The Bullshi—Bellshot family was a noble lineage proud of the solar knights they produced.

After all, they stood among the top five greatest noble families, just below the Burns when it came to producing solar knights.

In the VIP section of the arena, where the nobles were gathered, the Bellshot family patriarch sat, looking directly at the arena below them.

"I think your kid is losing," one of the noble family heads taunted as they watched Andrew get launched backwards into the barrier.

But instead of anger of a frown, there was a small smile on his face, almost as if he knew something they didn't...which he did.

"Is he?" The patriarch asked smiling, "I guess the first years are pretty talented this time."

He said one thing, but his expression showed that he was still completely confident in his son.

"What are you not telling us old man?" Another noble family asked.

"That'd just lead to me spoiling the surprise won't it?" The patriarch said, "for now, let's enjoy the show."

All the nobles, although curious, turned back to the arena, waiting for whatever the Bellshot kid was capable of.

Nathaniel Burns looked intently at the arena, but unlike the others, he kept his eyes on the rude talkative zone 3 kid, curious to see if all he could do was talk.

Back in the Arena, Devon put both fists up and said, "square up."

"I didn't plan on using this but," Andrew started, as something large room shape behind him, as he summoned it from his inventory, "but I can't have you embarrassing me in front of my father."

The glow around the object disappeared, and it revealed itself to be....

"A bell?" Devon muttered in confusion before it suddenly clicked, "ah, so that's where the first part of your na—"

Ding!

Before his words could be completed, the bell let out a loud ring, one that

Devon's pupils shrank as the sound tunneled directly into his head, bypassing his ears entirely. The world wasn't shaking, but he definitely was.

"…the hell?" he muttered.

From the outside, nothing seemed to happen.

The crowd saw Devon still standing there, fists raised. Some even scoffed, thinking Andrew had wasted time pulling out a gimmick.

But Devon's vision suddenly split.

Andrew was in front of him....no.

There were three Andrews in front of him now.

One standing where he should be. One half a step to the left. One lagging behind, slightly transparent, like an afterimage.

Devon staggered.... "that ain't right."

Another ding echoed inside his head.

This time, the arena tilted.

The ground felt delayed, like it responded a fraction of a second too late to his movements.

When he shifted his weight, his body followed, but his senses didn't quite catch up.

"What's wrong?" Andrew's voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once, "having a hard time staying upright?"

Devon clenched his teeth. "Man… you cheatin'."

Andrew smiled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth as he straightened. The bell behind him hovered slightly above the floor now, SE pathways were visible across its surface.

"Solar Resonance Bell," he said calmly. "Family tech."

He tapped the bell once more.

Ding.

"That's..." Cass let out from the stands as he looked at the bell in the arena.

"A Resonance bell," Linda completed his words, "it disrupts the flow of SE in an intended target and messes with their perspective."

Solar techs were her field, so of course she knew about one like this.

"The only problem is," Cass added, "it's supposed to be a family heirloom, so why was he allowed to use it... except —"

"It's a replica," Linda finished, "an inferior version of the original."

And they were right, the original was capable of targeting multiple targets at once, while this seemed to only affect Devon.

But in this case, that was all Andrew needed.

Back in the arena, Devon, even with his messed up vision, tried to anticipate Andrew's attack, but it was all for naught.

A punch slammed into his ribs, sending him sliding sideways across the floor. He barely kept his footing this time.

"There we go," Andrew said, rolling his shoulders. "That's more like it."

The crowd erupted again, relieved murmurs and excited shouts flooding the arena.

"So that's his trump card!" "I knew the Bellshots wouldn't lose like that!" "That first year just got lucky earlier."

Devon coughed, spitting to the side as he forced himself upright.

"…okay," he muttered. "Okay, that's nasty."

Another ding rang out and Andrew was suddenly right in front of him

Devon raised his guard, but he was too slow.

A knee crashed into his stomach, followed by a gauntleted uppercut that snapped his head back. He flew, hit the ground, and rolled hard.

He hadn't mastered his clan's technique well enough to keep it on at all times, he had to anticipate the attack before hand and prepare for it.

But this damn bell wasn't letting him do so.

Andrew exhaled, his confidence a lot higher than before. "You're done, Cause this bell doesn't just mess with your head."

He stepped forward again.

"It amplifies my timing while messing with yours."

Devon pushed himself up on one knee, vision still fractured, Andrew multiplying every time he blinked.

He laughed.

"Aight," Devon said, wiping his mouth. "So that's how you Bellshots fight."

"Well," Andrew smiled, "only against Eclipsed and people we find annoying, and you, first year, are the most annoying person I've ever met."

"'s that so?" Devon chuckled, "then I guess you boutta be a lot more annoyed with me."

Andrew scoffed. "Big words for someone seein' triple."

He raised his gauntlet and tapped the bell again.

Ding!

The resonance was heard in his head again.

Devon's vision fractured further, five Andrews now, overlapping, desynced, some moving too fast, others lagging.

His balance wavered as the SE interference dug deeper, scrambling his sense of distance and timing.

"Stay down," Andrew said as he lunged.

Devon didn't move, he seemed frozen in place and him closing his eyes was taken as a sign of surrender.

This battle was good as over.

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