Inside the waiting room, Alden finally stood up from the bench as it was ti for his match.
After having coffee with his friends and the little incident with that senior, things had gotten a bit ssy. Alden had been taken away by the guards for questioning but once the senior student admitted that it was his own fault... Alden was released without much trouble.
Naturally, the senior wasn’t completely stupid. He knew exactly who Alden was and he knew what kind of things he had said to deserve getting attacked.
Letting the matter escalate would only bring unnecessary attention and trouble to himself especially since everyone knew how much the Emperor favoured his daughter. So, instead of making it bigger, he chose to step back.
After that, Alden had walked straight to the arena as there were only fifteen minutes left for his match... and now that he heard the announcer calling his na, he walked out of the waiting room without any hesitation.
The mont he stepped out, a wave of deafening cheers crashed into him, almost making his ears ring. Countless battles were unfolding at once across the many platforms scattered around the grounds, while friends and family scread at the top of their lungs, desperately trying to make sure their support wasn’t drowned out by the voices of others.
His was platform number eight.
He walked casually, his gaze drifting over the different matches as he made his way forward until he finally reached his assigned platform.
Soone was already there.
A girl with bright red hair and striking orange eyes stood in the center, wearing an overly excited smile.
Her delicate face didn’t match the wild grin on her face and for so reason, she felt oddly familiar as if he had seen her sowhere before.
Hmm... who is she?
The girl smirked the mont she noticed him.
"Finally here, huh?" She muttered. "It’s been so long. I have been waiting to fight you."
"...Huh?"
Alden frowned as confusion flickered across his face.
What is she even talking about?
He had arrived five minutes before the match was supposed to start and the announcer had only just called them to the platform.
How exactly had she been "waiting for so long"?
"Don’t tell you don’t rember ?" She said, exaggerating her expression dramatically. "How could you forget the wild night we spent locked in each other’s arms... before you defeated and made even more excited?"
Her words were clearly teasing, layered with mischief and provocation rather than anything literal, as her smirk widened while watching his reaction.
He instinctively turned toward the entrance of the arena, his eyes scanning the spot where the pressure had co from but there was no one there except a few strands of white hair disappearing as soone walked out.
Is that Amyra?
White hair was rare and only the imperial family had them. So there weren’t many suspects for him to narrow it down as he sighed and looked at the woman before him.
"Who are you lady?" He asked politely, clearly curious about her identity now.
The girl dramatically wiped away an imaginary tear. "Tch, all n are pigs and here I thought you would be different... that you would be the one." She clicked her tongue. "Turns out you are no different and are just another playboy."
This ti, Alden felt another glare with no less bloodlust than before... and imdiately he looked toward the stands and this ti, the suspect wasn’t gone.
It was Nyx seated along with Aziel and Cecilia while glaring at him wide eyed... and slight disbelief.
Is this so new trend now to throw bloodlust at friends like it’s a greeting or what?
"You truly broke my heart..." The girl said dramatically, her smile widening. "Maybe you would rember better through violence. Hope you won’t forget so easily this ti."
And just like before, the bloodlust slamd into him again but this ti... it wasn’t from Nyx or Amyra either.
Alden turned sharply.
A black-haired boy stood in the distance with his lifeless eyes locked onto him and his face completely emotionless.
It was the boy who had fought Zephyr earlier.
Ryou and now even he was pointing bloodlust at Alden.
Alden clicked his tongue, feeling annoyed.
What the hell is happening...?
Why is everyone suddenly targeting with bloodlust?
Did I step on a black cat today or sothing?
He turned toward the referee, urging him to start already but to his utter disbelief... even the referee was looking at him with open disgust as if Alden was so kind of shaless playboy who toyed with won’s hearts.
...Seriously?
After everything today, even the referee is judging now?
Still after one annoyed glare from Alden the referee flinched slightly, coughed and finally rembered his duty.
"Both participants have arrived, the battle will begin imdiately."
His voice echoed, following the sa script every referee used.
"Please stand in front of each other."
"The platform will be enclosed within a mana barrier to prevent outside interference and the safety bracelets on your wrists will activate if you are subjected to a fatal attack."
"You may also surrender voluntarily and loss of consciousness will be considered a defeat."
Both Alden and the red-haired girl nodded.
The referee raised his hand and spoke one final ti.
"You may begin."
The battle began instantly but Alden didn’t move. He could end it in a single strike if he wanted to but he stayed still, his eyes calmly fixed on the girl before him because his curiosity overpowered his impatience.
He was curious about her and even more curious about whether she was special... like her partner, Ryou.
From what he had heard, she and Ryou had appeared together in Horizon Academy, both shrouded in mystery. That alone ant they were connected sohow.
So naturally, he wanted to see what she could do.
And maybe, just maybe... By watching her, he could understand how he knew them or even uncover why that bastard Ryou had been so hostile toward him in the first place.
Let’s see how this goes.
As soon as he thought that, a dagger coated in blazing fire ca straight for his head and just then, seeing that attack and the mana signature, he finally recognised who she was...
Wait...
Isn’t she... Skullcrusher?
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