As blood splattered across the arena, a massive uproar simultaneously swept through the entire Fourth Ring.
Spectators craned their necks, gazing upwards to the highest point of the Fourth Ring, to the most revered viewing platform in the entire area.
Only those seated within that platform possessed the authority to pass judgment on such an unforeseen incident.
****
Within the viewing platform sat five individuals; Miekin Hogg, the Warden of the Eastern District, was prominently among them.
Alongside him were the Wardens of the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts, all of equal standing.
The fifth and final person, surrounded by Miekin Hogg and the other three like stars orbiting a central moon, was Salakriffin—a man clad in deep blue aristocratic attire, with long, wavy chestnut hair and handsome features.
He was the supreme ruler of the Death Arena, and indeed, the most powerful and terrifying man within it.
Within the arena, he was known as the Smiling Reaper, for he often wore a smile as he ushered others to their demise.
****
“Lord Salakriffin, my deepest apologies.
This abnormal situation was entirely unintended by me; your subordinate shall immediately take action to—”
As Miekin Hogg addressed Salakriffin, his tone and posture were those of a fearful subordinate.
This entertainment program had been personally arranged by him, thus he felt compelled to step forward and handle the disruption.
However, his words were cut short by Salakriffin’s raised hand.
“Let’s just watch.
Isn’t it rather interesting?”
Salakriffin, seated in the main position, leaned slightly forward, his fingers interlaced before his nose and mouth.
His eyes, the only part of his face fully visible, betrayed a faint glimmer of interest, and his gaze was fixed precisely on You’er, who was furiously attacking the Joyous Ape in the arena.
****
“Hoo-ya!
This truly is… this truly is an unexpected turn of events!
Has a third party inserted themselves into this ‘Beauty and the Beast’ scenario?
What shocking developments will unfold next?
Let’s wait and see!”
The announcer’s commentary rang out, his words undoubtedly signaling to the audience that You’er’s appearance had received Salakriffin’s permission.
Thus, this entertainment program, originally slated as a man-ape spectacle, began to unfold in an unpredictable direction.
****
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Having suffered repeated heavy blows, the Joyous Ape had gone berserk.
Enraged, it clutched You’er’s body in its massive, fan-like hand and powerfully flung him away as if he were a mere stone.
The Joyous Ape’s strength far surpassed what was imagined; with that single throw, it hurled You’er directly to the edge of the arena, smashing a massive dent into the hard, high wall.
“Hoo!”
The Joyous Ape ferociously beat its chest, as if to proclaim its victory, then charged towards You’er amidst the spectators’ gasps.
It began to savagely deliver a barrage of blows with its enormous, hammer-like fists.
Each ‘thump, thump, thump’ of its fists made the stone slabs beneath the spectators’ feet tremble.
They craned their necks, eager to discern the situation, but their vision was obscured by the swirling dust that billowed skyward.
‘Caught by such an attack, that guy couldn’t possibly have survived, could he?’
Such was the prevailing thought among the spectators.
****
“Boss!
You absolutely must hold on!”
In the Eastern District’s assembly hall, Keane Coe Harrow, Veron Toth, and the others were on tenterhooks, silently praying for You’er.
“Heh heh heh, do you understand now, brat?
This is the consequence of opposing me!”
From a corner, Quia’s sinister, cold laugh echoed.
****
“Oh!?”
Just then, the spectators’ gasps of astonishment erupted once more.
Where the dust had begun to clear, a two-meter-wide, ethereal blue ice shield stood starkly visible.
The ice shield was covered in fist-marks and cracks, appearing on the verge of shattering, yet stubbornly refused to collapse.
When the Joyous Ape realized that what it had been furiously assaulting for what felt like an eternity was merely this ice shield, it immediately flew into a rage.
Channeling all its remaining strength into its next punch, it delivered a powerful blow, and with a thunderous ‘bang,’ finally shattered the ice shield.
The very instant the ice shield shattered, You’er’s figure became visible.
His body was mere millimeters from the Joyous Ape’s fist, narrowly escaping a direct hit.
With a swift sidestep, he slid beneath the Joyous Ape’s feet, then, leveraging its massive thigh muscles, he leaped onto its three-meter-high shoulder.
Immediately after, You’er did something that made everyone’s breath catch.
He used the iron chain connected to the shackles on his wrist to wrap around the Joyous Ape’s front neck, while he, bracing against its back neck, began to strangle it with deadly force!
****
Roar! Roar! Roar!
For any living creature, the throat and windpipe are absolute weak points, and the Joyous Ape was no exception.
With the chain constricting its throat, the Joyous Ape struggled desperately.
It tried to grab You’er again with its massive hand, but given You’er’s position, it was clearly impossible to seize him.
Instead, it tugged at the chain around its neck, engaging in a struggle of strength with You’er.
However, it hadn’t anticipated that You’er’s strength was also extraordinarily immense.
Compounding this, the iron chain had bitten deep into its neck fur and flesh, offering no leverage whatsoever.
The Joyous Ape finally perceived the danger of death.
Its struggles grew increasingly frantic, and it even began to ram itself and You’er against the high walls.
“Die!
Die!”
Yet, the Joyous Ape was not the only one consumed by madness.
You’er, stomping on its back neck, also bore a ferocious expression.
No matter how desperately it struggled, he held on with a death grip, refusing to loosen, even as blood streamed from his own wrist due to the strain.
You’er was seething with an uncontrollable fury!
His hatred for this Death Arena, his grief over Vimay Toth’s death, the brazen provocation of the black-bandana man, Quia’s treacherous ambush…
But most intolerable of all was the fact that Noelle Noah had nearly been ravaged by this beast beneath his feet!
She had almost died!
You’er was simply venting his rage, releasing the torrent of negative emotions that overwhelmed him.
He made no attempt to conceal his madness, allowing this true side of himself to be fully exposed.
The Joyous Ape’s eyes slowly rolled back, revealing the whites.
A profound sense of suffocation caused its resistance to grow progressively weaker; it was clearly entering its death throes.
But just then, with a sharp ‘clack’ of the chain, it snapped!
You’er was flung backward, a consequence of his own excessive force.
The suffocating sensation in its throat vanished, and the Joyous Ape, already with one foot in the grave, experienced a sudden burst of vitality.
It panted heavily, ‘hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,’ its gaze toward You’er now holding a distinct hint of fear.
****
The Joyous Ape bolted again, but this time it did not charge at You’er.
Its chosen target for attack was Noelle Noah!
As a magical beast, and a second-tier one at that, equivalent to a human swordsman in power, it possessed intelligence and the capacity to think.
Unable to contend with You’er, it sought someone it could overpower; in the entire arena, Noelle Noah was the only one who fit this criterion.
This action, however, only fueled You’er’s flames of fury to burn even more fiercely.
Having fallen directly onto a weapon rack, he casually snatched up a long spear.
With surging magical energy accumulating in his palm, he hurled it from dozens of meters away.
The Joyous Ape had utterly failed to anticipate You’er’s method of attack; with its back turned to You’er, it was accurately pierced by the spear.
A torrent of blood spurted from its lower back, drastically reducing the Joyous Ape’s mobility.
You’er, with a furious sprint, blocked the Joyous Ape’s path.
Imbued with ethereal blue magic, he delivered an uppercut knee strike, forcibly launching the Joyous Ape into mid-air.
You’er had no intention of letting it off so easily; his rage had only just begun to burn, his emotions only just begun to vent!
The ground beneath You’er’s feet cratered as he leaped into the air once more, catching up to the Joyous Ape.
In his hand, an iron sword shimmered with frost and cold light.
Roar!
The fear in the Joyous Ape’s eyes was now undeniable, and that very fear ignited its inherent savagery.
It extended its massive palm, reaching for You’er, convinced that if it could just seize this man, it could crush him to dust with its vaunted strength!
But…
A dazzling, ethereal blue sword light slashed across the sky.
In the very next second, both of its fan-like hands were severed.
Blood rained down from the sky.
You’er, stepping on one of the severed hands, used the leverage to leap onto the Joyous Ape’s spine.
Without a shred of mercy, with utter decisiveness and ruthlessness, he plunged the iron sword into the nape of the Joyous Ape’s neck!
And it was not yet finished.
Completely unmasking his madness, You’er twisted the sword hilt, his body spinning 360 degrees in mid-air, using the ape’s entire neck as his axis!
A massive, grotesque head, following the two giant hands, plummeted directly downwards.
Amidst a fierce series of explosions, the already utterly lifeless body of the Joyous Ape crashed to the ground.
You’er, meanwhile, stood upon its corpse, a veritable mountain of flesh, looking up at the sky, bathed in a deluge of blood.
His entire form was crimson, a sight that assaulted the eyes and minds of the spectators!
****
Above the Fourth Ring, after an absolute dead silence, a thunderous roar erupted.
For the ‘performance’ You’er had delivered to them was simply too magnificent!
Yet, many were deeply terrified by You’er’s image, now drenched in ape blood.
Beasts, even lions, tigers, and jackals, some dared to provoke and hunt them.
But a demon—no one dared to provoke a demon; everyone fled from its presence!
And the You’er of this moment was like a fiend that had crawled out of the Nine Nether Purgatories, an infinitely mad demon!
This was precisely what You’er wanted.
He wanted these people to see, he wanted them to believe, that he was a demon, an utterly mad demon!
Only then, in this place, could he protect Noelle Noah!
You’er gazed directly at the viewing platform high above the Fourth Ring, his face as cold and unyielding as an iceberg, confronting Miekin Hogg, confronting Salakriffin, fearless and undaunted!
Through his actions, he was telling them that whoever dared to lay a hand on those behind him would face his unleashed, frenzied madness!