The atmosphere in the banquet hall had turned intense. The grand chamber, resplendent with ornate tapestries and glistening chandeliers, now echoed with the anticipation of an imminent clash. The air crackled with tension as two youths stood face to face, their eyes locked in a fierce stare, ready to engage in a battle that would be remembered for years to come.

  The hall had been almost emptied for this event, with servants hastily clearing tables and chairs to create a wide, open space. The audience, dressed in their finest silks and adorned with jewels, eagerly formed a large circle around Zain and Princess Rivera. Thrones were set up for the Emperor and the Dukes, while the nobles sat in chairs forming an inner ring around the two combatants, their murmurs a hushed chorus of excitement and speculation.

  "This coming-of-age ceremony is truly exciting." one noble commented, his voice barely containing his enthusiasm.

  "Yes, I think noble gatherings should include these types of battles more often." another agreed, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and bloodlust.

  "Are you a brute? Ruining noble gatherings with such violence." a third scoffed, fanning herself delicately with a silk fan embroidered with gold.

  "Well, it does spice things up." someone else admitted, a sly grin spreading across his face.

  "Who do you think will win?" a curious voice asked, cutting through the buzz of conversation.

  "Of course, Princess Rivera." came the confident reply, accompanied by nods of agreement.

  "Should we take bets on Zain? The odds would be absurd." another suggested, his eyes glinting with the thrill of gambling.

  Hearing the nobles' conversation, Izark was close to losing his temper. If not for Morris holding him back, he might have already smashed their heads. His face was a mask of barely contained rage, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. Seeing Duke Izark in such a state, the other Dukes snickered, exchanging amused glances.

  "Silence! The match is about to begin." one of the Emperor's aides signaled, his voice echoing through the hall and instantly commanding attention.

  Zain and Princess Rivera assumed their battle stances, their bodies taut with readiness. The crowd fell silent, the air thick with expectation.

  "Wait!" The Emperor's voice, rich and commanding, interrupted them, slicing through the silence like a knife.

  "Hey kid, take this." A blue glow traveled from the Emperor to Zain, materializing into his hands.

  Thaannng...

  A pair of beautiful daggers, crafted from magic silver and set with shimmering blue mana stones, appeared. Their intricate designs caught the light, casting ethereal reflections across the polished marble floor.

  "Woah! What a great pair of daggers." someone exclaimed, their voice tinged with awe.

  "They're Tier 3 weapons." another noted, eyes wide with recognition.

  "No doubt, they have such a strong aura." added a third, their tone reverent.

  The audience was surprised by this turn of events, a ripple of excitement spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

  "Kid, this is my gift for your coming-of-age ceremony. I thought you might as well use these in the battle. Show us what they can do." the Emperor said, his gaze steady on Zain.

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  The nobles were now eager to invite the Emperor to their children's birthdays, hoping for similar gifts. 'If we can get such gifts, we should invite him for every birthday.' they thought, already envisioning the treasures they might receive.

  There were nine tiers of weapons, with Tier 1 being the lowest and Tier 9 the highest. These tiers significantly impacted a person's strength. With a high-tier weapon, one could even defeat someone above their grade. Although Tier 3 weapons were not exactly rare, they were still a strategic resource, difficult and expensive to acquire. Only an Emperor would gift them to a kid.

  'With these, Zain might have a chance.' the Gremory household thought in unison, their hearts swelling with a cautious hope.

  Zain gripped both daggers, giving them a few experimental swings. The weight and balance were perfect, feeling like an extension of his own body. Then he stared at the Princess. "Princess Rivera, take out your weapon. I don't believe you don't have one."

  The crowd was again in turmoil. The Emperor had clearly given Zain the weapons to bridge the gap between him and the princess. But Zain still ignored this favor and asked Rivera to take out her weapon, his voice a challenge laced with defiance.

  Rivera looked at him and huffed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Make me take it out."

  Without warning, Rivera lunged for an attack. A longsword materialized in her hands as she went straight for Zain's head, the blade gleaming with a fierce, deadly light.

  Zain quickly changed his position to avoid the strike. He faced off against Rivera, wielding the two tier-3 magic daggers, their edges shimmering with his Inner Force. Across from him, Rivera distanced herself again, holding the longsword materialized from her Inner Force, its blade gleaming with deadly intent.

  Silence enveloped the hall as they circled each other, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The air was thick with anticipation, every breath held in suspense. Suddenly, Rivera lunged forward, her sword slashing through the air with lightning speed. Zain deftly dodged, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.

  With a swift motion, Zain retaliated, launching a barrage of dagger strikes at Rivera. She parried each blow with precision, her movements fluid and graceful. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the sound echoing through the hall, a symphony of metal on metal.

  Rivera pressed forward, her attacks relentless as she sought to overwhelm Zain with sheer force. But Zain, undeterred, danced around her strikes with agile footwork, his daggers flashing in the dim light. His movements were a blur, his form a testament to his rigorous training and innate talent.

  As the battle raged on, the intensity grew, each combatant pushing themselves to their limits. Zain unleashed a flurry of magical attacks, sending bolts of energy hurtling towards Rivera. She countered with a powerful Inner Force shield, deflecting the incoming blasts with ease, her expression one of fierce concentration.

  Sensing an opening, Zain closed the distance between them, his daggers slashing through the air with deadly precision. Rivera fought back fiercely, her swordsmanship unmatched as she parried his strikes with skillful maneuvers. The dance of their battle was mesmerizing, a deadly ballet of power and precision.

  The hall echoed with the clash of steel as the two adversaries continued their fierce duel. Each blow exchanged was met with equal force, neither willing to back down. The audience watched in rapt silence, their eyes wide with wonder and fear.

  Suddenly, Rivera saw an opportunity and seized it, launching a powerful strike aimed at Zain's exposed flank. But Zain, with lightning-fast reflexes, twisted away, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

  With a surge of determination, Zain unleashed a final, devastating attack. Channeling his magic into his daggers, he delivered a series of lightning-quick strikes that overwhelmed Rivera's defenses. His eyes were focused, his every move calculated.

  In a flash of steel and magic, Zain's daggers found their mark, striking true and bringing Rivera to her knees. At the last second, she performed an impossible maneuver, jumping back to distance herself from Zain. Both combatants were left breathing heavily, staring at each other with respect and defiance.

  The two were so engrossed in the battle that they were blind to the audience's shocked expressions. The nobles were left in awe, their preconceived notions shattered by the display of skill and power.

  "Are they really kids?" one spectator asked in disbelief, his voice trembling with awe.

  "Yes, but they seem like veterans to me." another replied, shaking his head in wonder.

  "Forget Princess Rivera, that kid Zain is also a monster." someone else observed, their tone one of grudging admiration.

  "I think he lied about his being in Acolyte Grade 3." another speculated, eyebrows raised in suspicion.

  "You may be right." a voice agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

  The spectators were stunned by the performance of both Princess Rivera and Zain. No matter how talented they were, there was a difference between being talented and being a prodigy. Today, they had witnessed two prodigies at their best, and it was a sight they would not soon forget.

  While the spectators were in awe, the main stand was also taken aback by this exchange. Originally, they thought it would be an easy victory for Princess Rivera, but now, the two seemed evenly matched. The air was thick with tension and uncertainty.

  "Huh... just a brat with a high-tier weapon." one Duke commented dismissively, though his tone lacked conviction.

  "No, Martin. Although it's true that the weapon I gave him increased his strength, he isn't to be discounted. The control over his power that this kid shows... even I haven't seen anyone of such caliber." the Emperor remarked, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

  "Izark, you are really lucky to have such an impressive kid." another Duke added, nodding in agreement.

  "Many thanks, Your Majesty." Izark replied, feeling a swell of pride. His heart was full, his eyes shining with unshed tears. 'Vanessa, your son seems to never disappoint me.' he thought, his mind filled with memories of his beloved.

  The other Dukes were surprised by the Emperor's high evaluation of Zain, their expressions a mix of respect and envy.

  While the older generation compared Zain to their descendants, the children of Zain's generation experienced different emotions—jealousy, arrogance, and a mix of admiration. They watched in awe as their peers displayed such incredible skill and power, their own aspirations suddenly feeling small and insignificant in comparison.

  All the people present were in awe of Princess Rivera and Zain's match and eagerly awaited the results. The tension in the air was palpable, their hearts pounding with anticipation.