Part Nine: First Signs of Brilliance

"Please enlighten me, Senior Mad Crocodile."

Chong Ying responded politely, which slightly startled the burly man across from her.

The match began. In this environment, the burly man in Chong Ying's eyes was like a fish in water. His toes lengthened, webbing grew between them, and his speed in the shallow waters reached nearly 1.5 times his usual speed. Chong Ying's movements, on the other hand, were restricted.

"Let's see how Chong Ying handles this. Although he looks rough and burly, judging from the changes in his body and his manner of movement, he's an experienced and meticulous person."

Zhang Chen examined the battle from the side. The half-fishman-like brute moved like a crocodile hunting for food, making Chong Ying, the prey, feel as though she had sunk into a mire while dozens of scarlet eyes watched her from all around.

"Is he coming?"

The brute swam to within three meters of Chong Ying. Just as she was about to evade, he suddenly changed course and dove beneath the mud and sand of the shallows, vanishing completely. Even his presence blended into the scene and could no longer be sensed.

The silence throughout the entire setting made even Zhang Chen, seated in the waiting area, feel somewhat uneasy. He was a little worried about Chong Ying's situation.

Chong Ying, standing in the center of the setting, appeared exceptionally calm instead. Her presence was completely restrained and showed no disorder as she quietly waited for the beast to emerge.

A minute passed. The entire arena began to shake violently, and the tropical rainforest vegetation within the setting collapsed from the tremors. A fissure split open along the edges of the setting, and an enormous crocodile maw, occupying nearly three-quarters of the arena, snapped up from beneath the stage and swallowed every