"It seems like the tiger doesn't show its claws, and you think I'm just a sickly cat?" Hugh sneered, his pain only fueling his spite.
"I was careless earlier... Or should I say, your useless brother pulled a sneaky trick on me and caught me off guard..."
He almost slipped in "my little darling" at the end, but caught himself, feeling the words would be too awkward to say out loud.
"He's probably going to end up a eunuch."
"His future girlfriend is going to be spending her nights alone. I'm guessing he's ruined that delicate little spot of his."
"Do you think he'll ever find a girlfriend again?"
A voice from the crowd pierced through the tension, sharp and biting.
It was enough to set off another round of laughter.
Yvonne and Sally both giggled, unable to hold back their amusement.
That was the final straw for Hugh. His anger flared to its peak, and despite the pain gnawing at him, he resolved to strike Edward down with a decisive blow.
"Avalanche Fist!"
In an instant, the air grew bitterly cold, and thick, heavy snowflakes began to fall, swirling down like feathers in a winter storm.
The crowd shivered, visibly rattled by the sudden drop in temperature.
"Shit, it's freezing! I didn't think this little troublemaker had it in him—he actually knows the 'Avalanche Fist!'"
"That's a technique only someone at least Level Six Awakened can master. He's not as easy as he looks."
"Looks like that useless waste of space, Edward, is finished."
"That Wood family troublemaker still is someone to keep an eye on. Regular folks shouldn't mess with heirs from powerful families like that—or they'll be asking for a death wish."
Edward couldn't help but roll his eyes at how quickly the crowd had shifted allegiances. Their fickleness was laughable.
He scoffed, unbothered,
"What's so special about your little snow trick? Another ice technique? Watch me handle you."
Without another word, Edward launched himself into the air.
Flames erupted from his body, enveloping him in a raging firestorm. Any snowflakes that dared approach him instantly disintegrated in the heat.
"What's going on here? Wasn't he supposed to be unawakened?" someone in the crowd gasped. "Why is he surrounded by flames?"
"I think he's scared and trying to burn himself to death. Looks like he doused himself in gasoline and is ready to self-immolate. What an idiot."
Edward didn't dignify the comments with a response.
Instead, he focused intently on his hands, gathering the fire into a single, powerful ball of flame.
At that moment, a massive snowball—roughly the size of a small boulder—hurtled straight toward him.
"Die, you bastard! Let me show you what true power looks like with my Avalanche Fist. You have no idea how deadly these snowflakes can be. One hit, and you're done."
Hugh wasn't exaggerating. The snowflakes descending upon Edward were as sharp as daggers, capable of slicing through him if they landed.
But Edward was more than prepared.
"Time for my fire dragon to make its debut here."
With a swift motion, he hurled the fireball into the air. It exploded into a colossal fire dragon, its fiery mouth roaring open as it unleashed torrents of flame.
The massive snowball was halted mid-air by the firestorm, the flames rapidly consuming it until it had shrunk to a size small enough to be swallowed by the fire dragon in one gulp.
"This can't be... You're a worthless waste of space, how are you using fire magic?" Hugh's eyes widened in disbelief. "What is this?"
"Who said I couldn't awaken?" Edward's voice was cold, a smirk playing at his lips.
"What? That talentless loser awakened? How is this possible?" someone from the crowd shouted, astonishment clear in their tone.
"This is insane. Fire magic usually requires at least a Level Five Awakening to even try it. There's no way he could be pulling this off without awakening something."
The fire dragon lunged forward, engulfing the shrinking snowball in seconds.
With a sickening crunch, it was gone—consumed by the dragon's fiery maw.
Without any resistance left, the dragon surged toward Hugh, the flames growing fiercer as it approached.
The crowd gasped, holding their breath as the firestorm rushed toward Hugh.
In a split second, Hugh reached into his robes and produced a small, glinting object. It was a shimmering energy-reflection mirror, a protective talisman given to him by his master Cleariver.
The tiny mirror expanded in his hand, growing larger until it was big enough to intercept the fire dragon.
As the dragon collided with the mirror, it turned back into a fireball that burst into thousands of sparks, scattering in every direction and igniting the unfortunate bodyguards standing nearby.
Screams filled the air as flames quickly consumed their clothes.
They rolled on the ground, trying to douse the fire.
Edward's jaw dropped in shock. He hadn't expected Hugh to have something so powerful up his sleeve.
"What is that thing?" someone in the crowd asked, curiosity rippling through the onlookers.
Edward found himself wondering the same thing.
"Am I blind or something?" someone snickered. "It's a mirror palpably."
"Yeah, thanks for the insight, genius. But this isn't just any mirror, is it?"
"Tell us something we don't know, buddy. It's not just a regular mirror—what the hell is it?"
Finally, a man wearing a white shirt and sporting a small mustache stepped forward.
"I know what it is. That's an energy-reflection mirror. It was created by Cleariver himself."
"Wait, that's the energy-reflection mirror? I've heard of it—it's supposed to reflect or even absorb energy from all five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
I can't believe Cleariver gave this to the Wood family's little troublemaker."
"Don't you know who his master is?" someone whispered. "Cleariver is his teacher."
"That explains everything. No wonder. Looks like the real fun is just beginning.
They say if you want to beat a dog, you'll have to know who its master is."
"You mean that troublemaker Hugh is a dog?"
"I didn't say that. I mean the true strength comes from the master. Even if Edward has awakened fire magic, without a powerful mentor backing him up, it's useless.
Trying to turn things around without someone big behind you? That's a joke."
"Exactly. You can't expect a weak fish to flip the script."
At that moment, Hugh, having managed to defend himself just enough to gain a small victory, pushed aside the searing pain in his groin.
A smug smile slowly spread across his face.
"Edward, you bastard!" he sneered. " When did you awaken? And I've never thought you're so crafty—ambushing me and hiding your strength! Shame on you!"
He gritted his teeth, his glare intensifying.
"Against scum like you, I'll use any means necessary," Edward retorted with a sneer. "Don't think that you're safe just because you've got some cheap mirror in your hand."
"It's not just any broken mirror," Hugh snapped back, his voice sharp. "This is the energy-reflection mirror my master Cleariver gave me—it's a treasure.
You've underestimated both me and my master. Well, today, I'll show you just how powerful it is."
"I'm looking forward to seeing its power," Edward muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm. Without wasting another moment, he gathered the infinite primitive energy within him and unleashed a devastating fire attack he had only recently mastered.
"Fire Dragon Awakening!"
Flames erupted around him, shooting upward in an inferno that reached nearly seveal feet high.
"That worthless idiot mastered fire techniques to this level?" someone whispered in disbelief. "Looks like we can't afford to underestimate his strength anymore."
"Yeah, the air feels like it's burning up. I can feel the heat!" another person gasped, wiping sweat from their forehead.
"This is exhausting to watch—one minute it's freezing cold, the next it's like a furnace. I hope that the next round lives up to the hype."
"Why don't we spice things up a little? Let's place a bet!" Yvonne suddenly called out to the crowd, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
It seemed like humans were naturally inclined toward a bit of gambling. As soon as they heard Yvonne's suggestion, the crowd buzzed with excitement.
"Great idea! I'm betting on the Wood family's little hellion to win. I'll put down 100."
"I'm putting my money on the underdog. He could be the dark horse. I'll bet 1,000."
"Awesome! Who else is in? Don't miss out—this opportunity won't last long. Let's get this show on the road!" Yvonne shouted enthusiastically, her voice carrying through the crowd.
Sally leaned over and whispered in Yvonne's ear, a hint of concern in her voice.
"What if your brother loses? You don't even have any money."
"No worries," Yvonne replied with a confident grin. "Doesn't my brother have your dad's golden card?"
"Ah, right." Sally blinked, impressed by Yvonne's unexpected financial acumen.
"This is a rare opportunity to make some quick cash. I believe in my brother. To make big money, you have to take risks."
"Now I'm starting to dig you, Yvonne," Sally said with a laugh.
"Life's just one big gamble. To win, you have to know how to play the game," Yvonne said with a wink. "Life is a 'you bet'."
"Well said! That's the second gem of wisdom you've dropped today. I love that line: life is a 'you bet'. If you win, you'd better share some of the spoils with me.
Well, I'd better bet myself. I'll go with 2,000. Of course on Edward!"
"Come on, everyone, join in! Someone already bet 2,000!" Yvonne called out, her voice growing even louder.
The Treasure Market was now alive with excitement, the air thick with tension and anticipation.
Edward couldn't help but flash a wry smile.
Though he knew Yvonne was always full of surprises, this was the first time he'd realized just how sharp she was when it came to making money.
"Bro, you have to win. Otherwise, we'll be in deep trouble. You won't have the money for any decent cultivation resources."
"Don't worry, sis. I won't let you down."
Hugh, now the unexpected center of this betting frenzy, couldn't believe how things had spiraled. He had no idea how this had turned into a high-stakes game of wagers.
Just then, one of his bodyguards got to his feet from the ground, clearly fueled by the excitement of the bet.
"I'm putting down 500. I'm betting on our young master to win."