Chapter 1 An Hour into the Shadow World

Lanchi lightly touched the rough stone wall with his cold fingers, the stinging sensation sharpening his mind.

Amidst the howling wind of the prison and the quiet trembling of prisoners in other cells, the iron chains bit tighter into his hands, the shackles scraping his wrists raw, almost numb.

Every pore of his body resisted the cold, but in vain.

"So cold..."

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, felt the cold air spread through his lungs, and slowly exhaled a white mist, feeling every tremor, every heartbeat within him, struggling against the endless chill.

As time passed, Lanchi began to acclimate to the cold until his muscles stiffened and his thoughts gradually slowed.

He could hardly imagine if he were to stay in this prison, whether the cold and despair would become his only companions, accompanying him through a quiet and long night.

Although the Shadow World Adams had chosen was fine.

After all, Lanchi had said he would accept any kind of challenge.

But judging from their respective strengths, a head-on confrontation would inevitably result in mutual destruction.

"Classmate Adams..."

Finally, Lanchi said helplessly, near the wall bordering Adams's cell,

"If we keep this up, and have to determine a winner, I'm afraid it will hurt our harmony, wouldn't it?"

Soon.

"What's wrong, Lanchi? Are you already unable to hold on? I believe you're not the kind of person who goes back on his word, are you?"

Adams laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice.

On the left side of the wall separating them, in Adams's cell, things weren't going well either.

Although he had hoarded some supplies like Lanchi, after enduring an hour without using them, a bit of frost had formed on Adams's face.

He had never underestimated Lanchi.

At the same rank, and with both unable to use magic cards, his basic cold resistance was stronger than Lanchi's.

However, Lanchi was also good at analyzing information and using strategies; he could potentially trade for more supplies from the other prisoners.

Adams had decided that no matter what Lanchi said, he would not trade with him. Lanchi was a man with bewitching words; deceiving opponents out of their supplies was a possible path to victory.

As long as Lanchi didn't gain an advantage in supplies, Adams was confident that he would never lose to Lanchi in terms of will and determination for the sake of Knight Commander Juliana. Only by defeating Lanchi in such a straightforward manner could he make Lanchi accept his loss wholeheartedly.

Lanchi was slightly taken aback; he felt that Adams had clearly misunderstood him.

"I always stand by my moves, you can rest assured about my contract spirit."

Lanchi said calmly.

The two communicated through the thick walls, their voices relying on the gaps in the iron bars to reach the corridor and drift into the adjacent rooms.

"Then there's no need to say more, I won't be swayed by anything you say."

Adams chuckled.

He knew that Lanchi would try to communicate with him sooner or later in this Shadow World.

Because he had anticipated that Lanchi would try to draw him into a game of wits, using schemes to defeat him, but he hadn't expected Lanchi to start so soon.

"..."

After these words were conveyed, Lanchi was silent for a while.

"In that case, I'll let you win."

After saying that, Lanchi's voice from next door stopped abruptly.

"Wait?"

Adams was slightly stunned and shouted towards the iron bars.

However, there was no response from the neighboring cell.

"...Lanchi?"

Adams couldn't understand the situation for a moment.

Lanchi's mysterious desire for victory puzzled Adams.

Was this person truly not attached to victory or defeat?

Rumor had it that Lanchi's mentality was unfathomable.

But even Adams hadn't imagined that someone would simply surrender in a competition representing the academy, like a creature purely composed of reason, making judgments without a trace of emotion or spirit.

Adams thought, and after a moment, finally exhaled a cloud of mist with relief.

Presumably, Lanchi realized that he had no hope of defeating him in this Shadow World through brute strength or willpower, so he chose to stop there, following the principle of a friendly competition.

Lanchi's demeanor and mentality also impressed Adams.

Worthy of being a prodigy who could defeat the Saintess of Destruction, Adelais, in a dangerous situation.

"Wait..."

Just as Adams was considering leaving the Shadow World and no longer suffering, he frowned.

He pressed his hand against the wall with some doubt, then closed his eyes and listened carefully with his ear against the back of his hand.

After a while.

Although it was very faint, he noticed some slight movements next door!

Adams was instantly shocked, a look of disbelief on his face.

"Lanchi, you despicable fellow!"

Adams shouted angrily at the next cell.

That bastard really could do anything!

He was almost deceived by his trick!

...

On the Gerald Memorial Square, the students were silent.

This was so Lanchi.

He actually wanted to pretend he had already left, then hide in the Shadow World and trick Adams into leaving!

After all, the real victory, according to the agreement witnessed by all the Sages Academy's teachers and students, was still determined by the Shadow World's score.

If Adams had almost believed him just now, after Lanchi left, he could just tell Adams, "You believe everything I say in the Shadow World? That kind of verbal surrender doesn't count, it's just a reasonable strategy, we still have to follow the agreement," and Adams would be speechless.

Lanchi was clearly playing psychological warfare and exploiting loopholes in the contract terms again.

Although feigning surrender was a bit shameless, it was indeed the only way Lanchi could easily win!

"If Adams had been a little less cautious, it might have ended just now."

"Some lawyers are just that despicable, they deceive you into yielding verbally, then slam the contract on the table!"

A fighter who had once been a victim said indignantly on the stone steps.

Whenever they recalled the tearful appearance of their Big Sister C'Elvini, they were filled with remorse that no one in the Fighter's Soul team's dojo had discovered Lanchi's true face at the time.

Because of Lanchi, C'Elvini had completely abandoned the soul of martial arts, and no amount of persuasion could bring her back. They could only wish Big Sister good luck in passing the bar exam...

"But... not only was Lanchi's trick seen through by Adams, it also put him on alert. It will probably be even harder to deceive Adams next, so what will Lanchi do?"

Other students discussed in confusion.

In the Shadow World prison, Lanchi and Adams were separated by a wall and could not see each other's condition.

But the live broadcast showed the two prisons head-on, and the audience could see their expressions clearly.

Adams was clearly still capable, while Lanchi was really freezing. He couldn't really choose to endure it with Adams.

Lanchi had a body full of magical power, but with his magic cards sealed, he couldn't even cast a Tier 1 Fireball, let alone heal himself or keep warm.

Only Lanchi could be so outrageous when it came to mastering spells in the entire Sages Academy.

For Lanchi, the decisive moment was actually approaching.

Any heavyweight operations should be used now!

(End of Chapter)