Sebastian also stretched his muscles and bones, raising his high head, looking at Chen with disdain, and, fulfilling the indispensable step before a duel, announced his name:
"Demacia, Laurent Family, Sebastian Laurent."
Chen cracked his knuckles and twisted his neck. He didn't have any family, so after much thought, he also introduced himself:
"Zaun, Wildfire Party, Chen."
"What kind of godforsaken place, what kind of rubbish party?"
Sebastian hadn't even heard of Zaun, because his information was still stuck in the era when Piltover controlled the Twin Cities; he had no concept of Zaun.
After all, Demacia, due to its magic prohibition, had always been in self-imposed isolation. Apart from the foreign minister and a few foreign trade families, they knew nothing about the outside world.
No wonder the Twin Cities' technology had taken off while Demacia was still in the Middle Ages. Is it like the Qing Dynasty with its own national conditions, huh? Noxus is much stronger than you guys...
Chen felt a surge of emotion, saddened by the ignorance created by the feudal system.
In the audience, Fiora still didn't know Chen's background, nor did she know about Zaun or the Wildfire Party:
"This Chen, where is Zaun?"
Lux's eyes darted around. Well-read and eager for the outside world, she knew a few things. She said to Fiora beside her:
"Piltover is divided into Piltover and the Undercity. The Undercity became independent and is called Zaun. Zaun is now controlled by the Wildfire Party. And I heard that Piltover and Zaun are going to merge again; I'm not really clear on what's happening over there..."
Jax, however, had been staring at the battle-axe in Chen's hand, and the expression beneath his mask showed a slight change:
"Black Cleaver? How is it in his hand? How could a Zaunite have the inheritance of Noxus Hand?"
...
Sebastian's movements were almost identical to Fiora's. He held his rapier vertically in front of him and declared menacingly:
"You have insulted the honor of the Laurent Family. Today, I challenge you to a duel!"
Chen plunged his lamppost into the ground, spun the Black Cleaver in his hand, and narrowed his eyes slightly:
"You actually don't know about our Wildfire Party. I can say that ignorance is bliss, but one day, a spark will ignite right before you. Stop talking nonsense; if you want to fight, then fight!"
At this moment, Chen noticed a vulnerability appear on his shoulder. Sure enough, the same family used the same moves; Fiora's father also knew Duelist's Dance and could find vulnerabilities on him.
But he could too. Chen looked at Sebastian's abdomen, where there was also an obvious vulnerability.
Chen's words instantly ignited Sebastian's fury. He stepped forward in a lunge, thrusting his sword swiftly towards Chen's shoulder, clearly intending to exploit Chen's vulnerability and break through.
Although Chen knew he was aiming for his vulnerability, Chen stood calmly in place without dodging or evading, activating Counter Strike. The spinning lamppost directly deflected Sebastian's thrust.
Seeing his attack fail, Sebastian used the same move as Fiora, Bladework. In that instant, his rapier left streaks of afterimages in the air, thrusting like lightning towards Chen.
But the spinning lamppost precisely blocked every one of Sebastian's thrusts, delivering twelve continuous strikes per second!
Lux rubbed her eyes. She hadn't even seen Sebastian's rapid sword strikes, only afterimages.
Yet Sebastian hadn't landed a single hit on Chen, and the sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the entire dueling arena.
Lux looked at the unharmed Chen. She didn't even know what had happened, unable to fulfill her duty of recording. She immediately sought help from Fiora, the sword master beside her:
"Sister Fiora, what's going on?"
Fiora's eyes widened at this defensive technique. She had seen it before:
"All of his thrusts were blocked by the lamppost in Chen's hand."
She hadn't just seen it; she had experienced it deeply. She turned to Jax beside her:
"I don't believe he isn't your disciple."
A long-lost smile appeared beneath Jax's mask:
"He truly wasn't before, but from now on, he is my personal disciple, Jax."
In the arena, Sebastian's earlier disdain had vanished. Dueling was a sacred matter in Demacia, and he knew he hadn't held back. His full-power Bladework had been indiscriminately blocked.
"My turn! Apprehend!"
Chen snorted coldly, swung the hand holding the black cleaver forward, then suddenly loosened his grip, and the black cleaver shot forward.
Sebastian quickly retreated with agile steps, but at the same time, Chen's body bent forward, grabbing the very end of the black cleaver and hooking it towards Sebastian, pulling Sebastian back!
"Last Breath!"
The katana at Chen's waist remained sheathed, fearing he might kill Sebastian. The sheathed katana struck Sebastian's abdomen with an upward slash, sending Sebastian flying into the air.
While Sebastian was airborne, Chen immediately followed with a horizontal slash. The heavy blow made Sebastian spew out a mouthful of stomach acid. Finally, Chen delivered a vertical downward slash, knocking Sebastian to the ground!
After a series of continuous strikes against Sebastian in the air, Sebastian crashed heavily to the ground, struggling to get up.
But Chen's Black Cleaver was already at his throat. This time, it was Chen's turn to look at him with disdain. Chen said with a look of disgust:
"My Conqueror stack isn't full, my Blood Rage isn't maxed out, and you're already down? You're too weak!"
The audience watched in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened in the dueling arena.
"The Laurent Family's swordsmanship is considered top-tier in Demacia, yet he was defeated in one round?"
"I think the Laurent Family is just a name; they're only a second-rate family."
"Not necessarily. Perhaps he met his match. Look at that young man; he used three weapons consecutively, each with incredible mastery."
"Indeed, and his sword wasn't even unsheathed. He used the hilt, showing mercy. He must be a weapon master! Maybe we can invite him to teach our children..."
...
Seeing her father in mortal danger, Fiora leaped down directly from the audience stand, several meters high.
Chen watched Fiora's landing spot, withdrew the black cleaver from Sebastian's neck, and walked out without looking back.
Fiora rushed to help her father up:
"Father, are you alright?"
At this moment, Sebastian was consumed by humiliation, on the verge of an outburst of rage. His fists clenched. He could not bear this defeat, could not bear losing the family's honor. In his fury, he yelled at his daughter who came to help him:
"Get out!"
But Fiora remained by her father's side, firmly telling him:
"Father, let me fight him again. I will surely wash away this shame and restore the honor of the Laurent Family!"
However, Sebastian was ungrateful in his anger, slapping Fiora across the face:
"The honor of the Laurent Family is not for a woman like you to protect!"
"You just marry honestly, marry well into a crowned family, that is the greatest help to the family!"
Then he stormed off, without looking back!
Leaving Fiora behind, she covered her red right cheek, staring blankly at her father's retreating back...