By the time the cheers outside the Papal Hall had died away, night had fallen over Spirit City.
Not a single lamp had gone out in Shrek's quarters.
A hastily drawn map of the arena lay spread across the living room table. Grandmaster held a charcoal pencil and marked two arcs at its center.
"Hu Liena and Xie Yue's Martial Soul Fusion Skill is called Demon Charm. It severely weakens perception, suppresses Soul Power, and slows anyone caught inside it."
"At the start of the final, they'll most likely go after Tang San first."
Dai Mubai braced both arms against the table. He frowned. "Drag our commander into the Red Mist while Yan leads the other four straight at us?"
"Yes."
Tang San stared at the two arcs, tracing a fingertip lightly across the paper.
He had watched the Golden Generation compete.
Hu Liena and Xie Yue had never fully unleashed Demon Charm in the earlier rounds. They had shown it only for an instant against Godwind Academy. The moment that Red Mist appeared, their opponents lost their bearings, and three team members were sent out of the arena within ten breaths.
Worse, Bai Jin had trained them himself.
The old Demon Charm had stood still, like a cage waiting for someone to wander in. Now the cage could move. It could give chase, and it had learned to snap shut just when its prey was suffering most.
A candy wrapper rustled by the window.
Bai Jin leaned back in his chair, long legs casually stretched out, studying a fruit candy he had just bought in Spirit City.
Tang San looked up at him. "Any advice?"
"Yes."
Bai Jin picked out a blue one and slowly popped it into his mouth.
Everyone in the room turned to him.
"Don't lose