"You… You used poison?" Number 24 clenched his teeth. His face burned with fury and disbelief.He tried to push himself up, but he felt weak. Even wiggling his fingers felt like a Herculean task."In the battle ring, fair play reigns supreme," Number 95 said calmly. "Even resorting to tactics like poison or hidden weapons is deemed acceptable within the rules."He added, "Moreover, I wasn't out for blood. I just want to incapacitate you momentarily. If my aim had been lethal, you'd be dead already.""Why you—" Number 24 was left speechless. Although he was reluctant to admit defeat, he begrudgingly accepted it.The rules didn't forbid the use of poison, and his opponent's frontal assault couldn't be deemed an ambush.His failure to defend himself boiled down to his own lack of strength."This round winner is contestant number 95!" With Number 24 incapacitated, the referee swiftly announced the match's outcome.Soon, the venue erupted in applause."Haha… We did it again! Anothe
"Get those bets in, quick! Trust me, put your bet on Number 13, Brandon Swift!""Hey guys, it's time to hit the jackpot! Don't miss this golden opportunity!""Hey, does anyone have treasures to spare? I'll pay you back with interest once I win those celestial stones!"The gamblers clamored. They jostled forward and were eager to place their bets. Anything valuable was thrown into the betting table without a second thought.Soon, the atmosphere crackled with excitement.This round was like hitting the jackpot for the gamblers, so doubling down was a no-brainer."Hey, make some room! We're here first, so let us get our bets in!"As the crowd of gamblers grew denser, chaos broke out.Miles and Ruby were momentarily taken aback and surrounded by eager gamblers. The duo had to push through the crowd to get to the betting table.After all, opportunities like this only came once. Plus, with only a few minutes remaining until the start of the fifth round, they couldn't afford to miss
Carter smirked while looking at the spear thrust toward him. With a swift motion, he faced the attack head-on with his sword.Their weapons collided and created a shockwave of energy.The waves rippled outward like a tide, and it caused their robes to flutter and their hair to stand on end.Both combatants stood firm. They were locked in a tense standoff as neither was willing to back down.Brandon gripped his spear with both hands as he channeled his true energy while he tried to overpower Carter with his strength. But no matter how hard Brandon pushed, Carter held his ground.The spear clashed with the sword, and the two were locked in a fierce struggle.The air crackled with bursts of energy as their weapons strained against each other."Hmm?" Brandon's brow furrowed with surprise.As one of the top ten talents of the Celestial Alliance, he should have easily dominated his opponent in Group C. However, he hadn't anticipated this relatively unknown figure to match him so even
Everyone was stunned as they watched Brandon suddenly collapse to the ground. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and their mouths hung agape.Nobody had anticipated Brandon, a renowned talent of the Celestial Alliance's top ten, to be defeated by an unknown opponent.With his reputation, he should have been dominating Group C. They couldn't understand how he could be defeated so quickly.The spectators began questioning Brandon's ability and wondered if Carter was stronger than him."It's over! We're screwed!""Dammit! What's Brandon doing? How can he lose to a nobody? What a useless bastard!""The top ten talents of the Celestial Alliance? Bullshit!""Fuck you, Brandon! You've really messed me up this time!""Shit! I've lost all my celestial stones!"After a moment of silence, the venue erupted into a chorus of sorrowful cries and frustrated curses.Brandon's defeat dealt a heavy blow to the gamblers who had placed their bets earlier. They faced devastating losses, not just fo
Crystal frowned as she met Miles's intense gaze. "Miles, you should call it quits. If you continue to gamble, it'll only lead you deeper into trouble."Gamblers often found themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, and they were never content with their winnings.Their insatiable desire for more drove them to risk everything. Hence, it often led them to stray from the right path.At that moment, he appeared to be showing signs of addiction. If left unchecked, it could lead to disaster."Just one more bet, Crystal. I promise. If I win this time, I'll quit for good," Miles pleaded earnestly."Yes, I'm with him. I've even wagered my sword. I need to win it back," Ruby chimed in.Their hopeful eyes bore into Crystal's."Have you considered the consequences if you lose?" she countered."It won't happen, I swear. I'll be cautious this time and only bet when I'm confident. I won't lose again," Miles assured."Yeah, we were led astray before. If we had trusted our instincts, we'd be
Under the night sky of Sacred Wrym Summit, Abigail, well-heeled and in high spirits, had booked the second floor of Heighten Tavern for a celebratory feast.The attendees were Dustin and his companions.After all, making a fortune through unscrupulous means wasn't that honorable. So, it was crucial to keep a low profile."Sir, I'm in a great mood today. We're not leaving until we're all plastered!" Abigail poured the wine and clinked glasses with Dustin before downing it in one gulp.He smiled in response and took a sip."Come on, everyone. Dig in and enjoy! Don't be shy about it." She warmly encouraged Crystal and the others after downing her drink.Dalen smiled and asked, "Ms. Robinson, that smile of yours tells a story. I bet today was a profitable day, right?""Just a small haul and nothing too extravagant," she replied modestly."Ms. Robinson, it seems luck is always on your side. You always manage to turn the tide at the critical moment," Crystal remarked. Her tone seemed
"Troublemaker! I know you're in there, so come out and face the music!"The loud shout echoed through the tavern again. It sent waves of unease rippling through the patrons.Miles and the others instinctively turned their gaze toward Abigail.To them, she was the only one who fit the bill of a troublemaker. But who would dare to be so bold as to challenge the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order so openly?"Everyone, please continue enjoying your meal. I'll take care of this." Abigail smiled as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Then, she rose from her seat and descended the stairs.Miles and the others exchanged glances and hurried to the window to see what was happening outside.On the street, a burly man surrounded by a gang of 20 to 30 men was shouting threats. They wielded their weapons menacingly as if they were ready for action."Hey, doesn't that man look familiar?" Ruby arched her eyebrow as she recognized the burly man. She had seen him at the Combat Tournament, b
"Don't worry, Luke. Since you hired us, consider your troubles taken care of. We're here to help," one of the Bovens twins reassured him."That's right. You just sit back and watch how we deal with this troublemaker," the other chimed in.The twins bantered back and forth confidently as if victory was already in their bag.Luke glared at Abigail and shouted, "Hey, troublemaker! Did you hear that? If you're wise, surrender now. Otherwise, today will be your last.""Enough with the chatter. Let's get this over with. I've got dinner waiting upstairs," she retorted impatiently."Arrogant fool!""Get ready to face our wrath!"Enraged by her words, the twins quickly grabbed their weapons and charged forward.Their choice of weapons was rather peculiar. One brandished a spear, while the other wielded an iron abacus.The iron abacus beads were released with a flick of the wrist. They shot out like hidden weapons as it rained down on Abigail.Simultaneously, the spear lunged forward l