Chapter 18: Duel
After the shooting lesson, all the students were gathered together in an indoor arena.
The arena was very large with a circular fluffy fighting ring in the middle. The fluffy bars around the fighting ring were made to prevent the students from hurting themselves.
An instructor stood in the middle of the arena waiting for all the students coming in to settle down.
Once the last person was seated, the instructor pressed a button on his shirt, and his voice transmitted to the invisible speakers for all the students to hear.
"The year one student has already been welcomed countless times, there's no need to waste time on irrelevant introductions and welcome ceremonies.
The arena will be opened by those who issued challenges last week. Step into the arena and begin your duel. You already know the rules. No breaking of bones except you have a good reason for it and no killing except the latter is directly related to the annihilation of your family.
For all I know, no student has had their family annihilated since Hassride university was founded, so I don't see a reason to kill anyone, however, if you feel the need to want to get rid of your opponent, feel free to do so and note that you the killer will be buried alongside the one you killed.
If a person you want to duel with is absent due to being sent to the detention center, it's either you wait it out until their detention is over or you challenge their friends.
The duel starts now. Begin!"
"These instructors have no joy at all" Abdul Rashid complained quietly.
"You can say that again." Junaid chimed in.
"Why would he tell us to challenge friends in place of the one who wronged a person. It doesn't make sense to me" Ameenah voiced out.
"It does make sense to some extent. Take Abdul Rashid and Ayaan for example. They are best of friends and let's say they do things; good and bad together.
They both bullied you, or Ayaan bullied you, but Abdul Rashid laughed at you, making you feel even worse. Then, an opportunity came for you to take revenge, but Ayaan is serving detention, but you caught sight of Abdul Rashid. What would you do?
Note that last week, you challenged Ayaan which by which a duel must happen between you two, or else you will be sacrificing your points for wasting people's anticipation."
At Junaid's full explanation, all of them nodded. They understood the reason now.
Their friendship has started developing after spending more than five hours together practicing shooting.
.....
The first set of students entered the arena with their challenged partners and fought like crazy martial artists until one either surrendered or was beaten to a faint.
Immediately after a person faints, the medical teams rush into the ring and revive the person before carrying them away to the school hospital.
After tens of fighting, a young girl went into the arena and Announced: "I challenge princess Mebony to a duel!"
The same girl who called the year one student's hayseeds in the field earlier stood up from the middle of year three students and walked out arrogantly and elegantly. She looked sophisticated and stunning in her shades of blue camouflaged Povich Country's Army uniform with heeled black boots. Her long brown and blonde hair were rolled in donuts.
As she walked stylishly into the arena, she asked: "Bone breaking or just a duel?"
"It depends, but I'd love to shatter some of your bones," Mitty said. Her face was devoid of emotions. She had the courage to challenge Princess Menony because she was also a citizen of Povich Country.
Her best friend had written her feelings for General Vim into words but didn't have the courage to send them to him. Although openly showing interest in General Vim warrants mistreatment and bullying from both boys and girls alike, she didn't do anything to stop Jenny because Jenny learned to hide her feelings and just write the letters to not go insane.
Mitty understands her friend because she was also in love with General Vim. Who wouldn't be? he is the best man in the whole of Povich country.
Last week Thursday, on their way to the dorm, Jenny bumped into someone and her bag fell with the content scattered on the floor.
The girl she bumped into happened to be a year three student who appeared to be nice at first and helped Jenny pack her books into her bag while apologizing until she saw the pink letters with General Vim's name on them.
The girl picked up the letters that numbered more than five. Jenny couldn't stop her from opening the letters because the girl was a senior and offending a senior will give her a serious headache.
For some weeks or maybe until the seniors graduate or die, either the seniors themselves or their lackeys will keep issuing out challenges every Friday to the juniors that offended them until the junior becomes stronger and able to fight against them.
However, to a powerless girl like Jenny, it will be a wishful dream for her to be able to defeat any senior until she graduates.
The senior raised the letter and started reading it aloud. Maybe she did it on purpose or not, because the moment she started reading it, princess Mebony and her group walked by and collected the letter from the girl. After reading it, princess Mebony tore the letter into tiny pieces.
As if that was not enough, she challenged Jenny to a duel and broke her bones.
The school authorities didn't do anything because they felt it was an insult to General Vim for a nobody to like him.
"Very well then" Mebony replied and took a fighting stance.
The two girls fought for a few minutes before Princess Mebony won. She was about to break Mitty's hand when the instructor announced the winner.
Princess Mebony got angry and asked: "instructor, why would you interfere?"
Instructors never interfere in students' duels, unless an unwarranted death was about to happen because once the killer is being punished, the instructor will also be punished.
"Princess, you won't be able to explain to the school why you broke her hand. The case last week was understandable because the girl had designs on General Vim. would you like to let General Vim see your hand broken?" The instructor asked with a stern face and unfriendly tone.
It was announced that Princess Mebony is one of the marriage candidates selected for General Vim.
Generals in Povich country don't get to choose their wives themselves. They are either betrothed from birth or accept an arranged marriage when they have grown.
General Vim was betrothed, but his betrothed died a year later. Since then, he has refused to get married and all the women he was introduced to, he didn't like anyone.
Princess Mebony thought about it for a few seconds before going back to her seat.
Her friends didn't bother to praise her because she has always been the best fighter among all the students from year three down to year one. They were already used to always seeing her win.
....
Back on the stage.
Simeon's friend got on the stage and challenged Richard.
Richard stared dumbly at the guy with red hair and laughed. He seemed to be from North America.
"Rich, can you handle him? I believe they want to take revenge on us" Anthonio said worriedly. If those guys win, then they can't bully Simeon anymore.
"Don't worry, I will try my best. If I lose today, I will know the gap between our strength and work from there" Richard said with a smile.
"Alright. I wish you victory" Anthonio slapped him gently on his thigh before Richard got up and walked to the stage.
On getting into the stage, the black guy with red hair said loudly. "My nigga is serving detention because of you. After I'm done with you, I will beat up that stupid poor Pauper from India" his voice was naturally loud so almost everyone heard him.
Except for Vicky who was on her phone reading the newest news on the Tang cooperation and also getting to watch her sister making a public speech on their company, the other eight of them all turned to stare at Ayaan, who was stunned at being talked about.
"Brother, what is that ruffian talking about?" Jiya asked.
"Nothing, it must have been a joke" he laughed it off. However, Jiya was still staring at him.
"Come on sis, believe me. That's how we guys joke sometimes. Right, Abdul Rashid, Junaid?" He stared long and hard at the two guys who immediately nodded.
"Yes, we sometimes play like that...sometimes," they both said.
Although she didn't believe them, however, she didn't expose them either.
Soon the match ended in a draw with serious bruises all over their faces.
The nurses went to take them to the hospital.
Then, a lady with an angry face went up the stage and roared: "I challenge Vicky Tang to a duel!"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone