Originally, personal duels, unless part of a training course, were supposed to be impossible to permit.
Unfortunately, "supposed to" often means it's not strictly followed.
Especially when the instructor for the Assault Department is the rough and battle-hungry Ranbyou.
So, after Fang Li and Watson decided to have a match, Ranbyou was the first to get excited.
"Hey, you guys over there! Clear the area!"
Ranbyou drew his gun and pointed it at the students gathered in front of the shooting range, shouting loudly.
"Finally, something interesting is happening! Anyone who dares to get in the way will be shot!"
This was no joke.
If it is Ranbyou, she really might shoot someone on the spot.
"Run… run away!"
"Quick, clear the area!"
The students, startled, quickly scattered, leaving the shooting range completely empty within moments.
In no time, the entire shooting range was vacant of students.
They surrounded the perimeter in a massive crowd, all looking on with eager anticipation, even starting to discuss among themselves.
"Who do you think has a better chance of winning?"
"Isn't it obvious? Of course, it's Fang Li!"
"Do you think an S-Rank Butei is a joke?"
"Not to mention he's the 'Gun Magician.' How could he lose in shooting?"
"That might not be true. Watson looks pretty capable too."
Amidst the ongoing discussion, Watson strode confidently to the front.
As Fang Li was about to step up, Aria hurriedly grabbed him.
"You… are you really going to compete with him?" Aria asked anxiously. "I've heard that Watson is a Royal Family sanctioned Butei in the United Kingdom. All Royal Family Buteis are at least S-Rank elites. Even if I don't know if Watson is skilled in shooting, he's definitely not someone easy to handle."
Fang Li simply smiled at Aria's words.
"And what if he is not so easy to handle?" Fang Li replied somewhat indifferently. "Don't worry, I'll take it easy."
With that said, Fang Li stepped onto the field, under Aria's watchful eyes, and took his place next to Watson.
The shooting positions were set up in front of them.
The field was open, covered in dirt, with sandbag barriers piled up for defense.
It was a free shooting range.
In other words, targets would suddenly appear from all directions and move irregularly at varying speeds due to the equipment.
"There are a hundred targets in total, and each target's appearance time and range are random."
Ranbyou, now acting as the referee, explained enthusiastically to Fang Li and Watson.
"You can shoot freely until all hundred targets are out. Whoever hits the most targets wins!"
As soon as Ranbyou finished announcing, Watson protested.
"That seems a bit too easy." Watson, not looking at Fang Li, simply smiled and said, "How about this: only hitting the bullseye counts as hitting a target. Let's see who hits the most bullseyes in the end."
Watson's words caused another stir among the crowd.
Fang Li, however, responded nonchalantly.
"Sure."
---
Fang Li silently switched to his "Butei (S-Rank)" title.
Given the nature of this match, using this title was the most sensible choice.
Otherwise, with Fang Li's own accuracy, he might not hit many bullseyes.
He then drew his gun from the holster on his lower back, which he had prepared earlier in the morning.
"A Glock?" Watson observed and commented with a smile. "It's a pretty ordinary gun. For a 'Gun Magician,' isn't it a bit plain?"
"Yes," Fang Li replied while slowly loading the magazine without turning around. "I don't need to show off; being ordinary is just fine."
Watson's smile instantly faded.
"Alright! Enough chatter!" Ranbyou, clearly impatient, called out. "Since you're ready, let's start!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the lights around the field dimmed.
Only the lighting from the shooting range ahead illuminated the area.
"Kacha…"
Both Fang Li and Watson raised their guns in perfect stances, one hand gripping the gun, the other supporting the stock, aiming forward.
The students around held their breath, making the surroundings eerily silent.
Aria, too, stared with her crimson eyes, her palms sweating with nervousness.
Until Ranbyou's shout.
"Shoot!"
Immediately, a target sprang up from the ground, displacing the dirt.
"Bang————!"
Almost instantly, the sound of gunshots echoed.
Two flashes burst simultaneously from the muzzles of Fang Li and Watson's guns.
Yes.
At the same time.
Thus, the gunshots also rang out simultaneously.
Two bullets tore through the air, both hitting the bullseye of the target at the same moment.
"Pā————!"
Amid the explosive sound, the bullseye of the target was penetrated by the two bullets simultaneously.
"What?"
The surrounding students gasped in astonishment.
"At the same time?"
Aria's voice was filled with surprise.
"Interesting."
Ranbyou grinned with pleasure.
Only Fang Li and Watson, in a split second, exchanged a glance before moving apart.
Under these circumstances, targets began to appear one by one.
"Bang—— Bang—— Bang—— Bang—— Bang——!"
And the gunshots began to ring out one after another.
On the field, targets shaped like human figures either sprang up from the ground, flashed from the sides, or even shot out from above the shields, moving in unpredictable patterns with speeds rivaling sprinters.
However, with each gunshot, bullets violently shot out, striking the targets.
"Pā—— Pā—— Pā—— Pā—— Pā——!"
The crisp sounds continued, indicating that each target was being pierced through.
What was astonishing was that these bullets all hit the bullseye one after another.
Moreover, each time, the bullets were shot out in pairs, with two bullets simultaneously hitting a single target's bullseye.
Thus, each gunshot resulted in two bullets being fired.
Every target falling meant the bullseye was penetrated by two bullets simultaneously.
Without exception.
It was an incredibly astounding scene.
"Is this really happening right now?"
The surrounding students were left stunned by the scene in front of them.
Yet, the participants' brows furrowed as this situation persisted.
Because if this continued, neither side would end up winning.
At this moment, both Fang Li and Watson have the same thoughts.
"It seems we need to up the ante."
(End Of This Chapter)
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