The next day, Evan woke up before the sun was even up.


    As usual, he was getting up early to train with his master.


    But when he checked his watch phone, he saw the messages Punikon had sent him


    [Evan, just because your dad beat my dad doesn''t mean you can beat me. I challenge you to a one-on-one fight!]


    [If you don''t have the guts to ept, you''re a total chicken!]


    [If you dare to fight,e find me at the hospital!]


    [Why aren''t you answering? Are you scared? You coward, wimp, chicken, loser! Hmph!]


    [If you don''t reply, I''m gonna tell everyone. I''ll let the whole world know that Evan is a coward who''s too scared to ept my challenge!]


    What?


    Evan shot up in bed and reread Punikon''s messages. Besides Punikon''s texts, there were chat screenshots from other ssmates. Because he hadn''t replied, Punikon had already started telling everyone in their ss that he was a coward.


    Evan was furious. It was true what they said: being merciful to your enemy is being cruel to yourself. Thest time Punikon bullied Emmett and Elijah, if he hadn''t held back, would Punikon still have the nerve to be this arrogant? How dare he call him a coward! He was clearly asking for another beating.


    Evan replied to Punikon, [I was asleepst night. You want a fight? You got it. I''ming for you right now!]


    Evan quickly threw on his clothes, brushed his teeth, and washed his face before heading out. He first went to find his master to report in.


    "Master, I have something to do today, so I''m skipping training."


    The scarred man asked, "What is it?"


    Evan didn''t hide it from him. "I''m going to challenge Punikon to a duel! He sent me a challengest night that I didn''t see, and now he''s telling everyone I''m a coward, ruining my reputation!"


    "I''d rather die than be called a coward! I have to teach him a proper lesson!


    Otherwise, my ssmates will really think I''m scared of him!"


    The scarred man was skeptical. "Didn''t you two already fight? He couldn''t beat you, yet he dares to challenge you again?"


    "Someone''s probably backing him up," Evan said. "He says it''s a duel, but he''s probably just trying to lure me over so his buddies can beat me up for revenge! Punikon is the real coward. He''s a lousy fighter who loves to y dirty. Hiding behind someone else''s muscle isn''t how a real man acts! Anyway, I gotta go. I have to defend my honor. I''m leaving, Master."


    The man knew Evan''s personality. Calling him a coward was a line that couldn''t be crossed. There was no stopping him, so the man decided to join him.


    "I''ll go with you."


    on


    So Punikon called for backup? Well, he''d be Evan''s backup. It was one thing if the two kids fought is their own, but if Punikon''s backup dared to make a move, then he would too.


    Just as they were about to leave, Evan''s watch phone suddenly rang. It was Elliot.


    "Hey, bro," Evan said, curious. "Why are you calling me this early? Is it urgent?"


    Elliot asked back, "Where are you right now?"


    "I''m with my master."


    "Going to fight Punikon?"


    Evan''s eyes widened. "You know about it too? Did Punikon message you? Did he say I was too scared to fight and called me a coward?! I was just asleepst night, I didn''t see the message! I''m on my way to find him right now. If he dares to ruin my name, I''ll wreck him!"


    "Don''t go see him today," Elliot said. "His father passed away. If you go looking for


    him at a time like this, it''ll look bad for you."


    Evan froze,pletely stunned. "Punikon''s father... died?!"


    "Yeah."


    "How?"


    Elliot frowned. "The exact cause of death isn''t clear, but it looks like a frame-up. The Thyanian side is already spreading rumors that Dad killed him."


    Evan immediately shot back, "That''s bullshit! Dad just disabled him, he didn''t kill him! So he was killed by his own people?!"