What might once have been a battle mixed with a trace of friendship gradually escalated with each twist of the cubes in their hands.
As the cubes turned, both Garo and Rhode collapsed to the ground in agony.
"What happened to them?" The spectators in the stands were confused.
Neither of them had made contact or exchanged magical attacks, so why had they fallen?
"I get it!" A spectator's glasses flashed, reflecting the light of wisdom.
"This is how this Ancient Magic Item attacks!"
"It's a curse!"
"This so-called duel between 'real men' is nothing more than enduring one devastating curse after another. Whoever holds out is the real man!"
"An ancient magical item truly lives up to its name. A real man must possess an iron will!"
"The anthem of humanity is an anthem of will! The greatness of humanity is the greatness of will!"
"So that's how it is!" The spectators were enlightened by the know-it-all's explanation and immediately looked at the two men onstage with even greater enthusiasm.
"Look! They're already in such pain, yet they can still persist. How powerful must the will supporting them be?!"
Chu Ke looked at the mustached man passionately making his speech in the distance and did not know what to say.
Perhaps... in a certain sense, it really was a test of will.
"How moving. Such knightly spirit. Sob, sob, sob." Diallo was somewhat touched.
To be fair, the kid really was stupid.
Although Vega somewhat believed the know-it-all's explanation as well, as a high-ranking Great Mage, what she lacked least was a desire to investigate. She was intensely curious about curses from the ancient era.
Having wandered through underground labyrinths for so many years, she had seen all kinds of magical incantations. She knew at least a little about even ancient magic, but she had never seen an ancient curse.
Without another word, Vega closed and opened her eyes. A tiny purple magic circle appeared within her pupils.
High-Level Analysis Eye
After activation, it could see through most magic and its structure, analyze magical constructs of a relatively lower level than the caster, and replicate them.
Vega looked toward the two men onstage through this magical version of the Sharingan.
Let me see this so-called curse magic!
Manipulation Type · Beginner Magic · Invisible Hand
Recorded onto a magical carrier through a special method, it acted upon the opponent's promotion device and applied powerful twisting force.
*...*
Vega fell silent.
Why was it a spell she recognized? No, why was it such a low-level spell? And wasn't there something wrong with where it was being used? Seriously?
There were too many things to criticize. Even Vega's Great Mage brain could not process it all for the moment.
Vega looked at the two men suffering onstage. The "aura of will" the know-it-all had placed upon them vanished completely.
What does that mean? It means they're actually using this spell to twist each other's promotion devices onstage?
At that thought, Vega, who had never feared even dragons, shuddered.
Though she was a woman, if she made an equivalent comparison... No, no, no, not that kind of thing!! Besides, she had grown up with them since childhood. She had never realized they could endure so much!
If Rhode and Garo could hear the spectators' thoughts, they would probably cough up blood.
What did they mean, endure?
From the very beginning of the second round, both of them had regretted it.
What Xiao Zi? Was she more important than their family jewels? They were really about to break!!!
Their walnuts were practically getting polished to a shine, okay?!
Garo and Rhode had already shaken hands and made peace, deciding never to touch that bizarre and vicious equipment again.
However, the rules apparently did not allow them to stop.
One of the rules from the beginning had been: Note: Once the match begins, it cannot be interrupted and will continue automatically unless one side loses consciousness.
Just after they decided to make peace, that voice appeared again. Ignoring their wails without the slightest emotional fluctuation, it began the countdown.
When the countdown ended, a hand formed of magic extended from the cube and began twisting it by itself.
The intense pain struck them again, but this time it was not as swift as when it had been done manually.
It was drawn-out, like a dull knife sawing through flesh.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!" x2 "What do we do?" Garo panicked, asking Rhode, who was likewise curled up in a ball on the ground.
Rhode was still howling in pain, every muscle in his body twitching from the agony.
"I-I don't know either!"
Was this the price of using an Ancient Magic Item? At that moment, a glint flashed through Rhode's eyes.
He struggled toward his cube in the distance, grabbed it, and gave Garo a gentle smile. "Sorry, Garo. I'll make it up to you."
"Huh?" Garo's mind was not very clear under the torment of pain, but when he saw Rhode grab the cube, he was startled. "I've already surrendered, Rhode! What are you doing?!"
"Don't you understand yet, Garo?! As long as neither of us passes out, the torment will continue!" Rhode suddenly began rotating the cube.
Garo reached for his own cube as well, but Rhode would not let him get his wish and completed the rotation.
Secret Art: Reversal of Heaven and Earth!
"NO—!" Garo wailed as a cloud of blood burst from his crotch, and he fainted.
At the same time, the duel ended, and the cubes floating in the air slowly came to a stop.
The referee descended from the air and looked approvingly at Rhode, who was trembling as he stood. "Challenger Garo has lost consciousness! The winner is: Rhode!"
"OOOH!!"
"Rhode! Rhode!" Everyone in the stands was stunned by the scene and began calling Rhode's name of their own accord.
"Sob... one day, I'm definitely going to have a knightly duel like that too!" Diallo said enviously, deeply moved.
"..." Vega was still silent, her pupils quaking. Her shock was different from everyone else's—and far more intense.
That cloud of blood... I hope he's okay.
On the field, Rhode let out a breath of relief, then shouted, "Where are the medical staff? Doctor! Save him!"
The referee sighed emotionally. "As expected of a man with knightly spirit. Even after winning fair and square, you still haven't forgotten your opponent!"
"But don't worry. With our medical capabilities, he'll be fine."
Rhode said nothing.
Hopefully.
Rhode froze for a moment. Why had he originally arranged this duel with Garo again?
He could not remember very clearly.
"Alright." Chu Ke clapped his hands. The popcorn he had been holding had somehow been finished. "The match is over. Let's go—time to head for the Lake of Truth."
"Mm!" Diallo nodded. "What a thrilling duel."
"Coming with us?" Chu Ke asked Vega, who had opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but was still too shocked to recover.
"...Mm." Vega nodded.
There was no way she could stay here any longer. Whenever she saw Garo or Rhode now, everything that had happened today would replay in her mind.
She could no longer look them in the eye. Thank you, readers, for your support and understanding. Thank you all. I'll rest and recover properly! Sigh, the debts I owe are piling up. How am I supposed to put this on the shelves? (Sad)