The moment Bone Queen lifted her fist to the air, the Crimson Crown Arena re-erupted into chaos.
A wave of deafening cheers, wild shouts, and stunned gasps crashed through the underground colosseum, shaking the very walls with raw excitement. The spectators, high on adrenaline and the thrill of an unexpected outcome, stood on their feet, pumping fists into the air.
On the gambling interface, betting odds were recalculated at a rapid pace, finalizing payouts. Many who had bet against Bone Queen groaned in frustration, slumping back into their seats as their losses sank in. Others who had gambled on her triumph celebrated wildly, some leaping onto their tables, roaring in victory as their winnings stacked up.
{What a fight! What a victory! The Bone Queen has proven once again why she is one of the Crimson Crown Arena's most feared warriors!}
The announcer's voice carried across the pit, cutting through the chaotic mix of cheers and shouts.
Below, handlers moved swiftly, stepping into the blood-soaked pit to retrieve the White Bear's massive corpse. It took six men to secure its limbs with thick industrial-grade chains before they began the arduous task of dragging its lifeless body away. A few of the workers whispered amongst themselves, casting wary glances at the Bone Queen as she stood motionless for a moment, her skeletal armor still gleaming under the harsh lights.
Then, she moved.
With slow, deliberate steps, she turned away from her fallen opponent and strode toward the exit tunnel. Though battered, bloodied, and clearly exhausted, her posture remained unyielding, her head held high, an unspoken declaration of dominance. The cheers of the audience followed her, echoing off the cavernous walls as she disappeared through the gates.
Above, in the stands, Rion exhaled, leaning back into his seat. He had watched the entire match without looking away once.
Vance let out a long whistle beside him. "I'll be damned. That was insane." He tapped at his phone, checking his betting balance. "Not that I'm complaining. Easy money, baby."
Rion smirked. "Told you she'd win."
"You had a hunch. A good one. But hot damn, that match is still giving me chills." Vance shook his head, the excitement still lingering in his expression. "Still, Bone Queen is terrifying. She took that thing apart piece by piece. The way she finished it off… brutal."
Rion nodded, his mind replaying the battle. Although he couldn't replicate either, both the movements of the beast and the woman were prime learning material.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena once more, pulling them back to the present.
{Ladies and gentlemen, you've just witnessed one of the most savage, hard-fought battles of the night! But don't get too comfortable, because we are far from finished!}
A wave of anticipation rolled through the audience. The gambling interface lit up again, flashing new odds, new names.
{That's right, folks! It's time for the FINAL match of the night! And I promise you—this one is going to be legendary!}
The excitement surged as the screens above the pit displayed the two combatants' profiles, along with their betting statistics. Their names alone sent murmurs through the crowd, whispers of past victories, brutal combat records, and the undeniable reputation each fighter had forged for themselves.
{On the WEST side… a warrior forged in the fires of the strongest nation in the world! A deserter from the mighty Yongheng Dynasty, a man whose survival instincts are second to none! He has braved countless disasters, evaded death time and time again, and carved a name for himself in the heart of Avalor's mercenary space! The true bastion of defense! The wall that refuses to fall! I give you… THE DAWN GUARDIAN!}
The west gate groaned as it slid open, loudly scraping against the floor.
A heavy thud followed.
Then another.
Then another.
A towering figure stepped forward, each footstep reverberating through the pit like a hammer striking stone. The man was massive—easily over six and a half feet tall, his sheer bulk making him appear even larger.
He wore standard full-body combat gear, but the most striking feature was the enormous tower shield strapped to his arm. The thing was a behemoth of solid metal, its surface adorned with odd pointed protrusions, like a fusion of a barricade and a weapon in its own right.
He moved with deliberate, confident strides, carrying the weight of his gear effortlessly. His helmet obscured most of his face, but the cold, calculating eyes behind the visor scanned the arena with unwavering focus.
The crowd cheered, some chanting his name, others murmuring in speculation.
"Dawn Guardian, huh?" Vance mused. "A fortress on legs. That shield looks ridiculous."
Rion's gaze lingered on the strange protrusions. That's not just for defense… it's a weapon.
Dawn Guardian stopped at the center of the pit, planting his shield into the ground with a dull boom, crossing his arms as he waited for his opponent.
The announcer gave a theatrical pause before continuing.
{And on the EAST side… a new challenger has emerged! A fighter whose true name remains unknown! A warrior who relies on pure speed and relentless aggression to carve through his foes! Tonight, he seeks to claim victory over the unbreakable wall! Will his speed be enough to overcome the unbreakable defense of the Dawn Guardian? We're about to find out! Entering the pit now… THE SLASHER!}
The east gate opened.
From the darkness, a much smaller figure stepped forward, his movements smooth, controlled, predatory.
Unlike the armored bulk of his opponent, The Slasher was built like a coiled blade—lean, wiry muscle wrapped in tight, dark combat gear that left little room for excess weight. His brown skin gleamed under the overhead lights, accentuating the contours of his toned physique.
His attire was also far lighter than the Dawn Guardian's—a sleeveless dark tunic reinforced with flexible armor plating, fingerless gloves, and dual machetes sheathed at his back, their handles wrapped in worn leather. His black hair was short, messy, and his eyes were sharp, almost predatory
The audience buzzed with speculation.
"He's fast, but against that shield?"
"Those blades… I bet he'll aim for weak points."
"This is gonna be insane."
The announcer's voice echoed once more.
{You've got TEN MINUTES to place your bets, ladies and gentlemen! The odds are locked in, the stakes are high! Who will reign supreme? The immovable fortress or the unstoppable blade? Make your choices!}
Vance scrolled through Dawn Guardian's arena history, his eyes skimming over an extensive record of past matches. "Dawn Guardian is a battle-tested veteran," he muttered. "Damn, this guy's been fighting here for years."
He flicked through detailed match reports, noting the overwhelming pattern in Dawn Guardian's victories. "His defense is truly as good as they say. He's won a ton of fights just by outlasting his opponents."
Rion leaned in slightly, reading over Vance's shoulder. The match logs didn't lie—Dawn Guardian wasn't the type to win with flashy knockouts or overwhelming offense. Instead, he ground his opponents down, letting them exhaust themselves against his impenetrable defense before crushing them with precise counterattacks.
"But since we don't know what The Slasher's skill set is, it's impossible to make an educated guess," Vance added. He leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Could be a nobody, could be a monster."
Rion nodded slightly. In underground arenas like these, it was customary for participants to fight under pseudonyms. Many duelists had sensitive identities, and both they and the arena operators preferred to keep real names hidden.
This secrecy made betting far more unpredictable. Unless a fighter had already built a reputation like the Bone Queen, the crowd often placed their wagers blindly, relying more on luck than strategy. Some gamblers followed their instincts; others chased rumors and statistics.
Vance smirked and turned to Rion. "Alright, my lucky star, who should we place our bets on?"
Rion said nothing for a while, studying the two fighters below.
The Slasher stood loose but poised, his twin machetes hanging from his hands like extensions of his arms. His entire posture radiated lethal efficiency, a coiled spring ready to strike. Opposite him, the Dawn Guardian rested his hands on the massive handle of his tower shield, his stance relaxed yet undeniably solid—an immovable fortress waiting for the inevitable storm.
"Hmmm…" Rion narrowed his eyes.
A matchup like this wasn't straightforward. The Slasher was clearly built for speed and aggression, but that alone wasn't enough to guarantee victory. Dawn Guardian had an ironclad track record of wearing down opponents just like this.
Still…
Rion exhaled through his nose. "It's impossible to say for sure. They're both experienced." His gaze flicked between them again. "But if I had to choose… I'd go with Slasher."
Vance raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Defense alone doesn't decide battles at this level." Rion pulled up the betting interface and placed 1,000 kila on The Slasher. "These guys are peak-stage strykers and from the looks of it, one step away from becoming superhuman. If Slasher is fast enough, he can break through."
Vance grinned. "I like the confidence." He punched in his own bet—2,000 kila on Slasher. "I'm following you to the end."
The final moments of betting passed in a frenzy. Numbers fluctuated wildly as last-minute wagers poured in. Then, the announcer's voice cut through the electrified air.
{BETS ARE LOCKED IN! FIGHTERS, PREPARE YOURSELVES!}
The arena fell into a hush.
A single moment of silence stretched between the two warriors.
{BEGIN!}
For a full second, neither fighter moved.
Then—
The pit exploded into motion.
The Slasher exploded forward, twin machetes flashing free in an instant. He was fast—faster than most could react to. He crossed the distance in the blink of an eye, his blades carving through the air in a vicious opening strike.
Dawn Guardian responded just as swiftly.
With a single practiced motion, he swung his colossal tower shield into place. The reinforced metal slammed against the ground like a fortress wall.
«CLANG!»
The Slasher's blades rebounded off the shield, the impact sending a sharp vibration up his arms. But instead of pulling back, he twisted midair, redirecting his momentum. His foot found the edge of the shield, using it as a platform to vault over his opponent's head.
The crowd gasped.
Dawn Guardian reacted instantly. He pivoted, swinging his tower shield in a wide arc—
«WHAM!»
The Slasher ducked, narrowly avoiding the edge of the shield as it carved through the space where his head had been. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he dashed low, slicing at Dawn Guardian's legs—
«KLANG!»
His blades skidded off armored greaves.
Dawn Guardian retaliated, stomping down with crushing force. The Slasher barely managed to evade, rolling backward to gain distance. He came to a crouched stop, one machete braced against the ground, his breath controlled.
Dawn Guardian straightened, resting his massive shield against his shoulder. His stance remained relaxed, but there was no mistaking the sheer weight behind his movements.
A silent moment passed between them. Then, Slasher smirked, twirling his machetes in a showy flourish.
"Warm-up's over," he said, his voice carrying a playful edge. Dawn Guardian planted his feet firmly, his shield resting against the ground as he nodded in agreement.
Then, the atmosphere in the arena shifted. The air seemed to grow heavier, charged with an almost tangible energy.
Oooh. They're getting serious... Rionthought as he watched the lightshow down in the pit.
Slasher's body began to glow with a faint red light, the energy swirling around him like a living flame. It coiled around his arms, his legs, and finally his machetes, the blades now wreathed in a light red aura.
Across from him, Dawn Guardian was enveloped in a faint green light, his massive shield radiating a power that seemed to pulse with each beat of his heart. The spikes on the shield glowed with an otherworldly intensity, as if they were alive.
The crowd fell into a hushed silence, holding their breath as they watched the raw display of qi from strykers on the verge of breaking into the 2nd-tier.