Lewd System: Every Scream and Moan is EXP Chapter 288: We’ll Talk Next in the Arena

Lysandra's mouth fell open in shock. She swiftly regained her composure and uttered, "What exactly do you mean by that, Professor? You can’t—"

Zharina cut her off. "I absolutely can. Three decades ago, Professor Himmel and Professor Tudar clashed in battle over a tie just like this in the scheduled matches."

Lysandra replied. "But things were different back then. They only got to fight because most of their students couldn't compete. Here, all your students seem to be in top shape."

Zharina shook her head firmly. "Headmistress, that's precisely my point. They had no squad members to choose from. We're in the exact same boat right now."

She pointed toward Jax’s group.

"You're correct that my students are all fit and ready. The same can't be said for Professor Jax, though. As everyone knows, his best students are out. Student Lilith faces restrictions. Student Elira’s mana core is unstable. His choices are basically gone."

She stared straight at Lysandra. "Tell me, Headmistress. Is that truly fair? Will this setup deliver justice to those who battled to the top, only to get cheated at the end?"

She stood taller.

"If you push ahead like this, I'm afraid I'll have to decline this decider match. I won't take an unfair win. I refuse to claim a trophy tainted by a fixed or stolen victory."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"You know full well how the crowd buzzed to watch their beloved Lilith. Or Princess Elira after her crushing display. Those fans are getting robbed of the spectacle they expected."

She wrapped up. "This mirrors the scenario from thirty years back perfectly. Professors stepped in to finish what their students began, honoring their efforts while ensuring fairness. I demand a true fight. That requires Professor Jax as my foe."

Lysandra pondered for long moments. Zharina's argument was rock-solid, she admitted. Yet her thoughts kept returning to the academy's core values and its standing.

A professor duel might showcase the school's power or turn into a shameful circus. Lysandra was well aware of the bad blood between these two instructors. She felt sure Zharina was crafting a pretext to battle Jax and crush him before millions.

Still, the logic held firm. With it aired live on broadcast, rejecting it would spark fresh troubles.

These two fools' egos had beaten her, and she knew their clash wouldn't bring honor or benefit the academy long-term. But options had dried up.

Thus, she mused, ’I could handle it by disabling the communication runes, blocking spectators from their arrogant banter in the fight. Plus, warn them ahead to stay proper.’

Then Jax's smug face flashed in her mind, and she thought, ’No way that works on him. Better vent on Zharina and order her to keep it straightforward.’

With a heavy sigh, she said, "Fine, a professors' duel it is. But let's check if the other side agrees first."

Everyone's gaze shifted to Jax, still baffled by the turn. Why flip the sure thing? Karina meant easy victory and sweet payback. This defied all tactics.

He responded. "I accept. But before that, Professor Zharina, care to explain what's brewing in your head?"

Lysandra waved for the crew to kill the broadcast feed.

Zharina shot back. "Why does it matter? I'm handing you an opportunity. If you're dying for answers, let's trade them with fists."

Her gaze held more than just competition.

"My master taught me that warriors' truest talks are etched in bruises. And I'm itching for that exchange."

Jax hadn't replied yet when a roar erupted from the crowd.

"LYSANDRA! DON’T YOU DARE ALLOW THIS! I SWEAR YOUR FRIEND WILL DIE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ACADEMY BY JUMPING FROM THE ROOF AND I WILL PUT THE BLAME ON YOU!"

Zoraven N. Eisfeld, Remnant Hall's guild master, bellowed it from the commoner seats. Broadcast off, only on-site folks caught his raging meltdown.

Rage boiled in him—he'd borrowed hugely from Claude Aleris to pay old gambling debts. Now his safe bet crumbled, wrecked by his own pick.

Lysandra instantly identified the voice of her former classmate. She understood that this pest was neck-deep in crisis, whether from his ruinous gambling compulsion or some fresh monetary catastrophe he'd tumbled into this round. Therefore, she dismissed him entirely.

Zoraven persisted. He turned his fury onto Zharina. "HEY ZHARINA! Stop inflicting more agony on me! You've caused plenty already, you foolish dragon! First, you picked the academy instead of my guild! Then you handed out some moronic tactic to your moronic pupils in that previous battle! And now your idiocy hits its ultimate high by forfeiting a sure victory!"

Just as he teetered on the edge of a complete public breakdown, his daughter Evangeline showed up next to him, seized his arm, and began hauling him away from the railing by force.

Zoraven struggled back. "My daughter, allow me to conclude! Your father is battling for his very survival at this moment!"

While concealing her face from the onlookers around and continuing to pull him along, she remarked, "What blunder have you committed now? Please don't say you wagered again—"

Everything came spilling out from him. "I messed up once more! I received insider info on which pupils the instructors would select! Spotting the opportunity, I bet everything to recover my last deficit! But now this idiot switched her decision! Scammers, every one of them here! They've duped me this time!"

Real anguish broke his voice. "You haven't the faintest idea of the consequences if your mother discovers this. At best, should she spare my life, I won't sit or stand right for an entire month."

A stark vision flashed in his thoughts: his wife in their kitchen, one hand clutching a flaming candle, the other a scorching iron poker. Beaming warmly. Inquiring which punishment he'd choose for the evening.

He swallowed hard.

Back on the platform amid the turmoil, a different voice sliced through. "Professor Zharina, don't act so recklessly. Student matters are no place for your interference."

This came from Matriarch Sianna. Clear irritation marked her features, as Zharina's action straight-up jeopardized her wager. A certain triumph with Karina had morphed into doubt thanks to this sudden moral stand from the woman.

Zharina paid her no heed whatsoever.

Sianna snarled and pressed on fiercely. "Withdraw your demand. In exchange, name your price—I'll provide it. Treasury. Land. Titles. Relics. Whatever you desire."

Zharina's smile conveyed the sole reply required. No interest.

Her gaze shifted to Jax. "Well, what's your answer?"

Jax examined her expression closely. This woman had undergone some shift. Or perhaps she schemed in ways beyond his current grasp. Regardless, the result stayed identical for him. Pure gain either path.

Thus, he declared, "Take in the scene around you, Zharina. See your pupil Karina, her features twisted in distress. Observe the other students murmuring in alarm. Note Lady Sianna. Spot that unknown fellow up in the bleachers who just vowed to leap from the edge."

He flung his arms wide.

"All of them yearn desperately for your success. Yet the very notion of me facing you in the arena freezes each one solid with terror."

He cocked his head. "Doesn't that reveal the truth?"

Zharina smirked. "I figured you'd reformed. But you're still that overweening jerk convinced the universe revolves around him."

Her smirk grew fiercer. "And retreat? No chance. My payback awaits."

Jax smirked wider than her. "Then clash in the arena. And discover who silences whom."

The cocky expression on each other's face grated on both. Yet underneath the thick shells of self-importance, arrogance, and shared loathing, a faint thread of mutual regard had stealthily woven itself in, unnoticed by either.

-x-X-x-

[A/N: Thanks Ordici_T, Outsxder, Leo_Muhammad and tony_adams_4787 for the golden tickets

(づ*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)づ♡]