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The elderly gentleman that was given a hand to enter the ring seemed incredibly out of place, suited more for a poker table than a wrestling ring. He didn't even look to his opponent, staring at a deck of cards slipped quietly from his pockets. The plasting wrapping was quickly cast aside and when he flipped open the end of the box he took a whiff of the fresh deck of playing cards, just a few more than the standard fifty two. There was no magic to them at all, they were simply a deck that could be picked up almost anywhere, likely for less than a buck. Without further ado he began to shuffle.

From the deck he slips two cards, flinging one rapidly at Genshin before he begins to circle to the left. The card itself seems changed once it leaves his hands, sharp as a well forged blade and stronger than basic steel. Even if the magical charge contained within is dispelled it would oddly retain this new strength.

[1]

The card cought by the shadows seemed almost slippery in relation to their grip, sliding away at a snail's pace. The type of magic contained therein seemed raher odd, as if it wasn't actually there. As the elderly gentleman continues his slow path around the ring he produces two more cards, flinging one similarly to how he did so before. His sleeves begin to roll up and reveal his branded arms of their own will, not impeding his actions in the slightest. Something about his gaze -locked on Genshin- makes it seem like he's far too devoted to the delivery of the cards. Either that, or perhaps he's a dirty old man thinking about hot hot mansex with Genshin. Likely not, but you never know with old men these days.

[2]

Odd though it was, the card did not explode upon Genshin's fist, the enchantment burried within not focused on such a detonation. If, by chance, Genshin was the one to instigate the explosion it would indeed occur, but the card would remain unharmed, though it would be rather stuck to Genshin's hand by some form of adhesive enchantment. As for the one stopped by the shadow hand, it would continue its movement, as mentioned sliding along the surface of the harndened shadowstuff. This time when Argus produces two more cards he instead lets them drift through the air towards the electrified cables with a speed that defies most supernaturally enhanced visual accuity.

[0]

While the cards directed towards Genshin were fun and all, they really weren't intended to do much more than direct his attention. Those four that had now connected with the ropes had generated two duplicates each. The cards began rapidly sapping the energy from the ropes, redirecting it into the arena at large and adding new properties to the surge. The shadows would begin dissolving away as a pure light -though not simply light alone- began to bathe the arena in a deific luminescence. The light was blinding in of itself, the purifying magic contained therein perfect for dispelling all current enchantments.

As mentioned, it wasn't just light, rather fitting as the shadows apparently weren't shadows in the traditional sense. The idea was that the shadows did not belong, and if they happened to be produced by magic they would simply cease to be, and if otherwise they would simply be contained, quarantined, and ejected. Just because it was perfect to dispel did not mean that was its only objective and capability. When Genshin speaks Argus gives him a flat look, "Just stop and think about that for a moment. I'm an elderly gentleman, not some mindless brute of a youngster. I don't scream and I certainly don't get my hands dirty when I extract such from others. Blood is so unvcivilized." Of course, if he was interupted in speaking he wouldn't stop, his lips would just stop moving and the voice would persist. His cards began to dance around him, slipping away from his deck to hang in the air. A smirk came in return, "After all we've done in this tournament, the turn has come and the river has run its course. Lay down your hand, boy, and I'll lay down mine."

He smirked at the inquiry, "The stakes and the ultimate payoff are entirely up to you. Victory and defeat are so bland, even with the monetary compensation at the end. How about a short lifetime? The winner steals seventy years to add to the sting of defeat." The cards around him seemed to be moving in patterns, breaking them down into groups based on suit and then into their value order. However, despite having only released approximately fourty five cards into the air there seemed to be well over one hundred, the number growing by the moment.

[135]