God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 545: Ragnarok99 Vs Master Han

Sophie’s attention immediately shifted to him.

"Have a seat," she stated, her voice calm, yet clear enough that he heard it without issue.

Ragnarok99 remained immobile, his hands resting flat on the table. His shoulders were taut, his gaze fixed on the clearing ahead, and the muscles in his jaw twitched slightly as he exhaled through his nose.

"I’ve been holding myself together since we left the street," he responded, his tone low and controlled, though the underlying strain was evident. "I am not sitting this one out."

Sophie’s eyes stayed on him as she replied, "This is not about anger. It is about qualifications. One misstep and we would be disqualified."

"I am aware of that," Ragnarok99 said without raising his voice. "That is precisely why I must go."

Cassie’s gaze flickered between the two of them, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair slightly. Bunny, meanwhile, froze, her cup held tightly in both hands, her eyes fixated on Ragnarok99.

Sophie offered no immediate reply, studying him for a moment. She observed his stance, his breathing, and the unmistakable determination in his eyes – he had no intention of backing down this time. Ragnarok99, for his part, neither raised his voice nor made a single move.

After a few seconds, she gave a slight nod. "Very well. But do not let anger dictate your actions."

"I won't," Ragnarok99 affirmed with a brief nod. He then stepped away from the table and walked into the clearing, drawing the quiet attention of the Broken Dawn members and even some Tianlan cultivators, who now observed him with increased scrutiny.

The Longsword leader surveyed him briefly. This time, his choice was not made carelessly. Following Mei Zhen’s defeat, his earlier confidence had been tempered. Sending an inadequate fighter would make Longsword appear foolish, yet deploying their strongest still carried the risk of further humiliation.

His gaze eventually settled upon an older man seated near the center of the table. This individual was quieter than the others, his hair tinged with gray, and his expression was one of calm composure, indicative of a man who had experienced more battles than he had words. Unlike the younger martial artists, he had not once shown disdain for the outsiders.

Giving a short nod, the Longsword leader declared, "Master Han. You will represent us."

At these words, several Tianlan cultivators straightened in their seats. Whispers began to circulate as the formerly relaxed confidence at the Longsword table shifted into a more serious demeanor.

ChaosCleric leaned slightly towards IceQueen, muttering, "They are taking this match seriously now."

IceQueen kept her eyes fixed on the older man and replied, "Good. That means we might be able to eliminate Gabriel. Less competition for our own objectives."

Master Han stood and retrieved a plain longsword. There was no visible Qi aura, no palpable pressure, and no hint of a casual smile as he walked into the clearing with measured steps, stopping directly opposite Ragnarok99.

Gazing at him calmly, Master Han stated, "You are harboring anger."

"Not enough to make me foolish," Ragnarok99 retorted, his tone carrying a distinct growl.

"That is good to hear."

Liang observed the two of them and then raised his hand, announcing, "Begin."

Master Han initiated the engagement, his sword a blur as it flashed downwards. Ragnarok99 reacted a fraction of a second late, managing to block, though the sheer force of the strike sent him skidding sideways. His boots scraped across the ground before he regained his footing.

Cassie’s expression immediately tensed, while Bunny’s fingers tightened further around her cup, causing the liquid within to slosh.

Ragnarok99 exhaled sharply and readjusted his grip. "Very well. You are unlike those boastful ones."

Master Han offered no response and launched another assault. This time, Ragnarok99 met the attack head-on. The initial exchange grew fierce, their blades colliding repeatedly, each impact sending a jolt up his arms. Master Han's swordplay was not ostentatious, but his strikes originated from difficult angles, demanding constant adjustments from Ragnarok99.

The first significant shift occurred when Ragnarok99 attempted to overpower Master Han with raw physical strength. However, Master Han deftly altered the angle of his blade, stepped half a pace to the side, and struck Ragnarok99’s ribs with the flat of his sword. The blow expelled the air from Ragnarok99’s lungs, causing several Broken Dawn members to rise partially from their seats.

Ragnarok99 stumbled but managed to remain standing. He caught the next incoming strike and pushed back with enough force to make Master Han take a single step backward. This minor displacement disrupted the established rhythm of the fight.

"Good," Master Han murmured approvingly.

A flash of irritation crossed Ragnarok99’s eyes as he replied, "Do not praise me as if this were a training session."

He then surged forward, dramatically increasing the tempo of the battle.

Master Han abruptly changed his attack vector. His sword slipped past Ragnarok99’s guard, narrowly missing his throat. Ragnarok99, however, leaned back at the last possible moment, feeling the blade's chilling proximity. He retaliated with a powerful shoulder charge that slammed into Master Han’s chest.

The older man slid backward but maintained his balance, prompting more serious expressions from the Tianlan cultivators. Some were heard muttering that he had been forced back, acknowledging, albeit grudgingly, that the outsider possessed considerable skill.

Ragnarok99’s breathing grew heavier, a sheen of sweat forming on his temples, yet his focus intensified. The anger surged, but it didn't overwhelm his actions, a fact Master Han noted as he increased the force behind his next blow.

The two continued their fierce exchange, the clang of their weapons and the pressure waves they generated echoing throughout the clearing. Even Gabriel's attention was fully captured by the duel, a subtle glint of approval appearing in his eyes.

At that critical juncture, Ragnarok99 blocked two swift strikes and absorbed another on his shoulder. Instead of retreating from the fourth attack, he stepped into it, trapping Master Han’s blade. Twisting his body, he leveraged the older man's forward momentum, disrupting his balance and creating a vital opening.

Ragnarok99 seized the chance and lunged, his weapon halting mere inches from Master Han’s chest. Silence descended once more upon the clearing.

Master Han glanced down at the blade, then met Ragnarok99's gaze. After a short pause, he declared, "I concede."

Ragnarok99 immediately withdrew, his chest heaving, shoulders rising and falling with the exertion. His arms trembled slightly from the strain, and a painful red mark was visible along his ribs from the earlier hit.

At the Broken Dawn table, the palpable tension finally eased. Bunny almost leaped to his feet, a broad smile on his face, exclaiming, "You did it!"

Ragnarok99 offered no grand celebration. Instead, he turned and walked back to his table, still breathing heavily. He waved away the attempts of his companions to offer encouragement and sat down quietly, without fanfare.

Sophie observed him, offering a slight nod, which he understood.

Liang then surveyed the hall and announced, "All four outsider groups have responded to the challenge. Olympus emerged victorious. ChaosKnight secured a win. Broken Dawn achieved victory. The Holy Church declined, exercising their own authority."

Gao Ren remained silent, his expression darkening. He finally sat down, clearly displeased but unable to press the matter further without escalating the situation.

Dinner service resumed, the music returned, and servants replaced the damaged table. Conversations picked up again in hushed tones. While the groups from Tianlan still harbored resentment, their gazes towards the outsiders had subtly shifted.

Throughout the continuing dinner, Liang's eyes remained fixed on Gabriel, as if attempting to decipher the facade he presented.

"You seem quite intrigued by him," Evelyn remarked from his side.

"He has an air of familiarity," Liang responded. "I briefly mistook him for someone else, but I can discern he possesses far greater strength than that individual, so they cannot be the same."