Chapter 167: Chapter 166: The Unexpected Turn
In the heat of the moment, when the atmosphere was so tense you could hear a pin drop, Lysander made his move. He beckoned forth a divine armored warrior who lunged towards Orion with a force that caught him off guard, forcing him to release his grip on Lyria. He hissed in irritation, thrown off his game.
Leaping onto the arena platform with agility, Lysander immediately checked on his sister, "Lyria, are you alright?" Without waiting for her response, he turned his ire towards Orion, "Undo the petrification. Now."
Orion, sneering at Lysander's audacity, retorted, "Who do you think you are, child? This was a duel between the beauty and me. By what right do you think you can interfere? Do you wish to challenge me as well?"
This breach of protocol hadn't gone unnoticed. Lord Arian, a stickler for the rules, demanded of Mr. Henry, "What is the meaning of this? Since when can outsiders interfere in a duel at whim?"
Mr. Henry, realizing the gravity of Lysander's intervention and the potential repercussions for his academy, promptly responded, "I apologize for the oversight, Lord Arian. Given Lysander's unwarranted involvement, we will disqualify him from further participation. Does this solution appease you?"
Lord Arian, always thinking several steps ahead, nodded, "This is acceptable. Orion, do as the boy says."
With a begrudging nod, Orion instructed the Gargoyle, which had been the source of the petrification magic, to close its menacing eyes. The stony grip that had begun to encase Lyria and the arena gradually receded.
Supporting Lyria, Lysander made his way down from the platform. "I acted without thinking. I'm sorry," he admitted to Mr. Henry.
Mr. Henry, looking relieved that the crisis had been averted, replied, "All that matters is that no harm came to anyone. That was a close call."
Yet, as the dust settled, everyone's attention shifted to the bigger challenge at hand. Li Yang, the last contender from their side, faced the daunting task of overcoming two opponents. The odds were against him, and the anticipation was palpable. The weight on his shoulders was immense. Everyone knew that the fate of the entire competition now rested on his capable shoulders.
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