The duel bell rang. Both sides stepped onto the stage, empty-handed—but fighting for their lives?
No.
Under the glaring white lights, it looked like a duel between two men, but beneath it ran an undercurrent tangled with everyone's intentions.
Among the crowd below, some sneered, some felt relieved, some knew nothing, and some secretly panicked.
In his seat, the unmoving primarch's expression was impossible to read.
Within the crowd, the Apothecary was still administering emergency treatment to Karras.
In a corner, Fernando held Ugo as he treated him, faint white light flickering now and then.
Outside the hall, Barasyn's hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.
The undercurrents surged, yet they all converged upon that single focal point!
Hades took a deep breath.
"Bzzzz—"
The duel began!
To conceal his desire to stall for time, Blanca charged first, rushing straight at Hades in just a few breaths.
Hades did not flinch. Neither side had weapons now, so they could only fight at close quarters. He sank his breath, planted his feet, and used defense as offense, holding his breath and focusing his mind.
Blanca bent low and drove straight at Hades's abdomen. He wanted to hoist Hades up and throw him over his back!
But Hades, caught in Blanca's grip, used the force to kick backward. He seized Blanca's arms, pushed upward, and vaulted through the air over Blanca's head!
Landing heavily, Hades used his momentum to raise an arm and attempt to throw Blanca over his shoulder.
But Blanca was no ordinary man.
Though smaller and weaker than Hades, the veteran relied on his experience to shift his center of gravity and cleverly dissipate the force Hades's arm exerted on him.
Seeing his move fail, Hades immediately broke free of Blanca's hold, twisted around to face him, and Blanca swiftly