Deathmatch Invitation

Broken Lake Prison, Dining Hall.

"I won 45 Contribution Points, yet I still have to participate in the Blood Moon Judgment in a few days!?"

Ash, who was busy stuffing his face, looked up blankly with an expression of having been swindled. "Isn't it said that the higher your Contribution Points, the later your position in the Judgment Sequence!?"

"That is indeed the case."

Lang Na said while drinking his Milk, "But there is a prerequisite—no prisoner is allowed to miss their first Blood Moon Judgment. Only a very small number of people can escape this fate due to pardons or similar reasons."

"Only those who have survived one Blood Moon Judgment will have their subsequent Judgment Sequences arranged according to their Contribution Points."

"Then what if I die in my first Blood Moon Judgment?"

"If you have such worries, you might as well throw a fixed match with me and lose all your Contribution Points to me."

"In your dreams!" Ash muttered. After a moment of thought, he asked, "You said before that only one person dies in the Blood Moon Judgment?"

"Yes, there are eight participants, but only one will die," Lang Na said. "A 12.5% chance of death is actually quite low—that is the general situation."

"And am I an average person?"

"Obviously not, as the leader of the Four Pillar God Heresy. Murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, bloody sacrifices... you have harmed at least a thousand people. Your reputation has become a household name during this period. Without any accidents, you will inevitably be a major focus of the Blood Moon Judgment."

Hiss flies bravely, Ash takes the blame... Ash felt infinite resentment toward Hiss in his heart. If your brain is lacking, drink some Six Walnuts! Why start a cult? And one that makes both heaven and man angry at that! Even online loan sharks aren't as hated as you!

"How about it? If you're giving up, why not just give your Contribution Points to me?" Lang Na said. "I will remember your sacrifice and live happily with my boyfriend..."

"Get lost!" Ash huffed. "Maybe I'll survive! I'm not giving up!"

"Very well." Lang Na didn't seem to care about Ash's 95 Contribution Points and said, "Someone wants to challenge you. Do you accept?"

"This is the reason you were waiting for me in the Dining Hall, right?"

"Correct," Lang Na said candidly. "As for the reason, you'll understand once you see the amount of Contribution Points the other party wagered—37 Contribution Points."

Ash narrowed his eyes. "The guy who fought 36 deathmatches is challenging me? I only ever wager 2 Contribution Points, you know."

Lang Na shrugged.

"That is why I came specifically to inform you."

"Generally speaking, it's the rookies who challenge the veterans because they can win big with a small stake. It's not impossible for a veteran to challenge a rookie—after all, even a mosquito's leg is meat—but that usually happens after five matches. Otherwise, the veteran wouldn't even be interested in earning the Contribution Points."

"So, I was quite surprised that a veteran took the initiative to challenge you. I wanted to ask if you had a grudge against him."

"Who is the other party?"

"Valkas Ul."

Ash shook his head. "Never heard of him."

Of course he hadn't heard of him; he didn't even have Hiss's memories. Even if Valkas really had a grudge against Hiss, there was no way Ash could know.

"Xilin Dor."

"Hm?" Ash blinked. "Who?"

Lang Na waved his hand. "Nothing, I just remembered an acquaintance."

"So, are you willing to accept Valkas's challenge?"

"What weapon does Valkas use?"

"A sword."

Ash's heart stirred. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to the side and saw the Sword Maiden sitting at the dining table with her legs crossed, arms folded over her chest, watching him calmly. The Black Silk Stockings on her legs were dazzling.

She squinted at Ash. "Is it fun to sneak peeks at me?"

"Sorry." Ash turned his head, eyes widening as he stared at the Black Silk Stockings. A thought suddenly popped into his head: Come to think of it, since you can touch me, can I touch you? Ahem, Sword Maiden, you better wash up later...

Clang! The Sword Maiden drew her gorgeous decorative sword. Ash immediately sat up straight and said to Lang Na, "Tell Valkas to wash his neck clean and wait for me tomorrow!"

"Then come to the Deathmatch Club tomorrow morning. I won't disturb your meal any longer; my boyfriend is still waiting for me. Goodbye." Lang Na left like a gust of wind after saying this.

Ash had thought Lang Na's boyfriend was waiting for him in the Couple Room, but after a quick look, he realized Lang Na wasn't heading toward the Couple Room area. On the contrary, the direction he left in led to the Deathmatch Club... Maybe there are people deathmatching late at night who want the Healers to work themselves to death, Ash thought.

"Let's go back to the dormitory." The Sword Maiden jumped down from the dining table. "You have a busy night ahead of you. I'm going to take you to explore a world you've never known."

Ash was instantly flushed with anger—What does she mean by a world I've never known!? Do I look that much like a virgin!?

This woman's words were too much. If he let her continue to be so arrogant, wouldn't he have no status at all!?

"Why aren't you coming over yet?"

"Coming~"

At 8:45 PM, in the Deathmatch Club with no other spectators, a secret deathmatch was taking place.

"Ash agreed, but it wasn't because of the name you gave me. It was because he was looking forward to a sword-wielding opponent—it was only when I mentioned you used a blade that he made up his mind."

"Thank you. I owe you a favor this time, Lang Na."

"Valkas, you can repay that favor right now, as long as you tell me why you suddenly set your sights on little Ash. Does it have to do with that name—Xilin Dor?"

In the dim spectator stands, a thin, middle-aged man watched the feeding taking place on the arena floor.

Yes, feeding; there was no better word for it. Although the food moved, fled, screamed, and begged for mercy, it was, in the end, nothing more than food to be gnawed upon.

"I don't mind telling you, as long as you don't regret it."

"Forget it then. My boyfriend and I are very happy, and I'm satisfied with my life. I don't want to get involved in the power struggles of big shots."

Lang Na tore off a strip of warm meat and chewed it slowly. "But is Ash Hiss really the leader of the Four Pillar God Heresy? I like to think I'm a good judge of character, and he seems more like a student who just started working. I actually thought he was innocent."

The middle-aged man let out a cold snort.

"Everyone who steps into this shithole is far removed from the word 'innocent.' The only difference is whether they only got filth on their skin, or if they opened their mouths to swallow the stench themselves."

"I'm eating, Valkas. Could you not talk about excrement?"

"Then I won't disturb you. Enjoy your meal."

As the heavy doors of the Deathmatch Club rumbled shut, the faint, lingering wails vanished into the thick, ink-like darkness.

Valkas walked through the prison corridor, and every prisoner and Prison Guard he encountered moved away from him with Apathy.

Occasionally, he would run into a new Death Row Inmate who had just arrived, and when the latter saw Valkas's ears, a look of schadenfreude would naturally appear on their face.

Because Valkas's ears were pointed.

When Valkas returned to his quarters, he saw a Prison Guard waiting by the door.

He had expected this, and as he opened the door, he said in a low voice, "Ash Hiss has already agreed to a deathmatch with me."

"You must completely shatter his brain, heart, and spine to a degree that even a Two-Winged Sorcerer cannot heal," the Prison Guard said.

"I will do what you ask, but what about what you promised me?" Valkas opened the door but did not enter, turning his head to stare at the Prison Guard.

"As long as Ash Hiss dies tomorrow, you will disappear from this prison after the next Blood Moon Judgment concludes," the Prison Guard said. "However, you and that child cannot remain in Kaimeng City. This is a requirement from Mr. Xilin."

"I have no interest in continuing to breathe the same air as Xilin, either." Valkas wore an expression of disgust.

"Free time is almost over. Don't stand outside; get into your cell."

Valkas's mouth twitched as he stepped into his room, letting the automatic door slide shut.

The Prison Guard turned and left, the corners of his mouth curling up into a sneer.

"A mere Elf Death Row Inmate, yet he still holds onto the arrogance of a born Noble... Hah!"