"Can we join the battles just by being here?"
Walking down the streets of Duel City, Lorena's eyes sparkled. Yes—after confirming the three slots, Duanmu Huai had summoned Olgis and Lorena.
The reason for choosing them was simple: Olgis could use combat training to familiarize herself with her new body, and Lorena, like Duanmu Huai, was a close-quarters fighter. That was why he didn't bring Anne or Gureia—if they entered the ring, they'd open with a fireball and the entire match would be over.
That was pure bullying.
Olgis didn't care—she always followed Duanmu Huai. Lorena, on the other hand, practically vibrated with excitement. In the Holy City, her identity as a missionary priest prevented her from picking fights casually; unless she was slaying demons, she hardly ever got to swing the Holy Tome at someone. But Lorena loved physical training, so once she learned there was a place to fight powerful warriors from countless worlds, she immediately demanded to go.
"Correct. But first, we need to obtain entry qualifications."
Duanmu Huai naturally understood Duel City well.
"Entry qualification?"
"Yep. First we register. Then we take the qualification trials. After that, each of us must challenge three opponents in a best-of-three. Beat them, and we earn the right to enter the tournament as a group. Then we can enter the team matches."
He shrugged. This system existed to prevent "one god carrying two deadweights," specifically to stop studio power-levelers from dragging paying clients across the finish line. If you couldn't even pass your own qualification match, you had no business joining the tournament—and its lovely prizes would stay out of reach.
Of course, Duel City wasn't only for fighting. Players could redeem points for gifts, vehicles, even homes. They could also approach famed characters, give them presents, or spar to raise affinity.
Mm… that was definitely one of the city's main attractions.
After registering, staff separated the three and led each to different arenas for their individual qualification matches.
But… he still didn't know who his own opponent would be.
The qualification fights weren't hard, but not trivial either. The system usually picked opponents similar to the player's build. Back when I used a 1.4-meter loli avatar, my opponents were all lolis and young girls. But now… what will they throw at me?
They wouldn't give me Akuma or Orochi right from the start… right?
Soon, guided by his attendant, Duanmu Huai arrived at a duel arena. At the moment, he wore only a long-sleeved vest on top, with jeans and sneakers below—honestly fitting the scene quite well.
Then—
He saw a bald, bearded man with a massive belly, shackles on all limbs, wrapped in chains, dragging an enormous iron ball.
"...…"
Well… not unexpected.
"OOOHHHH!!"
The iron-ball giant stomped forward, grabbed the massive iron ball, slammed it into his head, and roared—until he saw Duanmu Huai.
He froze instantly.
He was 2.2 meters tall—giant by contestant standards. Yet Duanmu Huai was even bigger.
And those muscles…
Is this thing still human?
The giant immediately grew cautious, gripping the iron ball while watching Duanmu Huai warily. Duanmu Huai raised his hands, clenched his fists, and glared back.
"ROUND ONE! READY—GO!"
The iron-ball giant roared and hurled the iron sphere at Duanmu Huai.
"Hah!!"
Duanmu Huai stepped forward and punched the massive ball head-on.
"DONK!!"
The ball ricocheted backward. The giant retrieved it with a roll, lunged forward, seized Duanmu Huai's collar, and slammed his head into Duanmu Huai's chest!
"BANG!!"
Any normal man would have passed out. But Duanmu Huai didn't budge. Instead, he seized the giant's skull and smashed it into the ground, cracking the hardwood tiles beneath.
But the giant was sturdy. Though stunned, he rolled away, leapt with the iron ball, and brought it crashing down toward Duanmu Huai.
"You're courting death!!"
Duanmu Huai roared, rammed his head into the man's gut, seized his limbs, hoisted him, and slammed him down with earthquake force.
"BOOM!!"
Before the man could react, Duanmu Huai's fist crashed into his head.
"DONK!!!"
The giant convulsed once and fell still.
"KO!!"
"Huuu…"
Duanmu Huai exhaled. After all, this was a game. In reality, his punch would have exploded the man's head—but here, it merely knocked him out.
Good. At least Lorena won't end up crushing someone's skull with her Holy Tome later.
The giant was dragged away. The second fighter entered.
A red-masked wrestler in red trunks and boots, body covered in bulging muscles and cross motifs, chest hair trimmed into a V-shape like a brown bear.
Yeah… expected.
"ROUND 2! READY—GO!"
"OOOHHH!!"
At the start, the wrestler flexed, his muscles glowing red, then charged Duanmu Huai, wrapped his arms around his waist, and tried to lift him.
But Duanmu Huai didn't move.
Heh. Idiot.
Back in the game, this was why many players accused him of cheating—not only because of his impossible punching power, but because his real-body physique translated to immovable mass. He didn't get thrown. He didn't flinch. He dealt massive damage.
A walking boss character.
"HAAAAAH!!"
As the wrestler failed, Duanmu Huai smashed his forehead into the man's skull, flipped him, and pounded him into the ground.
"BOOM!!!"
The wrestler rolled dozens of meters before standing shakily.
Duanmu Huai stalked forward, step by step.
Some players exchanged for martial arts moves in Duel City. But Duanmu Huai used none—only raw experience. Through practice, he had already defined his fighting style:
A tank. Slow, unstoppable, armored, devastating. Why bother with fancy footwork? As long as I stay solid, most fighters can't even scratch me.
"HAAAAH!!"
The wrestler leapt, spinning into a human tornado, rushing straight at Duanmu Huai.
"USELESS!!"
Duanmu Huai stopped firmly, thrust both hands into the spinning storm, and seized both of the wrestler's arms.
"WUU—!!"
Before the man could process it, Duanmu Huai kicked him skyward, still holding his arms like yo-yo strings, then slammed him onto the ground.
Then he dropped, driving his elbow into the wrestler's chest like a siege hammer.
"KO!"
"Yes!!"
Duanmu Huai rose and clenched his fist.
He had passed the qualification and officially earned entry to the Duel Tournament.
(End of Chapter)