In an inconspicuous corner of the stands, Alice sat quietly beside her grandfather.
The two watched the match intently, their gazes fixed on Shawn as he played with effortless composure.
When she saw Bulgaria start playing dirty, anger flashed in Alice's eyes.
"How can they break the rules like that?"
Old Fawley was still enjoying the spectacle, and took a moment to reassure his granddaughter.
"Alice, you're being naive again. What are rules? This is just Shawn's entertainment before the great battle.
"And these people, who hardly qualify as opponents, are merely resorting to petty tricks.
"A dragon doesn't quarrel with minnows, both out of generosity and because it simply doesn't care. But after repeated provocation, the dragon need only lift a claw, and those minnows can end up as nothing but dust.
"Just watch. Shawn is about to get serious."
Sometimes, the person who understood you best wasn't yourself. Old Fawley's understanding of Shawn was downright terrifying.
He had barely finished speaking.
Shawn, who had been roaming through the sky, had already made his move.
The god-level Bludgers Shawn sliced away were elusive and wildly unpredictable.
They always traced dazzling trajectories, leaving his opponents unable to guess where the Bludger would ultimately land.
So now, no matter how tricky a shot he made, the fans merely cheered rather than expressing surprise.
An exceptionally clear boom rang out as Shawn struck the Bludger diagonally downward.
The spectators saw the Bludger hurtle straight toward the ground. As it seemed about to crash, some couldn't help laughing.
One anonymous spectator, who might have been either a hater or a fan, quipped,
"Haha, so even Black makes mistakes. I thought he really was a god. Now-"
But a moment later, it was as though a massive rock had lodged in his throat. The