Hawkins vs. Su'er

One day, a vast space quietly opened above Infinite City.

Countless islands floated within it, and an ocean stretched as far as the eye could see. At its center lay a vast square arena surrounded by mountains.

Hawkins and Su'er stood at opposite ends of the arena. On a nearby peak, Shaya sat on a picnic blanket eating snacks.

How had things come to this?

Hawkins looked at the expressionless little girl in the distance, his face conflicted. He couldn't help feeling troubled.

It had started with Shaya. Su'er had remarked that Infinite City's players were weak and that she couldn't understand why Shaya wanted to become one.

That should have been the end of it. The problem was that the class Shaya had chosen really had little fighting power, so Su'er made the same remark a few more times.

Shaya refused to take it lying down and argued back. Gradually, the two began to quarrel.

Fortunately, they didn't come to blows. Instead, Shaya made a bet with Su'er: since Su'er thought Infinite City's players were weak, she should challenge its strongest player. If Su'er lost, she would become a player alongside Shaya. If Shaya lost, she would have to admit that players really were weak.

Hawkins felt he had been dragged into this for no reason. When the two girls asked on Infinite City's online Forum, every player, without exception, named Hawkins as the strongest.

At first, Hawkins naturally refused. Su'er was so tiny that he couldn't bring himself to lay a hand on her, much less spar with her.

He never hit children. It was out of the question.

But without his agreement, the two couldn't settle their bet. So they followed him everywhere, staring at him whenever he turned around.

After several days, he finally gave in.