The Taiwan Server System in the League

His bare upper body was exposed, revealing muscles so solid they were terrifying.

Chen Ce recognized him.

He had only just mentioned him to the innkeeper yesterday.

This... perhaps this is what they call fate.

"Attention everyone, a new champion is about to be born!"

That underdog half-Vastaya contestant stood with his back straight, scanning the audience with a look of slight disdain.

"Remember my name—I am Sett!"

"Avase! Avase!"

"Avase! Avase!"

"Avase! Avase!"

The massive fighting arena echoed with the passionate, fervent cheers of the audience, as if that contestant had already secured the championship.

When Avase entered the arena, not only was the crowd's momentum immense, but his "entourage" was equally vast—a dozen or twenty people clearing the way for him, handing him water, and carrying his clothes, looking every bit the pampered young noble.

In contrast, the other underdog contestant—Sett—let alone having people serve him, had to endure the insults and jeers from the stands from time to time because of his arrogant declaration just moments ago.

He said he would defeat Avase and become the new champion.

And he was merely a newcomer with a record of only three matches.

Even if he had been the victor in all three.

"Heh, I'll let you all know who the true born powerhouse is..."

Sett adjusted his mouthguard, staring with a fierce gaze at his opponent—the veteran boxing king known as the "Skull Crusher," a ferocious fighter who had claimed the championship six times.

He stood over two meters tall, his massive frame covered in bulging muscles, yet his movements were unexpectedly agile; his footwork and evasive maneuvers were even more formidable than those of some lightweight fighters.

His fighting style was incredibly brutal. Every enemy who fell beneath his fists ended up either dead or crippled; the best outcome was spending over half a year recuperating in a hospital bed, permanently disqualified from competition.

As for those beaten to death on the ring by him... without exception, their skulls were shattered. This was the origin of his nickname.

[Skull Crusher]

"Are you using your fists too? Heh, I'm getting excited."

Sett watched his opponent slowly put on his gloves, shaking his arms with a face full of excitement as a warm-up.

Avase heard the shouts of such a young fighter, but merely glanced at him with contempt and ignored him—given his status, he didn't need to respond to just anyone.

Seeing this, Sett wasn't annoyed, simply wrapping old cloth strips around his fists in silence.

"Prepare to cheer for your new champion..."

In the stands, Chen Ce could well understand why Avase ignored Sett.

The man was a veteran who had won the championship six times, while Sett was a newcomer as fresh as they come; it was perfectly normal not to acknowledge him.

It was already a mercy that he hadn't mocked him by asking, "I'm a six-time champion, what are you?"

It was just that... he would likely pay the price for his arrogance later.

"Boss, this Concubine thinks I see the Imero Stone..." Ahri, at his side, gently tugged at the corner of Chen Ce's clothes, signaling him to look at the bunny girl directly below the ring.

That figure was truly... ah, no, the pair of gemstones she held in her hands looked incredibly beautiful.

Encased in a glass cover, they displayed bursts of brilliant, gorgeous colors under the lights.

"Are they the same as your twin gemstones?" Chen Ce glanced at the gems she held in her arms.

"A bit similar... but this Concubine cannot be sure." Ahri whispered, "I still need to take them out to confirm..."

"Mm."

"Then I'll have to trouble you..."

"No need for such polite words; just work hard in the future."

"Mm-hmm! This Concubine loves a generous boss the most~!"

"Stop the flattery..."

After settling the impatient Ahri, Chen Ce turned his gaze back to the ring.

The copper bell had already rung, and the match had officially begun.

Sett, clearly lacking experience in the ring, launched the first attack, starting with a series of heavy, relatively slow punches. It was obvious that his technique was somewhat chaotic—he had never received systematic boxing training.

In contrast, Avase appeared much more seasoned.

He didn't rush to attack, relying solely on his agile footwork to dodge constantly, occasionally throwing out a few jabs to test the waters.

After half a minute of probing, he had basically figured out his opponent's fighting style and patterns.

Next, it was his turn.

Thud—!

A heavy punch landed squarely on Sett's face, the immense force sending him stumbling back several steps, nearly collapsing.

In this life-or-death arena, falling down meant paying a brutal price.

Sett quickly steadied his footing and retreated a few paces to a safe distance—he was reckless, but not stupid; he wouldn't throw his life away by rushing in to get beaten while at such a clear disadvantage.

"Nice hit..." He spat out a mouthful of blood, a look of excitement squeezing through his swollen face.

Meanwhile, the betting pool had opened in the spectator stands.

"Avase to win, one to one point two! Sett to win, one to ten!" The casino staff paced through the stands, their loud cries stimulating the audience's desire to spend.

The odds for Sett were tempting, but no one was willing to put money on him.

Though the odds for Avase were a pitiful one to one point three, it was a safe bet—essentially free money.

Who wouldn't want free money?

In just one round, the staff collected over a thousand gold coins in bets—and that was just from the general seating area.

Seeing this, Chen Ce called over a staff member.

"I'll bet fifty gold coins on Sett to win by a first-round KO."

"Alright, here is your—wait, who did you say you were betting on?" The staff member's hand froze, doubting he had heard correctly.

"I said, I bet on Sett," Chen Ce repeated loudly. "Sett to win by a first-round KO, fifty gold coins."

As soon as the words fell, a wave of unrestrained laughter erupted around them.

"Someone's here to donate their money, hahaha..."

"Does he really think this match will be an upset? Tsk tsk, what a laughable gambler."

"No, no, I bet he thinks Avase is going to throw the fight—obviously, he doesn't know the rules here, hahaha..."

The mockery continued, but Chen Ce firmly handed over all his assets. "Here are fifty gold coins. Please, hurry with the ticket."

"Uh... right..." The staff member took the money and issued the ticket, casting a look at him as if he were an idiot.

Fifty gold coins was no small sum; most Ionians only earned a few coins a month... he was truly just throwing his money away.

A stupid, rich, out-of-town pig.

The staff member left with a sneer, the surrounding laughter still echoing.

Chen Ce, however, continued to watch the match on the stage with calm composure.

Beside him, Ahri didn't quite understand this kind of combat, but she could clearly see who was at a disadvantage. Coupled with the mocking comments from the crowd, she grew anxious. "Boss... that money..."

Although she didn't usually care for money, she knew how great it was to have it—she could buy so many things at the market: food, supplies, clothes, anything!

Besides... if Chen Ce lost all his money, she wouldn't have a comfortable inn to stay in!

"Um... how about this Concubine uses a little magic to make that person return the money..."

"No need, it's fine." Chen Ce didn't explain.

He believed in Sett.

Or rather... he believed in his own memories.

In his recollection, from the moment Sett first stepped into underground fighting to becoming the "King of the Underground" in Ionia, he had never lost a single fight.

Even if the start was difficult, he would always be the one left standing at the end.

And now, it was time to witness a miracle.

On the stage, Sett, clearly lacking combat experience, had been forced into a corner. Avase's fast, heavy punches rained down on him like a dense storm.

Yet, he still stood tall.

His fists were held before his face, protecting his head while simultaneously gathering a certain...

Unique power.

"Are you done yet, Avase..."

Chapter 44: Madam, you wouldn't want Sett to...

His vision was beginning to blur.

Blood streamed down his forehead, casting a crimson mist over his eyes.

Sett blinked his left eye hard, then his right. Hmm, that's better.

Left jab, right jab, left hook, right uppercut... left, low, right, left...

Thud, thud, thud...

The muffled sounds were incessant, and Sett felt his brain rattling.

But it didn't matter, because he was gradually adapting.

This level of pain was something he had scoffed at ten years ago.

"Ah... what a fine punch, Avase..."

Sett began to sway his body from side to side, his footwork gradually becoming agile and methodical—he was mimicking.

Finally, the moment his opponent's heavy punch missed, he found an opening.

"Ha!" With a right hook, Sett landed a perfect strike on his opponent's jaw.

He had never received systematic boxing training, but this punch delivered one hundred percent of his strength perfectly—a feat even seasoned fighters would struggle to achieve.

He was born for this.

Crack! The sound of shattering bone rang out, and Avase's massive frame instantly toppled backward.

"Whoa!" A roar erupted from the spectator stands.

Sett was not blinded by this brief victory; he immediately rushed forward, intending to land a few more blows while Avase was still down.

Unfortunately, Avase was far too experienced.

He knew exactly how to handle such a situation.

The moment his back hit the ground, he kicked his legs forward to force Sett back, simultaneously using his hands to push his body up and returning to a fighting stance with a fluid backflip.

"I admit I underestimated you, kid..." His jaw was dislocated, perhaps even shattered, making his voice sound even deeper and raspier. "You were born to fight... you aren't weak..."

"Because my name is Sett!" Sett laughed arrogantly. "One day, I'll be the champion of this place! The emperor of this place! No one will ever dare look down on me again!"

"Ambitious, kid..." A hint of cruelty flickered in Avase's eyes.

He then began to rotate his wrists, and something popped out from his gloves... a row of hard objects.

Yes, he was a fighter, but he had never said he only used his fists.