After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back-Chapter 220 - 219: Duel of Justice

"Raoul?"

Christine turned back in surprise, having never anticipated that her childhood friend would be able to follow her here.

"Christine, you can’t go with this criminal, come back with me!" Raoul pleaded earnestly.

Christine hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "I’m not going back, Raoul."

"Why? Is that man really better than me? That man who always hides his face and doesn’t even dare to take off his mask!"

Raoul shouted at The Phantom of the Opera standing beside Christine, "Phantom, you have nowhere to escape now, and the excellent policemen are waiting at the other end of the road. I know you must be coercing Christine. Let her go, I implore you as a viscount, please comply!"

The Phantom of the Opera stepped forward to shield Christine, the eye not covered by the mask glaring fiercely at him.

"I refuse, Viscount. Christine, this beautiful, honorable, and independent woman, has her own thoughts. If she wished to return, I would never dare to stop her. But her being here now is her own will, her decision—and yes, she has made her decision!"

"I don’t believe it!"

"Is that so? Then there is only one path left for us."

Watching this stubborn man, The Phantom of the Opera slowly removed his deerskin gloves and threw them to the ground.

When gentlemen have irreconcilable differences, they choose to settle the matter with a fair duel.

In other words, it is about physically eliminating the opponent.

Whoever survives the duel gains the dignity.

The duel can be declined, but the declining party is deemed a coward and ridiculed.

Raoul certainly didn’t consider himself a coward.

He glanced at the gloves on the ground, walked slowly toward The Phantom of the Opera, took off his coat to remaining in a white shirt, and drew his sword from his waist.

"Let us use one life,"

"to prove our love for Christine."

The Phantom of the Opera also took the black-handled Knight’s Sword leaning next to his treasured collection, threw the scabbard aside, and faced Raoul with his sword drawn.

"Phantom, Raoul..." Christine was at a loss.

One was her mentor and lover; the other, her childhood playmate and precious friend. Losing either was painful for her.

"Step back, Christine," said The Phantom of the Opera. "This is a duel between men, and I must honor it."

"In the battle on the rooftop, we didn’t determine a winner; this time, it will continue until the fate of one of us is severed," Raoul raised his blade earnestly, "I will save you, Christine."

Christine cried out, "Stop it, both of you! Don’t do this foolish thing!"

It was already too late.

Without any count, The Phantom of the Opera and Raoul simultaneously made their move, attacking each other.

They swung their blades rationally yet crazily, each strike deadly, their killing intent even greater than before.

Heavy and tragic background music, akin to Beethoven’s "Symphony of Destiny", began playing on the stage.

"Set her free!" Raoul sang as he fought, "Just let her go, and you can do whatever you want. Do you not have even the slightest bit of pity?"

"This is a most delightful surprise; I’ve always hoped you would come, and now, my Beautiful Dream has come true; you have made my night," The Phantom of the Opera also sang. "That night, you forcefully took Christine’s lips; I will never forgive you!"

"Stop it, Raoul, there’s no point," Christine joined in.

"I love you; does that not matter? I love you, please pity me, Christine... Christine..."

"Sir, I salute you, for you have given me the chance for revenge,"

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With one thrust, The Phantom of the Opera and Raoul’s swords clashed, pushing against each other with force.

The Phantom of the Opera was stronger in build and brute strength but in terms of sword techniques, Raoul had the upper hand.

In the midst of their struggle, Raoul cleaved through The Phantom of the Opera’s black mask with his sword, revealing the hideous face beneath that no one but Christine had ever seen—the true visage of The Phantom of the Opera.

Raoul stepped back two steps, shocked by the truth of The Phantom, and exclaimed in surprise, "Good heavens, Phantom, you are so grotesque, where did you find the courage to pursue Christine?"

"Ah, ah, damn it, you damn bastard! Stupid boar!"

The Phantom trembled, covering his face with his hands, his long sword falling to the ground.

Fear was evident in the eyes peeking through his fingers.

With his mask exposed and facing mockery from his romantic rival, he cursed under his breath like a veteran soldier with PTSD.

He had been subjected to the same humiliation by everyone when he was imprisoned in the circus in the past, being called an ugly toad, a demon’s spawn—titles that once crowned his head.

He had never forgotten that period of his life; it haunted him every night, in every dream.

The mask he wore every moment was actually a safety valve, suppressing The Phantom’s fear of past memories and intense inferiority complex.

Some people find their true selves upon removing a mask, while others only truly become themselves once a mask is donned; The Phantom was the latter.

"Phantom!"

A beam of light shone in.

Christine, dressed in a long gown like the Virgin Mary descended from heaven, embraced him.

"No, don’t look at me any more, Christine!" said The Phantom.

But Christine shook her head, took his hands away from his face, and told him, "I am no longer afraid of your face; your love and passion have moved me. Others see your exterior, but I see your heart."

"Christine..."

Encouraged by his beloved, The Phantom found his courage again, no longer concealing his appearance, and tentatively raised his head.

Most of his face was deformed, like a clump of twisted filth, difficult for anyone who saw him to harbor goodwill.

However, Christine looked at him with a gentle gaze, differing from Raoul’s shock and disgust; she seemed to truly not regard The Phantom’s appearance as something worth noting.

As she said, her eyes reflected The Phantom’s soul, not his superficial exterior.

Thanks to Christine’s comfort, The Phantom gradually calmed down, regaining his composure.

But in the midst of the confusion, his long sword had fallen into the water and sunk, seemingly ending his ability to continue dueling with Raoul.

"Without your weapon, how will you fight against me?" Raoul pointed the tip of his sword at him.

The Phantom gently pushed Christine behind him, gave her a glance, nodded, and then boldly walked towards Raoul.

"Before everything ends, I must remind you of one thing."

"What?"

"—When dueling with me, keep your hand as high as your eye!"

Suddenly, The Phantom whipped out a hemp rope from his waist, encircled Raoul’s neck with it as if catching a horse, and while the latter was panicked, yanked him forward and delivered a powerful kick to his abdomen.

Raoul doubled over in pain, and The Phantom seized the opportunity to kick him down to the ground again, pinning him like a pig, hands tied behind his back.

In that moment, Raoul finally understood the meaning of ’keeping your hand as high as your eye.’

Only by raising your hand next to your head can you prevent your neck from being ensnared by the rope.

Unfortunately, the warning from his adversary came too late, and the situation had already reversed.

"Now, no one can save you," The Phantom, picking up his sword, rose to his feet, pointing the tip of the blade at Raoul’s face, "Say that you will give up Christine, or else you will die here in this unknown underground, humiliated, at the hands of the man you call hideous!"

"No, never!" Raoul, facing down toward the ground, roared defiantly in a lowered voice.

"Then, you shall die."