NOVPUBAn hour had already passed since the start of the Shadow World.
Lanci lightly touched the rough stone wall with his cold fingers, the sting at his fingertips clearing his mind.
With the howling wind within the prison and the shivering sounds of quieting inmates from other cells, the chains bit tighter into his hands, his wrists were raw from the manacles, nearly losing all sensation.
Every pore on his body resisted the cold, but all in vain.
"It’s so cold…"
He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, felt the cold air spread within his lungs, then slowly exhaled a puff of white mist, aware of every shiver within his body, every heartbeat, all battling against the endless cold.
As time passed, Lanci started to get used to the cold, until his muscles stiffened and his thoughts began to slow.
It was hard to imagine, if he had to keep staying in this prison, if the cold and desperation would become his sole companions, beating the silent and lengthy nights with him.
Though there was nothing wrong with the Shadow World that Adams had chosen.
After all, Lanci had said he would accept any kind of challenge.
But given both of their strengths, a hard fight till the end would only lead to mutually assured damage.
"Adams…"
Finally, Lanci spoke helplessly near the wall of Adams’s cell,
"If we keep hanging on like this, insisting on determining a winner, I’m afraid that we might hurt our relationship."
Suddenly.
"What’s the matter, Lanci? Can’t take it already? I believe you’re not someone who backs out halfway, right?"
Adams laughed, somewhat mockingly.
On the left side over their separating wall, Adams’s cell, his situation wasn’t any better either.
Although he, like Lanci, had stockpiled a bit of supplies, after gritting it out without using any materials for an hour, Adams’s face was already frosted over slightly.
He had never underestimated Lanci.
At the same level, both unable to use Magic Cards, his basic cold resistance is stronger than Lanci’s.
However, Lanci was also very skilled at analyzing information and strategizing, he might be able to exchange for more resources from the other inmates.
Adams had decided, no matter what Lanci said, he would not trade with him, because Lanci himself was a man with bewitching words. Deceiving his opponent’s materials was also a significant possibility.
As long as he doesn’t let Lanci take advantage of supplies, Adams believed, he would undoubtedly not lose to Lanci in willpower and determination for Knight Juliana. Only by honestly defeating Lanci can he make Lanci admit his loss heartily.
Lanci paused for a moment, feeling that Adams had misunderstood him.
"No regrets once I’ve laid down my piece, you can rest assured on matters regarding the spirit of the contract."
Lanci calmly replied.
The two of them communicated through the thick walls, their voices passed through the gaps in the iron bars and drifted into the corridor then to the adjacent room.
"Then we need not say more, no matter what you say, I will not be swayed."
Adams chuckled.
He knew that eventually, in this Shadow World, Lanci would try to communicate with him.
Because he had anticipated that Lanci would attempt to drag him into a mind game, using strategies to defeat him, only he did not expect for Lanci to start so soon.
"..."
After his words buzzed over, Lanci remained silent for a while.
"If that’s the case, let’s just let you win."
Having said that, Lanci’s voice from next door ended abruptly.
"Wait a minute?"
Adams was slightly taken back, and shouted at the bars outside.
However, there was no response from the adjacent cell anymore.
"...Lanci?"
Adams was momentarily unable to comprehend the situation.
Lanci’s enigmatic desire for victory left Adams utterly perplexed.
Was this man truly indifferent to winning or losing?
Rumors said that no one could fathom Lanci’s mindset.
But even Adams did not expect anyone to surrender so outright in a match representing the academy, just like a being made entirely of rational mindset, making judgments without the least bit of emotion or pride.
Adams pondered and, after a moment, let out a relieved sigh.
Presumably, Lanci realized that he had no hope of defeating Adams in this Shadow World by sheer force or will, so he chose to stop at a point, adhering to the principle of friendly competition.
Lanci’s demeanor and mindset left Adams in awe.
No wonder he had managed to defeat the Goddess of Destruction, Adelis, in a dire situation.
"Wait..."
While Adams was considering leaving the Shadow World and thus escaping his torment, his brow furrowed.
With a somewhat puzzled expression, he pressed his hand against the wall and listened carefully, his ear against the back of his hand.
And so it went for a while.
Although it was very faint, he noticed there was still a slight movement in the next cell!
Adams suddenly realized and his face revealed disbelief.
"Lanci, you treacherous scoundrel!"
Adams shouted angrily at the next cell.
This dog. He really does have no shame!
He’d almost been fooled by his tricks!
...
The students on Jera Memorial Square fell silent.
He was so like Lanci.
He actually intended to pretend that he had already quit, and to stay in the Shadow World to trick Adams into leaving!
After all, the real victory, according to the agreement witnessed by all the teachers and students of Sage Academy, was still determined by the scores in the Shadow World.
If Adams had almost believed earlier, once Lanci left and then told Adams, "Do you believe everything they say in the Shadow World? That kind of verbal surrender doesn’t count. It’s all just a fair tactic. We still have to abide by the treaty," Adams would have no reply.
Clearly, Lanci was again playing psychological warfare and exploiting the loopholes in the contract clauses.
Although faking surrender is somewhat shameful, it is indeed Lanci’s only possible way to win easily!
"If Adams was much naive, it would have been over by now."
"Some lawyers are just that despicable. They trick you on a verbal level and then slap down a contract!"
A fighter who once was a victim spoke indignantly from the steps.
Every time they thought about the vulnerability of Cervini, their head of the Soul of Fighters’ Club Team, they regretted that no one had seen the true nature of Lanci when they were at the dojo.
Because of Lanci, Cervini has now completely given up the Spirit of Martial Combat, and no matter how much they tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t come back. They could only wish her luck in passing her legal exams...
"But... Lanci’s trick was not only seen through by Adams, but it also alerted him. It would be difficult to deceive Adams next time. What should Lanci do?"
The other students discussed in confusion.
In the jail of the Shadow World, Lanci and Adams were separated by a wall, unable to see each other’s circumstances.
But from the live broadcast, the audience had a clear view of both their faces.
Adams clearly had energy to spare, while Lanci was truly frozen to a standstill. He had no choice but to fight it out with Adams.
Lanci was full of mana, but in the state where his Magic Card was sealed, he couldn’t even perform a First-order Fireball Technique, not to mention healing or warming himself.
Among the entire Sage Academy, only Lanci’s mastery of spells was this outrageous.
For Lanci, the decisive moment was near.
Any high-level strategy should be put into action now!
