"T-T-THIS BATTLE IS FIERCE!! WAY TOO FIERCE!! THE INITIAL ASSUMPTIONS PROVED TO BE WRONG AS ALMIRA BLACK, THE BATTLE PRIESTESS, FEROCIOUSLY BARES HER FANGS!! WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ARTHUR VERMILLION SHOW TURNED OUT TO BE ANYONE'S GAME!!" Corey's voice echoed across the arena, burgeoning anxiety inside the hearts of those who bet on Arthur.
It wasn't that Almira was overwhelmingly strong, it was just that she was very adept at controlling the tempo of the battle.
As a result, Arthur had never once managed to cleanly hit the battle priestess.
Although Almira suffered a few light wounds, she simply healed herself back to full health.
Shockingly though, Arthur appeared as indomitable as ever. There wasn't a hint of impatience on his face.
In fact, there was simply an amused look.
"I admit, Miss Almira. You're strong and you can probably make a name for yourself. However, wouldn't it be easier for you to do so under the name of the Vermillion Adventurer Clan? You'll be famous in Valenzia in no time and I promise to spare nothing to help you grow to prominence. All you need to do is be my wife. What do you say?"
"I refuse. I don't like men that are too tall. Also, you're not that handsome. I want someone handsome. At least someone on the level of Shye Crowley's facial aesthetics. Furthermore, I sense a pretentious air about you which I find unappealing.
I apologize, but there is no possibility of you winning my hand in marriage."
Hearing Almira's blunt words, a hint of fury made its way into Arthur's heart. He had observed Almira for quite a while as he fancied her, hence, he knew that she was simply a blunt person who didn't like to sugarcoat her words.
She definitely had no intention to humiliate him.
Unfortunately, with or without intentions, embarrassed him by quite a fair deal, especially when she mentioned that Shye Crowley was more handsome than him.
Unforgivable!
'If I can't have you, then you can f*ck the hell off the stage!'
With burgeoning rage, Arthur stopped holding back and charged straight at Almira with unbelievable speed, brandishing his katana diagonally downward with a cold smile.
The battle priestess was caught off guard by the sudden change in Arthur's speed, resulting in her failing to raise her small buckler on time, and a clumsy block that made her stagger a few steps back.
Naturally, the enraged heir of the Vermillion Clan would not let this chance go to waste, swiftly following up with a ruthless stab to the neck.
Only, he didn't expect Almira's craftiness.
Shockingly the entire blue dome turned black, yet, the crowd could clearly see both competitors.
Arthur burned in majestic vermillion flames while heavenly light illuminated a small area around where Almira stood.
Soon after, the final clash of skills happened as a huge black prison made of four black heavenly gates appeared around Arthur and slowly shrunk.
Eventually, the vermillion flames and the heavenly gates made contact, emitting gray vapor as both skills exhausted the other.
The gates...were slowly incinerated. However, it had also successfully begun squishing Arthur to death.
Now, it was a battle of attrition.
Will the gates collapse first? Or will Arthur die first? The people watched the unfolding events with various emotions.
Those who bet their entire fortune on the heir of the Vermillion Clan were on the edge of their seats.
Finally, after a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, the outcome slowly became discernible.
Arthur...would only last for a few more seconds while the black gates would last for at least ten more. It was clear that If things continued, the young man from the Vermillion Adventurer Clan would lose.
Astonishingly though, instead of a panicked expression, there was a faint smile on the corners of his mouth.
"So this is physical damage huh?" Arthur playfully said, shaking Almira's serene heart.
'Sh*t...so he found out...'
"You've fought well, however, this is over. Stoic!"
As the young warrior's body was covered by a golden transparent aura, the pressure brought about by the black heavenly gates lessened by a huge lot.
From there, it was the Arthur show.
The black gates dissolved, allowing the young warrior from the Vermillion Clan to charge without fear toward Almira, who was now out of both skills and mana.
Shortly after, an azure ray of light shot out from the stage as Arthur ruthlessly slashed the exhausted battle priestess in half.