The golden afternoon sunlight that had once streamed through the wooden ttice windows now danced amidst the dust particles in the air. The faint scent of gunpowder lingered, and the creaking floorboards seemed to cry out in the eerie silence.

  However, with Lanqi stepping in to repce Frey, the atmosphere gradually shifted. Lanqi’s sincere apologies, coupled with his calm and reasoned expnation of the misunderstanding, began to ease the tension.

  A cool breeze slipped through the broken doors, rustling the bamboo blinds with a soft, whispering sound. It was like a gentle lulby, soothing the tempers of the previously enraged fighters.

  Lanqi’s steady and measured words, paired with his starkly different demeanor from Frey’s, seemed to convince the fighters that perhaps a compromise was possible after all.

  “…”

  Huberrian stood at the back, unsure of how to evaluate the duo of Frey and Lanqi.

  Frey had nearly blown the roof off the pce, and now, with Lanqi stepping in, even opening a window seemed like a reasonable gesture in comparison.

  After a prolonged negotiation, Zilvini, her brow deeply furrowed, pointed at Frey, who stood some distance away, and decred:

  “What you did earlier was completely out of line. That guy has to be banned from participating. If you agree to that, I’ll accept a rematch with you!”

  The sight of Frey only fueled Zilvini’s anger. She absolutely refused to allow such a dishonorable person, devoid of any sense of the fighting spirit, to step onto their dueling ptform again—even if this time, the duel promised fairness.

  “No problem. Frey will be banned from participating,” Lanqi said, nodding in agreement.

  Huberrian, standing off to the side, watched the rapidly evolving situation with a mix of confusion and unease.

  It seemed as though Lanqi had taken control of the situation, steering it toward stability. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something even more unsettling was about to unfold.

  Next, Lanqi pulled a pen and paper from his pocket and walked over to the fighters’ side. With their input, he meticulously drafted a detailed set of rules for the duel.

  His thoroughness and sincerity even began to make the fighters feel a bit embarrassed.

  Compared to Frey, who had come across as cunning and dishonorable, Lanqi was genuinely reasonable and fair.

  “…So, the core rule is this: the duel must not involve the use of hidden weapons, explosives, or any magical tools other than Magic Cards. It will be conducted as if it were taking pce within the Shadow World.”

  “Any damage to the venue caused by the duel will be the responsibility of the Fighter’s Club. The Student Management Committee will not be held accountable.”

  “Regardless of the outcome, neither side may viote the honor of the fighting spirit or their family name by seeking revenge after the fact. There will be no smearing of reputations, no threats or harm inflicted through force or influence. Both parties must maintain friendly retions.”

  Lanqi held up the contract and read it aloud from start to finish, ensuring that the members of the Fighter’s Club understood and agreed to every cuse.

  “No objections.”

  The fighters nodded in agreement.

  Zilvini found this well-mannered, bck-haired nobleman far more agreeable than Frey, who she saw as nothing more than a thug.

  She even began to realize that dealing with these reasonable schors from the Sage Academy wasn’t as frustrating as she’d expected. In fact, Lanqi’s personable and approachable demeanor made the interaction surprisingly pleasant.

  There was an undeniable charm to Lanqi’s sincerity and fairness.

  So much so that Zilvini felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of going all out against him in the upcoming duel.

  “Well then, will she be the one to fight this time?” Zilvini asked, pointing at Huberrian as she turned to Lanqi.

  Given that their vice-captain, the fifth-rank fighter, was no longer able to compete, Zilvini had decided to step into the ring herself to ensure the stability of her club.

  “No, I’ll be your opponent this time,” Lanqi replied, folding the contract neatly and slipping it into his jacket pocket. He smiled at Zilvini with unwavering confidence.

  “You? Are you sure? While I won’t endanger your life, don’t expect me to hold back,” Zilvini said, her expression tinged with disdain.

  She had heard the rumors circuting around campus—stories from those who had witnessed the Shadow World broadcasts ciming that this young man was full of strange and unpredictable tricks.

  But this wasn’t the Shadow World. Here, in the real world, with a clearly defined contract in pce, she couldn’t imagine how Lanqi could possibly outmaneuver her or secure a victory.

  “Of course. Just give me one minute to warm up, and then we can begin. Is that alright?” Lanqi asked, his gaze steady and serious.

  Zilvini hesitated for a moment.

  It seemed that this third-rank support mage might have some hidden ace up his sleeve, something that could turn the tide in a one-on-one duel.

  “Alright. No matter the outcome, I’ll treat you as a worthy opponent,” Zilvini said with a hearty ugh, a hint of admiration in her eyes as she looked at Lanqi.

  In her view, the stark contrast between Lanqi and Frey was so striking that even Lanqi’s courage to challenge her fairly shone brightly.

  This, she thought, was the true essence of the fighting spirit.

  Lanqi then walked back to where Frey and Huberrian were waiting.

  “Lanqi, is there anything I can do to help?” Huberrian asked, her voice tinged with worry.

  She was the only one present who truly understood the composition of Lanqi’s Magic Cards.

  Without teammates to set up the necessary conditions, it would be nearly impossible for Lanqi to generate enough Rage Points to use cards like [Basic Etiquette] (Kneeling) or [Great Poet of Love] effectively. At best, he might provoke Zilvini into a state of rage rather than incapacitating her.

  Even if he opted for [Melodious Note] (Infernal Tune), the soft control effect of “stagger” would hardly slow down a sixth-rank fighter like Zilvini for more than a moment. She only needed a brief window to defeat Lanqi outright.

  In short, while Lanqi’s solo capabilities were impressive for a third-rank mage, they simply weren’t enough to overcome such a significant rank disparity in a direct confrontation.

  “Don’t worry, Huberrian,” Lanqi said with a reassuring smile.

  It was as if he believed their unspoken understanding was enough to convey his confidence.

  …

  One minute ter.

  As the new duel prepared to commence, the tense atmosphere in the venue gave way to a sense of anticipation and mutual respect, transforming the mood into something akin to a friendly derby.

  The old, wooden walls of the venue, marked with the scars of countless battles, seemed to come alive with memories of past glories.

  The two combatants stood on the opposite side of the hall, in an area untouched by the earlier explosion. The space was ideal for a fair and open duel.

  Zilvini and Lanqi faced each other from a distance, their focused expressions lending a solemn air to the scene.

  “Lanqi, I’ll say it again—I’ll give this my all and treat you as a formidable opponent.”

  “Thank you, Zilvini-senpai,” Lanqi replied with a polite bow.

  Every gesture, every expression they exchanged, was filled with respect and seriousness, a testament to their commitment to this duel.

  “Begin!”

  The referee’s voice rang out, sharp and clear, slicing through the quiet of the venue.

  It echoed across the hall, marking the official start of the battle between two determined fighters.

  (End of Chapter)

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