Chapter 252: Heated Atmopshere
Many have heard about the Lesser Angel through conversations between freshmen.
Someone who can still possibly win despite being involved in a crime recently. Someone who has all three titles one can obtain in the Blood Rite. Someone who created a group and even convinced the other members to make him the leader. And someone—who had gone into the Second Sky.
For a Lesser Angel to achieve those things sounded like a fantasy.
But these feats were consistent across all conversations.
It didn’t seem to be fake.
Naturally, when the supposed Lesser Angel who was the dark horse of this tournament finally rose to fight, the crowd leaned forward as one. Sat on the edge of their seats. Seniors who had overheard about him in pieces were genuinely curious about him.
All of them had the same question in mind—how strong was this Lesser Angel, really?
It didn’t help when most of them didn’t even know his Patron God.
So, when Roan surrendered before even fighting, the crowd was completely taken aback.
Silence enveloped the entire stadium.
And then, the stadium went into another uproar, but it was a bad one this time.
Seniors and freshmen alike booed Roan, who didn’t show even the slightest bit of courage.
"Fuck is this kid? Such an embarrassment."
"Is he fucking serious? Throughout the Dragon Ring’s history, he must be the most pathetic."
"Fight! Where is your dragon heart?! Fight! Don’t surrender without fighting!"
"Bro, this is fucking killing me. By the Gods, I want to see the Lesser Angel fight. At least fight for a bit, this spineless shit. What’s his name again? Roan? Fuck him. I bestow him the title, Roan the Craven."
"He bent like a paperclip. Even Aphrodite’s breasts are harder than his heart."
Seeing this turn of events, Ragnar massaged his forehead.
’By the Gods... How can he be that stupid?’ He let out a deep sigh. He could not believe that Roan would surrender instantly like this—especially when he knew Kai was fully weakened. ’Did he not know that the Lesser Angel is wounded and weakened? Heck, he can’t even use his Legacy Skill or Imprint!’
Fighting Kai right now would be akin to fighting a normal human.
Other than his scimitar, he has nothing to help him in battle.
Even the dark aura that seethed from his back earlier, Ragnar was sure that it was a fluke.
Just to intimidate others, so that they were wary of him.
Look strong when you’re weak; that’s what Kai was abiding by in his entrance earlier.
In reality, he probably could barely stand.
’I deliberately put Roan up against the Lesser Angel first since I had heard about the bad blood between them going back to the academy’s earliest days.’ Ragnar’s gaze settled on Roan, and it was heavy with disappointment. ’I thought he’d seize the chance for payback. Instead—this wimp chickened out.’
He shook his head and turned to the side.
Surprisingly, his eyes met the Chancellor’s.
Considering that the Chancellor had put Ragnar in charge to take care of the Lesser Angel, it’s concerning that this happened. For Roan to surrender instantly only heightened Kai’s position within the tournament, and that’s not a good thing.
Ragnar nodded reassuringly.
A gesture that expressed he had already prepared well for this tournament.
No matter what, the Lesser Angel will fall.
On the other hand, Roan stood in his spot, motionless as he kept his head down.
He clenched both of his fists—as the entire stadium booed him, hurling curses and mockeries at him for avoiding fighting the Lesser Angel. But none of them knew Kai better than he did. None of them knew that fighting would only mean entering a world of pain.
One that could possibly even bring his death.
’I have fought with him already. Two times,’ Roan lifted up his gaze—taking a fleeting peek at Kai’s eyes, and then quickly dropped his gaze again. ’I won against him once, and then got humiliated in our second battle. Now... I can already tell he’s much stronger.’
Going against Kai would be foolish, knowing what he knew.
It’s better to swallow his pride and eat the humiliation.
At least that way, he could live another day.
Just earlier, the announcer already made it clear that accidental death wouldn’t inflict any real consequences on the killer. Kai wouldn’t be pulling back his punches. So—Roan would rather not risk it.
’Besides, I know that look. I don’t want any part of this.’ He clenched his fists harder until his knuckles turned white. ’Stop cursing me. Stop mocking me. I’m not in his league, okay?! I’m being smart. I’m not craven.’
"Are you sure about this?" the announcer asked.
"Yes," Roan nodded. "I’m sure."
Hearing this, the announcer turned to look at Kai, who didn’t seem to react at all to this sudden surrender from his enemy. He remained standing on the other end, scimitar in hand, and eyes fixed ahead sharply.
Like he was not a human, but a shadow that only moved when his enemy moved.
Slowly, the announcer turned toward Ragnar in the crowd and received a single nod. Then he faced the Chancellor, who answered with a subtle dip of his own. Only then did the announcer raise his hand and point it at Kai.
"Victory by forfeit—leader of the Ambrosia Pact, Lesser Angel Kai!"
Everyone was exasperated at the announcement, and they didn’t hide it at all.
All of them booed and mocked Roan as he got down from the arena and went back to sit.
Kai, on the other hand, as if finally registering that his first enemy had been neutralized, slowly turned his head until his eyes locked with Barbara’s. He moved like a spirit of vengeance that moved from one target to the next.
Hungry for the next soul on its list.
Chester advances to the final.
So that means the second round would be between him and Barbara.
It was time for them to settle the bet.
Either he becomes her attacking dog, or she commits suicide as per the bet.
Noticing that Kai finally had his attention on her, Barbara sneered behind her mask and rose to her feet. She accepted the challenge. It had been quite some time since she almost died—by the Lesser Angel’s hands, and she was now eager to seize her vengeance.
She swore that she would reclaim her lost honour by defeating Kai in this tournament.
Everyone who attended would be the witness.
Barbara had fought earlier in the first round—but she was still at peak strength. Not a scratch on her. And with the crowd roaring in frustration at Roan, she decided to move, leaping high across the stadium and landing hard on the arena, right across from Kai.
She slowly rose to her feet, and then pivoted to face Kai.
"Professor," Barbara called without looking, "Let’s skip the breaks and get on with the second round."
"Hm?" the announcer frowned.
Even though the Dragon Ring tournament would be completed in one day, there were still a few breaks between rounds. A candidate’s ability to regulate mana and manage wounds was also part of the evaluation—essential qualities for anyone who would become the Red Prince.
And the breaks were about fifteen minutes to be exact.
Not long, but long enough to frustrate everyone in this heated atmosphere.
Barbara had dismantled her opponent with barely a fraction of her strength, and Kai had won by forfeit without raising his weapon. Neither of them had been taxed. So, there was no reason to delay—the second round could begin immediately.
No breaks in between.
But the announcer couldn’t decide that.
He turned to the Chancellor, asking for permission, and got a subtle nod in return.
"Due to the special circumstance, the Second Round of the Dragon Ring tournament begins!" The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium. His arm then swept toward the two figures already standing face-to-face—on the arena. "Leader of the Auric Cabal, High Angel Barbara! Against the leader of the Ambrosia Pact, Lesser Angel Kai!"
A swell of cheers spread across the entire arena.
No need to wait for fifteen more minutes to watch the Lesser Angel in action.
Despite the stadium shaking with the cheers from the crowd, Barbara and Kai focused entirely on each other. Everything around them dissolved—into nothing but static. Something that the two could ignore.
And once again, the barrier around the arena hummed and hardened.
Preparing for the next battle to commence.
"Do you still remember our bet?" Barbara asked. Her voice cut through the distance between them, but gained no response from Kai other than his cold, calculating eyes. "I’m sure you do. I only hope that you won’t use what happened to you as an excuse when you lost to me. You will become my dog, and Bree would return to my group... That’s what we agreed to."
She raised the big, two-handed battle axe and placed it against her shoulder.
Back on the Dead Range, Kai was too angry to really see the person he was facing.
Now he realized that Barbara boasted a dominating stature—the tight-fitting combat suit that clung to her skin highlighted her muscles and strong frame. And her long, fiery-red hair made a perfect look of a barbarian.
And not to mention, she was also taller than Kai. She’s imposing.
"Be a man and make sure you hold your end of the bargain, Lesser Angel." Barbara pressed a finger forward, pointing at Kai. "Because in this battle, I’ll make sure to repay you for what you did that night. I’ll beat you to death."
"Are you done?" Kai finally opened his mouth, and then tilted his head slightly.
His abyssal black eyes stared at Barbara with genuine curiosity.
"If you are, then summon your beasts—and attack me. No need to talk rubbish. We’re already past talking, you and me."
"Yes... I guess we are."
Swoosh—!
In a burst of speed that left the air screaming in her wake, Barbara launched herself skyward.
She gripped the handle of her axe firmly with both hands—and drew it far behind. Her body coiled like a spring stretched to its breaking point. Every muscle taut and every sinew primed for the killing stroke.
At the apex of her leap, the axe ignited.
Psh—!
A deep, crimson glow bled across the blade, then burst into roaring red flames that licked the sky and sizzled the air an inch from the steel head. She descended with all the fury of a beast, swinging vertically with every ounce of her strength—and slammed the burning axe into the ground.
Every ounce of anger and frustration was gathered into that spiteful strike.
For humiliating her and almost killing her, she would make sure to return it tenfold.
She would defeat Kai no matter what.
Crack—!