Rise Of The Anti God

"After you told me how Mehron is pining for your seat, I feel that his proposal is a trap. I think he is targeting me and not Mira because he thinks I am more important than just a slave to you. So if you try to protect me, it will only confirm his suspicions and might try something else that could expose me. But if I accept this duel, then it would seem as if you consider me no different than just a slave, and he would throw away any suspicions he might have," Damien explained his thoughts.

Akira parted her lips to say something but then closed them as she fell deep into thought. It was not that she hadn't thought about this, but since Damien also felt the same thing, it could be that Mehron was really trying to see what Damien meant to her.

Mira had a surprised look, not expecting such an angle. But she now realized that since she defended a human slave against one of her own people who had an influential status, it would definitely seem suspicious.

She heavily regretted letting her anger get the best of her. Otherwise, her Master wouldn't have to deal with this bothersome issue.

"Still…it doesn't change the fact that your current cultivation isn't enough to go up against Lehron's slave, who is at the First Level of the Profound Ethereal Realm. Forgetting about the difference in cultivation, that slave can even use his ethereal manifestation. I am not trying to dishearten you, but I am trying to make you understand how disadvantageous this is for you," Akira said with her eyebrows wrinkled with worry.

"I know this seems impossible, but can you trust me just this one time? I have fought enough to know where I stand, and all I need is just two weeks of time. If you can buy me that much time, then I can definitely deal with Lehron's slave," Damien asked as he held his aunt's dainty hands.

Akira's expression was filled with hesitation but seeing Damien earnestly ask her like this, she felt at a loss on how to refuse him.

Mira had a surprised look, seeing her Master, who was usually very assertive, looking so unsure before her nephew.

But at the same time, she felt complicated that this halfling was so adamant about saving her hands. What did he have to gain from this? She couldn't find any reason for him to do this.

"It seems you are very sure about this. But let me tell you one more thing. In this duel, there is no surrender. You can't forfeit, nor can the other one let you surrender. Duels among human slaves result in the death of one of them. That is the only way a duel ends. So promise me…You won't let anything happen to you. If you break the promise, I will never forgive you," Akira said with a stern gaze, though her eyes were quivering in anxiety.

Mira was shocked that her Master actually gave in. How could her Master believe that someone with his strength could beat Lehron's slave? As expected, familial love can make one blind to facts.

"Master, please, don't listen to him. He has no idea what he is getting into. I have no problem taking responsibility for what I did. It's better to let those scum get more suspicious rather than risk something important to you, Master," Mira vehemently said with a fixed gaze.

Damien ignored her and hugged his aunt as he whispered in her ears, "I promise you…I won't lose this and won't let you or our clan down," Damien was sincere about his promise even though he wasn't fully sure about defeating Lehron's slave without using his Anti-God Arts.

But he had to do this not only to save Mira's hands but also to prevent himself from getting exposed, which could put his aunt in a lot of trouble. He had already heard how his clan lost half its strength just because they suspected his father of colluding with the humans.

If something like that happens again, then his aunt will surely lose all respect and her status. And it wouldn't be long before his clan fell.

Akira understood Damien's reasons perfectly for accepting this duel. This only made her feel even more proud and moved by his care for her and the clan despite practically being a stranger to all this.

Just feeling his warmth from his embrace made her remember how much she had missed him for all these years.

Mira pressed her lips together, seeing how her words were ignored despite saying the most logical thing. She didn't want Damien's death to fall on her head and make her Master miserable.

"I believe you…" Akira said as she gave a peck on his cheek and looked up at him, "I will then go and call a meeting to discuss this matter. Even if I don't, they will call for it, and during the meeting, I will buy you two weeks of time," Saying so, Akira slowly walked away while Damien looked in her direction.

"You are taking a huge gamble here. You have never fought such a stronger opponent without using your Anti-God Arts. You better not die on me. I don't believe in promises, but I sure as hell will kick your ass if you die as a slave," Luna strongly said with a harrumph, making Damien softly chuckle.

"Don't look down on my Master. He is stronger than you think and sure as hell, he is strong enough without using his Anti-God Arts," Kalypso said with a petulant look.

"As if you know more about ethereal energy than I do," Luna scoffed.

The two started bantering again while Damien was thinking about what he could do in the coming two weeks.

"Fuck this and your glorious attempt to impress your aunt. I am going to go get my hands cut off before you can even fight," Mira said with a determined gaze as she prepared to leave. She won't let this fool's death ruin everything.