As time ticked by, everyone present started to sense something odd—Tony Stark was simply hovering in the air without making any move to attack. What was he waiting for?
Selina, on the other hand, was even more straightforward. After initially looking up at Tony in the sky, she simply lay on the ground, staring upward.
Sean from the Golden Dagger Club shouted:
"This is cheating!"
"Taking advantage of the fact that no one else can fly?"
Pepper Potts turned to Happy and asked:
"Happy, what do you think Tony's doing?"
Happy thought for a moment and replied:
"He's probably waiting for the sun to rise. I saw him earlier asking about that black canopy under the vampire audience area."
Hearing this, Pepper fell silent. If using the sun could win the match, so be it—it wasn't really underhanded.
But it wasn't just Pepper and Happy who had figured it out—soon the entire audience realized Tony's plan. While many felt it was an unworthy tactic, no one called it cheating.
After all, the rules said nothing about stalling for time.
Over in the vampire section, Soren was agitated:
"Elder, this is really bad for us. The sun's about to rise."
Marcus frowned slightly, unaware that Selina had already overcome her weakness to sunlight.
"Let's see how it plays out. If we can't win, perhaps we weren't destined to overcome our racial flaws."
Selina herself had also figured out Tony's plan. Let him float up there—she had no problem with it. She no longer feared the sun; she wasn't a creature of the night anymore. She had become a daywalker, able to walk freely in sunlight.
And she actually preferred that Tony stay airborne. While lying down, she consumed no energy. But Tony's suit relied on power, which had already been partially depleted during the preliminary rounds. Just staying airborne was an energy drain.
If she could drag things out until Tony's suit ran out of juice, the victory would be hers.
After all, without his suit, Tony Stark was just a regular human—and if the suit ran dry, it'd just be a tin can.
And so, the two schemers began their game of attrition. The audience was growing bored, but there was nothing they could do.
Minute by minute, the sky brightened.
In the vampire section, staff raised the thick black canopy to shield them. They'd now have to watch the match on screens beneath it.
Seeing the canopy rise confirmed to everyone that vampires really were weak to sunlight.
This sparked even more curiosity—did vampires also fear crosses and holy water? And if vampires existed, where were the werewolves?
Unbeknownst to the audience, the werewolves were already among them—some of the staff members had just recently joined and hadn't transformed yet. With no power scanners in use, no one noticed.
The vampires, however, had already picked up the scent of the werewolves. But since Elder Selina had revealed that the werewolves had joined the Assassin's League, they kept quiet.
Tony watched the sky brighten and called out to Selina below:
"The sun's almost up. You should surrender."
"That leather outfit of yours is sealed up tight, but your head and hands aren't protected."
"I'd hate to see a beautiful vampire lady like you turn to ash."
Tony genuinely meant it—he didn't want to see Selina die from exposure to sunlight. That would be a waste.
But Selina said nothing. Instead, she stood up, ready for the next phase of the fight. After all, Tony was about to learn that she didn't fear the sun.
Finally, the sun crested the horizon, flooding the island with light.
But the expected scream never came. Selina didn't combust—in fact, she looked like she was enjoying the sunshine on her face.
The audience felt fooled. All eyes turned toward the black canopy.
Inside, the vampires were even more shocked. Soren exclaimed:
"Elder! Elder Selina… she's not affected by the sun!"
Marcus stared at the screen, his eyes sharp:
"I can see that."
"I didn't think she'd actually find a way to overcome sunlight. But how?"
Up in the sky, Tony cursed:
"What the hell!?"
"She's not weak to sunlight!?"
J.A.R.V.I.S. chimed in:
"Sir, according to certain films and novels, vampires are classified into nightwalkers and daywalkers. Daywalkers are extremely rare and immune to sunlight."
"It's possible that Miss Selina is one of these legendary daywalkers."
Tony shouted down to Selina:
"You're immune to sunlight? That's a surprise!"
"But more importantly, you actually waited along with me!"
Selina smiled and replied:
"I didn't mind you staying up there at all. The longer the better."
"Hopefully, your energy runs out like your ammo did."
Realizing her plan, Tony knew he'd been played.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., how much energy do I have left?"
"Sir, you're at 65%."
Tony frowned:
"How is it that low?"
"Sir, that chest cannon shot during the prelims cost you 10%."
At that moment, Tony truly understood what it meant to lose the chicken and break the rice.
Still, 65% was more than enough to finish the fight.
"If sunlight doesn't work, then let's settle this the old-fashioned way."
With that, Tony dove from the sky straight at Selina in his Iron Man armor.
Selina, seeing him rush in, smirked as well. She drew a long sword—once Victor's weapon, now borrowed back from Soren just for this match.
With her other hand, hidden behind her back, her fingers began to vibrate rapidly, moving so fast they left afterimages, impossible to clearly see.
(End of Chapter)
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