The tense atmosphere in the arena was suddenly shattered by uproarious laughter from the VVIP section.
A platinum-blonde man holding a folding fan stood up, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hahaha! Magnificent!"
The audience was stunned, turning to stare at him in confusion.
"Who is that?"
"Why is he laughing in the middle of a deadly battle?"
Leon frowned, not recognizing the man.
The host immediately bowed deeply, his voice trembling. "W-Welcome, Your Highness, Crown Prince of the Mammon Kingdom—Lord Zenless Mammon!"
GASP!
The entire arena instantly bowed in reverence. Zenless simply smirked, his sharp fangs glinting.
"Don't mind me, carry on with the event," he said, flicking his fan dismissively.
"I'm just an entertained spectator."
The host hastily announced, "The winner of this round is... ZERO!"
Leon gave a cold nod before leaving the arena, his eyes lingering on the Elf and the black-cloaked figure who would fight next.
The second wave began.
The tall Elf stepped into the arena, bow in hand, moving with deliberate calm.
The host's voice boomed, "Since only one fighter advanced last round, the rules have changed!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and shock. "Now, not just five, but seven fighters will advance!" the host declared, sending the arena into a frenzy.
The host raised his hand, his voice thundering. "Alright... let the battle begin!"
As soon as the fight started, the Elf moved like the wind.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Three arrows shot out, instantly killing three fighters.
"What the hell was that?!" the audience screamed.
The Elf continued slaughtering mercilessly. Within minutes, only seven fighters remained, including the Elf.
Leon, watching from the waiting room, smiled in anticipation.
"You'll be an interesting opponent."
The third wave ended with a surprising victory by Mysterious X, a shadowy figure in a black cloak and mask, along with six other fighters.
The host roared, "Here are the 15 participants advancing to tomorrow's round! Will they become champions? Stay tuned!"
"Number one, Zero! The fighter full of surprises!"
"Number two, Archer, the Elf with a deadly bow! Will he defeat all his opponents tomorrow with his pinpoint accuracy?"
"Number three, Mysterious X, the cloaked enigma! Who hides beneath that black robe?"
"Number four, Fire Keeper! The passionate warrior who commands flames!"
"Number five, Deathblade Dancer! The master of the deadly sword!"
"Number six, Iron Knight! The brave fighter in sturdy armor!"
"Number seven, Forest Guardian! The summoner with captivating nature magic!"
"Number eight, The Swift! The fighter with incredible speed!"
"Number nine, Wall Keeper! The unbreakable defender!"
"Number ten, Water Master! The calm warrior with water magic!"
"Number eleven, Walking Shadow! The lethal assassin who moves unseen!"
"Number twelve, Voice! The unique fighter who battles with sound!"
"Number thirteen, Keen Observer! The warrior with unmatched perception!"
"Number fourteen, Thunder Strike! The fighter with electrifying blows!"
"And number fifteen, Stone Sentinel! The warrior with awe-inspiring earth magic!"
"These are the 15 who will compete tomorrow! Who will claim victory? Stay tuned, because the team battles tomorrow will be epic!"
"Now, let's divide the groups! Group 1 consists of Forest Guardian, Voice, Mysterious X, Zero, and Stone Sentinel."
"Group 2, Wall Keeper, Archer, Walking Shadow, Deathblade Dancer, and Thunder Strike."
"And Group 3, Iron Knight, Keen Observer, Fire Keeper, Water Master, and The Swift."
"May they all be ready for tomorrow's battles!"
"After deliberation, tomorrow's match will be a fierce showdown! Group 1 will face Group 3! The winner will battle Group 2 in the finals, and only one will be crowned champion!"
"With that, today's Bloodsport Bets Arena event has concluded. See you tomorrow! We'll witness an unforgettable battle—don't miss it!"
Outside the arena, Leon waited for Kazan, who arrived carrying a sack full of betting winnings.
"You just made me a lot of money," Kazan grinned.
Leon chuckled. "Shouldn't you be cooking at your tavern?"
Kazan smiled. "Relax, my place only opens after the arena matches. Come on, I'll take you there!"
On the way, Leon and Kazan stumbled upon a commotion.
A deep-red-haired woman was arguing with a wealthy man who was whipping a half-beast slave.
"You scum! Look at how badly you've hurt her!" the woman shouted.
The rich man scowled. "This isn't your business—stay out of it!"
"You'll pay for your arrogance... Kill her!"
His lackeys attacked, but Leon and Kazan swiftly intervened.
"You dare attack a woman? If you've got the guts, face us!" Leon barked.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Just passersby who hate men who hurt women," Kazan replied coldly.
"Just some wannabe heroes looking for attention."
A brief skirmish ensued. Within seconds, the lackeys were down.
The terrified rich man fled with his remaining men, abandoning the poor slave.
Leon approached the slave—a small fox-eared girl—gently, careful not to frighten her further. "What's your name?"
The girl trembled, her eyes wide with fear.
The red-haired woman also stepped forward with a warm smile. "It's okay, we won't hurt you. You're safe now."
The girl, still wary, relaxed slightly. "M-My name... Raina," she whispered.
Suddenly, Raina's stomach growled loudly.
Kazan grinned. "Come with us. I'll make you something delicious, Raina."
Raina's eyes sparkled as she gave a small, grateful smile. "R-Really? Thank you, mister."
=== BAB 20 END ===