The duel was officially set to begin at 3:30. In the VIP section, Xander and Consmart sat comfortably, their attention fixed on the arena. Among the distinguished guests were Manager Darwin, the police officer in charge, Adriana London, the principal, and other Ventrander tycoons—avid sports fans eagerly awaiting the spectacle.
Meanwhile, in the front row of the general audience stands, Auntie Freya, Olivia, and Vincent settled in, their conversation shifting to the imminent showdown.
"Olivia, do you think Shanazer stands a chance against Cathy Williams?" Auntie Freya asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
Olivia looked up, a knowing grin spreading across her face. She then glanced at Vincent, whose eyes blazed with eager anticipation—hungry to hear what she thought. Given her frequent time spent with Shanazer, they expected her to have keen insight into her skills.
"I've seen her take down five armed robbers single-handedly," Olivia declared, her voice burning with conviction. "If she had the nerve to challenge the world's forerunner among the younger generation, then she knows exactly what she's doing." She paused, taking a sharp breath. "I believe in her. She will win."
Aunty Freya and Vincent could feel the fire brewing in Olivia's voice—an unpredictable mix of fear, anxiety, and sheer courage.
"Most of my friends are betting on Cathy Williams," Aunty Freya said. "But the few who wager on Shanazer… they'll be walking away with fortunes if she wins."
Aunty Freya exhaled, picking up where she'd left off. "Cathy Williams has 1.3 odds against Shanazer, who's sitting at 29.6. A staggering gap—one that screams inequality."
Vincent leaned in slightly, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Did you bet?" he asked, a sly smile creeping onto his lips. Olivia shot Aunty Freya a curious look.
"Ah…" Aunty Freya sighed, her lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile.
"No. How could I?" she said, shaking her head. "If I won that kind of money, what would I even do with it? It wouldn't bring me joy—only guilt."
Olivia and Vincent burst into uncontrollable laughter, their mirth echoing through the space. The response was so uncharacteristic, so absurd coming from her. Aunty Freya—the undisputed queen of gambling, a title bestowed upon her by none other than her own friends—suddenly waxing poetic about morality? It didn't fit.
"You, of all people?" Olivia wheezed between fits of laughter.
"You're practically a legend," Vincent added, wiping a tear from his eye.
Aunty Freya crossed her arms, feigning offense. "I'm trying to act as human as possible, and you two think I'm that cold-hearted?"
Her tone only fueled their laughter further, their stomachs aching from the intensity of it. They even attracted the attention of bystanders.
Olivia took a deep breath, barely managing to compose herself. "Aunty Freya, we both know that's not you," she said, shaking her head. "You expect us to believe you'd let this golden opportunity slip right through your fingers—just like that?"
"You will soon discover that much about me has changed in the past few weeks," Aunty Freya said, her voice steady yet strangely charged. "Ever since I started spending time with Shanazer, I have been transformed—perhaps born again."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Vincent. "That's something, if true," she said, a teasing edge in her voice. But neither she nor Vincent could fully take Aunty Freya's words at face value. She was, after all, an opportunist.
Meanwhile, inside the dressing room, Tairen Exon massaged Shanazer's shoulders, his fingers working through the knots of tension.
"Shanazer, you know you don't have to prove anything," he murmured. "It's not too late to back out of this duel."
Shanazer inhaled deeply, exhaling with a calm precision. "At this point, there's no turning back," she replied, her tone devoid of bitterness, anger, or even hesitation. "I've come this far for this fight. I'll see it through. She's a bully, and tonight, I'll end it."
Her unwavering poise unsettled Tairen. Something about the way she carried herself—it wasn't just confidence. It was control. She exuded the composure of someone highly trained, the kind of focus he'd seen in professional fighters, even military personnel.
It didn't add up. He had only taught her basic self-defense, a few martial arts techniques. Had she secretly pursued further training? He had observed her from time to time before she arrived at the campus—her life had been a cycle of university and work for two straight years. So what had changed?
Meanwhile, in the opposing dressing room, Cathy's father stood abruptly. "Darling, I'll be back soon," he said, buttoning his coat. "I need to make a few calls."
"Alright," Cathy replied casually, waving him off. "Plenty of company here anyway."
With that, he strode out, his expression unreadable. Once he reached a quiet stretch of the hallway, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
The call was answered after just two rings.
"Hello, sir," a voice greeted him.
"Fyendana," he said, his tone sharp. "Have you done the unexpected?"
A pause.
"Yes," Fyendana confirmed, voice thick with certainty. "Everything is in place. When the moment arrives, the plan will be executed."
Cathy's father exhaled slowly, his grip tightening on the phone. "Don't disappoint me," he warned. "Cathy must win this fight—at all costs."
"This fight isn't just about money," Cathy's father said, his voice low and weighted with urgency. "If she loses, it will be a disgrace to our family name. You must do whatever it takes to ensure things work in my favor."
"Sir, my team and I will not let you down," Fyendana assured him, his tone unwavering. "We are professionals. This is what we do."
Cathy's father exhaled sharply. "I have to go. See you at the end of the line."
"At the end of the line," Fyendana repeated, his words laced with certainty. Then the line went dead.
Inside Cathy's dressing room, excitement bubbled among her friends. Her trainer carefully stretched her muscles, preparing her for the upcoming battle.
"This is your chance to put that despicable Shanazer in her place," he muttered, his grip firm as he assisted her movements. "She needs to understand she is beneath you. You must break her bones one by one—just like you did to those two reckless punks."
His words sent a ripple of laughter through Cathy's friends.
"You should make her lick your shoes," one of them added, grinning mischievously. "Force her to beg for mercy."
Before Cathy could respond, the door swung open. Her father entered, cutting through the laughter as it faded into light chuckles.
Meanwhile, at the Selena Campus arena, the crowd swelled, buzzing with anticipation. The fight was the only thing anyone talked about.
Most spectators knew little about Shanazer. Few dared to bet on her, yet among them were those who saw something others didn't. A local police officer had wagered a hefty sum on her victory. The same was true for Adrian London.
Despite never having witnessed her in combat, they had absolute faith in her. Her actions had spoken louder than any reputation.
The media swarmed the venue, eager to cover what promised to be the city's most electrifying event in recent memory.
A reporter stepped in front of the cameras, adjusting her stance.
"Good evening, everyone!" Maria Rosa Devlin beamed as she addressed the live audience on Ventrander TV. "We are coming to you from the Selena University Campus arena, where the atmosphere is nothing short of electric!"
"In just moments, we'll witness a thrilling sparring match between the Bemuga crew from Danidan University and the host university, who currently hold the advantage with nine wins to five."
"As anticipation builds, I'll be speaking with audience members to get their thoughts. Can Shanazer—the mysterious underdog who emerged from nowhere—stand a chance against our reigning champion, the undisputed forerunner of the young generation?"
She scanned the crowd, her sharp eyes locking onto a young couple in the audience.
"Hello there!" she greeted, moving toward them with a bright smile.