By the time Ken double-checked the dueling stage.
Making sure all the runes were functioning and the dueling stage was properly set up.
Around the stage was already packed.
Thousands of people surrounded the dueling stage.
Voices overlapped as whispers spread like wildfire.
All eyes locked on Alexander.
He blinked at the crowd, as he wasn't expecting a casual duel to draw thousands of people.
"How did everyone find out?"
Lian frowned, equally confused.
"I only told a few people…"
Alexander burst out laughing when he heard her say that.
"Well… I guess your 'few people' have big mouths."
He turned toward Ken.
"Uncle Kenny, is the barrier working fine?"
"With this many people, I don't want anyone getting hurt."
Ken nodded.
"Everything is working properly; I just need to gather a few more people."
He quickly gathered several people and moved them to their positions.
Moments later, runes around the stage began to glow.
Lines of light formed across the ground surrounding the dueling stage.
Layer after layer, a reinforced barrier rose.
Alexander saw that the barrier was very stable and powerful.
He began walking casually around the stage.
His eyes were looking at the glowing runes.
Analyzing and trying to remember the runes.
He noticed the flow and stability of the magic and runes.
Gave a small nod.
Well built.
Lian frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking the runes," Alexander replied casually.
"I'm trying to understand how they're functioning."
She blinked.
"You understand runes?"
He smiled at her.
"Yes, I can also carve runes, too."
He shrugged.
"I'm also learning alchemy."
Lian crossed her arms.
"Don't worry."
"I won't hurt you too badly."
Alexander walked back to his spot and smirked.
"Try not to cry too hard when you lose."
Ken raised his hand.
"Ready?"
Both nodded and drew their wands.
"Duel—Start!"
The moment the duel started.
Alexander waved his wand and silently cast.
"Expelliarmus!"
Lian's instincts screamed.
She quickly dodged left.
The spell shot past her, only missing her by inches.
Alexander's eyes lit up, and he smiled.
"Interesting, most people wouldn't even be able to react."
Lian narrowed her eyes.
"So you can silent cast… What spell was that?"
"Expelliarmus. The Disarming Charm," he replied.
What followed was a storm of spells.
Both of them were firing spell after spell at each other.
Blocked. Countered.
Dodged. Countered.
They didn't just stand there.
They moved around the stage while casting spells.
Gasps echoed from the crowd.
Even some of the adults were surprised by the intensity of the duel.
Alexander, while dueling, was thinking.
I wonder what spells she is casting?
The incantations are completely different than what the West uses.
As I thought, this duel is interesting!
Lian suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed.
She became more focused, and a smile formed on her face.
"That was a good warm-up. Now I'm getting serious."
She put away her wand and charged forward.
Alexander was confused as to why she was charging at him.
He backed up and kept his distance while firing spells at her.
He noticed she was dodging and trying to close the distance between them.
What are you planning…?
Then he saw it.
Her body blurred, and her speed increased dramatically.
Alexander's eyes sharpened.
He fired a spell at her, but she raised her hand and—
Cut the spell apart.
A sharp pulse of condensed magic wrapped around her hand.
Like a blade, his spell vanished.
Alexander's eyes widened, completely dumbfounded.
She sliced my spell…?
Is it because of the magic around her hand?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Alexander fired more spells and kept his distance.
She kept cutting his spells and tried to approach him.
He noticed her strategy and also noticed her speed was dropping.
Her breathing has changed.
She was breathing slightly heavier.
Let's see what her plan is.
He smiled and stopped firing off spells.
Lian saw the opening.
Now!
She surged forward as magic condensed around her hand.
A finishing strike aimed at his shoulder.
Alexander maintained his smile.
He calmly raised his wand.
"Protego Duo!"
A translucent shield formed around his body.
Lian smiled as she struck the shield.
Expecting it to shatter.
Instead—
BOOM.
Her hand rebounded violently.
The force sent her flying backward.
Before she could recover, Alexander waved his wand again.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Her body locked mid-air as she fell.
But Alexander didn't stop.
"Incarcifors!"
The stage beneath her shifted, and chains wrapped around her body.
For extra precaution, he waved his wand again.
"Incarcerous!"
More chains started to bind her.
By the time she broke free of the paralysis, it was too late.
She struggled with the layers of chains around her body.
She used all her magic to try to break free, but nothing happened.
She stopped struggling and asked.
"What is this?!"
"Why can't I break out?!"
Alexander laughed.
Ken raised his hand.
"Winner—Alex!"
Alexander flicked his wand.
"Finite Incantatem!"
The chains dissolved, and the dueling stage restored itself.
Lian stood up slowly and brushed off her clothes.
She stared at him for a moment, then asked.
"Was that the same binding you used on the troll?"
Alexander nodded.
"Yes. I've fought someone who could break out of paralysis before."
"So I layered it with another spell just to be safe."
Lian sighed.
"If it was only one binding spell… only one set of chains…"
"I could've escaped."
She glared at him.
"You could have gone easier on me because I'm a girl!"
Alexander laughed.
"When I duel… I don't see gender."
She rubbed her hand, still wincing.
"I've broken many Protego shields before."
"Why did yours not break and bounce me backwards?"
Alexander grinned.
"Defense is my specialty."
"I prefer defensive magic over offensive."
"So my shields are stronger than average Protego spells."
They were about to continue talking—
When Ken stepped in.
"Alex… You might want to look around."
Alexander looked around and paused.
The crowd atmosphere had changed.
The admiration? Gone.
Now full of hostility and jealousy.
It looked like everyone wanted to challenge him.
There was even a hint of killing intent from some of his relatives.
Alexander blinked with confusion.
"What's with these ugly looks?"
Ken laughed.
"My daughter is basically a princess in the Chen family."
"Half of them want revenge. The other half want to prove they're stronger than you."
"Especially since you're an outsider."
Alexander grinned.
"So my test starts now?"
Ken glanced toward the elders and nodded.
"Yes. Your test starts now."
Alexander rolled his shoulders with a smile on his face.
"Uncle Kenny, remember to keep the barrier strong."
"I don't want accidents."
Ken smirked.
"Don't worry."
"We are ready."
Lian left the dueling stage.
Alexander stepped back to his starting position.
Ken looked at the crowd and raised his voice.
"Remember, only one challenger at a time!"
"Let's begin!"
A boy around Alexander's age stepped onto the stage.
Eyes burning with anger.
"I will defeat you!"
"How dare you hurt our princess!"
Alexander blinked and laughed.
"Am I in a Chinese drama?"
"Shut up!" The boy yelled, "Get ready to lose!"
Ken raised his hand.
"Ready?"
Both nodded.
"Duel—Start!"
The boy charged at him.
Alexander noticed immediately that the boy had no wand in his hand.
He smiled as he waved his wand.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
The spell hit instantly.
The boy's legs snapped together, and he face-planted hard.
The crowd gasped.
Alexander stood casually.
Watching and waiting.
The boy struggled and finally broke free.
He stood up, furious.
"Is that all you have?!"
Alexander shrugged.
"If this were real… You'd already be dead."
"Give up and stop wasting everyone's time."
The boy charged again, yelling.
"Arrogant!"
Alexander sighed and waved his wand.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
The boy tried to dodge, but Alexander already predicted his movement.
The spell hit him again.
The boy's legs locked mid-charge again and—
SLAM.
Face-first into the ground.
Momentum carried him forward, knocking him out cold.
The crowd went silent.
Ken walked over to check on him.
After a few seconds, he raised his hand.
"Winner—Alex!"
Someone quickly came and carried the unconscious boy away.
The crowd snapped out of their shock, and the tension grew thicker.
Alexander smiled at everyone.
This is going to be fun.