064. Arena (2)
“You said you were going to the arena…?”
Messages came to mind the moment Seongjin Lee said that with a confused face.
「I am disappointed that the manager ‘Gourmet’ does not accompany his contractor.」 「The
manager ‘Black Devil’ is interested in your strange behavior.」
「The manager ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’ is satisfied with your judgment. I do.」
「The manager ‘Baekhakgeomseon(白鶴劍仙)’ is looking forward to your performance.」
Most of the managers who were observing gave a pretty good response.
But…
“The challengers in the arena are going to be pretty bad. As much as I chose ‘Strategy’ at the turning point, it must be specialized in confrontation between challengers.”
Seongjin Lee, unlike those managers, expressed concern.
In other words, it means that you will not see good things in the arena, so back off.
‘Hmm…’
Hearing the worried voice, he seems to sincerely believe that nothing good will happen.
But that doesn’t mean I had any intention of leaving.
“If that’s the case, I’ll be fine.”
Even if they specialized in fighting between challengers, it was unlikely that they would lose.
Just as he easily defeated the Chinese challengers, there was nothing different about being a challenger at the turning point.
After hearing my calm answer, Seongjin Lee stroked my chin and then nodded.
“Hmm… Well, you must have thought as much as you said.”
It was as if he had seen something, so he wouldn’t worry about it any more.
“Then let’s go to the arena now.”
“Oh, I’ll have to go to the auction house soon.”
Lee Seong-jin also bid farewell by saying that if there was a purpose for coming to the common area.
“I’ll see you again if I have a chance later.”
After those words, Seongjin Lee began to walk away from the plaza.
Then…
「The manager, ‘Gourmet’, said that he would finish the observation soon, and
said that he would come again later. 』
‘I might be able to get something more… but it’s a waste.’
I thought it was a shame, but the other managers didn’t seem to mind.
「The manager, ‘Iron-blooded Lord’, smiles kindly, saying that it’s okay even if the manager doesn’t come again.」 「
The manager, ‘White Crane Swordsman’, just happens to be thinking the same way.
』 Maybe it’s because
they didn’t like it.
‘Are you trying to monopolize me?’
Perhaps, if many administrators were aware of it, it might not have a very good influence on the Iron Blood Lord or the White Crane Swordsman.
‘I’ll go back to the waiting room later and find out more.’
At the same time as I thought, I also started to move forward.
‘It’s been a while since I’ll fight the challengers.’
Is it because I haven’t fought against a challenger from the same world since the 6th floor?
Somehow, I thought that I would get quite a lot of rewards in the arena.
***
Arena.
As one of the contents of the common area, the appearance of a place where challengers can compete with each other with rewards…
‘Something is very strange…?’
It was completely different from what I originally thought.
“Ah, why is this bastard losing again…! Is this the only one with such a high ranking?”
“Why the fuck Korean servers are so strong? No, the 300th place in the settlement ranking beats the 100th place?”
“Oh shit! I messed up again! shit! Stop defeating this damn baby! ”
I couldn’t help but be startled by the heat that seemed to be an illegal gambling place.
It was because people of all races were gathered, sitting in their seats, staring at the tablet-like screen and swearing.
‘This is an arena…?’
Even fighting was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone sits in a chair and manipulates only the tuk-tuk screen and runs wild like crazy.
Nowhere else could I see challengers fighting directly with each other.
But…
‘I don’t think you came to the gambling arena…’
“Welcome to the arena.”
The system message clearly said that this was the arena.
「The manager, ‘Black Devil’, is a sight that reminds me of the past.」 「
The manager, ‘Iron-Blooded Lord’, hates the arena, saying that it is the same no matter where it is.」
「The manager, ‘White Crane Swordsman’ I’m very excited by the heat.”
Even the administrators recognize this place as an ‘arena’.
‘I don’t know what the hell happened.’
First of all, I approached and sat down in a spare seat to grasp the situation.
Then…
「The arena system is activated.」
「Select ‘Batting’ or ‘Duel’ by manipulating the screen.」
「If additional explanation is needed, click ‘Help’ in the lower left corner.」
Wow!
In an instant, the black screen turned on and such messages appeared on the screen.
And at the same time, I could understand why so many challengers were enthusiastic.
‘Betting and duel…’
After reading the ‘Help’ that appeared on the screen, I was able to figure out what system the arena was running with.
“Help”
“1. The arena is divided into two systems: ‘batting’ and ‘duel’.」
「2. If you select ‘Betting’ in the arena, you can bet points on other challengers’ duels.」
「2-1. If betting, points can be called according to the win or loss of the challenger who bet the points.」
「2-2. However, depending on the winner or loser of the challenger, all the points staked may be lost.」
Since points can be lost and called through ‘betting’, the challengers must be enthusiastic.
‘Then all the people who were just angry must have been betting.’
Points are lost and gained according to victory and defeat, so it is bound to be passionate.
But I didn’t come to the arena to do this kind of ‘batting’.
「3. If you select ‘Duel’ in the arena, you can duel with other challengers with a reward.”
「3-1. However, when requesting a duel, the settlement ranking and name will be known to the opponent requesting a duel, and conversely, even if the duel request is accepted, the settlement ranking and name will be announced to the opponent.” 「3-2
. The duel is conducted on a 1:1 basis, and the duel is established only when ‘skills’, ‘items’, and ‘powers’ are used as defeat penalties prior to the duel.」 「3-3
. At this time, if the opponent’s penalty for defeat is not the same, the duel can be canceled and it is not compulsory.” 「
3-4. When the duel is established, the challengers can fight each other in the Colosseum. At this time, if you surrender, the duel ends and you return to your original position.」
The ‘reward’ that can be obtained from this duel is the core of the arena.
‘This is also a high risk high return.’
There is a lot to be gained as long as you can fight anything with a loss penalty to each other.
“Hmm…”
Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a lot of rewards right away as you fight one-on-one…
but the more you collect the rewards, the more you can grow.
Then, without hesitation, I immediately chose ‘Duel’ and looked for a duel opponent.
And…
「Catherine Bennett」
「Affiliation Server – USA」
「Reconciliation Rank – 6th」
「Victory Reward – Skill ‘Steel Blade (C+)’」
「Number of Wins – 17 times」
「Number of Defeats – 0 times」
How much? It wasn’t long before I was able to find an appetizing opponent.
***
Catherine Bennett.
An A-class hunter who was once called the ‘witch of fear’, she had a gloomy face with her red hair hanging down.
“Is it because the number of victories has increased now…? Why doesn’t everyone challenge me to a duel…?”
She glared at the motionless screen and sighed.
Perhaps it was because she had already won 17 times, and no one challenged her to a duel anymore.
No, it’s not that I didn’t apply at all….
All those who challenged set the duel reward as a penalty very low.
I did not consider such a challenge at all and turned it down straight away.
‘If the duel record didn’t appear, I’d rather have challenged more…’ There
are 17 victories and 0 defeats below it.
In other words, it means that he won all the duels and took the reward…
There was no way there was anyone who didn’t consider the difference in skill even for a moment.
Even the US server’s ‘settlement ranking’ was revealed, and there were no people who challenged with similar rewards.
This is because everyone knew the duel with another challenger early on, knowing that the American A-class hunter ‘Witch of Fear’ was Catherine.
As she was always on the airwaves with her exceptional appearance, she was well-known overseas as well…
Everyone who guessed who she was had no choice but to avoid a fight.
「The manager, the “Lord of Fire,” laughs at the fact that it is trivial.」
“I will.”
Katherine’s eyes shone coldly as she agreed with the contract manager’s opinion.
“It’s like cowards who don’t jump into a close match…”
Originally, Catherine thought that she should always fight while taking risks.
As a hunter, she always became very strong in close fights and became an A-class hunter.
That’s why I thought that those who couldn’t take risks couldn’t be strong.
‘It wouldn’t be worth it.’
But there were only cowards like that.
It was distasteful that those who did not challenge because they were afraid that they had never been defeated were the same challengers and were rewarded.
But Catherine’s anger didn’t last long either.
‘Should I leave the arena soon…?’
That’s not to say that there was no response at all, because even she was tired of waiting.
Even so, when she tries to challenge others, there are not many people with a higher settlement ranking than her, and they refuse to match duels.
It was the moment when Catherine thought about whether she would step down.
“A request for a duel has arrived.”
“…?”
The duel request that did not arrive even after waiting so long came.
Even…
「Han Seong-yoon」
「Affiliation Server – Korea」
「Reconciliation Rank – 3rd Place」
「Victory Reward – Skill ‘Blade Demon Sword 獵魔劍(C-)」
「Number of Victories – 0 times」
「Number of Defeats – 0 ”
“You just entered the arena…?”
The opponent had a record of not a single victory or defeat.
In other words, they are about to start their first fight in the arena.
‘But still choosing me…’
Korea was one of the countries with a thick fan base for Katherine Bennett.
That’s why, if you’ve seen Catherine Bennett in this record, you can’t help but think of the ‘Witch of Cowardice’…
This challenger didn’t care about that and seemed to apply for a duel right away.
‘It’s fun.’
After losing all power and entering the tower, I had never seen a challenger as aggressive as this.
Even though the settlement ranking was high, the fact that he applied for a duel right away meant that he was determined to that extent.
‘Han Seong-yoon…’
Katherine tilted her head at the name she had never heard before.
Even if it’s a foreign country, if you’re in Korea, you probably know quite a few names of A-class hunters… I
couldn’t even remember who they were, so I had no choice but to frown.
‘I’ll go back later and find out who it is.’
I don’t know who it is, but I liked it enough just to take on this challenge.
Catherine accepted Han Seong-yoon’s request for a duel…
“The duel was established.”
“Move to the Colosseum.”
Then, in a blink of an eye, she was standing in the center of the gigantic Colosseum.
Also…
At the center of it all was another challenger wearing a black robe.
Seeing such a challenger, Catherine smiled and opened her mouth.
“It’s nice to have the courage to challenge me to a duel without using an arena before…”
And…
「Challenger Seong-yoon Han vs. Catherine Bennett」
「Let’s start a duel.」
Joe. Consider it a good experience.”
[The Authority ‘Birth of Fire’ is activated.]
As soon as she finished speaking like that, an explosion occurred in her grasp and sparks flew in front of her.
Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwam…!
‘It’s over.’
This flame was ‘power’ with destructive power different from ordinary magic.
As much as that, Catherine was sure that the message ‘Victory was won’ would come to mind immediately.
“…?”
Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
That is, until he sees a blue sword slicing through the flames.
“What is this…?”
The moment Catherine was taken aback when she saw how easily she stopped the spark that no one had been able to stop.
“It was a good experience.”
Crackling…
The challenger, who had been standing silently, throwing away his half-burnt black robe, opened his mouth…
“Surely, it’s an amazing skill…”
Only then did she realize who had seized the initiative in this duel. .
“Doesn’t it sound like you can’t overcome it?”
The fight now belongs to this Korean challenger, not Catherine.
