Free Web NovelChapter 81: Two Days Until Judgment
From the moment Lucas stepped out of the villa, she had been watching him closely.
She had expected hesitation. Expected fear. At the very least, she expected him to slow down after seeing the gathering outside.
After all, the Vayne Clan had arrived in force.
Dozens of martial artists. Several elders. And one of the most powerful figures in the martial world personally leading them.
Yet Lucas showed none of the reactions she anticipated.
There was no attempt to retreat. Instead, he walked forward without stopping, as if he had already made up his mind.
For a moment, Bianca frowned slightly.
Then she quickened her pace and caught up beside him.
The two of them stepped into the courtyard together.
Instantly, the atmosphere became suffocating.
The spacious compound was packed with people. Martial artists stood in disciplined rows both inside and outside the villa grounds.
Some carried swords. Others held spears, sabers, or long staffs.
The afternoon sunlight reflected off polished steel, creating flashes of cold light throughout the crowd.
Not a single person spoke. Not a single person moved unnecessarily.
The silence was far more intimidating than shouting.
The two factions stood opposite each other like armies preparing for war.
One wrong word. One wrong move.
And blood would cover the ground.
Lucas felt the pressure immediately.
Even with the system, his heart couldn’t help but beat faster.
These weren’t ordinary fighters.
The aura emanating from many of them was enough to make normal people collapse from fear.
Yet Lucas continued walking forward.
The crowd automatically parted. A narrow path opened before him.
Dozens of eyes followed his every movement.
But Lucas ignored them all.
Eventually, he arrived beside Xavier.
The moment he stopped moving, an elderly man standing among the Vayne Clan stepped forward.
The old man wore dark robes embroidered with silver patterns. His white hair danced gently in the wind.
Despite his age, his back remained perfectly straight.
His sharp eyes resembled those of an eagle searching for prey.
This was Elder Tyrion.
One of the Vayne Clan’s most respected elders.
The moment his gaze landed on Lucas, his eyes narrowed.
A trace of surprise flashed across his face.
He had seen Lucas’s photographs countless times over the past few days.
Yet seeing him in person felt completely different.
Too young. Too ordinary. Too weak.
Nothing about him resembled the monster who had defeated both Blake and Jade.
For a brief moment, Tyrion almost suspected the clan had made a mistake.
Was this really the person who had crippled Blake?
The same Blake who was considered one of the younger generation’s most talented fighters?
But as soon as he remembered Blake’s broken body and Jade’s injuries, the surprise in his eyes disappeared.
Only anger remained.
Tyrion slowly stepped forward.
The pressure radiating from his body instantly intensified.
Several martial artists behind Lucas unconsciously tensed.
The old man’s gaze locked onto Lucas like a blade.
Then he spoke.
His voice was calm. Yet every word carried overwhelming hostility.
"So..."
"You are the lucky bastard who injured our people."
His eyes became colder.
"You don’t look like much."
The surrounding atmosphere immediately turned tense.
Several Vayne Clan members gripped their weapons tighter.
Tyrion stared at Lucas for several long seconds before continuing.
"Blake lies crippled. Jade was seriously injured. And all of it happened because of you."
The old man’s voice suddenly dropped.
Dangerously low.
"You’ve caused the Vayne Clan considerable pain."
His killing intent leaked out slightly.
Then Tyrion pointed directly at Lucas.
"And for that..."
"You will pay the price."
The moment Tyrion’s words fell, the atmosphere in the courtyard became even heavier.
The killing intent radiating from the Vayne Clan surged like an incoming tide.
Several martial artists behind the elder instinctively stepped forward. Their hands rested on their weapons.
Their eyes never left Lucas.
It was clear that if Tyrion gave a single order, they would attack without hesitation.
Before anyone else could speak, Xavier calmly stepped forward.
His expression remained relaxed.
But the smile on his face had completely disappeared.
The pressure around him subtly changed.
It wasn’t explosive like Tyrion’s.
It was colder. More dangerous.
"Elder Tyrion."
His voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
Yet it instantly silenced several people nearby.
"Be careful with your words."
The old man’s eyes narrowed.
Xavier continued.
"You know very well that I’m standing here."
His gaze swept across the Vayne Clan.
"And you also know how I handle people who forget that fact."
The courtyard instantly became silent.
Several Vayne Clan members visibly stiffened.
Everyone present understood what Xavier meant.
This wasn’t a threat.
It was a reminder.
A reminder of exactly who he was.
Tyrion’s expression darkened.
Then the arguments began.
And once they started, they escalated rapidly.
One elder accused Xavier’s faction of protecting criminals.
Another accused the Vayne Clan of abusing their power.
Someone mentioned Blake attacking first.
Someone else brought up Jade’s injuries.
The accusations flew back and forth like arrows.
Every sentence carried hostility.
Every reply was sharper than the last.
The tension became so intense that even the surrounding air felt unstable.
Lucas stood quietly beside Xavier.
Watching.
And becoming increasingly confused.
Because this wasn’t what he had expected.
Not at all.
He had prepared himself for a direct attack. Prepared himself for an assassination attempt. Prepared himself for martial artists suddenly charging him.
Instead, the two clans were arguing like enemies who had hated each other for years.
Past conflicts were brought up.
Ancient disputes Lucas had never even heard of were suddenly being mentioned.
At some point, Lucas realized something.
This situation was no longer entirely about him.
He was simply the spark.
The fire had already existed long before he appeared.
The argument became increasingly heated.
Eventually, steel flashed.
A Vayne Clan martial artist suddenly unsheathed his sword.
The sound of metal leaving its scabbard echoed through the courtyard.
Instantly, dozens of weapons appeared.
Swords. Sabers. Spears.
The sound of steel filled the air.
Lucas’s heart jumped.
For a split second, he genuinely thought a war was about to begin.
The atmosphere exploded.
Martial artists from both sides stepped forward.
Killing intent collided.
The pressure became so overwhelming that even the villa’s windows trembled slightly.
Yet strangely, nobody attacked.
Everyone waited.
Because the real decision-makers had not moved.
After several terrifying seconds, weapons slowly lowered.
Then returned to their scabbards.
The crisis passed.
But only barely.
Everyone present understood how close they had come to bloodshed.
Even Lucas released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
The argument continued for nearly another half hour.
Back and forth.
Neither side willing to compromise. Neither side willing to retreat.
Finally, Elder Tyrion suddenly raised his hand.
The entire Vayne Clan immediately fell silent.
His sharp eyes locked onto Xavier.
Then onto Lucas.
A strange smile appeared on his aged face. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"Fine."
His voice echoed across the courtyard.
"If neither side wishes to back down..."
"Then let us settle this the old way."
Everyone became quiet.
Even Xavier narrowed his eyes slightly.
Tyrion slowly pointed toward Lucas.
"The boy defeated Blake. He injured Jade. The conflict began because of him."
His gaze hardened.
"So let him prove his worth."
The elder took a step forward.
"In two days, the Vayne Clan will send the strongest martial artist of our younger generation."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"And Lucas will fight him."
Many Vayne Clan members began smiling coldly.
Clearly, they had complete confidence in whoever Tyrion was referring to.
Lucas himself frowned.
Something about Tyrion’s expression told him this wasn’t going to be simple.
The elder continued.
"A one-on-one duel. No interference. No ambushes. No clan war."
His gaze shifted toward Xavier.
"If your side wins, the matter ends. The Vayne Clan will not pursue this conflict further."
The entire courtyard became silent.
Then Tyrion’s eyes returned to Lucas.
Cold. Sharp. Dangerous.
"But if he loses..."
The old man smiled.
This time there was no warmth in it.
"He belongs to us."
The words landed like a hammer.
The Vayne Clan members immediately followed.
Like a disciplined army receiving orders.
After taking several steps away, Tyrion stopped one final time.
Without turning around, he spoke his last words.
His voice carried clearly across the entire courtyard.
"Prepare yourself, boy."
"Soon, your fate will be decided."
With that, the Vayne Clan departed together.
Leaving behind a silence that felt far heavier than before.
