Ignoring the dangerous nature of the Underbelly, the students let their curiosity overpower them.
A fatal fight between Rank Threes was not something fresh students could ever dream of seeing so soon, and Darien agreed to lend each of them some silver to place their bets.
The arena of the Underbelly was located in the center and the largest space of the underground maze, looking like a place that housed the nest of colossal badgermoles.
The floor of the arena was not visible; however, staircases carved from the uneven rocks, reinforced with iron pillars, assisted movement for the people.
And gathered all around were scaffolds and basalt seats, occupied by spectators who roared and jostled for violence and blood.
"Rule one—don't start trouble with anyone. You'll find yourself maimed before you even stand up," Ayn said as they found themselves the safest spot in the wild crowd.
He pointed a finger at the crowd, where two men were already shoving each other.
"Rule two—don't stare too long at anyone in a mask. People here kill for less."
His companions didn't even need the rules to know that this place left no room for mistakes or mercy.
Humbly placing their bets, they waited anxiously, facing the blood-stained fighting pit that would soon be occupied by two men.
While looking around, Jakob's eyes spotted a familiar person in a special part of the crowd.
That part was higher than the other scaffolds nearby and was manned by a few unmistakable royal guards.
Some figures of high status were there, and this backed up Ayn's claim about the Underbelly not really being a secret.
"Look, Darien. That's the duke's son and daughter. And also the Branthorn family's heir, and the youngest of the Veynar line."
Darien didn't care about any of that, but he looked up anyway.
Then he was surprised to see it was really the same duke's son who attacked him in the academy's induction ceremony.
'So we're not the only students sneaking out here?'
There he was with his golden hair, lounging proudly and laughing loudly with a jeweled cup in his hand.
His other hand was around his sister's neck as he cheered and kicked his fist in the air. Darien wondered about him.
'What if he's the main character in this story? There are other dukes and dukes' sons, yeah, but a 7-star Light Awakener with promise for dual affinity?'
Jakob suddenly leaned in close with a low voice to whisper something.
"Did you know the Velgrane family aims to marry Vincent to his sister, Vynsera?"
"Really…?"
"Yup. They haven't had a Light affinity born in two whole generations. For the twins to both awaken it, that's a miracle. The elders believe if they procreate, it'll boost the chances of keeping that affinity alive in the bloodline."
DING! DING! DING!
The arena was swallowed up by loud cheers upon the ringing of a heavy bell.
The referee revealed himself a moment later.
"I WELCOME YOU ALL TO A LAST BREATH DUEL!"
"THE RULES, AS ALWAYS, ARE SIMPLE: FIGHT UNTIL ONE IS DEAD. NO FORFEITS, NO SURRENDER, NO OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. ONLY ONE WARRIOR WALKS OFF THIS PIT ALIVE!"
"OUR FIGHTERS ARE GARETH THE CRUSHER AND LIRIEN THE BLOOD FANG, BOTH WARRIORS—RANK 3!"
Darien shook his head in disbelief. These fighters had spent their entire lives reaching Rank 3, only to gamble it all in a pit where only one would leave breathing.
Nonetheless, he still placed his bet on one of them—Lirien.
Lirien was the one most people were betting against because he appeared weaker on paper. But Darien's gut told him otherwise, because if Lirien pulled through, his payout would be far higher than playing safe.
Applause thundered as the two fighters entered the pit.
Entering first was Gareth, a big, armorless brute with a folding potbelly. His face had a large scar, and his weapon was a massive battle axe.
Lirien was everything opposite to him.
The Blood Fang was slender, with light armor on vital body areas. His face was masked, and his weapon was a sword-spear.
"Split him open, Crusher! Show that twig how a real man fights!"
"Hah! Look at him—swinging that belly around! That spear's gonna poke holes in your fat hero!"
"Fat? That's muscle hidden under layers of ale, you idiot!"
"Hahaha, sure, keep telling yourself that!"
---
(Gareth)
(Titles: Crusher)
(Mage Rank 0)
(Knight Rank 3: Apprentice)
(Lirien)
(Titles: Blood Fang)
(Mage Rank 0)
(Knight Rank 3: Novice)
---
Darien couldn't believe that all he needed was to Ascend just to inspect other beings. This meant others in Rank 0, like his friends seated beside him, couldn't see others' floating status.
Taking a look around the arena, he wanted to see the ranks of as many people as he could, just for the feel of it.
The floating public status didn't show all details like skills and power, but it was enough to get a precise guess of how powerful someone was.
And yet again, powerful beings were skilled at sheathing their public status panels in order to prevent unwarranted attention.
This made Darien wonder if he would need something like that too, since after Ascending, his own status was now readable if someone stared at him with intent.
Eventually, Darien was inclined to inspect the status of the Velgrane heirs.
He knew they weren't that powerful yet to sheathe theirs if they wanted, and also, the arena was too big for them to fish out who was inspecting them.
---
(Vincent Velgrane)
(Titles: Crowned Earl of Eldermead)
(Talent: Arcanist (Light))
(Mage Rank 1: Advanced)
(Knight Rank 1: Apprentice)
(Vynsera Velgrane)
(Talent: Arcanist (Light))
(Mage Rank 1: Proficient)
(Knight Rank 1: Novice)
---
'Unbelievable. They haven't entered their first dungeon and they're already making big progress toward Rank 2. Vynsera is even one level higher than Vincent in magehood…'
As highborns, the twins were raised on the path from birth, groomed in privilege and supplied with everything needed to advance.
No doubt, free life cores are even handed to them from time to time without a second thought.
"READY??? BEGIN!"
DING! DING!
Gareth and Lirien didn't waste time trying to fight with honor and assessment.
Both fighters seemed willing to die as they lunged at each other, the referee thrusting himself away.
The crowd swelled in anticipation for the clash of their weapons, but the thrill was denied.
Lirien shifted himself to the left while Gareth swung down his axe without mercy, using Primordial Flow to amplify the attack.
'The fatty missed…!'
~BAM!~
The pit's ground cracked upon the impact of the Crusher's axe.
Everyone felt the tremor, except for Lirien, who was still mid-air, escaping from the lunge.
Lirien's eyes flicked, and he saw a great opening. There, Gareth's saggy belly was open for a strike.
The crowd tensed as they saw this as a great decisive opportunity that could not be wasted. Realizing he could kill his enemy so early, Lirien knew he couldn't let them down.
Using the Flow, the Blood Fang reversed his movement by spinning once in the air, his grip never leaving his spear-sword.
And with one thrust of his slender arm, he aimed for that thick gut of flesh.
"Hyah!"
But Gareth wasn't the one dying.
"Hraaaaagh!"
The brute warrior summoned all his strength to lift his axe.
Roaring upward in an arc came the giant blade, and the wielder caught his victim perfectly just as he was thrusting his spear-sword.
Fwooooshhh! SLASH!
The edge of the axe's blade cleaved through that narrow gap between shoulder armor, arm armor, and chest plate.
Shkkkkk!
And the Blood Fang's entire arm was sliced clean off.
"Yarrrghhhhhhh!"
Gareth the Crusher roared in triumph as blood sprayed across the pit floor, Lirien crying out and staggering back with only one arm left.
'This is one of the most brutal fights I've ever seen!' Darien exclaimed.