Chapter 190: The Duel of Fate

“Dad… how did you get here!?”

“Did you confirm that kid’s talent? Did he cheat!?”

In the dim room, a disheveled Zhang Yang suddenly lifted his head; his lifeless eyes suddenly sparked as he looked at Zhang Meng.

Ever since the trial ended, he had confined himself to his room, not stepping outside even once.

Ups and downs, ups and downs…

Unable to accept the truth, he wanted to hide like an ostrich.

But seeing his father come for him, he instantly realized something had been settled regarding Yenir!

He glared fiercely at Zhang Meng:

“Dad! Did that kid find a loophole? Was he locked up?”

“I’m still in the First Array, right!?”

His words tumbled out in an excited rush.

As long as Yenir is found to have exploited a loophole, all the honor remains his!

However…

Zhang Meng looked at his beloved son with a complicated expression, sighing deeply, almost unwilling to speak the truth.

He knew all too well the pain Zhang Yang felt—the devastating blow he had suffered. Once the admired super genius of the First Array, now he seemed half-crazy, lost in a fog.

Remorse. Resentment.

And it was all thanks to that wretch Yenir! Regardless of his potential or value, in Zhang Meng’s eyes, this upstart nearly ruined years of painstaking work and preparation!

“No…”

“There was nothing wrong on Yenir’s side. Instead… he’s preparing to challenge you to a death duel.”

“By tomorrow afternoon, the Military will have set up the death-duel arena. There will be plenty of Third-Stage fighters and high-ranking officials watching.”

His voice was bitter; he hated bringing such news, but time was short. The sooner Zhang Yang knew, the higher his chance of survival—at least then he could prepare.

After a moment of trembling and daze, Zhang Yang suddenly clutched his father’s arm:

“No way?! How can there be no problem!?”

“Did the Military Department mess up?!”

As if snapping from a stupor, Zhang Yang released his grip and staggered backward in disbelief.

“Isn’t it confirmed? That kid only clinched First Array by exploiting a loophole!?”

“Then why couldn’t they find anything?”

“………”

After a long silence,

Zhang Yang, his face ashen, collapsed into his chair, completely drained of color.

After repeatedly confirming the facts, he had no choice but to accept them.

It hit him like a bolt out of the blue—a devastating blow.

Realizing that Yenir’s achievements were genuine, he recognized an extremely serious problem.

Though he had never fought Yenir, with such abnormal prowess, how could he possibly win a death duel?

“A death duel… I don’t want… I don’t want to go up there!”

Panicked and stripped of his former pride, Zhang Yang now appeared almost paralyzed by terror at the thought of facing Yenir.

“Dad! Can I give up on the First Array? Tell him I’m out!”

“Doesn’t he want First Array? I’ll just give it to him! Just give it to him!”

Seeing his son utterly devoid of fighting spirit, Zhang Meng’s face darkened with disappointment, though he knew it wasn’t entirely Zhang Yang’s fault.

Shaking his head slightly,

“I’ve already said it, but that kid is determined to face you in a death duel.”

Hearing his father’s words, Zhang Yang shuddered all over.

“He doesn’t want it? He’s insisting on a death duel with me?! That means…”

“He wants to kill me?!”

Panic spread rapidly.

A few seconds later, coming to his senses, Zhang Yang clenched his fists tightly.

Anger. Hatred.

Not only had his array been stolen, but now the kid also wanted to kill him! What was this? Revenge!?

“Dad! I can’t go up on that death duel platform!”

“Can’t we just kill him? Is there any way to take him down before the duel?”

Unwilling to gamble on his performance in the duel—even though he hated Yenir—he knew all too well what representing the First Array meant. Not just death, but losing again to Yenir in a duel was a humiliation he couldn’t bear! He imagined that if Yenir won, he’d be relentlessly humiliated!

With a heavy sigh,

“That’s impossible.”

“Right now, that kid is protected by at least one Third-Stage squad. There are likely even high-ranking Third-Stage guards shadowing him.”

“Killing him in the Capital is as difficult as climbing to heaven…”

It didn’t matter if eliminating Yenir meant a loss for the Huaxia Battle Zone. Ever since Yenir challenged to a death duel, Zhang Meng had conjured up numerous ideas to take him down, but every single one was impossible.

At this critical moment, the higher-ups and the Military were all watching that kid. There was simply no chance to strike!

“What about his family!?”

“Isn’t that kid from a humble background? Dad, can’t we track down his family and threaten him into giving up the duel!?”

When his father dismissed his idea, a twisted expression overcame Zhang Yang’s face—desperation taking over.

He no longer cared about honor. He simply couldn’t go up for the duel! Losing in front of so many high-ranking officials would drive him insane!

After a brief silence, Zhang Meng shook his head once more:

“There’s no time, and the Military has already dispatched troops to protect him.”

“Yang, all you can do now is adjust your mindset! Rest assured, I will save you!”

“Although I don’t know how the higher-ups allowed Yenir to challenge in a death duel, I don’t believe they’d let you die!”

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Meng spoke in a low, firm tone as if cheering for his son:

“No matter what, you are my son! After serving this country for so many years—with both accomplishments and hardships—even if the higher-ups favor Yenir, they wouldn’t treat me as a disposable pawn!”

“Rest assured, if Yenir truly sets out to kill, those Third-Stage judges won’t just stand by!”

“I’ve already contacted a few high-ranking Third-Stage members. When the time comes, they’ll step in to rescue you!”

Having built up his influence in the Capital for years, Zhang Meng believed that although he wasn’t top-tier, he still had some face.

Listening to his father’s reassurance, Zhang Yang exhaled a heavy sigh of relief.

However…

“But Dad! What if I lose terribly? Is there any way I can win against him!?”

“Like what? Some equipment or gadget!?”

As if hope had been rekindled, Zhang Yang pleaded with his father. Now, he wasn’t scared of dying—instead, he felt that maybe there was a chance to win!

Hesitantly, Zhang Meng understood his son’s feelings:

“Equipment or gadgets… they’re useless.”

“Death-duel battles don’t allow equipment—it’s meant to be a fair fight.”

Seeing the hope in Zhang Yang’s eyes flash and fade, Zhang Meng murmured softly,

“But although external help won’t work, there is still a way!”

“Yenir insists on a fair fight to challenge you, so we can use the rules to our advantage!”

“I’ve already contacted other contenders and challenged Yenir as well!”

“Doesn’t Yenir want everyone to acknowledge his prowess? Fine—let’s see if he can hold on!”

Zhang Meng let out a bitter laugh; this was the only option he saw. A newly promoted Third-Stage fighter like Yenir daring to humiliate him by using the rules—forcing him to play by them?

Through his inquiries, he had also gleaned why the higher-ups approved the death duel.

Essentially, they wanted to use him as a test subject to gauge Yenir’s true combat strength!

Since they were curious, the higher-ups wouldn’t mind watching several rounds—they might even back him!

Those temporary seed contenders will each face off against him! He remembered clearly that although Yenir’s performance was abnormal, even he had his limits. The Awakener Trial is like that—exhaust him over several rounds, and I bet Yenir won’t have the strength to fight you anymore!

Of course, Zhang Meng didn’t expect this plan to reclaim the First Array; it was simply meant to force Yenir to back down.

Seeing his son gradually regain confidence, after a brief hesitation, Zhang Meng whispered again:

“One more thing—but you mustn’t let this slip to anyone!”

“I’ve arranged for a death warrior to challenge Yenir. He will swallow a Spirit Energy bomb. Although it’s unlikely to kill Yenir outright, it will seriously injure him. If Yenir manages to maintain his strength for a few rounds, this will be our final safeguard!”

“Either he backs out of the duel, or he’ll have to face you while badly injured!”

Even though this method makes any victory meaningless and the Authorities will undoubtedly investigate harshly, for the sake of his son, Zhang Meng decided to take the risk. He had invested so much in Zhang Yang—he couldn’t bear to see his son completely broken.

Stunned, Zhang Yang’s eyes lit up with wild joy.

“Just like before, Dad can fix everything! Even if it’s Yenir, no matter how talented he is!”

“The local big shot isn’t so easily overpowered! Let’s see how you fare against me!”