Chapter 276: 2nd Level Match Start
Leon Vs Ronan Virex
Lily Vs Aaron Stone
Leo Vs Uraan Hurricane
The sequence of the first match was displayed as Leon and Ronan were brought into the ring. A tingle rang through the board as the betting pools opened.
Only 1 phase betting odds.
Leon: 1.05
Ronan Virex: 3.1
Maximum bet by an individual â 500,000 AC
Seeing the odds, Aaron couldnât hold back his laughter in the top 10 room. As if sensing that amusement, Ronan slowly turned his head towards the Top 10 student room and sneered, lips curling with disdain. The odds themselves made it clear who was expected to win.
But nonetheless, there were always a few brave soulsâor reckless gamblersâamong the crowd and across the empire who bet on Ronan, lured by the massive returns.
Betting pools:
Leon: 1,989,767,877 AC
Ronan Virex: 788,666,781 AC
Miho, of course, went all out on Leon even when the returns were low. Once again, she made use of the three girls, and this time they had sufficient funds to place the maximum amount from all four accounts.
When both contestants appeared in the ring, a faint shimmer of barrier light sealing the arena, it was Ronan who spoke first, his voice carrying a mocking edge after seeing the odds.
"Donât you think the odds are rigged?" he said to Leon with a grin, tilting his head.
"I mean, obviously, Iâm the one whoâs going to win," he continued, spreading his hands slightly, "but still, the house made my odds so high and yours so low. Maybe itâs a trick? So the big figures cash in on me while the house walks away with huge profits?" Ronan added, raising a brow, clearly amused by his own words.
Hearing him, Leon simply shook his head, a faint sigh escaping him, astonished by the sheer shamelessness. At this point, Ronan could even contend with Leo in that regard.
"Sure," Leon replied flatly, his tone matching the mockery. "I guess that must be the case."
"Sentinel! Go, get him!"
Suddenly, Ronan pointed at Leon, his voice snapping with command as his beast materialised mid-charge, claws already igniting, tearing through the air towards Leon.
Leon had expected a surprise attack. His stance shifted instantly and eyes locking onto the incoming threat. At the same time, Ronan drew his sword, metal ringing sharply, and followed just behind his beast for a coordinated assault.
Leonâs aura surged, heat radiating outward as his fist became coated in an orangish glow. Without waiting, he bolted forward, the dust blowing from the ground beneath with each of his steps.
Swosh!
Moltenbrand Sentinelâs claws blazed as it reached for Leon, flames trailing behind each swipe. But Leonâs fist met it head-on.
Manoeuvring past the claws with a sharp twist of his body, Leon drove a crushing blow straight into the beastâs chest.
CRACK! TWUOOSSSSS!
The lava-cast armour shattered instantly, fragments scattering like molten glass. At the same time, flames surged up Leonâs arm, swallowing his figure in fire.
But in that very next moment, the beast was launched awayâand before it could even hit the ground, it vanished mid-air.
Ronan, who was just a step behind, had his eyes widen, breath catchingâbut before he could even process what had happened, Leonâs flame-covered figure turned towards him.
And struck.
A single punch, direct and merciless, slammed into Ronanâs face.
The impact echoed.
Ronan was defeated within 20 seconds of the match start.
The arena fell into a silence.
The audience sat frozen, unable to process what they had just witnessed. A Pseudo 3-star beastâdefeated in a single strike. Its masterâeliminated immediately after. And Leon hadnât even summoned his own beast, which was, without question, stronger than him.
Slowly, Leon stepped forward, emerging from the fading flames, completely unscathed. Not even his clothes were singed. A faint orange glow shimmered across his body, like a thin protective layerâhis aura application, perfectly controlled.
Ting!
Balance: 3,612,090 [2,000,000] -> 3,712,090 AC
Miho only made 100,000 AC even with all four girls betting together.
For a brief second, there was still silence.
Thenâ
The arena exploded.
"LEON! LEON! LEON!"
"Iâm putting my entire savings on you!"
"Not even that Leo guy can beat him!"
Cheers roared like a tidal wave, echoing across the stadium, shaking the very air.
Back in the Top 10 student rooms, Leo simply shook his head, a faint sigh escaping his mouth.
"The [Critical Strike] skill was really unnecessary there..." he muttered under his breath.
Both Leon and Ronan reappeared. Ronan now stood stiffly, his eyes filled with wariness as he looked at Leon. Even he hadnât expected to be defeated in a single strikeâwithout Leon even summoning his beast.
Uraan, on the other hand, seemed unsurprised. He had already witnessed Leonâs monstrous strength before and remained calm.
But Tavian was observing something different.
Instead of watching Leon in awe like the others, his gaze was fixed on Leo, studying him, trying to read even the slightest change in expression.
"So expressionless..." he thought, narrowing his eyes. "Is that bravery, confidence... or overconfidence?"
His gaze then drifted towards Lily, who was far easier to read.
But seeing her expression only made him more confused.
"Whatâs with this... expressionless environment...?"
Lily remained calm, completely sure of Leoâs victory.
What she didnât know... was that Leon still had something hidden.
The next moment, space twistedâ
And Lily, along with Aaron, was teleported into the arena.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen!" the announcerâs voice boomed, charged with excitement. "Our next match is between Lily and Aaron! Who will win? Will it be our Windblade dancerâor the rocky heavy-hitter?"
Lily: 2.3
Aaron Stone: 1.8
Betting pool:
Lily: 1,237,693,759 AC
Aaron Stone: 1,845,674,785 AC
Maximum bet by an individual â 500,000 AC
Aaron already had the reputation of defeating a strong girl and overpowering her to a great extent. And Lily had the reputation of dragging the fight until Dhalia got tired. It was obvious who the crowd favoured, and thus the odds.
Without hesitation, Miho tapped her device, placing her bet on Lily along with the three girls. They exchanged proud looks, as if the victory was already theirs.
"Shardfall, control the areaâGravelflow, dig inside the earth!" Aaron commanded the moment he appeared.
Both beasts materialised instantly.
The Shardfall Warden slammed into the ground, jagged stone spikes beginning to rise, while the Gravelflow Serpent burrowed beneath the surface, the earth rippling as it disappeared.
Lily didnât wait even a second.
"Treant! Pull out that serpentâand take control of the field before they do."
The treant emerged with a heavy thud, its massive wooden form shaking the ground. It slammed its fist downâ
THOOM!
Thick vines burst outward, spreading rapidly, roots tearing through the soil. Some lashed towards the Shardfall Warden, while others burrowed deep, hunting through the earth.
A low hiss echoed from beneath.
In the next instant, the ground ruptured as the treant yanked the Gravelflow Serpent out, dirt scattering into the air.
Aaron was momentarily taken aback, his brows tighteningâ
âbut the very next moment, his grip tightened on his sword as he surged forward, charging straight at the treant.