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墨書 Inktalez
Everyone gathered in a corner of the tower, providing more space for the duel between the two, allowing their fight to be more thorough and clear.
A Vice Captain stepped forward, raising his hand and looking at the two combatants. After they nodded, he quickly lowered his hand.
With that gesture, the match began.
Hayamura Shuichi's entire demeanor changed instantly, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness unmistakable and unhidden. Without any hesitation, Hayamura Shuichi launched an aggressive attack; this was the final duel, and he had no intention of holding back. If he didn't fight now, when would he?
The Bald Young Man had proven his strength by defeating numerous opponents, leaving no doubt about his abilities. The Saint Envoy would not falsify results for anyone, so any pretense had already evaporated.
The Bald Young Man wielded an Iron Blade, its hilt shaped like a circular guard. Crafted from pure iron, its tip gleamed with a sharpness as hard as stone.
He stepped forward, lowering his body slightly as he positioned the Iron Blade in front of him to block Hayamura Shuichi's overhead kick.
Hayamura Shuichi adjusted mid-air due to the impact and then threw a knife without hesitation, aiming straight for the Bald Young Man's throat.
The Bald Young Man transformed his Iron Blade from a horizontal position into a thrusting motion, intercepting the flying knife. The knife rebounded back towards Hayamura Shuichi, who was immediately pursued by the Bald Young Man wielding his Iron Blade like a sword.
The fierce exchange of blows unfolded in the blink of an eye. Each move was perilous; a moment's carelessness could cost them dearly. The spectators couldn't help but sweat nervously, seemingly more tense than the two fighters themselves.
The gazes of the two Vice Captains grew increasingly intense because both final contestants were formidable opponents, seemingly even stronger than Utada Hikaru from earlier rounds.
Although they were both Vice Captains, their competitive relationship wasn't overly fierce; perhaps the benefits system maintained a relatively balanced state. After all, unless there was an unexpected death, this was merely a paradise away from worldly concerns.
Under the name of the Saint Envoy and with each individual's impressive strength, every mission they undertook was successful. Cases like Utada Hikaru encountering Jufeng and stumbling were rare in the history of the Saint Envoy.
Demon hunters also selectively eliminated demons; ultimately, as Ikeda Kenji aspired to compete for the Vice Captain position merely as a symbolic spiritual landmark. Much like the fearsome statue in a city god temple, no one truly held reverence; it was merely a formality to comfort their own spirits.
As Hayamura Shuichi and the Bald Young Man's battle intensified, they moved from one corner of the tower to another, engaging in a continuous dance of offense and defense.
Jufeng's thoughts were initially with Li Ji, but this rare display of skilled combat drew much of his attention. At times, he imagined himself as one of them; if he were Huaguo's Underworld Young Master, he would choose to employ martial arts from Yanhuang City to respond.
It would be a prolonged battle, as neither side had any concerns for the future, nor did they harbor thoughts of conserving their strength. This was entirely different from Jufeng's attempt to assassinate Watanabe, where one was proactive and the other reactive; one focused on how to kill, while the other thought only of how to escape.
Clearly, the current battle was not as fair.
The tense and exhilarating fight continued, with even Ikeda Masahiro, a girl who couldn't stand boredom, showing no signs of fatigue. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were wide open, fixated on every detail without blinking.
She was even more engrossed than a lovesick girl watching the latest trendy dramas.
However, no matter how splendid the performance, there must come a moment when the curtain falls. Jufeng suddenly focused his gaze, sensing a subtle change in the arena.
The Bald Young Man made an unforgivable mistake, yet Hayamura Shuichi did not seize it firmly enough. The flying knife merely grazed the Bald Young Man's shoulder, leaving a cut but causing little harm.
"Are we about to win?" Ikeda Masahiro asked excitedly.
Jufeng nodded slightly and replied with a smile, "In such high-stakes duels, once one side begins to make mistakes, it signifies they are on a downward spiral. This will spread like a plague—there's no escaping it. Although Hayamura Shuichi is also at his limit, if he can just hold on for another minute, the outcome will be clear."
Indeed, Jufeng seemed like a prophet, accurately predicting the course of the match. Hayamura Shuichi seized the opportunity and launched continuous attacks, striking various parts of the Bald Young Man's body. The wounds multiplied on the Bald Young Man as blood flowed freely.
"Town!"
The flying knife skimmed past the edge of Iron Blade and suddenly circled around it in mid-air before reappearing right in front of the Bald Young Man.
Iron Blade was entangled by the opponent's flying knife and could not be withdrawn to block. If the Bald Young Man retreated now, he wouldn't be fast enough to evade the knife. So unless something unexpected happened, he would soon face dire consequences.
Of course, in such circumstances, an unexpected turn seemed destined to occur.
Just as the flying knife was about to make intimate contact with the Bald Young Man's face, Hayamura Shuichi abruptly changed his force's direction. The silver thread pulled Iron Blade from his opponent's grasp while the flying knife grazed past the Bald Young Man's scalp.
Previously, the Bald Young Man was not completely bald; there were still a few stubborn strands holding their ground. However, today they had no choice but to retreat in defeat.
Because the sharpness of the blade was something they could not resist.
The Iron Blade crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound, marking the conclusion of this peak showdown.
Hayamura Shuichi narrowly emerged victorious by a slight margin.
“Papa!!”
Under the leadership of the two Vice Captains, applause gradually filled the arena, growing louder and echoing off the walls, creating a deafening resonance.
Ikeda Kenji looked at Hayamura Shuichi as he approached, a relieved smile spreading across his face. Despite his complete confidence in his brother, there were always many unpredictable possibilities before the final outcome was revealed.
Fortunately, it had been a close call, but the result was gratifying.
Ikeda Masahiro was also excitedly dancing around, though in a graceful and unpretentious manner. Seeing Ikeda Masahiro's charming smile made Hayamura Shuichi smile in return, filled with joy from completing the task and satisfaction from having a beautiful witness.
Jufeng was naturally pleased as well; at last, this endeavor had not been in vain. So many lives had been taken, so much manpower and resources had been mobilized, and plans had been laid for so long—even his own abdomen bore a wound.
If it weren't for the current outcome, no one could have imagined what might have happened.
The Bald Young Man returned to his companions, but the expressions of the victor and the vanquished were starkly different. Especially with that resounding applause; in their hearts at that moment, it felt even more unbearable than funeral dirges.
Yet acceptance was necessary; this was Saint Envoy, a place difficult for anyone to shake.
So under the guidance of the Winged Envoy's Members, who had steadfastly maintained their posts and were accustomed to expressing everything through gestures, they left quietly.
They didn't even bother to pick up the Iron Blade again.
Compared to other failures, their path ahead seemed much longer. They had once touched a glimmer of hope only to watch it turn into despair right before their eyes. This disparity reverberated deeply within their souls.
The four individuals disappeared at the end of the staircase, and the applause in the hall gradually faded. The group led by Jufeng turned their gaze toward the two Vice Captains, who were also approaching.
Originally, Jufeng was the murderer of Utada Hikaru; however, Utada Hikaru had once been their companion, which should have caused some resentment toward Jufeng. Yet, earlier, Vera had informed Jufeng that among the Vice Captains of the Saint Envoy, their actions were entirely independent, each responsible for their own matters, and they rarely communicated.
Thus, what had just transpired reflected a rather indifferent competitive relationship between them.
The two Vice Captains reached Hayamura Shuichi's side, smiling to express their congratulations without any unnecessary words. It was unclear whether this was due to a language barrier or simply their personalities.
A Member approached from the side, carrying a tray that held a ceremonial robe, which appeared to be of the same style as those worn by the two Vice Captains.
The Vice Captain who had raised his hand earlier slowly stepped back while the other moved forward to take the tray from the Member's hands. He then prepared to present it to Hayamura Shuichi, completing today's authorization ceremony and bringing an end to the selection process.
However, upon witnessing this scene, Jufeng felt a surge of doubt. Shouldn't it be the Commander performing this task? No matter how mysterious the Commander was, could there really be a precedent for peers conferring such honors upon one another?
(To be continued)
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