Lucas trained until sunrise.

He never stopped. Not once. The entire night passed inside the garage that had long since become his personal training hall.

The sound of fists striking steel echoed continuously through the darkness. Punch. Kick. Step. Again. And again. And again.

Even the martial artists stationed around the villa began looking at him differently.

Most people would have collapsed from exhaustion. Most people would have given up hours ago.

Yet Lucas continued as if he couldn’t feel fatigue, as if his body had forgotten what rest meant.

Even Xavier was shocked. Standing outside the garage, he watched silently.

The old man had trained countless disciples throughout his life, yet very few possessed Lucas’s level of stubbornness. The boy simply refused to stop.

Of course, Xavier didn’t know the full reason. The system constantly strengthened Lucas’s recovery. Without it, his body would have broken down long ago.

Finally, as the morning sun illuminated the sky, Lucas stepped out of the garage. His clothes were soaked.

His muscles ached. Every movement felt heavy. Yet the first thing he did was open the system panel.

A blue screen appeared before him.

[Victory Probability: 45%]

[Defeat Probability: 55%]

Lucas stared at it. His expression darkened. Forty-five percent. It had increased again, but not enough.

The fight was today. There was no more time. And according to the system, Kael still had a higher chance of winning.

Lucas clenched his fists. At this point, there was nothing left to do except fight. If he had to go down, then he would drag Kael down with him.

After calming himself slightly, Lucas walked toward the villa. Soon he found Xavier reviewing several security arrangements near the courtyard. After hesitating briefly, Lucas asked, "Who’s Kael?"

Xavier immediately looked up. His eyes narrowed. "Kael?"

Lucas instantly felt his heart skip a beat. The moment the name left his mouth, he realized he had made a mistake.

Nobody had officially told him who his opponent would be. Only the system knew.

Xavier studied him carefully. "How do you know that name?"

For a brief second, Lucas almost panicked. Then he forced himself to remain calm. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I’m just guessing."

Lucas laughed casually, but Xavier continued staring at him. For several long seconds, the old man’s eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through people. Lucas felt increasingly uncomfortable under that gaze.

Eventually Xavier looked away, but a trace of suspicion remained in his eyes. There was definitely something unusual about this boy.

Before Xavier could ask another question, movement outside the villa suddenly drew everyone’s attention.

The sound of engines echoed through Willow Residence. One vehicle. Then another. Then another.

A long convoy of black luxury SUVs appeared outside the villa gates. The Vayne Clan had arrived.

Lucas stopped walking. His eyes narrowed as dozens of people stepped out one after another. Martial artists. Clan members. Elders. Every single one carried an imposing aura.

Meanwhile, several trucks pulled forward and stopped near the open area in front of the villa. Workers immediately began unloading large steel structures.

Under the watchful eyes of both clans, construction started without delay.

Massive metal supports were assembled. Heavy beams were locked into place.

The sounds of machinery echoed throughout the area. Piece by piece, a fighting arena began taking shape.

Lucas watched silently. His heart gradually became heavier. The day had finally arrived.

Around him, more and more martial artists gathered. Members of Xavier’s faction.

Members of the Vayne Clan. Even observers who had somehow received news of the duel. The atmosphere became increasingly tense. Everyone knew why they were here.

Lucas looked toward the unfinished arena, then toward the distant members of the Vayne Clan. His gaze slowly hardened.

In only a few hours, he would step onto that stage, and standing across from him would be Kael Vayne. Win or lose, there would be no turning back.

The atmosphere outside had become extremely tense. Members of both clans stood facing each other from opposite sides of the arena.

Some had their arms crossed. Some rested their hands on weapon handles. Others simply stared. Nobody spoke unnecessarily.

The slightest mistake could turn the entire situation into a bloodbath. Lucas watched from a distance. His heartbeat gradually accelerated. For the first time, the reality of the situation truly settled in.

This wasn’t a game. If a war broke out here, he wasn’t confident he would survive it. Yet despite the fear growing inside him, Lucas never once thought about running away. Not after everything that had happened.

Taking a deep breath, he returned to the garage one final time. The Art of the One-Inch Punch. He still hadn’t mastered it.

Again. Boom. Nothing. Again. Boom. Still nothing. Again. Again. Again.

The reinforced steel dummy trembled slightly under each strike, but the explosive force Xavier demonstrated remained completely beyond his reach.

Eventually Lucas stopped. Sweat dripped from his chin. His chest rose and fell heavily. After a long silence, he exhaled. "Forget it." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

There wasn’t enough time. Whether he liked it or not, today’s fight would be decided using the techniques he had already learned.

The Art of Eight Limbs. The Art of Gentle Submission. And everything else Xavier had drilled into him over the last two days.

At that moment, the garage door opened. Bianca stepped inside. Seeing Lucas still training, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

The fight was about to begin, yet he was still practicing. Still trying to improve.

For some reason, she felt a strange respect growing inside her. She had seen talented people before, but very few possessed this level of determination.

Even now, with the duel only moments away, Lucas refused to give up.

She silently hoped he would win, even though she knew exactly how difficult that would be.

"Lucas."

Lucas turned. Bianca looked directly at him. "The fight is about to start."

Lucas nodded slowly. Fear immediately gripped his heart. His stomach tightened. His palms became sweaty.

No matter how much he trained, no matter how much confidence he tried to build, the reality remained the same. He was about to risk his life.

Bianca seemed to notice. This time, her voice wasn’t sarcastic. "You’ll be fine. You’ve already done more in two days than most people do in months. You can do this."

Lucas blinked, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Wait. Are you actually encouraging me?"

Bianca rolled her eyes. "Don’t get used to it."

Lucas laughed despite himself. The tension eased slightly. Then the two walked toward the arena together.

The moment Lucas arrived outside, Xavier immediately approached him. The old man’s expression was serious. "Listen carefully."

Lucas nodded. Xavier lowered his voice. "Your opponent will try to intimidate you. He’ll use his reputation. His confidence. His presence. Don’t let it affect you."

Then Xavier looked him directly in the eye. "And whatever you do, don’t lock eyes with him for too long."

Lucas frowned. "Why?"

"Because experienced fighters know how to use psychological pressure," Xavier said. His expression hardened. "They can break weaker opponents before the fight even begins."

Lucas nodded slowly. He understood.

Soon afterward, movement appeared among the Vayne Clan. The crowd parted. Elder Tyrion stepped forward. His eyes immediately landed on Lucas, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face.

The Lucas standing before him now looked completely different from the young man he had seen in photographs. Lucas wore only combat shorts.

His upper body was exposed. Lean muscle stretched across his frame. His shoulders were broader. His arms were more defined.

Days of brutal training had transformed him noticeably. Yet Elder Tyrion quickly dismissed the thought. Physical appearance meant little in a martial arts duel.

Then he raised his hand. A signal.

The next moment, a young man stepped forward from the Vayne Clan. No. Stepped wasn’t the right word.

The young man seemed to explode forward. One moment he was standing among the crowd.

The next he was already approaching the arena.

The movement was so fast that many ordinary spectators couldn’t even follow it.

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. Kael Vayne. His opponent. Lucas now understood why the system had only given him a forty-five percent chance.

Kael was terrifying. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Every muscle on his body seemed forged from steel. His presence alone created pressure.

Yet what disturbed Lucas the most wasn’t his physique. It was his expression. Kael was smiling.

A calm smile, as though today’s duel wasn’t dangerous at all. As though victory had already been decided. The sight made Lucas’s heart sink.

Then Xavier suddenly stepped closer. His voice became extremely quiet. Only Lucas could hear him.

"This is not a normal match. If you get the opportunity... kill him."

Lucas froze. His blood ran cold. Kill him? The word echoed repeatedly inside his mind. Only now did he fully understand the situation. This wasn’t boxing.

This wasn’t MMA. This wasn’t some sporting event where the referee stopped the fight. This was a martial arts duel between clans. A fight where people could die.

A fight where nobody would save him.

Genuine fear gripped him. Then the final rules were announced. No leaving the arena. No outside interference. Victory by unconsciousness or death.

Lucas looked toward the arena. It was enormous. Nearly three times the size of a professional boxing ring.

A massive fighting platform designed to ensure there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Only fight.

The two opponents slowly climbed onto the stage. The crowd fell silent. Every eye focused on them. The tension became suffocating.

Then a referee stepped forward holding a whistle. The final signal. The moment the whistle sounded, the duel would begin.