Chapter 1528 Black Cat <TOC> Chapter 1530 The Deceiver
Translator: SumTLMan
“The Spring Waltz and the Deceiver,” Farina uttered these two nicknames, and Angel searched his memory but found no recollection of either. After a moment of thought, he asked, “What’s the highlight of this match?”
“These two contestants have, in previous competitions, sporadically displayed some astonishing potential that often wins applause from the audience. As for the biggest draw, it would probably be Dominico,” Farina explained. “Dominico is ‘The Spring Waltz,’ a nature wizard.”
Nature wizards are a branch of earth magic, much like ocean wizards correspond to a branch of water magic.
“Is he strong?” Angel curiously asked.
Farina shook her head, “I can’t say for sure, but Dominico comes from Torch Institute, and his mentor, Rand, is a wizard who pursues ‘ultimate aesthetics.’ Aesthetic beauty in combat is what he seeks. Given that Dominico is his disciple, even if the match isn’t thrilling, it should at least be aesthetically pleasing. Beauty itself is always worth watching.”
Torch Institute.
Upon hearing the name of this wizard organization, Angel instantly understood. People coming from this institute tend to be quite theatrical.
Individuals with a flair for theatrics would never let the match become dull, unless their opponent was so powerful as to completely overshadow them.
But the organizers wouldn’t be foolish; since they sent “The Spring Waltz” to warm up the audience, the other contestant should only serve as a foil to Dominico. They would likely be competent but not surpass Dominico.
Just as Angel was contemplating this, Farina suddenly said, “Speaking of which, that Deceiver is from your Savage Grottoes.”
From the Savage Grottoes? Angel scoured his mind for any knowledge of this nickname but found none. He had even studied the profiles of Sky Tower contestants with his friend David during their participation in the Sky Tower competition, but had never come across anyone named ‘The Deceiver.’ Was it a new contender, or someone who had previously conquered Sky Tower?
“Are you also in the dark?” Farina wondered, “I’ve heard this person is incredibly enigmatic and aloof. During the competition, he wears a mask, and so far, no one has been able to discover his real name. He wields a strange long-range weapon called a revolver.”
Angel: “…” This description, why does it sound so familiar?
Hailing from the Savage Grottoes, mysterious and aloof, known only by a pseudonym, name yet to be revealed, fights wearing a mask, weapon is a revolver… if you add that he always has a bird-like magical creature with him, isn’t this pretty much the persona of the Milk Baron?
Questions filled Angel’s mind. Was he being overly suspicious, or was someone really imitating him?
Imitation wasn’t inherently a big issue, as many apprentices enjoy emulating the behavior of certain wizards — just like Angel’s first opponent when climbing the Sky Tower: Blackjack.
Blackjack was a thorough imitator, and his role model was Sanders.
Imitating him wasn’t necessarily a big deal, but the person wasn’t emulating the standard Angel; they were copying the Milk Baron persona.
That was a bit odd.
Why would anyone imitate such a fleeting character?
“Who could the Deceiver be?” Angel murmured to himself.
Farina: “It seems you really don’t know. That actually fits his moniker pretty well — so mysterious that even the people from the Savage Grottoes have no idea who he is. He’s very good at keeping things under wraps.”
“But no matter how much he deceives, once he enters the Boundless Arena, his true identity will eventually be revealed.”
During previous competitions, the Deceiver always wore a mask, and no one knew who he was. But now, about to enter the Boundless Arena, even if he wears a mask, he won’t be able to fool the discerning eyes of a formal wizard.
…
One hour later, in the Boundless Arena.
The ground was parched yellow earth, overhead was a bleak gray sky. Aside from a luminous screen hovering midair, there was nothing else in the vicinity.
Although the Boundless Arena was eerily silent, the atmosphere beyond its boundaries was bustling with activity.
The Boundless Arena itself was akin to a world encased in a dome, offering competitors an undisturbed experience. Outside of it, however, there was nearly a 360-degree viewing area surrounding the entire arena.
The design wasn’t limited to a conventional circular seating arrangement; even the top of the dome featured inverted seating. Thanks to specialized gravity effects, spectators seated there felt no sense of inversion.
At this moment, the all-encompassing viewing seats were already filled to capacity.
In the past, the Boundless Arena was seldom open to apprentices. Consequently, for many, it was their first time witnessing it, sparking widespread chatter about this novel spectator experience.
Some people were discussing the background of the competitors in this round, while others pushed snack carts around, hawking their wares to make a quick buck in magic crystals. All these noises converged, creating a cacophony that bordered on deafening.
This uproar persisted for a while until the light sources within the arena abruptly went out.
The sudden onset of darkness induced a momentary hush among the spectators. Then, a crisp and melodious female voice resounded in everyone’s ears.
“Initiating the Boundless Arena, countdown five seconds.”
With the countdown, the dome of the Boundless Arena began to slowly illuminate. Although it couldn’t entirely dispel the darkness, it made everyone feel a tad more comfortable; with so many people present, lingering darkness would only breed unease.
Once the Boundless Arena was lit, everyone could clearly see the conditions inside it.
It was a barren world.
At this moment, the voice heard earlier once again reached the ears of everyone present: “The competitor backstage has now activated the arena selection, and card-face guessing is currently underway.”
This so-called card-face guessing is essentially a small game. A card is placed in a specially designed container, allowing the two players to guess whether it is face-up or face-down. The one who guesses correctly earns the right to choose the arena.
“Congratulations to the Deceiver, for winning the card-face guessing and earning the right to choose the arena.”
A few seconds later, the crisp voice once again resounded: “Although the Deceiver has good card luck, his luck in choosing the arena is not so favorable. The arena he has drawn is the ‘Needle Grass Meadow in Strong Winds.'”
Needle Grass is a type of pale green pasture grass that can grow as tall as a person.
This arena, when taken at face value, has two special attributes. The first is the strong wind, which would undoubtedly be beneficial to anyone adept in wind-based spells. The second is the meadow full of Needle Grass, a clear advantage for a nature wizard.
And ‘The Spring Waltz’ Dominico happens to be a nature wizard.
Thinking of this, it’s not surprising that the voice echoing through the arena would say the Deceiver’s luck in choosing the arena is bad, as this arena clearly favors Dominico.
“Boundless Arena——’Needle Grass Meadow in Strong Winds,’ preparing.”
As the words fell, a strange scene suddenly appeared in the Boundless Arena. It was as if a Rubik’s Cube had turned; the entire dome became pitch black. When the light rose again, the look of the arena under the dome had changed.
The barren land had vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of Needle Grass Meadow. A gusting wind blew across, making the soft Needle Grass sway in the air.
However, even the strongest wind did not disturb the display screen floating in mid-air.
“Next up is the competitors’ entrance.”
At this moment, the massive display screen hovering above the Needle Grass Meadow began to flicker and then displayed a line of text.
“Introducing: The Spring Waltz.”
As the participant’s name flashed onto the screen, a door materialized out of thin air in the vast arena. A tall figure gracefully emerged from the portal.
The man sported an extravagantly feathered top hat and was garbed in an equally flamboyant, form-fitting aristocratic ensemble.
Many nobles who are short and stout can look somewhat comical in such tight-fitting attire, similar to a foolish goose.
However, the man before us was different. Tall and lean, his long legs were not just slender but exuded a sense of muscular strength. Even in his form-fitting clothing, there was not a hint of awkwardness.
He was strikingly handsome, likely in his early twenties, with a mane of beautiful emerald green hair and eyes as clear as a tranquil lake.
Up to this point, the impression he left on the audience was overwhelmingly favorable.
But then, as he stepped through the doorway, he languidly stretched his body and leaned against the doorframe.
Leisurely snapping his fingers, a vibrant rose appeared at his fingertips.
Inhaling the rose’s scent deeply at the tip of his nose, he looked utterly intoxicated, as if smelling the nape of a refined lady’s neck. Though his movements were lethargic, they were saturated with an air of flirtatiousness.
The audience’s reaction was a mix of silence and stupefaction.
That wasn’t the end. After burying his nose in the rose, he subtly looked up and threw a coquettish glance that wasn’t the least bit effeminate.
The audience was divided in their responses. A portion of the women shrieked in excitement, some blushed and held their foreheads, while others displayed disdain.
As for the overwhelming majority of men, they wore expressions of utter speechlessness.