"Duel challenge?"
When they heard the words, everyone present froze for a moment.
What kind of competition was that?
Why had they never heard of it before?
At that moment, little Klee, hugging her manga, excitedly shouted:
"Klee knows! It's… it's when two people play cards!"
Everyone: (⊙_⊙)?
Seeing their puzzled looks, Klee scratched her head shyly.
She understood the general idea,
but asking her to explain it clearly was just too hard.
"I'll explain."
Han Feng clapped his hands lightly, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"A duel challenge is when a player with a Duel Disk challenges another. Both sides use cards to summon monsters and fight.
As for the exact rules… well, you'll find them in Klee's manga. If you're curious, read it later."
With that, everyone more or less understood.
Especially the Lady.
She still vividly remembered Eula summoning the Blue-Eyes White Dragon earlier.
"So that device on Mr. Venti's left arm is the Duel Disk?"
Noelle mused.
She had seen it once before on the plaza by the Anemo Archon's statue,
where Venti had even summoned a figure called the Dark Magician.
"Eh-heh, so… Eula, will you accept my challenge?"
Venti asked with a grin.
"Of course! The Lawrence Clan has never feared a challenge."
A dazzling smile bloomed on Eula's face.
With a thought—
Shing!
A crisp sound rang out as a Duel Disk also appeared on her left arm.
"Teyvat's first monster card battle… interesting."
Seeing the two of them prepared to duel, Han Feng smiled.
"This place is too small. Let's move outside."
With a casual wave of his hand, everyone in Solace Book Store was instantly transported to a spacious clearing on the outskirts of Mondstadt, far from the city center.
Perfect for a duel.
"Huh? Why are we suddenly outside?"
"Looks like Han Boss thought the shop was too cramped for the fight, so he just waved his hand and…"
"Hiss—he teleported us here without a sound?!"
"Han Boss's power is terrifying!"
Everyone was stunned by their new surroundings.
Especially since it had been done with just a flick of Han Feng's wrist.
"Big Brother Han Feng is amazing!"
Klee cheered, hopping up and down.
"As expected, Han Boss's power is unfathomable."
Diluc and Kaeya exchanged glances,
each seeing deep respect in the other's eyes.
"To command the secrets of countless worlds—how could mere ants like you possibly fathom the Boss's strength?"
The Lady sneered.
After yesterday's events, her reverence for Han Boss had surpassed even that for the Tsaritsa.
She had no doubt in his power.
"With someone so strong, it looks like I really came to the right place!"
Noelle thought secretly.
What she needed most was strength.
Naturally, her respect for Han Boss only grew.
"If only I could work here… maybe I'd learn even more!"
Noelle sighed softly.
But she wasn't sure if Han Boss would accept her.
"…Maybe after I finish reading a manga, I should ask?"
She thought to herself.
Very soon, once everyone had calmed down,
Venti and Eula each took a side of the field.
The duel was about to begin!
Since this was the first-ever duel, Han Feng stepped forward to explain the rules.
"Special Han Boss rules: each side starts with 2000 Life Points. Whoever drops to zero first loses. As for Life Points…"
He paused, then continued:
"They'll appear above your heads once the duel officially begins."
Both Venti and Eula nodded in understanding.
"Good. Then I declare—Teyvat's very first monster duel battle… begins now!"
At his words, large glowing numbers—2000—appeared above both duelists' heads.
Just as Han Boss had described.
The crowd's excitement spiked.
All eyes were locked onto the battlefield.
"My turn first—Cyclops, in attack position!"
Eula declared.
Just as agreed earlier between her and Venti.
The moment she slid her card into the Duel Disk,
a massive green one-eyed monster materialized on the open ground,
baring its fangs with a ferocious snarl.
"Hisss… so this is a duel monster battle? This is way too intense!"
Kaeya's jaw dropped. He just froze in place.
Anyone unaware would have thought these were real monsters!
Klee, meanwhile, was bouncing with excitement.
"Yay! Klee wants to play too!"
She suddenly found Yu-Gi-Oh! a lot more appealing.
"Han Boss was right—fighting like this is much more fun."
Venti's face held not a trace of fear—only pure exhilaration.
It had been too long.
Finally, something to stir his blood!
"My turn—Castle Dragon! Attack!"
The moment he spoke,
a massive blue dragon appeared on the battlefield.
The two colossal beasts faced off, the sheer tension leaving the crowd speechless.
"Fireball Barrage!"
Venti shouted,
and the dragon roared, spewing a massive fireball straight at the Cyclops.
"Arghhh!"
A shrill scream rang out as the Cyclops exploded into pieces.
A brilliant flash of light forced everyone to cover their eyes.
Eula's Life Points dropped to 1800.
"This—this is…"
Kaeya's face was pale with horror, utterly speechless.
If not for the fact he hadn't felt any pain,
he'd have thought he was dead already.
That attack had been far too real!
And yet you're telling me… this is just a game?!
Diluc's expression was grim, eyes glued to the battlefield.
"Han Boss is incredible…"
Noelle swallowed hard without realizing.
She was so stunned she could only blurt out praise.
Even Eula's expression changed—
but only because the game's effects were far too vivid.
"Hmph. If I don't push back, this game won't be fun."
She drew a card, glanced at it, and smiled.
"I'll use this one!"
A flash of green light,
and a clown-like monster appeared on the field.
Then she activated a magic card—Generator of Darkness—
raising the clown's attack power to 1800!
"Dark Clown Zaki, attack!"
At her command,
a sinister black orb shot forth from the clown,
slamming into the dragon.
The dragon cried out and vanished.
Venti's Life Points dropped to 1600.
With that, both duelists had landed a hit on the other.
The battle was just getting started—
and the real clash had only begun!
~~--------------------------
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