Chapter 1353 Cat Lantern Witch <TOC> Chapter 1355 A Pretentious Youth’s Admiration
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Translator: SumTLMan
As he left, Leon couldn’t help but glance back at the arena from time to time.
“Is Caged Bird, having been split in two, going to perish?” inquired Leon.
“She won’t,” Angel replied with certainty. “The blow seemed severe, but this is Sky Tower. Unless her life force is completely extinguished, with the tower’s medical capabilities, she’ll likely be on her feet in no time.”
“However,” Angel paused, catching Leon’s attention, “just because she survived this time doesn’t mean others won’t meet their end in Sky Tower’s competitions. Any competitor stepping onto that arena should never bank on sheer luck.” Angel continued, “Even though the rules of Sky Tower discourage fatalities, rules are static while people are dynamic. You can’t anticipate every opponent. What if you face someone who revels in cruelty? They can find ways to end you, all within the confines of the rules.”
“Therefore, if you participate in Sky Tower’s contests and find the gap between you and your opponent insurmountable, it might be wise to concede,” Angel noted. He was aware that Leon prided himself on his chivalry. And in the knight’s code, there were certain, arguably irrational, principles they held dear.
For instance, Angel had once heard of a decree within the Goldfinch Imperial Knights: A knight can admit defeat, but never bow their head.
In the context of the code, it speaks of undying steel-clad resolve. Yet, in reality, especially in the Wizarding World, it could be a death wish.
Among wizards, many sport eccentric attire. Not necessarily for show; some could genuinely be sadists.
So, when it’s time to bow, bow you must.
Hesitate, and your head might part from your shoulders.
“I understand the logic of conceding when the odds are against you,” Leon assured with a smile. “Though I’m not fond of old man Jon, I agree with his words on this. Even Lady Swatch was persuaded by Jon, transitioning from a conservative knight to a more liberal one. Being Swatch’s pupil, I naturally grasp this concept.”
Angel nodded in agreement. The primary reason he had crafted the Initial Heart Suit for Leon was this: if truly outmatched, Leon could rely on the effects of the suit to buy a few precious moments to concede.
“What duel shall we watch next?” Excitement still danced in Leon’s eyes. Though the match had ended quickly, Leon found no monotony in it, as it had given him a glimpse into the elevated tiers of combat.
Perhaps such a spectacle might not offer tangible aid to Leon at present. Yet, it could be envisioned as a beacon, motivating him to stride in that direction.
Angel suggested, “Let’s head to The Seventh Floor of Sky Tower first.”
In reality, from the third to the tenth floor, the contestants’ ranks hovered between second level apprentices and third level apprentices. Only beyond the tenth floor did the main force predominantly consist of third level apprentices. Hence, the seventh floor’s competition wasn’t too far from Leon’s caliber.
Coincidentally, Angel had heard from Glen that Cherie was also on the seventh floor. This presented a perfect opportunity to reconnect with an old friend.
Leon naturally agreed with a nod.
Due to the vastness inside the tower, the simplest method to reach the seventh floor was through short-range teleportation.
This was Leon’s first encounter with a teleportation formation. He was brimming with curiosity about its mechanics and effects. The shimmering runes on the formation were especially captivating, making him look over and over. Even after reaching the seventh floor, he occasionally glanced back at the teleportation formation.
As Leon’s gaze shifted back to the formation once more, he spotted a familiar silhouette.
Frowning slightly, Leon remarked, “I think I saw Glen. Has he come to the seventh floor as well?”
Seeing Angel remain silent, a puzzled Leon inquired, “Don’t you think he might be tailing us?”
Angel nonchalantly remarked, “Haven’t you noticed it already? If we ‘accidentally’ bumped into him once, we can probably have a second ‘coincidental’ encounter.”
From the exchange with Glen, Angel sensed no malice or hostility. However, he was sure that Glen had an ‘ulterior motive’. As to what this motive was, Angel neither knew nor cared to delve into it.
Leon seemed hesitant, but seeing Angel’s indifferent expression, he chose not to pursue the matter.
In the seventh floor, the number of matches was significantly less than the first, yet the screen was still densely filled with matches.
Angel initially thought it would take some effort to find Cherie’s match. But as he looked up, he spotted at the top, on Arena 1, the words “Shadowflame VS Steel Will”.
‘Shadowflame’ was Cherie’s alias.
What surprised Angel was that on Arena 1, his gaze unintentionally drifted to the seating chart on the right. The top position in the seventh floor was occupied by Steel Will, followed closely by the rapidly rising… Shadowflame.
Because the crowd was buzzing about this match, and the anticipated viewership for Arena 1 was skyrocketing, even Leon took notice.
“Is the match on Arena 1 between the top two contenders? This looks like a battle for the top spot. How about we watch this one first?” Leon suggested, oblivious to the fact that the person Angel had come to the seventh floor to find was none other than Shadowflame.
“It’s not just a battle for the top spot,” Angel whispered, “This is likely Shadowflame’s last match on the seventh floor.”
Once one attains the top position, they’re directly qualified for promotion, freeing them from the grind of accumulating points to climb the tower. Cherie was probably aiming for this very outcome.
Angel had come to the seventh floor primarily to watch Cherie’s match, so he naturally agreed to Leon’s suggestion.
Amidst the bustle of selecting a spectator spot, a small hiccup emerged.
Unable to secure a reservation due to their lack of a seventh floor ticket, by the time they had procured their tickets, the seats for arena one had already been claimed.
Enter Glen.
“Couldn’t snag a ticket? Some of my friends had a change of plans and handed theirs over. How about we watch together?” Glen offered with genuine warmth in his smile, yet the transparent pretense made Angel feel as if he were being taken for a fool.
“What brings you to this match?” Angel asked, taking the offered ticket.
“Cat Lantern Witch is my idol,” Glen confessed.
“I thought the King of Beasts was your idol,” Angel remarked.
“I do admire the King of Beasts, his journey is quite…” Glen began, seamlessly segueing from topic to topic. Mid-sentence, he paused, realizing something wrong and turned to Angel, “You…”
By now, they’d reached the spectator entrance to arena one.
“Let’s head in. I’m not sure what game you’re playing, but I have a few inquiries for you,” Angel candidly shifted the topic.
Given that the King of Beasts was in the distant Savage Grottoes, Glen knew he’d been caught red-handed with his subpar act. He felt a pang of unease but simply nodded in agreement.
Unaware of Glen’s internal turmoil, Angel might’ve scoffed at the idea of Glen’s ‘acting’. It was clumsier than Angel’s initial foray into the Wizarding World, when he was still wet behind the ears…
The seats Glen had secured were unsurprisingly of top-notch quality, offering an unobstructed view of the arena.
The screen overhead indicated that the match would commence in fifteen minutes, yet the arena was already packed to the rafters.
“The attention this match garners is no surprise, after all, Cat Lantern Witch is the sole disciple of Lord Like the Night. Moreover, the chief editor of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper—, Lord Dawn of the Lasting Night, Dietrich, holds Cherie in high esteem, suggesting her potential in the Novastar Competition rivals that of Jiebo, the Son of the Ocean.” Glen, still mulling over how to respond if his acting was seen through, felt the overwhelming urge of his intrinsic love for explaining things, take over when he was amid the buzzing atmosphere of the stadium.
“Thus, those attending this spectacle are not merely casual spectators. Many from diverse circles have made it here, including competitors who have cleared Sky Tower and now linger in Infinite Battle Tower. Their primary goal? To observe Cat Lantern Witch’s offensive spells, preparing defenses for potential future encounters. Hence, today’s match venue is bursting at the seams.”
Most of Angel’s understandings aligned with Glen’s exposition, yet it was Leon who genuinely absorbed it all. Curiosity sparked in Leon as he asked, “Who exactly are Lord Like the Night, Lord Dietrich, and this Jiebo?”
Glancing at Leon, Glen realized he was still unaware of Leon’s background. Leon’s inquiry hinted at his lack of general knowledge. Initially reluctant, Glen chose to enlighten him, considering Angel’s evident rapport with the lad.
After briefly introducing the figures, Glen was about to share more of what he’d heard with Angel. But Leon chimed in again, “Why do you keep referring to her as Cat Lantern Witch? Isn’t her nickname Shadowfire?”
Leon soon grasped the answer to his question without needing Glen’s response. As the countdown reached the ten-minute mark, the competitors made their entrance.
Steel Will was a burly figure draped in a modernized wizard robe. Even beneath the cloak’s concealment, one could discern his imposing stature and robust physique.
Cherie, on the other hand, gracefully flew in through the players’ passage on a broomstick.
Draped in a timeworn blue-black witch’s attire, her visage was strikingly beautiful, yet her demeanor mirrored the icy indifference of a witch from age-old fables.
However, her crimson dancing shoes and the brilliantly vibrant scarlet bow were like a splash of color on a monochrome canvas, immediately captivating the onlooker.
Upon beholding Cherie’s ensemble, Leon finally grasped why many dubbed her the ‘Cat Lantern Witch’. At the handle of her broom hung a hand-held oil lantern, and poised at the broom’s forefront was a small black cat.
With Cherie’s entrance, a wave of jubilant cheers swept through the audience stands.
Yet, Cherie remained impervious to the rousing ovation, perhaps even aloof. From the moment she stepped into the spotlight until she assumed her position, she barely cast a glance at those surrounding her, including Steel Will, her impending adversary.
The more she disregarded, the more the fire in her seemed to blaze.
Perhaps this was a complex dance of defiance entwined with a masochistic allure.
Chapter 1353 Cat Lantern Witch <TOC> Chapter 1355 A Pretentious Youth’s Admiration