Seeing him momentarily stunned, Sandra quickly tugged on his sleeve and urged, “Kenneth, you should really talk to Tiffany. She was so upset yesterday that she even mentioned. breaking off the engagement with you!”
Kenneth snapped out of his daze, his expression filled with disdain. “Good riddance!”
‘Not like I wanted this engagement anyway, Kenneth thought, rolling his eyes internally at Sandra’s words. However, Tiffany remained unfazed, her eyes still calmly fixed on her book as if his presence was of no consequence.
Just then, the school bell rang, signaling the start of class. The noise in the classroom quieted down, except for Ged Moody, the boy who was punching and still bleeding from his nose.
After getting permission to go home, Ged threw a parting shot at Tiffany, “If you’ve got the guts, meet me at the Dark Arena after school. I’ll make sure you learn what it means to be put in your place!”
The Nocturne Arena was the largest underground competition and betting in Lovell
Venu City, where competitors had to agree on a wager before the match, one they were bound honor.
Tiffany knew Ged was trying to humiliate her further, and while she initially had no intention of indulging him, she realized some people needed to be put in their place.
“Sure,” Tiffany replied casually, confident that taking down an arrogant fool like Ged would be no challenge.
And just like that, the bet was set, sending a wave of excitement through the entire class.
“Tiffany is setting herself up for embarrassment!” one of the classmates said.
“Or maybe she’s trying to get Kenneth’s attention by doing this?” another replied.
“Whatever it is, I’m going to watch it too. It’ll be great to record how badly Tiffany gets humiliated. I can’t wait!” the other classmate said.
Amid the chatter, Sandra approached Kenneth with feigned concern. “Kenneth, are you going? You could step in if Tiffany gets bullied.”
“I’m not going,” Kenneth replied dismissively. His disdain for Tiffany was so deep that even her name triggered a reflexive aversion.
Hearing his firm reply, Sandra couldn’t hide her secret delight. As the school day ended, nearly the entire class streamed toward the Nocturne Arena, eager to witness Tiffany’s impending humiliation.
After taking a beating earlier, Ged had brainstormed the most malicious ideas and selected the toughest challenge imaginable. ‘Can Tiffany handle this? She’ll probably end up crying and embarrassing herself even more, he thought with a smirk.
When Tiffany arrived at the Nocturne Arena, she found Ged waiting for her, with a sly grin plastered across his face. “So, Tiffany, are you ready for the challenge I’ve prepared just for you?” he taunted, gesturing toward the archery range, which was renowned as one of the most demanding competitions the arena had to offer.
Tiffany eyed the bows and targets before returning Ged’s gaze with a knowing smile. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked calmly.
Unfazed, Tiffany’s smile widened ever so slightly. ‘He has no idea I’ve been practicing archery since I was eight. Is he competing against me in this? He’s digging his own grave, she mused. silently.
Mistaking her confidence for hesitation, Ged let out a mocking laugh. “What’s the matter? Getting cold feet already? Remember that backing out isn’t an option once you’re in the Nocturne Arena!”
Ged leaned in closer, his voice laced with malice as he loser has to perform a strip dance right here, in the middle of the arena. Think you can handle that? And just so you know, the same goes for me if I lose.”
out the stakes. “Here’s the deal: the
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as whispers and murmurs filled the air. “Wow, that’s extreme!” one classmate whispered.
“Tiffany is really in big trouble this time!” another exclaimed.
“This punishment is brutal! She’ll never live it down!” a third chimed in.
The archery challenge was all about target scores. Smirking, Ged tried to appear generous. ‘I’ll give you a head start-take two extra shots. Consider it a favor.”
Tiffany calmly stepped up to the shooting line, Her voice steady and composed. “Let’s just get this over with. I don’t have time to waste.
Her casual tone made it clear that she wasn’t taking Ged seriously.
Ged’s face turned red with anger. “You ungrateful brat! Don’t come crying when this gets ugly!”
Before the challenge began, the crowd organized a betting pool. Nearly everyone placed. their money on Ged to win. Only one person bet on Tiffany out of pity rather than confidence.
Finally, Ged let his first arrow fly, and he scored six points-a decent start.
His friends erupted in cheers. “Go, Ged! It’s all on you if we’re going to see a beauty dance!”
Ged’s second shot hit the eight-point ring, boosting his confidence. His face flushed with excitement as he shouted, “Tiffany, you’re going to lose for sure!”
His subsequent shots scored four, six, two, and a perfect ten. After ten arrows, his total score was 48 points.
“So, Tiffany, if you beg me to let you off now, I might just consider it,” Ged boasted, flaunting his score.
‘He’s boasting about a mediocre score?’ Tiffany thought with a sneer. She stepped forward, taking the bow and drawing it back with slow precision-a move that would be difficult for the average girl, requiring considerable arm strength.
This was precisely why Ged chose this challenge, hoping to exploit her weakness. But he didn’t expect to see Tiffany standing on the shooting platform with a flowing red dress, her chin slightly raised, and her calm, exquisite face exuding an undeniable grace and confidence.
Her every move was breathtaking, leaving the crowd mesmerized. Some couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
“She’s just a little prettier than average!” someone sneered.
“All looks, no substance!” another chimed in.
“She’s just putting on a show. I bet she can’t even shoot that arrow! What a joke!” one in the crowd laughed.
As the crowd’s chatter grew, more people gathered around the Nocturne Arena.
In a VIP room on the second floor, Sidney was reporting something to Richard when he suddenly noticed the scene below. “Richard, look! There’s a stunning girl shooting arrows down there!”
Usually, Richard wasn’t interested in such things, but seeing Sidney’s excitement, he glanced down out of curiosity-and froze.
‘Isn’t that the audacious girl who had her sights set on me?” Richard thought.