I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

"You didn't know?" The girl's eyes lit up. "The Governor is sparring with someone in the arena! Everyone's rushing to watch!"

"Governor? Gladiator?" Coleta was slightly taken aback.

"I heard our opponent is from Ragu!"

"Laguna?"

Koleta suddenly froze.

Wait... could it be a cat's eye stone?!

P.S.: Why did the protagonist's combat power suddenly start to decline? Some people are even saying the protagonist can't even beat ordinary people? Holy crap, I don't remember writing that.

Dude, does reading fanfiction really have to lead to a decline in quality? Has the Naruto series really gotten to this point?

Moreover, I have never been weaker than the protagonist – because so far, I have never fought against a powerful opponent.

The character Ah Piao in the game is already invincible, am I stupid to write a story that tortures the protagonist?

Take your time and watch carefully; I won't do anything stupid.

Volume 1: Chapter 96 The so-called first person below the tsunami

The strongest in history vs. the strongest in modern times?

okay.

This description is not entirely accurate.

If we really go by that standard, Lupa should be standing opposite Augusta right now.

After all, both of them were gladiators.

One is the defending champion, and the other is the favorite to win the championship. As gladiators, they are the rivals that everyone is looking forward to.

But in any case, this match...

Duanmu Yan said he couldn't lose.

—Whether it's for Abu or for the Second Miss.

From the start of this duel, Augusta never once tested the waters with a single move.

Each of her sword strikes carried the force to tear silk, and each blow was imbued with a battle spirit honed through countless trials.

Wherever the sword passed, even the light seemed to be cut off—this governor never showed any mercy to his opponent, even though he was a newcomer to the arena.

In her fierce swordplay, there is only one clear will:

—Fight, and then victory.

At that moment, a strong wind suddenly arose, and the airflow speed was so high that it was suffocating.

Duanmu Yan dodged the oncoming heavy sword by sidestepping it, and with a swift movement, he slashed diagonally with his longsword, sparking a string of sparks against the black greatsword.

Augusta flipped his wrist, and the sword swept across like a black dragon's tail. He immediately leaned back, the wind from the sword grazing his nose.

"Good response!" Augusta Lange laughed, his offensive becoming even more aggressive.

Duanmu Yan fought and retreated, each block leaving his hands numb, yet he always managed to avoid fatal attacks at the last second.

Duanmu Yan seized the moment when she withdrew her heavy sword and suddenly lunged forward, the tip of his sword pointing directly at the opening on her left shoulder.

Approval flashed in Augusta's eyes, and his greatsword miraculously returned to defense, deflecting the thrust with a clang.

The stands erupted in cheers.

"Who exactly is that guy? He actually managed to hold his own against the governor for three rounds without being at a disadvantage at all!"

"I don't know. I heard it came from Lagu!"

"Laguna? What a coincidence!"

"What's so clever about it?"

"Have you forgotten? Many years ago, there was a gladiator from Laguna who almost won the Grand Gladiator Tournament!"

"Oh, now that you mention it, I remember. What was that person's name again?"

"Miya."

A cool, clear voice suddenly interrupted the conversation.

Everyone turned around and saw Lupa standing behind them, her eyes fixed intently on the arena.

"Lupa!?"

The appearance of this star gladiator immediately attracted more attention.

Standing in the arena is the reigning champion, while in the stands stands the favorite to win this year's title—this unexpected encounter has made the atmosphere even more intense.

Lupa paid no attention to the commotion around her; she kept her eyes fixed on the figure in the middle of the field who was fighting against Augusta.

"It really is Duanmu..."

"But why would he suddenly fight the governor?"

"Moreover, they're not at a disadvantage."

"Lupa?"

A familiar voice called from behind. The girl turned around and met Koleta's anxious gaze.

The second young lady had clearly run all the way here; her cheeks were flushed, and her chest was rising and falling slightly.

She hurried to Lupa's side, looking at the familiar figure in the arena, her eyes filled with worry: "Is that Duanmu? Why is he fighting the Governor? Did he offend Lord Augusta in some way?"

But then she thought about it again and realized that something was wrong.

In her memory, Duanmu Yan was not an rude person, so how could he suddenly offend the governor?

Lupa shook her head blankly: "I don't know either. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news."

"You didn't know?" Koleta's eyes widened slightly. "But weren't you always together?"

Lupa shook her head again: "No, I parted ways with Duanmu after dinner last night. As for him... he should have been with Yuno all day today?"

"Wait... Yuno? They've been together all day?"

Koleta blinked blankly, a chill creeping up her spine.

Why is Cat's Eye Stone with Yuno?

How exactly did they meet?

“Yesterday we ran into Yuno, who had slipped out of the Four Directions Hall,” Lupa explained. “She didn’t bring her terminal or wallet, and I had to leave first because of team training. Later, Duanmu took her to… a hotel room?”

She paused, then quickly waved her hand: "Oh, that's not quite right. Anyway, they're staying at the Leonidas Hotel. There are so many rooms there, they probably won't be staying together, right?"

Hearing Lupa say that, Coreta's anxiety finally subsided.

Doesn't she know whether the Leonidas Hotel has rooms available or not?

She went to great lengths to book all the rooms except that one, all so that she could share a suite with Duanmu Yan!

But now...

"etc……"

"What am I doing?"

"What am I doing?!"

"Why is it that he can run into Yuno so easily?"

"Could it be that...they've been living together since last night?"

"Damn it! That's clearly my seat!"

The second young lady unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her fingertips turning slightly white.

“…Failed.”

The girl was pale and murmured silently in despair.

"What failed?" Lupa tilted her head in confusion, then turned to look at the arena. "However, Duanmu's skills exceeded my expectations. Miss Koleta, is Duanmu... really just an ordinary employee? His skills don't seem like it. Is he really not your personal bodyguard, Second Miss?"

These words snapped Koleta back to reality. Now was not the time to dwell on cohabitation; the most urgent matter was figuring out why Duanmu Yan had gotten into a fight with the governor.

She looked up at the figure in the arena who was locked in a fierce battle with Augusta: "What exactly is Duanmu doing? Why is he suddenly fighting the Governor?"

“It should just be a friendly spar.” Lupa intently observed the battle. “I’ve studied all the Governor’s gladiator videos. To be honest, even now, my chances of winning against her are slim. But…”

The wolf-tailed girl narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice growing deeper.

“Duanmu… is very special. From initially struggling to parry, to gradually adapting to the rhythm, he has now completely kept up with the governor’s pace, and even…”

"even?"

"He is evolving."

Boom——!

Golden lightning tore through the sky as Augusta stepped out from the lightning, each step leaving scorch marks on the ground.

“Your strength is commendable.” She was surrounded by leaping electric snakes. “But now—I’m going to get serious.”

Before she finished speaking, she had already transformed into a bolt of lightning and rushed straight towards him, her speed too fast for the naked eye to catch.

—The decisive moment has arrived.

Duanmu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted.

Now that we've fully adapted to her rhythm, it's time to fight back.

Strangely, just as Augusta's attack was about to land, her movements appeared to be stretched out infinitely in his eyes, as if time had been slowed down, and every detail was clearly visible.

Did she turn the tables?

Or……

I've become stronger?

Volume 1: Chapter 97 Some birds can't be caged.

In Augusta's mind, the speed of that sudden attack had already exceeded the limits of human reaction.

Even by her exacting standards, she had to admit that Duanmu Yan was a rare opponent—though not a professional gladiator, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary warriors.

He is indeed very strong, but unfortunately he still needs more experience.

however--

what happened?

The figure was clearly still waving his sword and blocking in front of him, how did he suddenly appear beside him in the blink of an eye?

Afterimage?

No, it's more like a frame of time was stolen.

Augusta's battle instincts, honed over years of combat, triggered a frenzied warning. She forcefully reversed her offensive, her greatsword sweeping towards her side with a hurricane-like force.

The sensation of the sword's edge slicing through the air told her that if she hadn't changed her move in time, she might have already been defeated.

A look of disbelief flashed in Augusta's eyes as she stared at Duanmu Yan a few steps away, her grip on the greatsword tightening unconsciously.

Not only her, but even Duanmu Yan himself was startled by the strange slowness he had just experienced.

In that instant, it was as if the whole world had been slowed down—was it that my speed had exceeded its limit, or had some inexplicable anomaly occurred?

This unusual situation naturally drew gasps from the spectators in the stands.

"Did you see that? The governor's sprint speed suddenly slowed down!"

"Is it that Raguna's Gongyueyi 50 Yiqi? 〨 Death l witch? Wine private 9? Eight Ming ability?"

"This is amazing! It's even more exciting than the finals in previous years!"

"Go, Governor!"

Lupa and Coleta both looked astonished. Coleta, in particular—she had never heard Duanmu Yan mention that his resonance ability had such an effect.

In her eyes, Augusta's unstoppable sprint, as it approached Duanmu Yan, seemed to crash into an invisible swamp, its speed suddenly decreasing, and every movement became clearly visible.

Lupa leaned forward unconsciously, her wolf tail swaying gently with her movement, her amber eyes gleaming with excitement: "Wow! Duanmu actually had such an ability hidden? Miss Koleta, could you lend me him for a while? He's practically the kind of partner I've always dreamed of!"