Lu Chongwei looked at him and put away his earlier casualness.
"For your comrades?"
"Yes."
Sting gave his answer.
"I have to win."
Lu Chongwei nodded.
"Then come."
"I'll fight you with everything I have."
Sting took a deep breath.
"Just what I wanted!"
Boom!
White Dragon magic power erupted from his body.
Blinding white light blanketed the entire plaza.
The ground cracked continuously under the impact of his magic power.
Sting clenched his fists as white dragon scales rapidly covered his arms and the sides of his face.
His magic power surged, reaching its peak in the blink of an eye.
"Lu Chongwei!"
Sting raised his head, ready to charge.
But when he saw the figure ahead of him clearly, his body suddenly stiffened.
Lu Chongwei stood in place with his back to the setting sun.
He had not released any magic power.
Nor had he taken a fighting stance.
The shadow stretched long by the sunset extended all the way to Sting's feet.
Sting's fists began to tremble.
He wanted to take a step forward.
But his feet felt as though they were pinned beneath massive boulders.
The courage he had just gathered was slowly crushed back down.
"No."
"I can't be afraid."
Sting gritted his teeth and forced himself to lift his right foot.
He took one step forward.
Then a second.
With every step, Lu Chongwei seemed to grow taller.
Sting's breathing became increasingly ragged.
Sweat ran down his forehead.
"Go!"
"As long as I defeat him, I can save Lector!"
Sting roared, trying to encourage himself.
His white magic power surged again.
Yet he still did not charge.
He remembered Lu Chongwei defeating Rufus in a single strike.
He remembered Minerva risking everything, only to be crushed head-on.
He remembered all those finishing moves that