meant an official match for the title of a headmaster. He thought he would have to request for it later if he were to win, thinking that it would just be another ‘regular’ match.

But to think this kind of condition was incorporated made Vinci’s heart leap with glee.

Without another second of hesitation, he selected his choice.

The box disappeared only to be replaced with another one right after.

[You have issued a Duel to Headmaster Ember. Please wait for response.]

***

*ping*

Headmaster Ember glanced over at her +Arena resting on the desk. Although it was still during the Free Times, she was still diligently sorting through paperwork at her desk in School. When a notification noise rang from her device, she had slightly raised an eyebrow. It has been ages since anything came from her +Arena. Although everyone at Arena Academy were required to have one, the headmaster was the only one that had simply left her +Arena on her desk and neglected it year after year. Moreover, the headmaster’s device only had the battle function and nothing else, so there was simply no need to keep it on her at all times. After all, there were barely anyone at school that had dared challenge her.

So she had a slight look of confusion when her +Arena actually had a notification. And when she picked up the device and looked at the content, her perplexed expression turned to that of complete shock. On the screen, a box had appeared.

[table]You have been challenged by Vinci Noburo. Accept?YESNO[table]

This was a challenge request.

For her.

As a headmaster.

“This...haha, interesting!...But...why does this boy want to challenge me? He wishes to become a headmaster? Hmm…”

Although there were almost no one that dared to challenge the headmaster in school, it was a different story outside of the facility. That is because the position of being a headmaster of the only School in United World is largely significant. If someone from one of the seven major clans, or any other smaller clans, actually manages to become the headmaster then naturally they would do everything in their ability to ensure that the students from their respective Clans get the utmost treatment while slandering the other students in School. Therefore, the headmaster has to be someone that is impartial to all sides. But even still, there are those that wishes to take over the headmaster position by sending over assassins and challengers in hope of taking down the current headmaster. If that is to be fulfilled, then the Clans would immediately be able to swarm into the School and debate over each other for control. But why don’t they do so right from the start?

That’s simply due to the current headmaster’s strength and politics.

Although there are no SP rank requirements needed to be headmaster, the ones who’ve ascended this position have historically been at least on or above the Heavenly Rank. Headmaster Ember is one of the four beings known to have reached the Spiritual Rank. Thus, it is extremely difficult, or nearly impossible, to actually defeat her in a front to front assault. Moreover, if all seven major Clans were to group up and attack the Headmaster simultaneously, they would become the laughing stock of the world, especially if they were to fail. The risks were too high. Therefore, only assassins and hired mercenaries were sent by several Clans in order to tire out or somehow injure the headmaster. They decided to patiently wait for an opening. After all, even Spiritual Rank practitioners are at least subject to human emotions and physical limits to a certain extent.

While the headmaster was in deep thought, her secretary Sina walked into the room. She had also stayed behind to assist the headmaster, so her assiduity could be said to be on par with Ember.

“I have come to report that preparation for the annual Magical Beast Examination is finished….is there something bothering you, Headmaster?”

Sina had noticed the complicated expression on the elder’s face.

“Ahh, it’s nothing. I had just received a duel request from the child, Vinci Noburo.”

The secretary’s eyes widened as she looked towards the +Arena in the elder’s hand.

“Are...you going to accept, ma’am? He is just a child after all, and a new one at that…”

“Hmm...that’s what I was thinking as well, but that’s more so why I cannot simply decline. It might cause him to think that the headmaster herself had shrank away from the match because she was ‘afraid’, thus fueling his defiant behaviour. After all, this child seems to be in his rebellious phase as a teenager. These type of thoughts are not uncommon. So, I’m thinking I should cut the bad buds before it actually grow into real trouble…”

The headmaster paused and thought for a little more before finally looking down at her device and while smiling, tapped a button.

You have accepted Vinci Noboru's challenge. Match starts in 3...2...1..Begin!

Then, she looked up at Sina.

“Sina, I want you to visit the administration office and ask the workers there to redirect this challenge that the child had sent me to all the Class 8 students. It doesn’t matter if they all accept or not, but I’m sure some of them definitely would. Then, I would like you to notify all the staffs in this school to be on standby and ready for battle tomorrow. Tell them to not do anything yet and stay within their classroom or within this school until I give the signal.”

Sina was flabbergasted.

“I apologize for my question beforehand, but why do you have to go so far for just a mere child? Even if he had won a battle or two and scored a perfect mark on a national test, I do believe it’s a bit overboard…”

“Hohoho~ I understand where you are coming from, Sina. But to deal with overly confident children like this, we adults have the responsibility to teach them the unfairness of this world. Not everything can be simply solved or won so straightforward as a 1v1 match.”

“...I understand. Then, I will immediately go prepare as you’ve wished, ma’am.”

Sina slightly bowed and then turned and left the room.

“Hohoho~ tomorrow will be quite the interesting spectacle for me…”

The headmaster doubted that Vinci would actually plan to attack immediately on the same day the duel request was sent, after all her location was unknown to him, or any other student for that matter, during the Free Times. The boy did not know that she would be at school right now and searching the entire city would simply take too long.

But moreover, the elder was never planning to fight in the match herself, regardless if it was today or tomorrow. Although she had talked about putting the child in his place, she had given that job to the teachers and senior students. She felt that with that many talents and powerful people, it should be enough to frighten the arrogant boy.

But soon, she would find out that it wasn’t a mere child she had agreed to confront….but a monster in human skin.