NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Chapter 25: The Duel Begins
A Roaring Colosseum
The Grand Colosseum of Solaria had never been this full.
Tens of thousands of spectators filled the stands, their voices blending into a deafening roar. Nobles, knights, adventurers, even foreign dignitaries—all had gathered to witness history.
At the center of the massive stone arena, Leon Everhart stood tall.
His silver armor gleamed under the sunlight, his blue eyes burning with battle spirit. A hero chosen by the gods.
Opposite him was Frank Luminous.
Wearing a loose, oversized robe, his black hair unkempt, his golden eyes half-lidded with boredom. The so-called "Lazy Lord."
He looked like he had just woken up.
The contrast was ridiculous.
And the crowd hated it.
"That man is a joke!"
"Leon, put him in his place!"
"Crush the lazy fraud!"
Despite the insults, Frank just stood there, stretching lazily.
Elise, who had accompanied him, sighed from the sidelines.
"Frank, are you sure about this?" she asked.
Frank blinked at her. "Huh?"
Elise pinched the bridge of her nose. "You know. The duel. The thing you're about to do?"
Frank yawned. "Oh, right."
Elise stared at him.
She had never met anyone more unbothered in her entire life.
Meanwhile, the King of Solaria, Alden III, raised his hand.
"Let the duel… begin!"
Leon Strikes First
The moment the king spoke, Leon vanished.
A sonic boom exploded from where he had been standing.
The ground cracked. Dust flew.
And in an instant, he reappeared right in front of Frank—his sword already mid-swing.
A perfect, god-blessed strike aimed straight at Frank's neck.
The crowd held its breath.
This was Leon's strongest technique—Holy Decapitation.
Even demons had fallen to this move in a single hit.
And yet—
Frank Moves… Barely
At the last moment, Frank slightly tilted his head.
Just a little.
Leon's sword missed his neck by an inch.
WHOOSH.
A gust of wind erupted from the force of the swing, kicking up dust all around them.
The crowd gasped.
Leon's eyes widened.
That was his fastest attack.
A strike enhanced by divine blessings.
And this man had dodged it… without even trying?
Leon clenched his teeth.
"You dodged. That means you acknowledge me as a threat."
Frank blinked.
"Hm? No, I just didn't feel like getting hit."
Silence.
Then—
Leon Goes All Out
With a furious battle cry, Leon unleashed his full power.
Golden energy erupted from his body like a raging inferno.
The ground beneath him shattered. The air vibrated with divine energy.
This was his ultimate form—the pinnacle of a hero's power.
The people cheered.
"LEON! LEON! LEON!"
With a burst of speed, Leon attacked again.
A hundred sword strikes in a second.
Each slash carried enough power to cut through mountains.
The colosseum shook with every blow.
It was a storm of divine destruction.
And yet—
Frank Just Stood There
He didn't block.
He didn't dodge.
He didn't counter.
He just… stood still.
And every single one of Leon's attacks missed.
The hero's blade never touched him.
It was like the air itself refused to let Frank be harmed.
Leon's strikes blurred into a frenzy. He roared, putting every ounce of his strength into his final attack—
"DIVINE JUDGMENT STRIKE!"
A beam of golden energy shot toward Frank, blindingly bright and unstoppable.
And then—
Frank… Yawned.
A deep, lazy yawn.
And as he exhaled—
The golden beam vanished.
Gone.
Like a candle snuffed out by the wind.
The crowd froze.
Leon's breath hitched. His hands trembled.
"…Impossible."
Frank scratched his head. "You done?"
Leon staggered backward.
His mind refused to accept it.
He had thrown everything at Frank. Every technique. Every ounce of strength.
And Frank had done nothing.
Yet… Leon had still lost.
The Hero Falls
Leon's legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees, staring at Frank with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"…What are you?" he whispered.
Frank blinked.
"Huh? I'm just a guy who likes to sleep."
Leon clenched his fists.
"…Lies."
Frank sighed. "Man, you people overcomplicate things."
He stretched, looking up at the sky.
"Alright. Duel's over. I'm going home."
And just like that, he turned around and walked away.
Leaving behind a silent colosseum.
Leaving behind a hero who now knew true fear.
And leaving behind an entire kingdom that finally realized—
Frank Luminous was not someone they could understand.