«One on one! Against the Stones! Charlie, go ahead!» – The patriarch wished Charlie good luck and patted his pet on the back.

Charlie jumped off the platform and threw up his hands in greeting like a superstar. The enthusiastic cheers of dozens of thousands of fans filled the arena. He blew kisses in all directions, never taking his eyes off the Stone platform, off Juno the mischievous cutie, giving her his imperious look, as if to say, get down here at once.

«My little Juno, surrender as soon as the battle begins. Just give up and don't have any second thoughts. This boy has unkind intentions, I can feel it in my heart. Grandpa will die of grief if a hair falls from your head. Do you understand?» – Bai said with care and concern, gently holding his beloved granddaughter closer.

Because of the cage of orders, Juno could not show her real strength. Even if she could, her opponent was eight stages more powerful. Bai would never let her fight with him. Apparently, Juno had to be a bad girl who paid no heed to her grandfather's words and made him worry.

She had an idea of how to calm him down. – «Grandpa, don't worry about me. In fact, this guy's in love with me. I've exchanged some messages with him. He will do me no harm.»

«Whaaat?!» – Bai's jaw dropped in surprise.

Diana, standing next to him, also opened her mouth like the rest of the young Stones.

Juno smiled and jumped off the platform, not letting her grandfather ask her a single question. She made a decisive step toward the opponent, whispering in the bug for Kyon not to stop her (no telling what was on his mind). She was determined to knock the s.h.i.+t out of Charlie, her eyes blazing green fire.

Last night, Juno was trying out her newly attained power. Her attacks had reached a completely different level! She was an entire phase stronger! Juno was extremely delighted, her happiness knew no bounds! What opponents could she tackle now? At this point, it was hard to say...

Juno remembered her battles with Kyon. Even with higher cultivation, it was a bad idea to exchange blows with him. Why? Because he was the master of all the elements! His level seemed to be five stages higher. She had now the same advantage over other mediocrities, and her name wasn't Juno Stone if she didn't beat Charlie to a pulp today!

Juno took a fighting stance, her feet shoulder-width apart, her arms crossed. Her charming looks made her look like a battle angel without wings.

«Here you are, cheeky liar!» – Charlie said, loud enough for everyone to hear. – «I can tell by your face that you feel guilty for your dirty slander and want to apologize. How about doing it right here and now?»

His words left many people perplexed. They wondered what lies he was talking about? Princess Kara looked jealous and especially interested, p.r.i.c.king up her ears.

Juno made a guilty face, folded her hands in supplication and repented. – «I am sorry... I am sorry that you like me so much... I am very sorry that a pathetic show-off like you has a crush on me. Please, forgive me…»

A heavy silence filled the stands. Then someone burst out laughing, defusing the situation, and a whole wave of giggling broke out. Even the most inattentive spectators had noticed the strange behavior of the Romanovs, in particular Charlie, who kept looking up at the Stone platform for a couple of seconds after each battle. Everything was clear now. He liked the young lady Stone! Charlie wanted to impress her!

The envoys of the Virgin and the Dance sects covered their smiles with their hands.

Even Queen Vlada liked Juno's reckless act. She appreciated the irony of her response that not everyone would dare to say to the womanizer from the Romanov family.

Diana and Bai looked at each other, perplexed. Juno did not use to behave like this.

Charlie's eye twitched when he heard the laughter, his cheeks burned hot with shame. He managed to keep a straight face and even gave a careless laugh. – «Very funny! Ha ha! I'll tell you what we are going to do, lady Stone. As an apology for your behavior, you will say that you give up like a little chicken as soon as the battle starts. Then I, Charlie Romanov, will forgive you your lies.» – He flashed a mischievous smile.

The audience uttered an exclamation of surprise and even anger. What a dirty trick! Such an overt manipulation! It would injure her dignity and pride when Juno surrendered (how could she not?). No one could imagine what the young lady should say to save her dignity.

Juno clicked her tongue. – «Rejoice, I will not give up. Not because you dared me! I am not going to give up to a hairy bedbug like you!» – She nodded to the judge.

The judge activated the protective barrier and signaled the start of the battle.

«Juno... What are you talking about?! Juno, give up! Juno, don't be silly! GIVE UP!» – Bai cried out in despair, terrified to see his granddaughter grasping the railing in silence.

It broke her heart to hear grandpa's desperate cry, but she could not give up. Returning from Lovr's world, Juno realized how stupid it was of her to take part in the tournament. In her blind desire to prove to everyone her worth, she had signed up to the tournament where she didn't belong... Now that Juno had become the master of all the elements and gained power, she could not give up the chance to make her wish come true and get inside Elsa's skin at least once in a lifetime! She wanted to feel what it's like to bask in her own glory when everyone considered her an unsurpa.s.sed genius! She wanted to see the admiration in their eyes, to be recognized!

When she realizes her motives, Juno marched straight to her opponent. Grandpa wouldn't have a moment's peace until she showed her true power.

«JUNO, GIVE UP!» – Bai jumped from the platform and punched the barrier.

~buzz~

The impact threw him to the railing, where he hit his back hard and almost gave up the ghost.

All the Stones were concerned about his severe condition and began to scream to Juno to give up, Lee and Stephanie being especially loud. She was too weak! She shouldn't be in the arena next to the monster like Charlie!

Meanwhile, Diana and Elder Boe ran up to the patriarch to help him get up...

The audience averted their eyes and clenched their fists. No one wanted to watch the young cutie suffer. She was fairer than the moon, hotter than the sun. She shouldn't be here! Why did sick old Bai make her a partic.i.p.ant?!

Juno was standing ten steps away from her opponent. Her whole body was tense like a compressed spring, ready to burst. – «Why so silent? The cat got your tongue? Come on, show everyone that top-1 Romanov is rotten inside!»

Charlie, who was taken aback by her courage, had finally come to his senses and burst out laughing. He admitted that Juno's undaunted disposition and looks of an innocent angel were really charming. Yurich the great had a wonderful daughter. However, this b.i.t.c.h had humiliated him several times! He couldn't leave it like this!

«Your courage is impressing! Not every little one has the guts to mess with someone whose cultivation is a couple of phases higher! Well, I won't disappoint you! To change your mind, I promise to restrain myself. I am even willing to give you combat training afterward.» – Charlie was not going to kill or cripple her, but why not make her cry like a baby?

«Will you lower your cultivation?!» – Juno said happily.

«I am sorry. I'm not as good as you think I am.» – He shook his head.

«Then… Will you give me a three strike head start?» – Juno asked ingratiatingly.

Again, Charlie burst out with a completely inappropriate laugh. It was impossible to refuse this cute little devil! – «Alright, three strikes it is! Punch me with everything you have, I won't budge. Come on! Let's not make the audience wait!» – Charlie wasn't afraid to accept this disadvantageous offer for a reason. Not so long ago, he heard from his peers who had been at Juno's party that her cultivation was still very low. So, he could play a little by her rules.

Juno approached him leisurely. Her dazzling smile conquered the hearts of the most part of the audience. Charlie could feel his pulse increase slightly. Lots of people held their breath.

Bai had just come to his senses and darted to the barrier, his eyes wide and wild with terror. – «Juno?!»

The girl slowly came close to Charlie and swung out her fist.

Her swing without any elemental energy seemed so weak that Charlie broke out in a playful grin. He felt like a cat playing with a careless little mouse.

~crash~

Everyone heard a crunch from broken cartilage in his nose. Charlie did three spectacular somersaults in the air, sprinkling blood all over, and fell hard on his back. With trembling fingers, he carefully touched his once beautiful nose that was now pushed to the left side, noticeably swollen.

A deadly silence fell upon the arena. The spectators expected to see a completely different scene. How could a first phaser deliver such a crus.h.i.+ng blow to someone in the n.o.ble phase! The strength of his body alone should be enough for him to come out completely unscathed! She must have a concealing object. It was the only explanation!

Those in the audience who were at least at the finis.h.i.+ng stage of the advanced phase could clearly feel Juno emanate elemental vibrations characteristic of the beginning stage of the superior phase!

«Were the rumors about Juno's mediocrity so exaggerated? She is a real genius if she could injure the strongest Romanov!» – Someone yelled in the crowd.

The patriarchs, who had made the deal with the fat brotherhood, looked as if they had a heart attack. However, Romanov had underestimated her, and paid the price for it. She wasn't Elsa, just a weakling at the beginning stage of the superior phase! She was no match for Charlie or the other partic.i.p.ants. There was nothing to worry about, right?..

Bai and Diana were stunned. The patriarch was standing near the barrier, staring at his granddaughter and her opponent with a broken nose. His hands trembled with excitement.

The female envoys were pleasantly surprised by the skillful performance of the talented girl.

Juno squeamishly wiped the blood from her fist with a white handkerchief and gave Charlie a black look. – «Charlie Romanov, now everyone knows that you're nothing but a pompous windbag! You said that I could hit you three times and you wouldn't budge, but the very first punch sent you flying!»