The 3899th round of the Gladiatorial Martial Arts Festival has begun!
“Finally, the long-awaited and exhilarating moment is upon us! Now, let us welcome the gladiators who are about to deliver a spectacular performance. Let’s witness who will claim this glorious and magnificent honor! Lo and behold… they have appeared! From the West District, number 15! From the North District, number 3!!”
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us extend a thunderous applause to welcome the two gladiators who are about to entertain us!”
The host’s impassioned words resonated like a heavy hammer in every heart, including those from the East District, who collectively exhaled countless breaths of profound relief.
This signified that one among them had, for the moment, escaped this initial trial.
West District Number 15 versus North District Number 3. The moment these two stepped into the arena, they immediately gave off the impression of being complete novices.
Their so-called gladiatorial bout resembled a child’s game of tag, as they chased each other around the vast expanse of the arena, darting from east to west, and from south to north.
Similar scenes had unfolded numerous times throughout the 3898 previous days of gladiator matches, yet the audience remained endlessly entertained.
Why, one might ask? Because it was simply hilarious!
This particular match, purely in terms of its progression, was utterly joyous, with spectators in the fourth ring clutching their bellies in uproarious laughter as they watched.
However, when the final bell tolled an hour later, signaling the end, countless demon-breaking arrows shot forth from the first ring, almost entirely engulfing the gladiatorial ground.
The two who had painstakingly provided an hour of amusement for the audience ultimately met a tragic end, pierced by a myriad of arrows.
This served as a stark warning to the newcomers in all four districts: this was no child’s play, but a gamble where lives were the stakes!
Mere minutes later, the arena was swiftly cleared, and the second round commenced.
Amidst the excited cheers of Keane and the others, the East District once again fortuitously drew a bye.
The North District, however, was unfortunately drawn again, with North District Number 5 facing South District Number 119!
These were two men exuding a chilling aura of savagery, like butchers.
The sheer bloodlust they displayed was a testament to how many lives they had taken before arriving here.
Their battle was exceptionally ferocious, akin to a tiger and a lion clashing over the sole piece of prey in a jungle!
Numerous iron weapons placed in the corners of the fighting ground were broken by them.
Ultimately, after over fifty minutes of brutal combat, North District Number 5 used his teeth, as sharp and hard as metal, to tear open the skull and body of South District Number 119.
Blood splattered across the ground, revealing a suffocating aura of grimness and cruelty.
The spectators in the fourth ring roared, reveling, and cheering for the triumphant survivor!
Meanwhile, the newcomers in the four lower districts trembled uncontrollably.
It was precisely eleven o’clock, and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, there should be one final match remaining.
“Let us see whence the gladiators for the third match hail! Lo and behold… West District Number 10, against South District Number 11! The East District has still not appeared—is the Goddess of Fortune truly blessing them?”
As the host’s flamboyant announcement echoed, the third bout commenced once more.
Among the East District contingent, those behind You’er seemed truly favored by the Goddess of Fortune.
The third pair mirrored the style of the first, unable to overcome their inner trepidation or steel their resolve.
They ultimately dragged the match to its very end, much like the first pair, journeying together to the Underworld.
Thus concluded the morning’s gladiatorial contests, passing without incident for the East District, despite their frantic anxiousness.
With that, they entered the halftime break.
At precisely one o’clock in the afternoon, the Gladiatorial Festival resumed!
“Let us discover which district this round’s draw favors! Oh yeah! It’s the East District, East District Number 8, against West District Number 7! Is our long-anticipated East District finally making an appearance!”
The Goddess of Fortune seemed to have found a new favorite, her favor no longer extending to the East District, as the very first match of the afternoon drew one of their own.
“Eight… Number 8 is… who?” Keane, glancing at the number ‘5’ on his own bracelet, inquired of the crowd behind him, his expression tinged with a hint of despondency.
“It’s me… sigh!”
From the throng, a man with a square face and a medium build slowly stepped forward, his unremarkable countenance etched with gloom and resignation.
“Old Cui… hang in there! I believe you’ll definitely survive!” Keane had not anticipated that the first person from their East District to enter the arena would be the one closest to him (apart from You’er), a man named Tris Ti.
“Number 8, step forward! Immediately!”
Without allowing Tris a moment to bid farewell, the arena guards swiftly escorted him away, then unhesitatingly pushed him into the gladiatorial ground.
Tris faced a formidable opponent, one who even possessed a small amount of magical power, which ultimately led to his demise.
Yet, he was a man of spirit; he held his ground until the final few minutes.
Ultimately, in a moment of carelessness as his opponent pierced his chest, he managed to slash his foe’s throat with his iron sword.
The outcome of this match, therefore, was a mutual annihilation.
Confronted with such a result, You’er could only silently pray for Tris’s soul in his heart.
As their nominal leader, the extent of his capability was merely to ensure their comfort and safety outside the arena; within its confines, You’er was utterly powerless!
The audience, after a brief moment of surprise, dismissed the event with remarkable indifference, devoid of any pity, merely urging for the swift commencement of the next match.
The subsequent gladiatorial bouts concluded rather swiftly, with three matches unfolding consecutively within an hour.
Intriguingly, the East District once again fortuitously drew a bye in these three matches, until the fourth round arrived.
“East District Number 4 versus West District Number 2!”
East District Number 4 was Vimay Toth!
“Thank goodness… it’s Vimay. That fellow possesses the strength of an intermediate sword apprentice; he’ll undoubtedly flatten his opponent in an instant!”
The moment Vimay’s name was announced, many collectively sighed in relief, for Vimay possessed the capability to survive in such an arena.
Keane, meanwhile, patted his chest, secretly relieved that it had almost been him, hadn’t it?
“Vimay, hold nothing back! If possible, try to end the battle as quickly as you can!”
Under the earnest instructions of his brother, Veron, Vimay made his entrance.
His robust physique immediately ignited a fervor among the spectators the moment he appeared.
Such a build typically foreshadowed a gladiatorial bout of exceptional spectacle.
As the heavy iron gates slowly parted, Vimay’s opponent emerged from the enveloping shadows.
It was a figure clad in black, with a black cloth wrapped around his head, revealing only a pair of cold, serpentine eyes.
Compared to Vimay’s imposing stature, the black-clad figure’s build was no more than that of a child.
“Haha, with such a small physique, Vimay is sure to win!”
On the East District side, after discerning Vimay’s opponent, a relaxed, buoyant laughter spontaneously erupted among the crowd.
However, You’er’s chilling words immediately dampened their freshly surged jovial mood.
“Do you truly believe Vimay’s victory in this match is assured?”
“I apologize, but contrary to your expectations, his current situation is extremely perilous!”
You’er spoke with a grave expression and tone, his inner vision intently fixed upon the black-clad man.
That individual, those eyes, exuded a threat so profoundly lethal that even You’er himself felt it!
The moment You’er’s words rang out, everyone fell silent, especially Veron, whose hand, resting on the iron gate’s frame, had already pressed into a small indentation.
At this, You’er could only sigh helplessly, while Noelle, beside him, offered silent comfort.
Just as You’er had stated, Vimay, directly confronting the black-clad man, felt an unprecedented and terrifying pressure, a pressure that settled into an inexplicable dread within his heart.
“Hmph! Stone-Shattering Sword!”
With the utmost caution and apprehension, Vimay chose to strike first, injecting his attribute-less magical power into his iron sword.
He unleashed the most potent offensive he commanded, charging fiercely towards the black-clad man with the force of shattering stone.
Yet, his opponent’s gaze remained as indifferent as ever.
Only when Vimay had covered half the distance did he finally move, and that movement was akin to a storm’s fury and a rain’s lament!
A gale erupted beneath his feet, fierce magical power enveloping his longsword.
The instant he drew his sword, he had already appeared behind Vimay!
Few spectators could discern how the black-clad youth moved, save for the select few seated steadily in the fourth ring!
Vimay’s head slid from his body, and his robust frame, a moment later, collapsed with a thud!
His eyes remained wide, as large as brass bells, still brimming with utter bewilderment.
To his dying breath, he could not comprehend how or when the black-clad man had used his iron sword to sever his neck and cleave his head.
Meanwhile, the spectators in the fourth ring erupted in thunderous applause, hailing it as the most magnificent performance they had witnessed all day!
****
But on the other side…
“No!… Vimay… my brother!…”
Witnessing his brother’s head being severed with his own eyes, Veron cried out in heart-wrenching anguish, a sound that pierced everyone’s hearts like countless thorns, leaving them deeply unsettled.
The black-clad man turned, plunged the bloodied iron sword into Vimay’s head, then hoisted it high, displaying his conquest to all the onlookers.
“Rest assured, Veron, I will avenge your brother!”
Taking in this sight, You’er drew a sharp, cold breath, his gaze upon the black-clad man now burning with fervent killing intent.
He gently patted Veron’s shoulder, making this solemn vow.
The black-clad man, astonishingly, seemed to dimly perceive You’er’s aura.
He turned his body towards the East, then raised his hand, making an utterly mocking gesture: a downward-pointing thumb.
“In this gladiatorial bout, West District Number 2 is victorious!”
At that moment, the host’s voice, seemingly trembling with excitement, resonated through the amplifiers, reaching every corner of the arena.
“Owing to the swift conclusion of this match, with ample time remaining, this arena has decided to add an additional exhibition gladiatorial festival! Its name is… The Heroine Who Conquers Beasts!”
Uproar!
Upon these words, the entire venue erupted in an uproar!
The East District, however, fell into a profound silence, all eyes turning in horrified realization towards You’er, or more precisely… towards Noelle, who stood beside You’er!
Here, in this fighting arena, the only female they knew was Noelle!
And in the very next second, the host declared the answer.
“Let us welcome our heroine, East District Number 148! Enter!”