Draconians were very peculiar creatures. They were the epitome of strength, yet they didn’t use this strength to conquer the world.

Instead, they used it to indulge in their own luxuries. Some of them hoarded tremendous wealth and shiny gold jewelries. Some kept to rules and regulations like they were as important as life and death. Some just wanted to eat the very best food in the entire world and worry about nothing else.

Yet despite those peculiarities, the Draconians were all very proud of their own strengths. They didn’t flaunt it, but they had their pride in their own strengths.

After all, without power, how else would they be able to indulge in their own interests and hobbies without problems?

That was why Draconians were proud creatures. Once their strengths were challenged, they were bound to do everything in their power to make sure that they could assert their dominance. It was almost an instinct.

So, when Michael invited Infernus to a challenge, he knew what would happen next. The young Draconian immediately turned around, let go of the two beauties on his arms, and faced Michael.

The Draconian with dark skin, fiery red scales, and sharp eyes glared at the young human.

"Are you questioning my strength?" Infernus asked.

The other people inside the room kept quiet. Reborn’s opposition made sure that no one else spoke. They knew that Michael had just made the biggest mistake of his life, and therefore wasn’t in any hurry to correct it. They were just going to watch as he dug his own grave.

Meanwhile, Gourdon and Wadeby looked towards Michael with worry in their eyes.

They immediately wanted to stop him. If they moved now, they could dispel the miscommunication he had with the young Draconian.

However, Michael gave them a look. This look was one of confidence and surety. He knew what he was doing. He was purposefully asking for a fight!

The two Upper Echelon Patriarchs were exasperated. Was Michael planning on further putting the Reborn in an even worse situation?

They turned to look at the Heavenly Swordmistress. Surely she could make the young Rebornian leader understand that he was making a mistake.

Yet, Eldea kept to her seat, just watching the entire thing unfold with no intentions of interfering.

If she wasn’t going to move, then Gourdon and Wadeby had no choice but to keep to their seats as well. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Human. I’m asking you. You dare challenge my strength?"

Michael crossed his arms. "I’m simply wondering if you truly are worthy of speaking for the great Draconian Charys."

This might not seem that much of an insult, but it truly struck deep into Infernus’ pride. After all, Michael was basically challenging his right to become Charys’ right hand man! And without that title, how was he going to enjoy his nights with beautiful women?

"Then let me prove it, good man! Let us engage in a duel!" Infernus proposed. "Oh dear cuties, why don’t you go back to our suite. I’ll only be dealing with this for a little while."

Michael smiled. "I accept," he said.

It was at this point that gasps and chuckles came out of the entire table. Many just couldn’t understand why Michael would accept a duel he was obviously going to lose!

"Ah, youth. So many mistakes done for the sake of learning."

"See, the Reborn company truly is not yet ready to enter into the elites. They’d get swallowed up!"

"Shame, they did have good potential."

Michael looked at Infernus, his eyes silently gazing at his opponent. The young Draconian’s body was slim, yet hidden with muscles and power.

And with his new Nascent Spirit intuition, he could already tell that Infernus had the equivalent strength of a 2nd stage Nascent Spirit cultivator.

They were in the same league. Equal in strength. That was why Michael was so confident in provoking the young Draconian.

"I will make it easy for you, young man. We will settle this with a simple display of strength."

Infernus then took out something from his Pocket Dimension ring. He brought out what seemed to be a glass box the size just barely fitting the top of his palms. Inside contained a single violet rose, complete with glittering petals and sharp, prickly thorns.

As soon as he brought this out, the Upper Echelon leaders all gasped, realizing what kind of ploy Infernus was planning.

"It’s the infamous Rose of Death!"

"I can’t believe that he’s bringing out such a dangerous item."

"I didn’t even think that he had it. I thought that the Rose of Death was only found in the most extreme, desolate places in the world!"

The fact that Infernus was able to get one meant that he had a tremendously powerful Aubility. After all, no one could withstand even a single second of touching the Rose of Death. Yet, here he was, brazenly taking it out in the middle of the room.

This caused many of the Patriarchs and leaders to back away from Infernus. Their soldiers immediately moved and put themselves in front of their bosses, in case an accident happened.

"Despite its name, this Rose of Death is quite a beautiful thing," said Infernus. "It is a living being that has been alone all its life, growing in the most inhospitable places in the four corners of the world.

Not only that, but the pollen inside its bud would inflict a powerful poison to anything that touched it. It had even killed Nascent Spirit cultivators.

Yet despite that, this flower has evolved to become extremely beautiful. One couldn’t help but take it out of the ground and grasp it in one’s hands.

Isn’t that such a tragedy? That a beauty such as this would remain alone forever?"

Infernus opened the glass box, causing the Rose of Death to finally be released into the air.

Immediately, everyone gasped out loud.

"Young Draconian! Are you insane?!"

"Relax," said Infernus. "As long as you don’t touch it, the pollen won’t affect you."

Then, he turned to Michael. "Let us decide our duel with this. We both grasp at the rose, and whoever remains standing will win."