The ring got bloody the next second as everyone went all out. Of course the fact that killing was frowned at does not make it forbidden.
The Duke of one of the nations was present, watching how his son decimated the arena with ease. Seeing the Duke's large and powerful body physique, one would think his son will be that huge fella with golden colored brass knuckles brimming with veiny muscles who tossed punch after punch to any figure who steps before him, but no.
Over at the side, a frail looking male is seen wielding a wooden shield, showing off strength far above what any with that type of physical appearance should display. Bashing and tossing bodies outside of the ring.
Nador watched the battle from the stand out of boredom, wondering when the match would reach it's peak so he'll place his bet on the protagonist. Hehe, now that is what he call a plan.
"Haha! Blood Knuckles takes everyone like the raging beast he is!! Good thing I placed my lifetime savings on 'em." One of the men sitting close to Nador said with satisfaction. Nador could only chuckle at the unfortunate fate of this man.
"Quit deceiving yourself and face reality. There's no way Knuckle head can take down the Duke's daughter." His friend tiredly waved his hands, shutting him up.
"You mean son."
"Nevertheless! You can't beat a spear with your bare fist!" He spoke with fire in his eyes while pointing at the only shield user in the ring.
"You mean shield."
"Exactly!!"
The crowd went wild as they diversely chatted among themselves while placing bets on their favorites.
Over at the VIP section, the Queen's gaze can be seen directed not at the ring filled with sweaty bodies, no, it was directed towards the crowds. No more importantly, towards the cloaked male who quietly sat in the crowd.
'Why do I feel an inhumane amount of holy energy from that man?' Morrae silently pondered, but was brought back to reality by the annoyed grunt of her dear daughter.
"Haaah! Mother, i said I would only marry a man stronger than me!" Felicia's whining entered the ears of her mother who had a small smile.
"You know it was your grandfather's last wish that you marry before his passing, and I am quite aware of how you dealt with the numerous tutors sent your way." Felicia flinched under the intense gaze of her mother's stern eyes which said, 'Yeah I know.'
"This was the only option I could offer; unless your willing to get married to a fatty who probably has 6 more wives and 10 extra concubines." She playfully teased her daughter who grimaced at the thought of a fatty humping her on bed.
"Heavens rebuke that thought." Felicia silently prayed, cleansing her thoughts of all disgusting thinking.
"Heh, I thought so too." Morrae chuckled, seeing the reaction of her daughter before staring back at the ring before randomly asking, "Felicia, who among this men has caught your eyes?"
Felicia, stunned from the random question quickly scanned the battlefield before shrugging nonchalantly. "None of them are worthy of my taste." She spoke with pride and arrogance. Being at Sage lv 7 at the age of 18 is unheard of, so she truly has the right to be a big proud and haughty.
"Then why don't we up the stakes a bit?" Morrae spoke with a sly cheeky smile on her face, confusing Felicia greatly.
"Place a bet on who you think would win, and maybe, just maybe, I'll consider getting you that Gucci purse you desire." Morrae spoke with a smile as her daughter's eyes turned to sparkling purple stars.
"Deal!" She quickly took out a piece of paper and wrote down a name, making sure to hide it from her mother's curious gaze. And Morrae did the same before casting their bets on a golden basket.
"Excuse me mother." Felicia excused herself and walked to her room with fast pace before locking the door behind her.
"Mary, step forth." Issuing a lone command, a shadow materialized after a cloud of thick gray smokes erupted before her. A woman in a maid attire knelt before her with her forehead bare on the floor.
"You summoned me Milady." She spoke in an unusually cold and detached tone.
"I want you to step into that ring and cause chaos. No need to alert my mother of anything." Felicia spoke as a smirk slowly formed on her face.
"Be sure to disguise yourself as a male contestant... And most importantly, win." She added before walking out the room, leaving Mary behind to devise her plan of her own.
Back at the crowds stand, Nador is staring at the clock, wondering how and when that shitty protagonist is going to show up.
"Maybe ridding a dragon? Or bursting through the roof in a set of angelic wings accompanied by his fleet of warriors and party members. Why isn't that shitty Luke here!!" He slammed his foot against the wall in anger, but unfortunately it was made out of wood, so his feet Instead of bouncing off due to the walls density, got sucked in by the now broken wall and landing on his butt in a comical way.
"Ah! My wall is broken!" The merchant who owned the stadium randomly took this particular route here and came across the scene and seeing Nador stomping brutally against the innocent wall like a street delinquent.
"You damn boy! Do you know how many Silver's worth the wall is!?" The merchant exclaimed his frustration and anger towards Nador who blankly stared at him with his foot still stuck in the wall.
"No, but you shouldn't have made a shitty wall in the first place!" Nador gave a solid argument, stating fact over evidence.
"You dare talk in such situation!!! You have been caught red handed!"
"Doing what? Tell me my crime as a citizen of this beloved kingdom!!" Nador argued back, having forgotten about his leg still stuck in the wall and faced the fuming merchant while swinging the imaginative mallet and fixing his wig of judgment.
"You still dare acclaimed to be a loyal citizen while going about breaking people's walls?"
"Show me evidence!?" He tossed his face sideways, but the cheering of the crowd caught his attention. Whipping his leg out of the hole with so much force that he cracked the wall in two, he dashed back into the stands ignoring the screaming merchant and was confused by the sight before him.
"Who the fuck is that?"
[Ding!]
"Damn you!!!" Nador cried out in agony as he could see his vacation taking a wild turn by that unwelcoming notification.
[The quest:
Requirements: defeat everyone within the ring before the protagonist steps up.
Rewards: Just win it first
Penalty: Insomnia (status: permanent.)
"Curse my day!"