'According to the rules, I can use my weapons, but I'd prefer to use a basic one for now...'
During his walk towards the gladiator's gathering chamber, Noire was contemplating on how to proceed with his ensuing training session.
Everyone around him was experiencing a set of complex emotions. Some pity, some excited, some disgust.
Why wouldn't they when someone is fighting for the name of Lady Feng? Although she didn't care nor did she consent, her silence was the false hope to motivate these people.
Most people Noire passed by were bewildered by how carefree his attitude was, even questioning the integrity of his patriotism towards the city as a whole!
What Noire didn't take into account isn't whether his opponent is strong or not, but because he's fighting someone who is supposedly defending the so-called pride, technically, he will be fighting against the expectations of everyone who wants a favor from her.
It didn't take long before Noire reached the treasury, and as always, there was a welcoming clerk by the entry.
"Good evening sir!"
At first, the clerk was startled. Usually, no one would rent a weapon during evening hours, otherwise known as deathmatch periods. People usually go all out, thus they prefer using their weapons.
'No no, I must be assuming wrong, he's probably here for directions.' The clerk managed to shake his thoughts and provide a professional smile.
"How can I help you?"
Noire gave a nod in acknowledgment of his greetings before looking at the stash of weapons inside.
"I would like a weapon, any spear would do. It'll be better if it had innate fire Qi."
"..."
'He's here for a weapon!...' The clerk cried inwardly. He wanted to advise against this choice given the nature of Spiral Codex, alas, Noire remained persistent.
Meanwhile, back in the gladiator chamber.
"Hey golden row, won't you exhaust your stamina before your match even start?"
Laughter filled the room. However, it wasn't the laughter of ridicule, at least not with golden row as the target.
"Why would you care, four eyes? I want to see who's retarded enough to fight against reclaiming Lady Feng's pride! Hahaha, this is the easiest win in my streak!"
"Oh yeah! Your winning streak is nearing 100 kills, right?"
The one called 'four eyes' ignored the ridicule in the golden row's remark, not like he could do anything to retort due to his signature pair of glasses.
"Che!" golden row snorted, he once was forced into a friendly match, which in turn, ruined his killing streak.
In the Spiral Codex, no one will be made to fight those in a higher great realm than their own.
Therefore, due to his cultivation base of the peak Ether realm, the golden row can reign over the Ether floor.
Of course, if the contender has no cultivation, they will be assigned automatically to the Ether floor as well.
Some people never attempt to break through because they will have to restart from the bottom of the chain in the upper floors, which is something that an individual like golden row would rather not go through.
Click...
Slide...
The moment Noire opened the door to check the gladiator room.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
He was greeted by hoarse moans that had a mix of pain and pleasure, where the latter was more obvious.
At first, he was shocked, and after a moment of shock he quickly entered the room to close the door, otherwise, the noise would leak outside...
"Phew," Noire let out a sigh of relief before eyeing the dark corner of the room.
"You know, this may be a resting room, but not that type of resting..."
"And how come are you guys allowing this circus to continue? Don't tell me everyone is switching turns with the same woman..."
Noire kept looking around at the contenders from behind his mask. Those who can't see his face thought he's joking.
Alas, he was dead serious out of curiosity.
"YOU DAMN IDIOT!"
Hisss...
Everyone choked on their breath. There are cases where a newbie opens a door they're not supposed to touch, but to open the door of the peak contender on the Ether floor, his luck couldn't have been worse...
"I don't share my women! You better kowtow to me before I'm done here or you won't walk out alive!"
The golden row was beyond triggered, he can't believe the audacious implications in the newcomer's remarks.
His lackeys by his side already began drawing their swords, ready to strike Noire, who was simply making observations thus far.
"Ah, even if I run at my top speed and reach you within the blink of an eye, I would still bet you'd release faster than me, you're asking for the impossible here..." Noire said with a sincere half-bow as if already accepting his fate.
Which in turn, added oil to the flames.
The entire room turned dead silent.
Even the employee stopped her moaning.
Only subtle chuckles were audible, coming from the other end designated for women gladiators...
"Anyway, I'm here to check my opponent and say hi, he should be called golden row?"
Just as the golden row was about to toss his bitch aside, he heard Noire's declaration, and couldn't help but rejoice with a grin.
He will settle the score on the colosseum ground...
- - - -
Meanwhile, Four Seasons Sect, Core Disciples dorm room.
Lady Feng sat on her bed in a lotus position whilst her female friends watched the projection of Spiral Codex's live feed.
"Junior sister Feng, you don't want to watch this?"
"Yeah, they're doing all of this mess for you after all~"
"Haha, I can't believe this is happening."
"Look at the V.I.P seats! There's like three of our sect elders!"
"Duh, our sect is somewhat related to the whole incident because of the rumors..."
"Still, I heard that the kid found a gladiator for himself!"
"Oh? Must have a loose brain, although junior sister doesn't care, it's not about her anymore, that's like declaring you're against everyone in the most basic way possible..."
Hearing this, Feng couldn't help but be a little curious.
She was tired of everyone taking her side unconditionally, now she had to live with the thought she was responsible for the death of an innocent child.
She knew he was hopeless ever since the decree was passed down, but she didn't think someone from this city would strike against her name.
Then, a projection of Noire appeared on the screen.
A man in his late teens, about 19 or 20 years old judging from his physique. He had a black jade mask, white palace robes with unusual patterns. Perhaps everyone is oblivious to these patterns, but Feng recognized them as monster patterns, though they belonged to the vampire household?
When she noticed cultivation base information she was more confused, beasts and monsters can't do human practice... Perhaps he was adopted like herself.
Still, this answers one of her questions, he probably entered the city recently which explains his behavior.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, the phoenix on her shoulder gave a crisp yet soothing cry before it flew towards the projection.
It sat in front of the screen with its cyan eyes glued onto Noire, which flabbergasted Feng like the rest of her female companions.
"You... You like him?"