The second round of the assessment.
The Thunder-Striped Fierce Ape burst furiously from the gate, and the audience erupted in loud gasps.
This Demon was a size smaller than the Blazing Tooth Flame Bear, but its muscles were leaner and more powerful.
It sprinted on all fours, its body wreathed in violet-blue electric serpents that left scorched black marks on the ground.
It was incredibly fast. The crowd could only see an afterimage of lightning lunging toward Adelle.
Its claws swiped, trailing crackling arcs of lightning.
Adelle’s gaze remained calm. She simply bent her knees slightly, lowering her center of gravity.
A Dark Gold luster surfaced from beneath her skin, flowing like natural Earth Vein patterns.
This was the innate defense of a [Child of the Earth Veins].
The ape flickered, appearing directly behind her, its claws slashing viciously at her back.
SCREECH!
A piercing shriek of friction erupted, like Metal scraping against Rock.
Adelle didn’t move an inch. Her clothes tore, revealing unblemished skin beneath, marked only by a faint white line.
A flicker of astonishment crossed the ape’s crimson eyes.
In the instant the ape paused, Adelle twisted at the waist and her hands shot out, wrapping around the ape’s midsection like lightning.
The chaotic bolts of lightning on the Demon’s body coursed over the skin of her palms.
Without even frowning, she flexed, the muscles in her arms bulging as she lifted the four-meter-tall ape clean off the ground!
BOOM!!!
The ape was slammed headfirst into the floor of the Beast Fighting Arena, sending a shower of shattered stone flying.
In the stands, many spectators shot up from their seats in shock.
A ten-meter-wide spiderweb of cracks exploded outward from where the ape had landed.
The Demon’s limbs twitched as it struggled to get up. Adelle planted her foot on its head, pinning its skull beneath her boot.
She glanced down and pressed with her foot.
CRACK.
The sound of the skull shattering was so crisp it set one’s teeth on edge. Brain matter mixed with bloody foam spurted from the fracture, splattering beside her boot.
The second one, killed in a single move as well.
The Beast Fighting Arena fell into a brief, dead silence before erupting in a tsunami of noise.
"She won?! She won again?!"
"What kind of defense was that?! The Thunder-Striped Fierce Ape’s claws can tear through a Tier Two Shield!"
"She’s not even hurt!"
The betting area instantly went wild.
The faces of the gamblers who had bet Adelle wouldn’t last two rounds turned deathly pale.
Some collapsed to the ground; others tore up their betting slips...
The few who had bet on her winning all three rounds cheered wildly. The odds had skyrocketed.
In the VIP box, her eldest brother Edmund’s fingers tightened on the armrest, his calm demeanor finally cracking.
Beside him, Rodney broke out in a cold sweat and whispered in a low voice.
"Young Master, that defense..."
"Shut up." Edmund’s voice was calm, but his eyes were icy.
Her second brother Edwin’s face was ashen, and his teeth were grinding audibly.
Her third brother Adrian narrowed his eyes, his fingertips tapping on the armrest with an ever-increasing tempo.
Her fifth sister Ashia covered her mouth, her expression one of shock, which was quickly replaced by relief and pride.
In the center of the Beast Fighting Arena, Adelle flicked the blood from her hands.
According to the Rules, it was time for the third Demon to appear.
Ten seconds passed... but the gate didn’t open.
Twenty seconds, then thirty.
The crowd grew restless, with some craning their necks toward the gate.
The staff "anxiously" circled the mechanism, tapping here and there, pretending it had malfunctioned.
A cold smirk touched the corner of Edmund’s mouth.
This was the dirty trick he had sent Rodney to arrange, pulling strings with a certain Elder to stall for Time.
The assessment Rules stated: "A gauntlet against three Demons, with a ten-minute interval between each."
As long as they dragged it out past ten minutes, Adelle would be considered overtime. Even if she won the first two rounds, her total score would be heavily penalized.
Adelle looked up at the VIP box, her eyes meeting Edmund’s.
She didn’t speak, merely twitching the corner of her lips into a cold, mocking smile.
Her gaze lowered as she fully activated her [Child of the Earth Veins] ability.
Countless subtle tremors traveled up from the Earth beneath her feet.
The shuffling feet of the audience, the tapping of the staff feigning repairs, the agitated breathing of the Demon in its cage deep underground...
And behind the eastern wall, the life pulse that was suppressing a furious aura.
A second later, she looked up.
With a flash, she charged toward the eastern wall of the Beast Fighting Arena!
"What is she doing?!"
Amid the crowd’s cries of alarm, Adelle pulled back her right fist. The Dark Gold patterns under her skin flared, and her entire arm swelled by a size.
Her fist smashed directly into the wall, compressing the air into visible ripples.
BOOM!!!
The stone wall exploded, sending fragments flying backward like cannonballs and revealing a hidden chamber behind it.
A Shadow Demon Wolf was curled in the corner.
It was a full size larger than normal, its body roiling with black mist. Its drool dripped to the floor, corroding the ground.
Its crimson eyes were bloodshot; it had clearly been driven mad by an overdose of Bloodthirsty Grass.
But its aura... was even more formidable than a normal Tier Two Late Stage Demon.
The Demon Wolf noticed the shattered wall, snapped its head up, and charged out with a roar!
Enveloped in black mist, it transformed into a black bolt of lightning, even faster than the Thunder-Striped Fierce Ape!
Its fangs aimed straight for Adelle’s throat, a foul wind washing over her.
Adelle took a deep breath, her chest expanding as the cracks on the ground beneath her feet spread.
Behind her, the air distorted.
The phantom of an ancient, mountain-sized bear suddenly materialized.
The phantom solidified as if real, each strand of fur distinct, its pupils reflecting countless stars.
[Ussa’s Body·Activated]!
ROAR!!!
The bear phantom threw its head back and roared. The terrifying sound wave made the entire audience’s eardrums ache, and the Crystal chandeliers clanged wildly.
Adelle’s figure swelled by another size. Her skin was now completely covered in intricate, Dark Gold Earth Vein patterns, and the phantom of a mountain range was reflected deep within her pupils.
She met the Demon Wolf’s pounce by slamming both fists straight into the ground.
"Shock Wave!"
VMM...
A transparent ripple spread out from her like a wave on the surface of water.
Wherever the ripple passed, the stone ground was pulverized into dust.
The Shadow Demon Wolf slammed head-on into the ripple.
BANG!!!
The black mist instantly dispersed, revealing the twisted body of the wolf beneath.
CRACK-CRACK! The sound of shattering bones, as dense as popping beans, spread from its head to its tail.
The Demon Wolf only managed to let out half a scream before it was sent flying backward like a rag doll.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
It smashed through three consecutive walls before embedding itself in the outermost stone wall of the Beast Fighting Arena, creating a wolf-shaped crater.
Black blood trickled down the cracks. It was still.
Three Demons, all annihilated.
From the death of the first Flame Bear to the demise of the Demon Wolf, less than two minutes had passed in total.
The Beast Fighting Arena fell into a dead silence.
In the arena filled with thousands of people, one could hear the fluttering of distant flags in the wind.
Then, cheers erupted like an avalanche and a tsunami!
"Adelle! Adelle! Adelle!"
The roars grew louder with each wave. Many people stood up, waving their arms, their faces flushed with excitement.
The gamblers who had bet on her winning all three rounds hugged each other, shouting and jumping. Some even cried with excitement.
"I’m rich..."
In the VIP box, her eldest brother Edmund slowly rose to his feet.
His face was expressionless. He even raised his hands and clapped lightly.
Once, twice...
Standing behind him, Rodney trembled, because he knew that the more his Young Master acted this way, the stronger his killing intent.
Edmund glanced sideways at Rodney.
Rodney’s knees went weak, and he nearly fell. He hastily bowed his head and retreated into the shadows.
Her second brother Edwin violently smashed the wine glass in his hand, splashing amber liquid all over himself.
He stared at Adelle in the center of the arena, the killing intent in his eyes almost palpable.
Her third brother Adrian folded his hands in his lap, narrowing his eyes as he assessed the Dark Gold patterns on Adelle’s body.
As if he were evaluating the value of some commodity.
Her fifth sister Ashia lowered the hand covering her mouth, a wide smile blooming on her face.
She waved energetically toward the arena. Adelle saw her and gave a slight nod.
Adelle stood in the center of the arena, looking up at the VIP box.
Her gaze swept over her eldest brother, second brother, and third brother, finally resting on Edmund’s face.
She said nothing, only raised her chin slightly.
It was a silent declaration.
’I... will eventually defeat all my opponents!’
In a corner of the stands, Collins Hawke Wood folded his fan.
The impeccably dressed Wizard took a sip of tea and murmured to the gray-robed attendant beside him.
"Tell Edwin and his brother that the price for the favor we discussed needs to be reconsidered."
The Grey Vulture asked hoarsely, "A new quote?"
"Let’s wait," Collins said, his gaze on Adelle, who was now leaving the arena.
"Let’s see how long this Seventh Miss... manages to stay alive."
At the Honored Guest Elder’s seat, a faint smile touched Ian’s lips as his Spiritual Power quietly extended.
Within Adelle’s Sea of Spirit, the fusion between the "Time Trace" bloodline and the "Child of the Earth Veins" deepened a little more.
The once-distinct Rule Patterns were now slowly intertwining, like tree roots digging into the Earth.
This battle had allowed her to truly master her new Power.
The bell signaling the end of the assessment rang.
Adelle left the arena amidst a chorus of praise and cheers. As she walked through the tunnel, she came face to face with Ian, who was waiting for her.
Her face was still flushed from the battle and her breathing was slightly rapid, but her eyes were astonishingly bright.
"How did I do just now?"
Her tone held a child-like pride, and she unconsciously lifted her chin a little higher.
Ian sized her up and said flatly, "Not bad."
He paused, then added, "But next time, they won’t just be sending three Demons."
Adelle’s smile vanished. She nodded heavily. "I know."
She brushed past Ian’s shoulder. "Next time, I’ll be stronger. I still have a trump card I haven’t used."
"That would be for the best."
"Thank you," Adelle said softly.
"We’re each just taking what we need," Ian said, shaking his head.
The cheers in the Beast Fighting Arena had yet to die down, but the betting settlement area had already descended into Chaos.
Delia clutched her betting slip tightly, pushing through the crowd to the counter.
The slip clearly read: "Bet on the seventh successor, Adelle Justice, to win all three rounds. 500 Magic Crystals."
The bookie’s face was ashen as his trembling fingers calculated the payout.
Due to the secret manipulation by Edmund and the others, Adelle’s odds of winning had been deliberately suppressed, pushing the payout for a clean sweep to a staggering six-to-one.
When Delia brought back the heavy Magic Crystal Bag, Ian took it and swept it with his Spiritual Power.
A full three thousand Magic Crystals.
’Six-to-one odds... My thanks.’
A slight smile played on Ian’s lips as he tapped a finger against the Magic Crystals.
’Looks like the schemes of those "clever people" ended up benefiting me instead.’
He stored the Magic Crystals in his Dimension Ring. Gaga, perched on his shoulder, excitedly pecked his ear.
In the VIP box, Edmund’s face was ashen. Fine cracks quietly appeared on the Crystal cup in his hand.
Beside him, Rodney stared at the ground, silent, but a flicker of regret showed in his eyes.
It was their manipulation of the odds and underestimation of Adelle that had made such an astonishing payout a reality.
Edwin shot up in a rage and kicked over his chair, drawing sidelong glances from the surrounding nobles.
Adrian, however, shook his head. "Good thing I was smart. You all... miscalculated this time."
In the audience, the gamblers who had bet on Adelle to win all rounds were cheering ecstatically.
Someone held up their slip and screamed, "The seventh successor! The seventh successor!"
Meanwhile, the far greater number who had bet on Adelle’s defeat were pale-faced, cursing as they tore up their betting slips.
Her fifth sister Ashia smiled and whispered to a trusted subordinate behind her.
"It seems our ally is a more worthy investment than we imagined."
Not far away, the Wizard Collins Hawke Wood narrowed his eyes in Ian’s direction, remaining silent.
In a corner of the Beast Fighting Arena, the bookies were settling their accounts, drenched in sweat. One of them wiped his brow and muttered.
"We took a huge loss this time... all because of that ’insider information’ from those ’lords’!"
「Night fell.」
In the underground Laboratory at No. 12 Golden Oak Street, Ian sat cross-legged in the center of an Array.
Thirty-seven Star Crystals were arranged neatly before him. Each one emitted a soft, silvery starlight, making the room look as if the milky way had been inverted within it.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The > Meditation Method began to circulate slowly. In his Sea of Spirit, the pale gold Crystal Core trembled slightly, like a starving beast that had caught the scent of blood.
The first crystal floated up and rested against his brow.
The silvery starlight seeped through his skin like a trickling stream, flowing through his meridians and into his Sea of Spirit.
The Elementalization patterns on the core’s surface brightened... 11.6%, 11.7%, 11.8%...
The progress was slower than absorbing Star Fragments, but it was advancing steadily.
’After absorbing all these crystals, my Spiritual Power Elementalization should reach about 20%.’
By then, his Power would undergo another small qualitative leap.
’The Central Continent truly lives up to its name. As long as you have Magic Crystals, you can trade for almost any resource a Level Two Wizard could need.’
On his shoulder, Gaga perched quietly, starlight swirling in its pupils.
It occasionally nuzzled Ian’s cheek. The Shadow patterns beneath its feathers were much clearer than they had been three days ago.
Outside the window, the cheers from the Beast Fighting Arena had long since faded, but the city’s undercurrents were just beginning to stir.
But in this moment, the Laboratory was filled only with the breathing-like pulse of starlight, and the tacit silence shared between a man and his bird.
The long night had only just begun.