As Fernando and Blanca briskly entered the dueling hall, the first sight that greeted them was the two figures grappling atop the raised platform.
Hades's veins bulged on his forehead. He was pinned to the ground, his left arm tightly wrapped around Ugo's neck while his right hand gripped his left arm, preventing Ugo from breaking free.
"Guillotine choke!" someone shouted.
Ugo's face was turning a shade of crimson. The once-proud scholar of the legion was now desperately struggling, trying to escape.
However, the normally sized Ugo was no match for Hades, who was visibly more muscular than the average man.
Pinned down with no chance of escape, Ugo was making his final struggles. But against Hades, it was all in vain. Hades's chokehold was cutting off the blood flow to Ugo's brain. Even for an augmented interstellar warrior, there was a limit to how long one could endure such a hold.
Slowly, Ugo's struggles weakened. The platform fell silent.
Seeing Ugo unconscious, Hades finally released his grip. He stood up, his arms, which had been fiercely pulled by Ugo, feeling somewhat weak.
The outcome was clear.
Perhaps the duel had been too shocking, for a moment, the hall was eerily silent.
Fernando glanced at the Primarch, but Mortarion seemed deep in thought, showing no intention of leaving.
Fernando and Blanca exchanged a look.
Most of the captains and chief scholars were in a meeting. A few veterans who had gone to find Fernando had informed him of the situation. Knowing that Ugo was dueling Hades and that the Primarch was present, Garro couldn't intervene. He had sent Blanca, who was with him, to assess the situation with Fernando.
If Ugo had won, Fernando would have stepped in to stop the scholars' madness, even if it meant further angering the Primarch. He didn't want to witness another scene like before.
Seeing Fernando's distressed face, Garro remained calm, not convinced that Ugo would win.
"If Hades wins and the Primarch still wishes to watch, let Blanca buy some time. Don't let those stubborn ones challenge again."
Today, a transport ship from Mars had just arrived. Captain Barasin and the master smiths had gone to greet the Mechanicum representatives.
Because members of the Titan Order were also present, and the Primarch hadn't finished learning about certain matters, he couldn't make an appearance.
However, even knowing that the Primarch was at the dueling hall, Barasin, who was negotiating with the Mechanicum representatives, couldn't immediately rush to the scene and find an excuse to take the Primarch away.
Barasin had no idea that in his absence, such an event would transpire.
But he was on his way.
At the scene, seeing that the Primarch had no intention of leaving and fearing another veteran might challenge, Blanca swiftly jumped onto the platform, drawing everyone's attention.
Meanwhile, Fernando took the opportunity to rush to the platform, lifting the unconscious Ugo to retreat.
Mortarion, whom Fernando had expected to protest, remained silent.
Fernando heaved a sigh of relief.
He should thank Hades. Mortarion was probably wondering why Hades didn't just suppress Ugo's psychic powers like he had to those on Barbarus , instead opting for a more tedious method.
Moreover, Mortarion didn't seem interested in watching any more duels.
Initially, he had come here on Calas's suggestion, a whim. But what Mortarion hadn't expected was that Calas's suggestion wasn't simple; it was intentional.
He would have to investigate the relationship between Calas and that scholar.
If they had been in contact behind his back... Mortarion felt a twinge of displeasure.
Seeing Blanca on the platform, Mortarion had no reaction.
Hades's change and the relationship between Calas and that scholar... Were they both hiding something from him?
Was it deception, betrayal, or was he just being paranoid? Mortarion's thoughts were tangled, like a nail wrapped in rags.
However, Blanca, unaware of the Primarch's true thoughts, was diligently carrying out Garro's task.
"Hades, challenge me!" he shouted.
Hades stared in disbelief as Blanca jumped onto the platform, while behind him, Fernando smoothly whisked Ugo away.
He knew he might have gone a bit overboard in the duel, but what was happening now? Why was his superior suddenly challenging him?
Looking at Blanca's serious face, Hades knew that Blanca didn't like him. But this didn't mean Hades felt this dislike was strong enough to justify Blanca's actions in this standoff.
So, was Blanca defending the honor of the Terran veterans?
However, Hades's current mindset was one of ignorance.
Being close to Mortarion, he wouldn't realize how other interstellar warriors perceived the Primarch's image and status.
If Hades were in this situation, he would have winked at Mortarion, pulling him away from the scene and distracting him with some excuse.
But to others, the Primarch was an unapproachable being, even crossing military ranks to converse was not permitted.
That's why, in the original story where Hades didn't exist, Calas Typhon could deceive Mortarion time and again.
Because apart from Calas, no other Death Guard would initiate a conversation with the Primarch about internal legion matters.
And while Mortarion deeply cared for his legion, he believed he needed to maintain his authority and even a sense of mystery or fear.
Seeing too little and thinking too much, that was Mortarion.
Compared to Mortarion, whose mind was no longer on the duel, the two on the platform had a lot on their minds.
Blanca was confident he could beat Hades. He just needed to buy time.
The moderate veterans below saw Blanca's intention to stall and felt relieved.
Unlike Blanca's usual aggressive demeanor, he was actually a neutral party aligned with Garro and wouldn't take rash actions.
Ugo's recent actions had clearly crossed a line. The psychic fluctuations were clearly not in line with the scholars' usual standards. By tradition, such actions would be punished within the scholar community.
Not to mention, their Primarch had an extreme hatred for psykers.
Most veterans were now thinking not about how to save face, but how to end the situation.
On the other side, Barbarus's group was still unaware of the underlying currents and continued to cheer. Apart from Vox, who silently stood at the edge, most of the new recruits who were reluctant to engage with Terran culture and learn about the old legionnaires didn't know what was happening.
They had just seen the ghost of Barbarus defeat a strong opponent, and now, even the ghost's superior had come forward to duel with Hades.
"Go, Hades!"
On the platform, Hades looked at Blanca and took a deep breath.
"I knew I'd have to duel you. But why aren't you armed?"