The golden afternoon sunlight that originally shone through the wooden window lattices now filtered through the dust motes inside the venue. The scent of gunpowder lingered over the floorboards, which creaked from time to time like cries piercing the silence.
Yet as Lanqi replaced Frey, he chose to offer everyone a sincere apology, appealing to both reason and emotion as he analyzed the cause, process, and outcome of the misunderstanding.
Under his continuous and earnest efforts to communicate, the atmosphere in the hall gradually softened.
A cool breeze drifted through the worn doorway, rustling the bamboo blinds like a gentle lullaby, slowly soothing the pugilists' fiery tempers during this afternoon lull.
Lanqi's unhurried words and his friendly demeanor—so starkly contrasting with Frey's—seemed to convince the pugilists that perhaps both sides could take a step back after all.
"..."
Hyperion had no idea how to evaluate the duo of Frey and Lanqi.
Frey had stepped up and nearly blown the roof off their building; when Lanqi took over, they naturally felt that opening a window was no big deal.
After a round of negotiations,
Cervini knitted her brows tightly, pointed at Frey standing in the distance, and said, "What you did just now crossed the line. This guy has to be banned—he's not allowed to fight again! If you agree to that, I'll accept another match against you!"
No matter what, Cervini only grew angrier the more she looked at Frey!
She would never allow such a despicable fellow, utterly devoid of the fighting spirit, to set foot on their sparring platform again, even if the other side guaranteed the duel's fairness this time.
"No problem. Frey is banned," Lanqi promised Cervini.
Hyperion stood at the back in confusion, watching this rapidly shifting situation.
It seemed as though Lanqi had taken charge and smoothed things over,
yet she couldn't shake an even more ominous premonition.
Next,
Lanqi took paper and a pen from his coat pocket and walked over to the pugilists. With their approval, he drafted meticulous duel clauses one by one.
It even reached the point where the pugilists began to feel a little embarrassed.
Compared to a cunning rogue like Frey who fought dirty, Lanqi was genuinely sincere and reasonable.
"...Therefore, the core rule of the match is that no hidden weapons, explosives, or magical items other than magic cards may be used, making it a fair duel treated as if taking place in a Shadow World."
"Any damage to the building resulting from the duel will be borne by the Pugilist Club; the Student Management Committee assumes no responsibility."
"Regardless of victory or defeat, neither party may violate the fighting spirit or the honor of their family name to seek retaliation after the fact, slander the other party's reputation, or threaten or harm the other party through force or authority. Both sides must maintain friendly communication."
Lanqi held the contract, read it through from start to finish for the members of Soul of the Fighter, and confirmed each point with them.
"No problem."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Cervini found this well-mannered, sensible black-haired young noble far more agreeable than Frey, who was an outright hoodlum.
Gradually, she realized that communicating with a reasonable, top student from the School of Sages was actually quite pleasant and effortless.
Mainly, there was an approachable, friendly charisma about him.
His attitude was so exceptionally sincere that Cervini even felt a little bad about going too hard on Lanqi's side.
"So, she's the one fighting this time?" Cervini pointed at Hyperion and asked Lanqi.
Since their Tier 5 vice-captain was no longer able to fight, and to be certain of protecting their clubroom, she had ultimately decided to take the field herself.
"No, I'll be the one fighting you this time," Lanqi said, folding the contract and tucking it into his coat pocket as he smiled at Cervini.
"Are you sure? While I won't endanger your life, don't expect me to go easy on you either," Cervini asked with a look of disdain.
Although she had heard the campus rumors—friends who watched the Shadow World broadcast that night claimed this kid was bizarrely wicked in the Shadow World—this was the real world, and they had an agreement set in black and white. She didn't believe Lanqi had any chance to cheat, let alone any hope of defeating her.
"Of course. Could you give me one minute to warm up, and then we'll begin the duel, if that's all right?" Lanqi nodded with a solemn gaze, confirming he would be taking the field, and asked.
Cervini blinked in surprise.
It seemed this Tier 3 support mage might possess some trump card capable of working wonders in a one-on-one duel.
"All right, no problem. Win or lose today, I will treat you as an opponent worthy of respect." Cervini broke into a hearty smile, a hint of admiration creeping into the way she looked at Lanqi.
To her at the moment, the contrast between Lanqi and Frey was so stark that even Lanqi's courage in challenging her fairly shone brilliantly.
This was the very embodiment of the fighting spirit.
Lanqi then walked back toward the rear, near Frey and Hyperion.
"Lanqi, do you need me to do anything?" Hyperion asked worriedly.
Among all the onlookers present, she was the only one who knew the composition of Lanqi's magic cards.
Without a teammate stalling to build up enough preliminary rage, even using [Basic Etiquette] (kneeling) combined with [Poet of Great Love] would be practically incapable of infuriating Cervini to the point of passing out; it would only send her into a berserk fury.
If he were to use [Wonderful Notes] (Voice of Purgatory), it was also a question of how long a soft crowd control effect like stagger could hold back a Tier 6 combatant like Cervini. She would only need a split second to obliterate Lanqi.
In short, even if Lanqi's one-on-one ability wasn't weak for Tier 3, there was no way he could overcome such a massive gap in tiers in a direct confrontation without teammates coordinating with him!
"Don't worry, Hyperion," Lanqi simply said with a smile, as though confident that their tacit understanding needed no further words.
...
A minute later.
With the new match about to begin, the original tension in the hall was gradually replaced by a derby-like atmosphere filled with anticipation and mutual respect.
In the four corners of the venue, the weathered marks on the old wooden walls seemed all the more distinct, as if recalling past glories.
The two competitors were now standing on an open clearing on the other side of the venue, untouched by the earlier explosion.
This was a far better spot to wage a fair, uninhibited, wholehearted duel.
Cervini and Lanqi stood facing each other from a distance, their focused expressions lending the entire scene an even greater solemnity.
"Lanqi, I'll say it once more: I will give it everything I have and treat you as a formidable foe."
"I am honored, Senior Cervini."
Every bow they exchanged and every expression on their faces brimmed with earnest commitment to this contest and profound respect for their opponent.
"Duel—begin!"
The sonorous voice cut through the venue's stillness like a blade.
The refereeing pugilist's shout echoed through the hall, proclaiming the official start of the fierce clash!
Chapter 100