Chapter 2723 Evil Dragon Arena <TOC> Chapter 2725 Former Gentleman
Translator: SumTLMan
Seeing the result, Gray Merchant beneath his mask furrowed his brows slightly.
If they were forced to send their fighter first, it would not be advantageous, as the opponents could specifically choose who to send in response.
However, this thought surfaced for merely one or two seconds before vanishing completely. Although disadvantageous, limiting the scope of the battle greatly benefited them; presumably, this rule was established by the adjudicator for balance.
Thinking of this, Gray Merchant stopped agonizing over trivialities and began pondering: who should fight first?
Should he personally step onto the field, or let Shrew fight first?
Among their opponents, he only knew about Daus, who certainly was not the one they sought. Moreover, Daus’ reputation was already widespread, and his bloodline was exposed long ago. Gray Merchant’s Gemstone Earth Dragon bloodline inherently restrained Daus; thus, facing Daus himself would probably pose no significant issues.
But if he stepped into the arena, would Daus come out?
Probably… after all, Daus was a Pure Blood wizard who supported the Meadow Manifesto, whereas Gray Merchant himself was a blood source wizard; with Daus’ character, he’d probably jump out first.
If Daus could be eliminated early, the remaining wizards would become much easier to handle. The only variable was the nose in the stone slab, was he a competitor? Would he participate?
While Gray Merchant pondered, a barrier of light suddenly enveloped their heads.
At the same time, the black-robed adjudicator’s voice entered their ears: “You have a maximum of three minutes to deliberate. By the way, within this light barrier, external energies are completely isolated, and you can converse freely, but it would be best not to use spoken words.”
The isolation of external energy meant that their communication through mental connection would remain unnoticed by others.
Gray Merchant raised his head, thanked the adjudicator, and turned toward Shrew. His voice echoed within the mental connection: “I’ll fight first.”
Shrew, floating in mid-air, gave no response but gazed disdainfully at Gray Merchant, seemingly waiting for his reasoning.
After a brief contemplation, Gray Merchant laid out his analysis.
After listening, Shrew sneered: “Your analysis isn’t incorrect, but you’ve considered only one perspective. You know Daus’ information, why wouldn’t he also know yours?”
Gray Merchant: “My identity should never have been leaked.”
The half-exposed face of Shrew showed a contemptuous smile: “Indeed, even though your past strength and your current strength might be similar, fundamentally, you are very different now.”
Gray Merchant fell silent.
“Have you not realized it yet?”
Gray Merchant: “Realized what?”
Shrew: “Do you still recall the situation outside when we stepped out of the Hanging Prison Stairs’ gate?”
Gray Merchant recalled carefully: when they stepped out from that gate, there was actually no one outside. At that time, they had been puzzled, clearly, the hidden Mirror Dweller had indicated people would be there, yet nobody was found.
Immediately afterward, the black-robed adjudicator appeared, giving them a small test.
When remembering this, Gray Merchant vaguely understood Shrew’s implication.
If their opponents had no knowledge of their arrival, why would they hide beforehand? And why would the adjudicator present such a test?
Furthermore, given the adjudicator’s formidable strength, so powerful that hidden Mirror Dweller even allowed him to adjudicator, why wouldn’t he directly deal with the target himself? The answer was already becoming clear.
Seeing the understanding flicker through Gray Merchant’s eyes, Shrew finally continued: “Now do you understand? This adjudicator might not necessarily stand with the hidden Mirror Dweller. After we stepped out from the Hanging Prison Stairs, he also appeared after some delay; perhaps he previously stayed with our opponents.”
“Do you remember his response when you introduced yourself? He knew who you were.”
“If he knows your identity, yet may not stand with the hidden Mirror Dweller, and possibly even associates with our opponents, why would you assume Daus doesn’t know you possess the Gemstone Earth Dragon bloodline? Perhaps he already leaked your information.”
Shrew calmly added: “Not just you, perhaps all our information was leaked.”
Gray Merchant found no counter argument this time. Shrew’s words held logic. Although mere speculation, her intuition had always been sharp, and the doubts she raised were indeed inexplicable otherwise.
In the way of wizards, excessive caution was not a fault; excessive optimism was the true error.
Considering the worst-case scenario, if Daus indeed knew his Gemstone Earth Dragon bloodline, he definitely wouldn’t enter battle against him, then Gray Merchant’s plan became invalid.
“It’s either you or me. Do you wish to go first?” Gray Merchant asked heavily.
Shrew: “The moment you activate your bloodline, your information will immediately become exposed. However, I’m different. Yesterday’s parts on me differ completely from today’s. Even the black-robed adjudicator cannot predict what organs I’ve modified today.”
“If they try to respond according to past information… Ha, empiricism can lead to doom.”
Though not explicitly stated, her intention was abundantly clear.
Gray Merchant deliberated momentarily, eventually nodding: “You going first works, too. But be cautious of the strange nose opposite; there’s a chance he might be…”
Shrew waved dismissively: “I know, you don’t need to say it. However, compared to the nose in the stone slab, I’m more concerned about the wizard proficient in illusions. I have a feeling he’s no insignificant character.”
After speaking these words via mental connection, Shrew voluntarily untied the bandages on Gray Merchant’s wrist, slowly drifting forward, passing through the barrier of light, and finally stopping near the center of the competition platform.
The Sovereign of Wisdom saw Shrew passing through the barrier and understood immediately: she would be Gray Merchant’s first combatant.
This outcome wasn’t unexpected, as information about Shrew was the scarcest. As a modification witch, no one could clearly predict her frequency of changing bloodlines, limbs, or organs.
Therefore, everything regarding Shrew, her strategies, spells, abilities, talents, and bloodlines, remained unknown.
No one knew which of her abilities might specifically counter them. Hence, her emergence put even greater pressure on Angel’s side compared to Gray Merchant appearing himself.
However, Angel’s side had already prepared their strategy, Angel would face Gray Merchant, and naturally, Daus would handle Shrew’s appearance.
After Shrew appeared, a symbolic barrier of light also enclosed Angel’s side for discussion.
But no communication was needed. Daus directly waved and walked onto the field.
Watching Daus’ back, Vai opened his mouth and finally managed to say: “Don’t let yourself be played around by a witch again like last time.”
Initially walking confidently, Daus almost stumbled upon hearing Vai’s words.
Recovering his composure, Daus said indifferently: “I’m no longer who I was back then, just watch.”
Vai: “Watch how you’ll suffer an embarrassing defeat?”
Daus snapped back irritably: “It’s triumphantly victorious!”
Saying this, Daus strode toward the central arena without further bickering with Vai.
Meanwhile, Gray Merchant saw Daus enter first and sighed internally. It seemed virtually confirmed that Daus indeed knew his information now.
Otherwise, considering Daus’ dislike for blood source wizards, he would surely wait for Gray Merchant.
Now that Shrew appeared first, and Daus immediately stepped out, it confirmed Shrew’s speculation, the black-robed adjudicator indeed might not align with the hidden Mirror Dweller.
Yet, though not entirely aligned, he willingly adjudicatord, and the hidden Mirror Dweller consented, this situation was truly intriguing.
Limited conflict, yet not absolute opposition?
Was this some survival principle of the underground labyrinth?
While Gray Merchant pondered these thoughts, Daus had already reached the center of the arena. Lazily unsheathing a red sword from his waist, a flash of red gleamed faintly. Daus elegantly spun the sword in a flourish, finally tipping its blade downward toward the ground. Then, with his other hand, he casually extended a finger toward Shrew, beckoning her arrogantly with a motion he personally considered exceptionally dashing.
Floating midair, Shrew showed no anger at Daus’ provocation. Instead, she clicked her tongue twice, remarking: “Red Sword, Daus… you differ somewhat from my imagination.”
She deliberately paused when pronouncing Daus’ name.
Daus suspiciously asked: “What does that mean?”
Shrew replied: “The Daus I imagined was a gentleman who never fought women. Unexpectedly, you’re the first to duel me.”
Daus scoffed dismissively: “I’m no gentleman. You’re just saying that to make me go easy, aren’t you? I won’t fall for it.”
As soon as Daus finished speaking, he didn’t even wait for the Sovereign of Wisdom’s signal to begin. Pointing his red sword, his entire figure seemingly merged with the blade, transforming into a crimson streak that shot straight toward Shrew.
Facing this sudden attack, a brief glint of surprise flashed across Shrew’s eyes, but she showed no panic at all.
Just as the crimson streak was about to touch her, the bandages wrapped around her body moved spontaneously without wind, swiftly unfurling at phantom-like speed. Like countless white tentacles, they tightly enveloped the streak, completely immobilizing it.
As the streak was halted, Daus’ figure gradually reappeared.
Daus shook his sword slightly, attempting to shatter the restraining bandages, but their toughness exceeded his expectations. Despite exerting great force, all he managed to do was slightly loosen the bindings, no sign of them breaking appeared.
However, the slight loosening allowed Daus to swiftly withdraw his sword.
Without hesitation, Daus flashed aside, preparing a swift attack from behind.
Yet, before he could make any further moves, an immense oppressive force suddenly descended from the sky.
Both Daus and Shrew simultaneously fell from midair under this overwhelming pressure. Undoubtedly, the source of this immense pressure was none other than the Sovereign of Wisdom, positioned high above.
“Attacking before I announced the start is a violation of the rules. Only this once, if you repeat such behavior, I’ll throw you straight out of the arena.”
Once finished, the overwhelming pressure gradually dissipated.
Daus and Shrew finally regained their breaths.
With a swift roll, Daus muttered to himself and returned to his original position. Shrew similarly rose again into midair, but her eyes briefly darkened.
Previously, she merely suspected Daus’ group had struck some kind of deal with the black-robed adjudicator, exchanging their information. But now, it appeared even clearer: the black-robed adjudicator was outright aligned with their opponents.
Though described as a penalty, nothing had actually penalized Daus. Moreover, the descending pressure had thoroughly cleared all airborne informational factors.
This had completely disrupted one of her subtle enchantments.
Though resentment gnawed her heart, Shrew dared not openly protest against the overwhelmingly powerful adjudicator.
She could only direct her vicious glare toward Daus.
Feeling her fierce gaze, Daus turned back. However, at that moment, Shrew retracted her hostility, replacing it instead with a coquettish smile: “The adjudicator was right to stop you, such conduct lacks gentlemanliness.”
Daus snapped irritably: “Stop mentioning anything about gentlemen! That has nothing to do with me!”
“Oh, really?” Shrew suddenly smiled, saying: “Six years ago, I attended a small tea gathering in the Manlo plane. There, I met an unfamiliar witch. When someone asked who was the most gentlemanly wizard in the Southern Region of the Wizarding World, guess whom that witch named?”
Suspiciously, Daus retorted: “You’re implying she named me?”
Shrew enunciated each word clearly: “That’s correct~.”
While Daus was stunned by this revelation, the Sovereign of Wisdom, hovering high above, held no interest in idle gossip. He immediately announced: “If you have skills, chat while fighting. I now officially declare: the battle begins.”
With the Sovereign of Wisdom’s announcement, Daus immediately unleashed a fierce assault.
Regarding Shrew’s mention of the so-called “gentleman,” he remained completely indifferent, winning this battle took priority.
Yet, undeterred, Shrew continued speaking while easily dodging his attacks: “Do you know why she named you the Southern Region’s most gentlemanly wizard?”
Ignoring her, Daus intensified his attack.
Answering herself, Shrew smiled mockingly: “Because, she said, you never fought women, even when a woman stepped all over you, you still refused to draw your sword.”
Daus’ movements paused momentarily, but quickly, his speed increased even further.
Shrew added leisurely: “Oh, right. I seem to have forgotten to mention, her name was… Youna.”
Daus abruptly raised his head, pupils contracting sharply.
…
“Youna?” Standing at the edge of the arena, Angel quietly repeated the name: “Does the Southern Region have such a witch?”
Angel raised his head, coincidentally meeting Kael’s gaze. Thinking he was being questioned, Kael hastily waved and shook his head: “M-my Lord, I’ve never heard of her either.”
After speaking, Kael turned toward his fellow apprentice Vai: “What about you?”
Vai’s expression was subtly complicated. After a considerable pause, he finally replied: “Youna… I know her.”
Both Angel and Kael turned in surprise toward Vai.
Vai explained after a short contemplation: “Earlier, when Daus stepped into the arena, didn’t I mention something about him not getting played by a witch again?”
Kael nodded: “Yes, I recall. At the time, I wanted to ask, but…” He hesitated from embarrassment.
Vai continued: “That witch was Youna. Back then, she was just an apprentice like us. We traveled together on adventures for some time.”
A nostalgic expression flickered in Vai’s eyes as he recalled those memories.
Chapter 2723 Evil Dragon Arena <TOC> Chapter 2725 Former Gentleman