Ma Xiaotao's challenge echoed across the air, instantly igniting the entire Star Luo Plaza.
"My god! This is huge!"
"The two captains going head-on?! That's way more exciting than any tactical exchange!"
"This is a collision between the strongest teams of the round-robin stage. If these two really fight, it'll be like Mars smashing into Earth!"
The spectators were flushed with excitement, all craning their necks, practically wishing they could lean closer to hear Liu Yuan's answer.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the response from the captain of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Liu Yuan looked at the domineering Ma Xiaotao before him, her eyes brimming with battle intent. A faint smile curved his lips.
"You want to fight me?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it rang out clearly, carrying an unhurried confidence.
"Since Captain Ma Xiaotao is so eager, if I refuse, wouldn't that make it seem like the Sun Moon Royal Academy has no one—and that I, Liu Yuan, am afraid of you?"
"Fine."
Liu Yuan nodded. A sharp gleam flashed through his pitch-black eyes.
"In tomorrow's match, I'll be the first to step onto the stage."
Hearing his answer, the fire in Ma Xiaotao's eyes burned even hotter. Just as she was about to speak, Liu Yuan suddenly continued.
"However…"
He paused, his gaze sweeping briefly over the Shrek team before flicking back to his own teammates, who looked at him with absolute trust. A thought took shape in his mind.
Looking back at Ma Xiaotao, he spoke slowly.
"Captain Ma Xiaotao, since we're both going first, why don't we make things more interesting?"
"More interesting?" Ma Xiaotao frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Liu Yuan smiled faintly and raised a finger.
"One match decides everything."
"Tomorrow's match will be decided solely by the outcome of our duel. The winner determines the victor between our two teams."
"If I win, the entire Shrek Academy team forfeits."
"If you win, the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team forfeits."
"How about it? Do you dare to stake everything on this?"
The moment those words fell, the entire plaza erupted in shock.
This Liu Yuan actually proposed something like that?
He was placing the honor and disgrace of an entire academy on his own shoulders!
Ma Xiaotao's expression shifted. She clearly hadn't expected such a condition.
She was confident in her own strength, but this concerned Shrek Academy's honor—and the participation of every teammate standing behind her.
If she lost…
Wouldn't that mean none of them would even get the chance to fight?
Subconsciously, she looked back at Dai Yueheng, Bei Bei, and the others.
Dai Yueheng's brows were tightly knit, clearly hesitant.
Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei exchanged glances. They trusted Ma Xiaotao—but handing their fate entirely to one person was still hard to accept.
However, just as the Shrek side hesitated, the Sun Moon team behind Liu Yuan shouted in unison:
"Captain! We support you!"
Their voices were firm, without the slightest doubt.
The crowd couldn't help but be stirred.
This was trust.
This was leadership.
In contrast, Shrek's brief hesitation caused their momentum to falter, making them appear less united—and even somewhat timid.
Ma Xiaotao's expression darkened further. Gritting her teeth, she was about to force herself to agree when an old yet imposing voice suddenly rang out.
"Fine! This old man agrees on their behalf!"
Xuan Zi strode over while gnawing on a chicken leg, his murky eyes flashing with sharp light.
"Since you want to play at being heroes, then Shrek will see it through with you!"
"Xiao Tao!" Xuan Zi turned toward Ma Xiaotao and barked, "Tell him your answer!"
With Xuan Zi's decision made, all of Ma Xiaotao's hesitation vanished, replaced by surging battle intent.
She snapped her head up, locking eyes with Liu Yuan.
"Fine! It's a deal!"
"Tomorrow, I'll make you accept defeat—completely!"
With a cold snort, Ma Xiaotao turned and led the Shrek team away.
Watching their departing backs, a playful smile tugged at Liu Yuan's lips.
"Since you've accepted the challenge, tomorrow should be quite the show."
…
On the way back.
Seeing his teammates chattering excitedly around him, Liu Yuan was about to explain his reasoning.
"Everyone, listen. Actually, the reason I suggested that bet was because I wanted to—"
"Captain, no need to explain!"
Before he could finish, Lin Xi cut in with an expression that said we get it.
"We all understand. You're doing this to help us conserve our strength."
"The elimination rounds are what really matter. There's no point in exposing too many trump cards in a round-robin match."
"That's why you want to take everything on yourself, right?"
Lin Xi spoke earnestly, voicing exactly what everyone else was thinking.
Mi Jia nodded vigorously. "That's right! Captain, we understand your intentions! Just fight without worry—even if you lose, it doesn't matter. We've already qualified!"
"Peh, peh! Don't say such unlucky things!"
Meng Hongchen smacked Mi Jia and snorted. "Captain won't lose! Ma Xiaotao might be strong, but if it's Captain, there's definitely no problem!"
"That's right! Captain will definitely win!"
Looking at these teammates who trusted him without reservation, Liu Yuan smiled quietly.
It seemed he truly had found a group of good companions.
…
The next morning.
The atmosphere at Star Luo Plaza reached its peak since the tournament began.
Countless spectators poured into the venue early, packing even the aisles to the brim.
Even the Emperor of Star Luo, Xu Jiawei, arrived early and stood atop the imperial city wall to observe the match.
Everyone knew that although today's battle wouldn't affect qualification, it concerned the pride of the two greatest academies—and more importantly, the title of the strongest among the younger generation.
"Greetings to all spectators!"
The announcer's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Today, we will witness the most anticipated match of the round-robin stage!"
"That is—the Shrek Academy representative team versus the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy representative team!"
"And yesterday, the captains of both sides made a shocking wager! Today's battle will be decided by a single match!"
"Will Shrek's Flame Madwoman Ma Xiaotao defend her academy's honor, or will the Sun Moon team's mysterious captain Liu Yuan create yet another miracle?"
"Let us wait and see!"
As the announcer's voice faded, the referee strode to the center of the arena, took a deep breath, and declared loudly:
"The match begins!"
"Members of both teams, please enter the stage!"