First Battle

"Those on winning streaks would be matched against other streak holders? So the Blood Battle Stage had rules like that."

Ailin nodded as well. This was his first time learning of such matters.

In the original novel, Linley's challenges had barely described these detailed rules.

"Shh."

The black-haired youth grinned. Then, his Divine Domain enveloped the two of them as he transmitted mentally, 'It isn't an explicit rule. It can only be considered an unspoken convention. After all, for experts like Bens, ordinary people have far too little chance of defeating them. They can't just let Bens keep winning so easily. Even if people keep challenging him, the Blood Battle Stage will take the initiative to arrange for powerful opponents to fight him. Naturally, their first choice will be other people on winning streaks.'

'If there are no other powerful streak holders, then they'll choose at random. But as far as I know, once someone reaches seventy consecutive victories, the Blood Battle Stage will arrange for one of its own experts to step in. In the fights before a hundred consecutive victories, there may even be Seven-star Demon-level experts appearing.'

As the black-haired youth spoke, the two walked forward some distance. Another group of fighters had already taken the field.

'Bens has been challenging people during this period. Aren't you afraid of running into him?'

Ailin looked at the black-haired youth and asked curiously.

From what the youth had said, Ailin could tell that although he had come to the Blood Battle Stage, he did not want to encounter Bens.

"Hehe."

The black-haired youth merely laughed and did not explain.

Seeing that the other party did not intend to say more, Ailin could not be bothered to ask further. From their conversation, he sensed that this black-haired youth was not participating in the Blood Battle Stage for the first time. Or perhaps he had some understanding of its challenges and was confident he would not encounter Bens.

Bens.

Watching the battle in the arena, Ailin murmured inwardly, I hope you can give me a surprise.

Before long, it was the black-haired youth's turn. Once his name was called, he did not hesitate and flew through the passage onto the Blood Battle Stage. The spectators around them began shouting loudly.

"Next are two men we all know well: Ek and Glass. Many people have been following their battle for some time. Let us watch closely and see who will emerge victorious this time!"

After the referee loudly spoke, raising the atmosphere in the arena, he handed the combat area over to the two fighters.

Ailin could tell that the black-haired youth and his opponent did not seem to be fighting on the stage for the first time. Although battles on the Blood Battle Stage almost always ended with one side dead, that was not absolute. There were always cases where the two sides were evenly matched, or where one party did not wish to kill the other.

At such times, as long as one side admitted defeat, the battle could end.

The two had already begun fighting. With Ailin's eyesight, he could naturally tell that neither of them was among the weakest High-Gods. Both possessed strength close to that of a Five-star Demon.

On the Blood Battle Stage, High-Gods of this level already counted as experts.

Not a single expert of this level had appeared in the earlier battles, yet now both fighters possessed such strength. It seemed their battle had also been deliberately arranged by the Blood Battle Stage.

If that was the case, then the black-haired youth indeed had no need to worry about encountering Bens.

The two were evenly matched, so the battle did not quickly reach a conclusion like the previous ones had.

However, compared to the earlier battles, they were stronger, their moves more varied, and their fight correspondingly more thrilling, drawing cheers from many people. Such evenly matched clashes were quite rare.

Before long, the black-haired youth's opponent seemed to begin falling into a disadvantage. In the end, "unable to dodge in time," he took one of the black-haired youth's Soul Attacks.

Yet the black-haired youth's opponent merely paused, his face turning somewhat pale. He did not die.

Clearly, this man seemed to possess a special soul-defense method. However, its effect was likely mediocre. Apparently wary that the black-haired youth would use another Soul Attack, he immediately admitted defeat before the youth could continue attacking.

No one died in this battle.

Watching the situation in the arena, Ailin suddenly raised an eyebrow. Two words involuntarily surfaced in his mind: fixed match.

Though he had no way to be certain, Ailin felt that the two had been putting on an act. This might not even have been their true strength.

But could the Blood Battle Stage really have fixed matches? What was the point of fixing a match?

Ailin could not understand it.

Before Ailin could think it through, he heard the referee say a string of words before loudly announcing, "Next is another extremely interesting battle. Let us invite our new challengers onto the stage. First is the High-God expert who cultivates the Fire Law—Jiru!"

"Jiru!"

"Jiru!"

"..."

Cheers immediately erupted from the arena. Though many people had no idea who Jiru was, that did not stop them from supporting him.

At the same time, a flash of fire streaked past, and a man with fiery red hair and a single horn flew onto the stage.

Only after the spectators' shouts subsided somewhat did the referee continue with a smile. "Next is the other challenger, the High-God who cultivates the Water Law—Ailin!"

The Laws each side cultivated were actually only determined through the observers' records. After all, what Laws and Edicts someone cultivated could often be judged from their aura or certain characteristics.

Unless someone deliberately concealed something.

But hiding it from the Blood Battle Stage was still quite difficult. Even if they did manage to fool the Blood Battle Stage, it would not care. It would instead be delighted. That would mean an expert had appeared.

"Ailin!"

"Ailin!"

Cheers rang out through the arena once more.

The referee did not stop, instead continuing with a smile. "I received an interesting piece of news. When our Mr. Ailin registered, he said he wished to fight continuously. It seems he has a certain degree of confidence in his own strength. Perhaps we may witness the rise of an expert."

"Wah!"

Hearing this, the audience grew even more excited.

The wave of cheers for "Ailin" was clearly louder than that for "Jiru." Though in most people's eyes, it was basically impossible for Ailin to accomplish such a thing, that courage alone was enough to earn their attention.

Even Jiru, the challenger on the stage, narrowed his eyes slightly and involuntarily grew more serious. Someone who dared say such things might truly have some tricks up his sleeve.

In an instant, Jiru decided that this battle had to be ended quickly!

"Next, let us welcome challenger—Ailin, to the stage!"

Accompanied by the referee's impassioned voice, the atmosphere in the arena finally reached another small peak.

Ailin had been standing at the entrance to the passage, watching the referee and the spectators around him. Only by experiencing it personally could one understand just how absurd this madness was. In a Material Plane, such a sight would have been unimaginable.

Ailin did not linger. He flew directly toward the arena.

Although no one had died in the previous battle, the bloody stench on the Blood Battle Stage was still thick. This alone showed just how brutal the earlier battles had been.

Once Ailin appeared, the referee repeated the rules as usual. "There are no restrictions on methods in battle. However, no matter what happens, once one side admits defeat, the battle must stop."

After confirming that both sides understood, the referee immediately retreated to one side.

He did not leave the stage, as he needed to preside over the next hundred battles.

Looking at Jiru before him, Ailin had thought the other man would say something harsh. After all, the two sides in previous battles would casually exchange a few words. Yet for some reason, this fellow did not utter a single word of nonsense. A spear appeared in his hand, his Divine Domain spread over the surroundings, and he directly unleashed his attack.

Beneath a sky filled with flames, a flaming spear stabbed straight toward where Ailin stood.

Since the other party was not speaking, Ailin could not be bothered to say anything either.

He did not use a weapon. With a thought, countless ice blossoms instantly condensed around him, centered beneath his feet and spreading in every direction, forming a vast Ice and Snow World. The flames that had originally been spreading were instantly "extinguished" the moment the ice blossoms appeared.

The ice blossoms spread at an incredibly terrifying speed. In almost the blink of an eye, the flames around Jiru were covered by them. At the same time, even Jiru's speed was "slowed."

Not only that, even Jiru's consciousness fell into a momentary "daze," and his body actually paused for an instant.

The Water Law did not excel at soul techniques, but that did not mean it had none. Against experts of the same level, Ailin's move might have limited effect, but against an ordinary High-God, it was simple enough.

After Jiru was "slowed," Ailin raised his right hand into a palm strike. An Ice Blade appeared out of thin air and instantly slashed toward Jiru.

"What?!"

Jiru was affected for only an instant. At this moment, he discovered that the ice blossoms had already suppressed his Domain and that his speed had been restricted. His expression changed drastically.

By the time he reacted, the Ice Blade had struck later yet arrived first, shooting toward his chest. In his haste, it was already too late for Jiru to defend.

In that instant, how could he not realize that there was an enormous gap between his strength and this "Ailin's"?

"Whoosh—"

The Ice Blade swept past, and half of Jiru's body fell away.

After one move, Ailin did not continue attacking.

He had discovered earlier that even if one killed an opponent in a Blood Battle Stage fight, all spoils went to the Blood Battle Stage. Thus, he could not be bothered to deliver the killing blow.