Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Did She Become Autistic?

Three minutes, could she really find a way to defeat Yang Yu?

Iyas was very doubtful, but she still did as Yang Yu suggested, recalling everything that had happened so far from the beginning.

The scene when she woke up today was indeed very similar to when she first encountered Yang Yu...

At that time, too, Yang Yu was sitting in the chair in the same way.

When she first laid eyes on him, she thought Humans were like elves, with several villages gathered together, and that it would be easy to obtain clues about Hake from him...

However, the reality was so different from what she had expected. In the presence of Human Creation, she felt so ignorant and insignificant.

At that time, Yang Yu did not disdain her but easily discerned the thoughts in her heart, carefully guiding her like a frog in a well.

Iyas believed that the current Yang Yu must also have seen through her thoughts; he surely knew she had no way to defeat him.

What baffled Iyas was that, despite this being a duel she couldn’t possibly win, Yang Yu still said he had given her a chance.

If at that time Yang Yu really didn’t want her to join the team, a direct rejection would have been more in line with his actions; he wouldn’t have offered such valuable medicine to revive her spirits.

Out of sheer kindness, there was no need for Yang Yu to go to such lengths.

Thinking of this, as if grasping at a lifeline, Iyas desperately searched her memories about Yang Yu, desperately affirming the thoughts within her heart.

Yang Yu was an adventurer driven by self-interest. His concern for her was in itself an expectation.

The expectation for her to rejoin the team.

But why then did Yang Yu put forward such an impossible demand?

He told me to recall the past, could it be that he wanted me to find the answer to defeat him in the knowledge I learned from him?

This was possible, but...

As Iyas remembered every day she practiced with Yang Yu, he always anticipated every move she made, then reacted preemptively, countering perfectly.

The more Iyas thought about it, the more she felt that she was utterly unable to win this duel.

If Yang Yu were in her place, facing an enemy he absolutely couldn’t defeat, what would he do?

Upon this thought, something suddenly strung together in Iyas’s mind.

If it were Yang Yu, he would never attempt to defeat an opponent he absolutely couldn’t defeat.

The answer to defeat Yang Yu?

Why must defeat be the premise?

If what he expected was not for me to defeat him, but rather to understand the significance of everything he had done, to find a different way to victory amidst adversity, just like him...

In the face of powerful enemies, Yang Yu’s definition of victory was to survive unscathed.

If the scenario were now replaced, for me, what would my definition of victory be...?

Seeing that Iyas had still not fired a single arrow, Yang Yu let out a sigh,

”Have you not decided to attack yet? Then let me do the attacking; in a real battle, the enemy won’t foolishly wait for you to come up with a plan.”

Gathering strength in his legs, Yang Yu rapidly closed the distance between himself and Iyas. His thought was simple; if you don’t want to attack, I’ll force you to.

Having just touched upon a glimmer of hope, Iyas certainly didn’t want to be kicked out by Yang Yu before she had completely thought through what to do.

Dodging to move out of the way, Iyas continued searching her memory for what Yang Yu had taught her, all for the sake of delivering the perfect answer to him.

The outcome of this contest wasn’t important; what mattered was whether she could discern the correct way to stay before being defeated.

Her own victory rule was to be able to remain at Yang Yu and the others’ side.

Rekindling her fighting spirit, Iyas drew her bow and swiftly maneuvered along the icy circle, the wind curling around her arrows.

Iyas aimed the ”Strong Wind Arrow” at the ground, and the arrow exploded like a bomb in the center of the duel arena, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Such an attack could only temporarily delay Yang Yu’s offensive rhythm. He would certainly use the dust as cover for a surprise attack.

Closing her eyes and relying on her keen hearing, Iyas detected the faint sound of a sword scratching the ground and focused her mind on feeling the vibrations coming from it.

”Here it comes.”

Countless thorns burst from the ground beneath her feet, but Iyas, who was on guard, dodged back and forth, completely avoiding the thorns; however, before she could catch her breath, Yang Yu’s sword pierced through the dust towards her.

Iyas’s body erupted with Holy Light, the Holy Light spreading like ripples, repelling Yang Yu and at the same time making the dust-covered battle area visible once more.

Riding on these sacred ripples, Yang Yu arrived at the center of the duel area,

”You’ve indeed grown a lot, but this level is still not enough to beat me.”

Yang Yu’s face was expressionless as he attacked Iyas again, this time Iyas slowly lowered her bows and arrows.

There was no need to fight any further.

After much consideration, Iyas finally found her own answer as she stood in place, murmuring to herself:

”All I really had to do was think it over from the beginning, and I could have easily come up with the answer.

He gave so many hints, yet I never noticed. I really am an idiot.

I should be able to submit a satisfactory answer now, right?”

Just as Iyas was about to step out of the icy circle to concede, Yang Yu’s shield followed closely, smacking her tender cheek in the blink of an eye, instantly disorienting her.

Quickly sheathing his sword, Yang Yu wrapped his hands around Iyas’s right arm and threw her over his shoulder, flinging her back to the center of the duel arena.

A confident smile appeared on Yang Yu’s face, ”I have to admit, you thought of a good tactic—trying to lure me to the edge to attack you and taking me by surprise, making me step out of the duel area.

Unfortunately, every move you made was within my expectations. Wanting to decide the outcome in one fell swoop using tactic like that, you’re still a century early!

Let’s see your grit.”

Getting up from the ground, Iyas fiercely threw her bows and arrows onto the earth and marched towards Yang Yu indignantly.

”The move I just made didn’t look like I intended to attack you, did it? I had put down my bows and arrows. Shouldn’t a normal person hesitate a little upon seeing that?”

Yang Yu smirked dismissively, ”It’s precisely because you put down your bows and arrows that one needs to be on guard. If it were me, I would pretend to give up resisting, let the other person lower their guard, and then find an opportunity to kick them.”

”If it were you, perhaps that’s what you would do, but I really gave up attacking.”

Perhaps sensing the sincerity in Iyas’s expression, Yang Yu slowly lowered his shield and dropped the playful smile,

”Give up the attack, does that mean you wish to give up on this duel?”

Iyas nodded, ”I know I’m not as skilled, and continuing to fight would only lead to an inevitable defeat.”

After saying this, while Yang Yu appeared outwardly calm, a storm was brewing inside, with only one thought left in his mind.

Surely Iyas hasn’t closed herself off, has she?