But she chose to trust Ian’s judgment.
"I’ll place a bet as well, to show my support for the Lady."
DONG!
The second bell rang. In the center of the Beast Fighting Arena, a heavy metal gate slowly began to rise.
Aidele emerged from the staging area.
She wore a form-fitting battle robe of deep cyan, its fabric soft yet resilient.
Her long hair was pulled back neatly, revealing her fair neck and a slightly gaunt face.
The hem of her battle robe swayed gently with her stride.
Her steps were steady, and each one left a clear print in the yellow sand.
The prints were of uniform depth and precisely spaced.
An even greater clamor erupted from the stands.
"Here she comes! She’s out!"
"Tsk, she looks so weak."
"Level Two Middle Stage... Nothing special."
"Bookie! I’m upping my bet!"
Aidele paid them no mind, walking to the center of the Beast Fighting Arena and stopping.
The morning light slanted down from the east, outlining her in a golden trim.
She raised her head, her gaze sweeping across the stands.
It passed over the gloating faces and the cold, unfeeling eyes.
Finally, her gaze landed on the VIP section, meeting briefly with that of her second brother, Edwin.
The corners of Edwin’s mouth curled into a cruel smile.
He raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"You’re dead!"
Aidele’s expression remained unchanged, though her jaw tightened for an instant.
She averted her gaze, looking toward the Level Three Great Witch on the high platform.
The Elder Wizard’s eyes were closed in meditation, as if he were indifferent to everything in the arena.
’Putting on an act...’ Aidele sneered inwardly.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Her Spiritual Power sank inward, and a map of Dark Gold Earth Veins began to circulate slowly beneath her skin.
She could feel... the pulse of the Earth beneath her feet.
Heavy and profound, like a slowly beating heart.
And further away, the faint fluctuations emitted by the Array Crystal Stones buried deep beneath the Beast Fighting Arena...
Like lighthouses in the dark.
’Hate Guidance...’
Aidele opened her eyes. Deep within her dark cyan pupils, silver patterns and Dark Gold light swirled together.
’Then bring it on.’
DONG!
With the third bell’s chime, the Elder Wizard on the high platform opened his eyes.
"The first match... begins."
The instant his voice faded.
BOOM!
On the west side of the Beast Fighting Arena, the first metal gate crashed open.
A scorching heatwave surged out, followed by a deafening roar.
ROAR!!!
A behemoth charged out of the gate, landing heavily on the yellow sand.
A Blazing Tooth Flame Bear!
It stood five meters tall, its body covered in dark red Magma Armor.
Through the cracks in its armor, red-gold magma flowed slowly, dripping onto the ground.
SIZZLE.
The yellow sand was instantly fused into glass.
Its crimson eyes were locked onto Aidele in the center of the arena.
Deep within its pupils, intricate Runes flickered.
This was an anomaly caused by the combined effects of a Stimulating Potion and the Hate Guidance Array.
ROAR!
The Blazing Tooth Flame Bear roared again, slamming its forelimbs into the ground.
With a deafening BOOM, the ground exploded.
Its massive body blurred into a crimson streak as it charged straight for Aidele.
Despite its massive size, its speed was no less than that of an ordinary Tier Two Late Stage Demon.
Excited screams erupted from the stands.
"It’s starting!"
"Go! Tear her to shreds!"
"Five minutes! She’ll be dead in five minutes!"
In the VIP section, Edwin was doubled over with laughter.
"Just look at that! The big guy is so eager!"
Adrian slowly peeled another grape, his eyes filled with disdain.
"It’s over."
In the center of the Beast Fighting Arena.
Aidele watched the crimson blur rushing toward her, her pupils contracting.
She sensed the near-insane hatred in the Flame Bear’s eyes, and the flames that were hot enough to melt steel.
But she was fearless and did not retreat a single step.
Just as the Blazing Tooth Flame Bear charged within ten meters of her, opened its massive maw, and was about to spew its first breath of magma...
Aidele stomped her right foot hard on the ground.
THUD!
A dull thud echoed, like a giant hammer striking a great drum.
The yellow sand erupted from beneath her foot, and the ground fractured in a radial pattern.
On the surface of her skin, the map of Dark Gold Earth Veins suddenly blazed to life.
The muscles in her arms bulged, and a natural, rock-like texture surfaced on her skin.
Her frame grew taller, her fingertips turning jet-black and sharp!
Aidele had not released her full Ussa Incarnation; a partial transformation was more than enough to deal with this.
ROAR!!!
A low roar escaped her own throat, her voice carrying a resonance that made the very Earth tremble.
Then... she threw a punch.
There was no fancy Witchcraft, no complex technique.
It was just the purest, most savage Power.
BAM!!!
Her fist smashed squarely into the chest of the Blazing Tooth Flame Bear.
The Magma Armor shattered instantly, splattering red-gold magma everywhere.
The massive body of the Blazing Tooth Flame Bear looked as if it had been struck head-on by a battering ram.
AWOOO...
It let out a piercing shriek and was sent flying backward.
It slammed heavily into the Rune-covered wall thirty meters away.
CRASH!
The stone wall cracked, and dust filled the air.
The entire Beast Fighting Arena fell deathly silent.
In the stands, every jaw was frozen agape.
Every excited expression was frozen solid.
In the VIP section, the smile completely vanished from Edwin’s face.
The Magic Stone he was toying with in his hand fell to the floor with a CLATTER.
The grape in Adrian’s hand rolled to the floor. He stared blankly at the arena.
He seemed unable to believe that the figure in the deep cyan battle robe could send a Blazing Tooth Flame Bear flying with a single punch.
「Three seconds later.」
Edwin whipped his head around, staring daggers at the black-robed, hooded figure in the Guest Minister’s Seat.
"Marcus..."
He had long since figured out exactly what Power and what methods Aidele had at her disposal.
Only this new Magic Potion Alchemist could possibly have caused such a surge in Aidele’s strength.
’You really deserve to die!’
In the center of the Beast Fighting Arena.
Aidele slowly withdrew her fist. The rock-like texture on her arm faded away, her skin returning to its fair complexion.