Faced with Chipman's shoulder throw, Odis didn't respond with a conventional counter, that being using his other hand to push against Chipman's back to neutralize the force... Instead, he followed Chipman's momentum, leapt into the air, flipped midair, and landed steadily.
Then, taking advantage of Chipman's grip on both his arms, Odis suddenly leaned in again.
With his rich combat experience, Chipman had developed a certain fear of Odis's 'leaning' technique. It looked like Odis was trying to dive into his embrace, but in reality, he was aiming to strike Chipman's chest with his shoulder.
If that hit landed, Chipman would be sent flying and lose all control of the fight. He had no choice but to release Odis's arms to block the incoming attack.
But Odis's tactics shifted quickly... he abruptly halted his momentum, switching from a strike to a pull. Combined with the force his opponent had just exerted, it caused Chipman to stumble.
At the same time, Odis kicked out, trying to trip him.
This time, Chipman's extensive combat experience came to his aid. He swiftly let go of Odis's arm and used the opportunity to push and retreat a step, neutralizing the attack.
However, the slight advantage Chipman had gained was now lost, allowing Odis to transition from defense to offense.
At this moment, Chipman sensed that Lelouch seemed stronger than he had been the previous week. During their previous clash, they were evenly matched in strength and skill, but this time, Lelouch clearly held a slight edge.
This wasn't a misconception. Their intense clash last time had deepened Odis's understanding of the essence of Bajiquan, allowing him to maintain a subtle advantage.
Periodic applause echoed from the audience.
Today's audience was full of experts. They knew exactly what made the duel between the two fighters so thrilling.
Even those like Audrey, who didn't know much about martial arts, could feel the intensity and allure of the swift, explosive exchanges...
Then, Odis suddenly switched to a different fighting style. He was no longer as aggressive, and many of his movements slowed down. But not all of them. As soon as he spotted an opening, he would strike with explosive speed.
Chipman was caught off guard by the sudden change. His opponent's new style appeared soft and harmless on the surface, but its control over force and timing far exceeded his understanding of martial arts.
For example, when Chipman threw a punch, Lelouch blocked it. At first, the block was gentle, merely redirecting the punch. Then, at the moment Chipman's punch reached its limit and lost momentum, Lelouch would suddenly counterattack with full force, repeatedly catching Chipman off guard.
If someone asked Lelouch what style this was, he would undoubtedly say it was Tai Chi.
But Tai Chi alone wasn't enough to defeat Chipman. He was a Sequence 8 'Pugilist'. His brain and muscles were built for combat. Years of experience allowed him to stabilize and prepare for a counterattack... {T/N: 'Pugilist' is Sequence 8 of the 'Twilight Giant' Pathway...}
It was only when Odis's fighting style began alternating between fierce and gentle that Chipman began to feel overwhelmed.
In this grueling battle of will and technique, Odis was being tempered by a powerful opponent.
Suddenly, he had a revelation... why cling to Bajiquan or Tai Chi? The most practical techniques were those that were simple and effective.
This led Odis to think of the fictional Nine Swords of Dugu and the concept of 'winning without technique'...
Though fictional, the concept was profound. Once technique reached a certain level of mastery, one would inevitably develop personal insights and understanding. Those were the most precious things in life.
Through this difficult battle, Odis underwent a process of realization and reflection, gaining a new understanding of martial arts.
Unconsciously, his fists became fierce when needed, and gentle when appropriate.
The sensation was extraordinary. His Spirituality became invigorated, causing his strength, speed, and reflexes to reach their peak.
Soon, Odis realized that this was 'acting', or perhaps a state even more sublime than acting.
At this moment, his Beyonder characteristics seemed perfectly compliant, merging seamlessly with his body. His spirit and form achieved unprecedented harmony.
*Thud!*
Chipman was struck in the chest and slammed into the wall.
Odis snapped out of his moment of insight. He was about to pursue, but suddenly stopped.
"You're no longer my opponent." He said.
Chipman clutched his chest, retorting, "Whether I'm your opponent isn't for us to decide."
Then, gritting his teeth, he continued attacking.
Odis dodged, then at the right moment, raised his leg and drove his knee into Chipman's abdomen.
Odis then retreated, letting Chipman clutch his stomach and collapse to his knees.
The sudden turn of events drew gasps from the audience. They couldn't understand how the previously evenly matched and spectacular fight had suddenly become so one-sided.
In truth, Odis's level had already far surpassed the spectators. They could no longer comprehend the brilliance of his technique.
Chipman took a few deep breaths and said, "The 3N Party's purpose is to entertain the audience, especially the elite spectators above us. What you're doing now is wrong. The audience can't keep up with your moves."
"What a shame," Odis sighed, "You have such high-level combat skills, yet you spout such nonsense." He added, "I'm not like you. I'm not a clown who performs for others."
Chipman stared at Odis and suddenly shouted, "Then what do you expect me to do, Lelouch?! If ordinary people want to become upper-class citizens of Backlund, what choice do they have besides serving the nobles?"
Odis struck like lightning, sweeping Chipman's head with a kick.
Chipman's head slammed into the wall, his flesh splitting open and leaving him dizzy. He tried getting up several times, but failed.
Odis said, "I don't have a solution. But I can tell you that your method is just poor."
At that moment, the referee saw blood on the field and decided it was enough to satisfy the audience. He announced, "Lelouch wins!"
...
Amid thunderous applause from the stands, Odis quickly exited through the iron gate and returned to the lounge.
Several police officers were still waiting there. They had heard the warm applause, but didn't know why the audience was cheering.
When Odis appeared, a servant immediately offered him a towel and water, but he refused them all. He returned to his seat and began reflecting on the insights he had just gained.
He immediately felt that the potion had digested further.
He sat quietly with his eyes closed, contemplating for about half an hour before suddenly opening his eyes and looking at the middle-aged man who resembled a butler.
The man smiled as Odis looked at him, then said, "Mr. Bishop has agreed to your request. If your next match is just as spectacular, and you manage to win, he will personally come to the arena and preside over your induction into the 3N Party."
He smiled again and added, "This is a tremendous honor. Mr. Bishop is a true noble. Having such a figure host your initiation will instantly earn you great prestige within the 3N Party."
Odis smiled, saying, "Please thank Mr. Bishop on my behalf for his generosity." Then he asked, "In the next match, I can use any weapon, with no restrictions on style, right?"
"Yes."
"Are there any limits on quantity?"
"None."
Odis nodded, "I also heard the match will be held in a different venue. Is this true?"
"That's correct. Please follow me."
...
Led by the butler-like middle-aged man, Odis arrived at the Wilderness Arena about one kilometer away.
By then, some nobles had already grown bored of the current matches and were riding carriages to the Wilderness Arena to await Odis's next fight.
After arriving at the lounge, Odis went to the washroom. When he came out, he looked like a traveler setting off on a long journey. He was carrying a backpack taller than himself, with a bulging waist pouch.
Over his dark knight's uniform, he wore a loose, ill-fitting coat.
He had also changed into a pair of brightly colored shoes. A sword hung outside his waist pouch, and he held a one-handed shield in his left hand.
The transformation left the butler-like man stunned, "You… what is this…"
Odis glanced at him, "Didn't you say there was no limit on quantity?"
"N-no…" the man stammered, "I'm just wondering... when did you put all that stuff in the washroom?"
Odis smiled without explaining. There were too many items to sit comfortably, so he removed his backpack and sat down to rest with his eyes closed.
Meanwhile, among the police officers nearby, the Beyonders activated their Spirit Vision. They saw that Lelouch's backpack, waist pouch, sword, and shield all radiated multicolored light.
Even his knight's attire, coat, and shoes emitted spiritual hues.
The Nighthawks exchanged glances, as if seeing the same question in each other's eyes: 'This guy must be an Artisan, right? Otherwise, where did all these extraordinary weapons come from?'
...
At exactly nine o'clock, when Odis entered the arena carrying his massive pack and shield, the audience was stunned...
Many had seen countless 'no-rules' matches and bizarre weapons, but this was the first time they'd seen a contestant bring so many weapons.
Odis's opponent, Alva, a leader of the 3N Party, carried only a silver-white sword, with a dagger and a silver revolver at his waist.
Seeing his opponent, Alva immediately realized that carrying that much equipment would make movement very inconvenient. So he quickly stepped forward, drew his revolver, and fired continuously at Lelouch.
But to his surprise, Lelouch's speed was actually comparable to his own. He saw the other party bracing with his shield, charging over like an angry rhinoceros...