In the blink of an eye, Adrian moved his left hand in a circular motion, forming an arc in the air—Then, he released a surprise strike.Daniel was still mid-air, his dagger raised, ready to deliver a finishing blow—when it hit.BOOM!The sound echoed like a system rupture. A burst of white smoke exploded across the arena.Then—THUD!Another impact. Daniel’s body was launched backward with full force, crashing to the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth.The entire crowd fell silent.“What just happened?” someone whispered. Everyone stared, eyes wide, trying to see through the thick white smoke that had shrouded the arena like a sudden blackout.Seconds later, the smoke cleared.Adrian was still standing in his place—calm, unmoved, like nothing had happened.People blinked in disbelief. At first, they couldn’t even spot Daniel.“What the hell was that?” voices murmured across the arena.“Is that guy still standing? Or… is that some kind of illusion?” one fan muttered, unwilling to bel
WARNING!!The system displayed a red-flag warning:OPPONENT IS A REGULAR PLAYER AT TOP TIER15 WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE. YOU ARE CURRENTLY UNRANKED AND UNRECOGNIZED BY THE SYSTEM. FOR YOUR SAFETY, YOU MAY CLICK THE EXIT BUTTON TO QUIT BEFORE THE MATCH STARTS.The message was long, but Adrian didn’t have the patience to read through it. He simply clicked Skip.YOU CAN INSPECT ANY WEAPON YOU’D LIKE TO USE.The system presented various weapon options. Among the many prompts Adrian had skipped—terms and conditions included—one important setting Daniel had activated was the ability to use his dagger in the fight.Meanwhile, in the opposing lobby, Daniel frowned.“Did he even read the rules at all?” he muttered, surprised to see Adrian’s name turn green—signaling he was ready. All that remained was for Daniel to confirm, and they’d be transported to the arena.After a moment’s pause, Daniel clicked Ready.He wasn’t the least bit worried. Adrian had unknowingly made the match harder for hi
“What?” Clara blurted out, quickly covering her mouth as if trying to silence her own thoughts.No, no… I just need him because he said he could treat me—and so he could agree to my dad’s request, she thought, closing her eyes slightly and taking a deep breath.“Honey, you’re here,” Damian said cheerfully, quickly walking over to Lyra and taking her hand.Before he could turn to notice the tension between Adrian and Lyra, Adrian had already snapped out of it and started walking away.As he neared Damian, about to pass by, Damian extended a hand.“Adrian, I was just wondering if you’d like to join the tournament. I’ll personally compensate you if you win. You’re not only getting the $50,000 prize available for the winner, I’ll add another $50,000—that’s a whopping $100,000 total. What do you say?” he asked with a deliberately pleasant smile.He knew full well there was no way Adrian could win. Daniel was ranked 15th on the board—no amateur. Whoever Adrian faced wouldn’t be an easy oppo
“Dr. Foster,” Vivienne said in a calm voice—almost a whisper—but her tone carried a hint of curiosity.“Wh—why did you…” she began but quickly stopped herself.Maybe it’s not a good idea to bring this up, she thought.“What is it?” Adrian’s voice was composed and deliberate, his tone soft but focused.“I just wanted to ask… why did you lie about us dating?” she asked, this time trying to sound casual and hide the curiosity in her voice.Adrian paused, as if studying her—though he wasn’t even looking directly at her. He could sense her unease.“Because you needed my help,” he replied flatly, his tone indifferent.Clara frowned.What kind of man says something like that so bluntly? she wondered. Is he playing hard to get or what?It was confusing. Just a moment ago, he’d stood up for Vivienne in front of Derek and called himself her man. That had felt like a real confession. But now—this?“Oh. Thank you,” Vivienne replied just as casually, though something in her eyes flickered.It was
The guards quickly rushed toward Adrian, ready to grab and pull him out.Just then, a voice called out from the doorway.“Adrian?”It was Lyra, who had just stepped in—followed closely behind by Damian.Everyone turned to see who had spoken.As soon as Lyra noticed Adrian being held by security, she ran forward toward Mr. Antony. Her mind immediately assumed the worst—that Adrian was being thrown out or possibly punished. A man like him, in a place like this? It’s no surprise, she thought.“Mr. Antony, please—I beg you. Don’t throw him out. I know this man,” she said, bowing her head respectfully.“Please, for the sake of my fiancé, Damian… just let him stay,” she added.Damian’s forehead instantly broke into a sweat the moment she mentioned his name in that plea.Is this girl serious? What is she saying? Oh no… he thought, trying to maintain a calm appearance. But deep down, he was panicking.Mr. Antony shifted his gaze toward Damian, and that single glance said everything.Secretly,
Vivienne stood visibly confused, her heart pounding like a drum.Thoughts raced through her mind at lightning speed, like she was envisioning every possible outcome at once.So this is why Mr. Antony has always gone out of his way to help me—even when I didn’t ask for it, she thought.But she couldn’t wrap her head around why Mr. Antony would have such intentions without ever telling her. It felt like he’d played her like the perfect card, assuming she wouldn’t refuse—for the sake of their long-standing relationship.It had always been a mystery to others how Vivienne had such easy access to Mr. Antony. Some business partners even had to go through her just to get a chance at his favor. Because of Vivienne, they were offered doors otherwise closed.“Dad, what’s the meaning of all this?” Derek laughed nervously, trying to mask the confusion in his voice.He hadn’t seen his father in years, but he knew well—Mr. Antony wasn’t the playful type. Growing up, he never received warmth or affe