“It probably won't reach that level.”
“Why?”
Jiang Lan, who didn't know much about combat, asked David in confusion.
“Because they know each other too well. The usual tactics they use to clear dungeons definitely won't work here,” Nemo explained from the side.
“Unless something unexpected happens, those two will probably skip the formalities and go straight for the big moves. After all, they’re both the type to find things a hassle.”
Ruan Qingyi smirked as she stared at her tablet, looking as if she already knew the outcome.
Sure enough.
As soon as Ruan Qingyi finished speaking, the two on the screen made their moves.
Vivian lightly bit her thumb and began smearing blood across her palm.
Meanwhile, Lan Qingyou pressed two fingers together and drew a magic circle in the air, roughly fifty centimeters in diameter.
“Tower, it’s time to see whose hands are faster!” Vivian shouted, looking up from whatever she was drawing on her palm.
“You mean it’s time to see if you’ve actually mastered the basics of Cartography!”
Lan Qingyou’s hands didn’t stop for a second as she grinned back at her opponent.
It was clear that both of them were now fully invested in the competition.
While Vivian didn't know what magic circle Lan Qingyou was drawing, and Lan Qingyou didn't know what Vivian was preparing in her palm, it didn't matter.
Both knew that whoever attacked next would likely decide the winner of this 'civil war.'
But the result was predictable.
Compared to Vivian drawing in the small space of her palm, Lan Qingyou—who drew magic circles constantly—was clearly faster.
“Ha! Looks like I win!”
As she finished the final stroke, Lan Qingyou swung her arm with a laugh. The magic circle instantly flared with a purple light.
“Chirp!!!”
A white object flew out of the magic circle, chirping loudly as it streaked toward Vivian like a meteor.
What no one noticed was the slight curl at the corner of Vivian’s mouth just as the attack was about to hit.
It was a smile of pure confidence.
I win!
That was the only thought in Vivian’s mind.
The talk of hand speed and the focus on her palm were all a ruse to bait out Lan Qingyou’s trump card.
Now, the card had been played—a simple Steel Wool summoned from a magic circle.
To Vivian, this was no threat at all.
When it came to tactical deception, she believed no one could match a Phantom Mist Vampire.
However, in the next second, the victorious smile on Vivian’s face vanished.
“You… you… you… you… you… you…”
Vivian was suddenly stuttering, unable to form a coherent sentence. In response, Lan Qingyou let out a boisterous laugh.
“Haha! Did you seriously forget what my Magic Eye is? Thinking you could fool me with a child’s illusion… you’re really looking down on me, Haji-An.”
Winding back time slightly—only by a single second—the moment Steel Wool was summoned and its target was identified through their heart-to-heart connection, it had charged toward the opponent.
But then, Lan Qingyou had immediately thrown out a Chain Lightning.
Instead of aiming at the Vivian in the center, the lightning arced in a series of sharp Z-shaped movements before slamming directly into the surrounding mist.
The Vivian in the air was left in her current state, and the Steel Wool passed right through her body as she trembled from the shock.
The collision caused no physical damage, however.
Because…
That Vivian was merely an illusion.
An image created within a smoke-based illusion spell.
“You tried to use a phantom double to make me misjudge and use my finishing move so you could deliver a fatal blow from the mist,” Lan Qingyou said, shrugging as she looked at the lingering smoke. “Nice try, but unfortunately, I have the Magic Eye.”
“Tch! Isn’t your Magic Eye just for identification?!” the phantom of Vivian asked indignantly as it began to fade.
“Exactly. That’s how I identified your illusion,” Lan Qingyou replied with a face of pure innocence. Her nonsense only served to infuriate Vivian, who was already fuming over her loss.
Indeed.
From Vivian’s perspective, the moment her tactical deception was seen through and she was paralyzed by a magic lightning bolt, the match was over.
On a battlefield, being hit by a crowd-control effect usually meant a gruesome end.
Besides, the two didn't have any real enmity; there was no need to fight to the death in a tournament like this.
“Fine, I admit I underestimated you a little this time. But there won’t be a next time!”
Vivian raised her hand and clicked the surrender button, shouting defiantly.
“Next time? I never said I’d fight you again,” Lan Qingyou muttered, pursing her lips.
It was just bad luck that they were matched together. Otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted to fight Vivian at all.
In fact, she didn't want to fight most of the people in the Villa. Not only was it a hassle, but every single one of them had an incredibly annoying combat style.
【Congratulations on winning your first match. You will now be teleported back to the spectator stand to await the next round.】
A dialogue box popped up in front of Lan Qingyou.
A moment later, she reappeared in the Tarot Villa spectator area, though Vivian was notably absent this time.
“Hahaha! I can’t believe Vivian got kicked out in the first round! That’s hilarious. I have to go give her my ‘sympathies.’”
It was Gu Xiaobei, Vivian’s plastic friend, who spoke. She pulled out her card, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she reveled in her friend’s misfortune.
“If nothing else, she’s probably going to be hunted down by the High Priestess later,” Lan Qingyou said, looking pityingly at the still-laughing Gu Xiaobei.
These plastic friends were remarkably united when things were serious, but they loved causing trouble for each other whenever they had free time.
Having finished her first arena match, Lan Qingyou shook her head and turned her gaze toward The Masquerade’s side.
More specifically, she looked at Alisa.
The girl had been staring at her since she returned, as if trying to see right through her.
Meanwhile, Alisa’s companions were constantly pointing at their tablets, seemingly analyzing something.
The members of The Masquerade were interesting and distinct.
However, they didn't resemble a traditional masked ball. Instead, they looked like the people you’d see at a cosplay photo shoot, dressed in flashy, elaborate outfits, with many of them carrying various weapons.
To Lan Qingyou, anyone dressed like that was likely a combatant.
This meant that the number of combatants in The Masquerade far outweighed the researchers.
This was a painful and troublesome realization for Lan Qingyou, who might have to face them later.
“Hmm, another witch is up. And she’s riding a broom.”
Rate on N.U.
