LB Arena features a unique design; the entire gladiatorial arena has no seats, not even in the VIP section. The only distinction is that the iron railings in the VIP area are painted to be crystal clear, and the surrounding decor is neat and elegant.
With a loud clang of a gong, the arena erupted into excitement. On a high platform near the main stage, a young man in formal attire introduced the upcoming gladiatorial show through a loudspeaker.
Before the formal gladiatorial performances, there was always a warm-up act to build anticipation of the main event. Today's warm-up was particularly brutal, featuring a team of fifteen young enslaved boys armed with rudimentary gear facing off against three adult Long-haired Tigers.
As the sound of rattling cages echoed, the three Long-haired Tigers were slowly wheeled into the arena. Across from them, the triangular formation of the fifteen boys trembled as they emerged from the entrance of the rest area.
These children, ten years old, donned oversized short swords resembling axes and helmets that covered their upper bodies, looking mismatched as they walked toward the arena—an arena visited by death.
"Roar!" the beasts in their cages growled, revealing their sharp fangs. Their blood-red eyes glinted with hunger as they watched the approaching food. Powerful claws dug into the ground, banging against the iron bars in rage.
The crowd outside erupted in excitement; a slaughter was about to begin. Blood was the best stimulant for humans, at least in this world, on this plain, and in this arena.
The iron bars, thick as Finn's waist, rattled under the force of the beasts, threatening to break at any moment. The audience began to stir, their blood running hot as they chanted, "Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill…"
In tune with the crowd's bloodlust, the announcer signaled, and the cages opened. One by one, the ferocious beasts emerged. They didn't rush to devour the boys but prowled the area, savoring the fear of their prey.
Those kids have never received any training at all. Even if they had undergone rigorous training, they would still be no match for these ferocious beasts.
As the night breeze stirred, Finn approached the railing, watching. The cacophony of the arena was overwhelming, yet there was a strange allure to it, as if it was drawing him in.
The children had stopped moving—not because they had formed a defensive line, but because they were paralyzed with fear. They cried and shouted, some wetting themselves, but their pleas were drowned out by the roars of the crowd, their faces reflecting the impending bloodshed.
"Roar!" At last, one of the Long-haired Tigers could contain itself no longer and lunged at the boys, ripping one apart with a single swipe. The beast's jaws clamped down on the half-remaining body, blood and entrails spilling onto the ground.
Roars erupted as the other two Long-haired Tigers charged in. But their growls were quickly drowned by the crowd's frenzy, while the boys could only fall silent.
Blood sprayed everywhere; there was no resistance. In an instant, four or five more children became casualties, while others lay motionless on the ground, lifeless from sheer terror.
The Long-haired Tigers dashed into the group of boys, and a few brave children attempted to escape toward the edges of the arena, some heading straight for Finn.
They trembled with fear, saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, their pupils dilated, and their eyes bloodshot. They could only run desperately, their feet bloodied and raw from the sharp stones of the ground. Yet the strong desire to survive made them forget the pain, leaving only one thought in their minds—escape.
Even if they ran with all their might, they could never match the speed of the Long-haired Tigers. One beast seemed to favor the chase, ignoring the children who had collapsed, instead targeting the fleeing ones.
For a moment, time appeared to slow before Finn's eyes.
He watched as the Long-haired Tiger leaped through the air, its claws poised to land on the last fleeing child. The boy seemed to sense something, dragging his legs in desperation, trembling and crying. His cries were silent, a strange void enveloping the world around them. In Finn's vision, blood hung suspended in the air.
"Thud—" Everything snapped back to normal. The crowd was still roaring, the beasts still pursuing the children, and more blood stained the ground as the boys continued to cry in silence.
"I don't want to die!" One boy rushed to the railing of Finn's cell, his small arms reaching through the bars, gripping Finn's shoulder tightly. Behind him, a ferocious Long-haired Tiger pounced again, tearing into another child who hadn't managed to escape.
The Long-haired Tiger slowly approached the boy hiding near Finn, its bloody tongue licking its already crimson maw. In its blood-red eyes lay the unmistakable glint of a predator, perhaps mingled with hunger.
Finn glanced at the advancing Long-haired Tiger and then back at the child gripping him. The boy appeared deranged, his bloodshot eyes reflecting terror and a vacant emptiness, as his grip on Finn's shoulder tightened, blood trickling down his fingers.
Finn's body began to shake, whether from pain or fear. He couldn't tell.
"Roar!" The Long-haired Tiger swiped its massive paw, splattering blood all over Finn. The child's body was torn in half, the lower half clenched in the tiger's jaws, while the upper half still clung to Finn, leaving a gruesome scene on the ground.
Finn raised his hand, prying the child's fingers from his shoulder and tossing the severed arm toward the tiger's mouth, leaving a trail of carnage behind.
The long-haired tiger lifted its head to look at Finn, its blood-red eyes reflecting Finn's slightly slender figure. Heavy breaths mixed with a strong aura of wild ferocity made Finn's body tremble even more visibly. The other gladiators turned their gazes toward them, and Brute, growing more interested, called out loudly while looking for someone to place bets with. Meanwhile, Elijah ignored Brute's boisterous antics, observing the unfolding situation with a contemplative expression.
"Roar—" The Long-haired Tiger let out a deafening roar that seemed to shake the entire arena.
"Oh, no!" Elijah exclaimed, but before he could react, the Long-haired Tiger lunged, crashing against the railing in front of Finn after tearing apart the child's upper half.
Finn instinctively leaped backward, but the force was too strong, and he slammed hard into the iron bars of the railing behind him. Without time to consider the intense pain from the impact, he focused on the long-haired tiger. As fear coursed through his body, Finn felt his blood temperature gradually drop, the plasma thickening into small ice blocks, surging through his veins as if threatening to burst them apart. His eyes gradually dimmed, and a faint crimson hue appeared in his pupils.
"Bang, bang…" The Long-haired Tiger continued to pound against Finn's cell, each impact sending Finn's body into a violent shudder, darkening his gaze further until it became a deep crimson. The moon, an unusual sight, broke through the clouds, but few noticed.
The announcer babbled on, and the atmosphere in the arena surged with tension from the unexpected events.
"Ah, it's quite rare to encounter a cold-blooded creature like you," a melodious voice rang out, and in an instant, the gladiator cell where Finn was located fell silent, save for the sound of the long-haired tiger's impact.
"That's quite impressive. Are you scared? Or is it...?" As he spoke, the person who had been huddled in the straw approached the bars of the cell. He gently grasped Finn's wrist through the gaps in the railing, which was pressed against the other side. "It's truly astonishing, sometimes, it's the things people believe don't exist that can create great and beautiful beings."
Finn's heart raced violently, as if it might break free from the confines of his chest at any moment. This unprecedented intensity of feeling was something he had never experienced, not even during the sudden onslaught of the long-haired tiger. It was a complex mix of disgust and fear. Yet this time, beneath the swirling emotions, a different sensation was quietly awakening deep within him, slowly rising to the surface.
This feeling was intensely fervent, almost cold-blooded, imbued with a chill that did not belong to this world. Finn's arms began to frost over with fine white crystals. This was not merely a physiological reaction; it felt more like a long-suppressed force deep within him was awakening and manifesting in an incredible way, stirred by the surge of unknown emotions.
"Let me ask you a question," the stranger continued. Finn lacked the courage to even turn his head.
"What is your name?" The man released Finn's wrist and turned to glare at the still-pacing Long-haired Tiger. "You, the foolish beast, be quiet and get lost." As the last word left his lips, a ripple surged through the air, penetrating Finn's body with no reaction, while the prowling Long-haired Tiger was flung away.
The Long-haired Tiger got up, glancing at the man before slinking away, its tail between its legs.
The spectators in the stands could not see what was happening inside the cell; they only witnessed the long-haired tiger being suddenly thrown into the air by an immense force, tracing an astonishing arc before crashing heavily to the ground in the distance. This unexpected turn of events instantly ignited the atmosphere in the stands, and the audience erupted into a chorus of gasps and exclamations.
"I'm Aelric, known here as the Angel Sword. What's your name?" Aelric brushed aside the hair covering his face and smiled at Finn. Despite his filthy appearance, he exuded an undeniable charm, with sharp eyes like an eagle's.
"Finn," he replied, struggling to speak after so long of silence.
"Do you want to live?" Aelric asked again.
At Aelric's words, Finn's body jolted.he turned to face Aelric, meeting his gaze for the first time. Finn noticed a hint of sadness in Aelric's eyes.
"Yes," Finn replied.
"Well then, starting today, you can call me master." Aelric suddenly stood up, his tattered clothes fluttering without any wind, radiating an aura of compelling passion and charisma.
"Oh my god, after three years of inactivity, Aelric has finally moved! But how can he look so lively after not eating anything for three years? Surely he didn't sneak a bite when no one was watching," Elijah staring at Aelric in astonishment, a thought crossing his mind that would typically only catch Brute's attention.
The usually composed Elijah wore an expression of surprise that would have typically sent Brute into a frenzy. However, at that moment, Brute was completely silent, as nothing could draw attention away from the spectacle unfolding before them.
Aelric, the unyielding legend of the LB Arena, had swept through countless battles since the arena's inception, never tasting defeat. Under his formidable reputation, no opponent had ever lasted beyond the fleeting three minutes against him. However, three years ago, this undefeated champion had suddenly fallen silent, the reason a mystery. Now, to see him move for the sake of a child and take on an apprentice was astonishing. If this news spread, it would surely send shockwaves throughout Dune City—no, the entire Everlasting Wilds would be abuzz with excitement.