The Shadow Giant's aura had been growing stronger with the passage of time.
Like some spell that took time to activate, it needed a certain period to gather power.
By rights, the referee should have announced the start of the match by now. Yet the black-clad referee in midair did not say a single word, leaving Gray Merchant and the others to watch helplessly as Angel's aura grew ever stronger.
It had even surpassed their understanding.
Only when Angel's aura was about to reach its peak did the black-clad referee leisurely say, "The second duel begins now... enter the preparation phase for both sides."
Gray Merchant, who had been ready to launch a fierce assault at any moment, nearly choked on his breath.
Gray Merchant, who had become refined and easygoing after losing important memories, could not help but frown at this moment. On the other side, the apprentices showed even greater indignation.
That was far too biased. They knew those two were together, but they had not expected the favoritism to go this far. The referee simply did not want their side to win!
As the emotions of the apprentices opposite them were kindled, Angel, hidden within Ermi, could clearly sense that almost all of them had begun to feel disgust toward him.
Previously, they had probably been absolutely neutral. Now, they were neutral but leaning toward hostility.
Interestingly, although they were cursing the Wise Sovereign in their hearts, their feelings toward the Wise Sovereign still remained neutral.
They were probably the sort who knew which way the wind blew.
Once they knew that the Wise Sovereign was an existence so powerful that even the Bilos Family, giving it everything they had, could not oppose him, they might resent him, but they would only hate others and would not