"This old dragon is stirring up trouble again."
Elsewhere, the old man seated cross-legged at the center of the formation slowly closed his eyes.
The supreme experts around him all tensed inwardly at his words.
That old bastard was causing trouble almost every moment.
If Saint did not have to expend mental energy protecting them, Saint's injuries would have improved long ago.
Damn it.
At the same time, their hearts felt heavy.
They knew Saint's condition all too well, and they were deeply worried.
What if something happened to Saint, even the slightest mishap...
A Saint could sink the entire Origin Continent.
The Origin Continent had once been vast, but the Saint War had smashed it into pieces.
If Saint fell, and they could not nurture another Saint, then...
There was no need to guess the fate of the entire Origin Continent.
There was absolutely no need to guess.
"Rest assured. Before this old man dies, I won't let that beast live."
"Even if I can't kill him, I'll cripple him."
"The drawing begins."
Over at the Arena, the drawing began once more.
The contestants from both sides watched in silence.
Every face was filled with fighting spirit.
From the confidence at the start, through later disappointment, self-doubt, fear, and unease, the drawing had brought them to this: fighting spirit.
Now, every one of them wore a battle-hungry expression.
Their former companions had fallen one after another in the Arena, and their hearts were filled with rage.
They wished they could tear those bastards on the other side to shreds.
"The drawing is over."
"Number thirty-one."
"It's finally my turn."
The instant the drawing announcement fell, a figure strode out impatiently.
He wore golden armor and carried a staff across his shoulders as he walked step by step onto the