Boothill was quite satisfied with Luka's reply. "Hahahaha! Good kid!"
"Ah… you're 'testing my resolve' again! You almost had me fooled!"
"He's got a leg—you little smartass!" Boothill's gaze drifted toward a spot in the sky. "You remind me of a friend—a girl named ' Rappa.' She's just like you—stubborn as hell about the things she believes in."
[Rappa? New character?]
[Yo, new character incoming.]
Luka asked weakly, "So… is she as weak as me too?"
"Can you crush a star bare-handed?"
"Uh… she can???" Luka's tone was full of astonishment.
Boothill shook his head. "She can't either—but she always insists she can."
"Hahahaha, what kind of nonsense is that!"
"Dear baby—she really is strong in the most ridiculous ways." Boothill downed the "strong tea" on the table in one gulp, waved at Luka, and left the long street without looking back.
[If even Boothill calls someone strong, they're seriously strong.]
[Normally, anyone who claims they can burst a star probably actually can.]
[Rumor has it Rappa debuts next season—and her design is pretty paradigm-shifting.]
— —
The perspective returned to Skysplitter. Stelle pushed open the waiting room door.
Carmella and Luka were chatting inside.
Luka exhaled toward the ceiling, everything feeling so surreal, so dreamlike. "I can't believe… I'm about to step onto the ring. Feels like a dream."
Hearing the word "dream," Carmella immediately worried Luka's hallucinations were acting up again from the pressure.
"Relax, Player Luka—just treat this like any ordinary points match."
Stelle didn't hold back her praise. "You're already destined to be in the history books."
Carmella nodded vigorously. "Yeah~ No matter how the 'Skysplitter Title Defense' ends, you're already someone who will go down in Belobog's history forever."
Luka gave a faint smile. "That's exactly why it feels like a dream! But honestly, the biggest takeaway from this Luofu trip is that I've finally figured one thing out.
I'm not swinging my fists to gain something. I'm not swinging to prove anything… I'm not even swinging to win. The moment I throw a punch—I'm the happiest person in the entire galaxy. That's all."
[Mainly thanks to luck—with a big shot like Stelle by his side.]
[With Stelle's connections, basically every named person on the Xianzhou is an acquaintance.]
[True. Without Stelle as Luka's coach, reaching this point would have been basically impossible.]
— —
Everything was ready—only the finals remained.
Luka slowly walked to the center of the ring. A young man with yellow hair greeted him politely. "Hello, Mr. Luka. We meet again."
Luka instantly remembered. "No way… you're… you're that 'Cold Edge'!"
Yanqing clasped his hands together in apology. "Sorry for not telling you my name in person. I am the Luofu's title-defending swordsman, Yanqing.
Mr. Luka, I've been following you these past days. When you weren't looking, I was in the stands watching every single one of your matches.
I have to admit—you're an extraordinary warrior. Resilient, sharp, and far from lacking in power. Most importantly—your self-recognition. Every punch you throw carries courage that doesn't ask about win or loss. That left a deep impression on me.
I've heard about what happened to your world. I understand—you need this victory. Just one more step, and you can carry Belobog's name into history forever. But as the Luofu's title-defending swordsman, I also have everything I must uphold."
Though Luka didn't fully understand, he was deeply moved. "I don't have any grand pre-battle speech, Brother Yanqing.
Thank you for pointing the way when I was lost at the beginning. These days, countless people like you have guided me until I reached this ring. Do you remember the bold words we shouted at the sky?"
He took a deep breath. "'I! Luka! Will definitely win! I will definitely defeat Yanqing!'"
[Will he win?]
[Will Firefly.]
[Usually anyone who says they'll win ends up badly—so we say 'will Firefly.']
— —
The entire venue was packed to capacity, the audience's cheers deafening.
Owlbert was commentating with full passion. "The long-awaited 'Iron Arm' Luka has overcome countless trials and finally stands before Lord Yanqing!
Since the Martial Exhibition Ceremony began, 'Luka vs. Yanqing' has held steady at the top of the audience anticipation rankings. Now this long-dreamed-of dream matchup is about to unfold before the entire galaxy!
What will the outcome be? Let's watch and see!"
Amid the commentary, Jing Yuan arrived at the venue to the sound of ceremonial cannon salutes on Skysplitter.
Yanqing and Luka finished their final preparations and began the match.
Yanqing formed hand seals—six flying swords orbited around him.
Luka clenched both fists, ready to respond.
"Lord Yanqing's flying swords are circling the Skysplitter ring… How exactly will Player Luka deal with this?"
Luka leaped high—his iron fists swift and fierce—easily shattering the first flying sword.
Owlbert: "Player Luka has downed one of Lord Yanqing's flying swords! What a fantastic start!"
But there was no denying the considerable gap between Luka and Yanqing.
After dozens of exchanges.
Luka dropped to one knee. "Your flying swords are truly tough… my iron arms are completely useless now…"
Hearing this, Yanqing slowly descended from the air. "In that case, I will set my swords aside as well. Let us decide the final victor with our fists alone."
Luka nodded and heavily discarded his external iron fists onto the ground.
After exchanging nods, both were fully prepared.
At that moment.
Luka struck first—dashing forward in a burst of speed, instantly closing the distance with Yanqing.
Yanqing's brow twitched—clearly Luka's speed exceeded his expectations.
Still, he remained composed.
Luka unleashed a flurry—left and right hooks flying—but Yanqing easily dodged them all.
His distance control was perfect—neither too far nor too close.
The next few moves were completely read by Yanqing, nearly knocking Luka to the ground.
Yanqing smiled smugly—clearly victory was already in his grasp.
But in that moment of carelessness, Luka summoned every ounce of willpower and threw a powerful punch that even ignited the air.
Fortunately, Yanqing instinctively tilted his head just enough to avoid it. He raised his focus to the absolute maximum.
The two entered the final exchange.
Yanqing's left fist was easily dodged by Luka—but his right fist was about to land dead center.
Unfortunately, that previous punch had already exhausted Luka's stamina.
The iron fist merely grazed past. Luka's entire body went limp—he was about to collapse.
Yanqing extended his hand, then raised Luka's arm high, signaling their victory.
[Yanqing really is strong.]
[Is Yanqing using Tai Chi?]
[Actually Luka is pretty strong—he's the type who looks for openings and finishes with one decisive blow.]
[Luka had the advantage in pure hand-to-hand, but he ran out of stamina.]
[But Yanqing didn't use his flying swords either. If Yanqing had only used flying swords, Luka would have lost long ago.]
[This is already plenty. Considering Belobog's combat power, Luka managing to fight Yanqing to this point is impressive—especially since Yanqing just beat Hoolay and stepped up another level.]
[Ending with a brawl—miHoYo handled it pretty well. Luka doesn't lose face, and Yanqing's strength is preserved.]
— —
Luka plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. "Brother Yanqing… are you pitying me? I don't need this kind of victory. I can already calmly accept my defeat."
"No—you did not lose." Yanqing pointed toward the stands.
The audience erupted in deafening cheers. "Luka! Luka! Luka! Luka!"
"Can't you hear it? Luka of Belobog—everyone is cheering for you. In their hearts, someone like you could never be a loser."
"What an emotionally stirring duel!" Owlbert's voice was already choked with tears.
"Thank you, Brother Yanqing. In a real fight—even losing doesn't matter?" Luka struggled to his feet. "Of course matches have winners and losers—but I gave it everything. I did it! Kept swinging, swinging, until the very end! When I return to Belobog, in some future moment, there will be another match. There are still so many battles ahead!"
Finally he looked toward the sky. "Maggie—I did my best… just like you, I won."
Owlbert, the tough guy, shed tears. "Though Player Luka gracefully accepted defeat, the audience's passion shows no sign of fading! They give endless applause to this tenacious fighter from Belobog.
Wuwu—in my eyes, this is a match without victory and without defeat! In this moment, the mutual recognition between the two fighters, the audience's full emotional investment—it says everything! An unprecedented match that transcends win or loss! Wuwu…"
Owlbert didn't even wipe his tears, turning to the cameraman behind him. "Damn it—stop filming me! Film them—film those two kids!"
[Hahaha, as expected of Owlbert.]
[Owlbert's professionalism is beyond question.]
[Only a true professional host could do this.]
— —
Some time later…
Stelle and Luka returned to the waiting room.
From the beginning of the Martial Exhibition Ceremony to its end, every moment flashed through Luka's mind. "I never thought… my run in the Martial Exhibition Ceremony would end like this."
Stelle scratched her head. "Luka, you okay?"
"I feel unprecedentedly relaxed. I think it's time to pack up and head home with Lynx and the others."
At that moment.
A knock came at the waiting room door.
Stelle opened it to see an old acquaintance—Xikui from the Sky-Faring Commission.
After nodding politely to both of them, she said, "Sorry to disturb your post-match rest, Mr. Luka. General Jing Yuan would like to meet you. Please come to the Seat of Divine Foresight."
Luka pointed at himself, eyes full of disbelief. "Me? But I already lost… Is the General interested in defeated contestants too?"
Xikui shook her head. "That's not something a mere Sky-Faring Commission employee like me can answer."
...
Moments later, in the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan spoke politely. "Hello, Luka of Belobog. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"General Jing Yuan, it's an honor to be received by you. But I'm not sure… why have you summoned me to the Seat of Divine Foresight?"
"Because of the brilliant match you just fought—and because after more than seven hundred years, you are the second person from Jarilo-VI to arrive on the Xianzhou Luofu and participate in the 'Martial Exhibition Ceremony.'"
Luka wasn't slow—he immediately caught the implication. "You mean… could it be that you've heard of Igor Haft?"
"Igor…" The name brought a flood of memories to Jing Yuan's mind. "What a nostalgic name. I knew him—no, that's not right. I will always remember him. You and he… are truly alike."
"General, do you know what Igor experienced on the Xianzhou?" Luka's tone grew excited. "In our homeland, many have heard the heroic tale of Igor Haft, but we never knew what he went through during his travels beyond the stars. Please—you must tell me!"
"That was over seven hundred years ago. Back then I was still young and served as a title-defending swordsman in the Martial Exhibition Ceremony." Jing Yuan began to recount slowly.
"Igor—that tall, red-haired boxer—appeared on the ring just like that. Every punch he threw seemed to carry the weight of an entire world.
After each match, he had a strange habit: he refused all prize money and gifts. Instead, he would tell everyone who watched him about his suffering homeland—warning people of the Antimatter Legion's threat and hoping someone capable would help him.
In this way, he fought his way through, eventually reaching me… just as you reached Yanqing this time. He swung in silence, punch after punch—we fought to a deadlock.
But at the end of that battle, he suddenly stopped… and left the ring…"
The perspective followed Jing Yuan's memory back to that era.
— —
Igor stood by the window, face somber.
Jing Yuan's reflection appeared in the glass.
"Igor, the Alliance higher-ups have heard your story. The tragedy of your homeworld has moved many of our Cloud Knight comrades to sympathy."
Igor seemed to have received too much sympathy already. "And… is there anything beyond 'sympathy'?"
"They cannot dispatch troops. Yaoqing Xianzhou has sent a beacon signal—war between the Xianzhou and the Abundance soon is expected."
This answer seemed within Igor's expectations. He replied calmly, "I understand. Thank you, Jing Yuan."
"Where will you go next?"
"I'm going home. My homeland needs me… I once thought the galaxy was vast—that I would surely find a way to save it, that someone would hear my cry for help.
But I was wrong. Jarilo-VI's tragedy is insignificant. It plays out in every corner of the universe—not here, then there; not today, then tomorrow. People have long grown accustomed to the quiet disappearance of an insignificant little star.
While I threw punch after punch, my family and friends were bleeding and dying from the Legion's invasion. While I threw punch after punch, their hope was slowly extinguishing."