Only in the next second did Shiki Ryougi's figure truly disappear.
The suffocating pressure inside the private box vanished with her.
"Phew... phew... that scared me to death..."
Perona plopped onto the floor, gasping for breath.
"Just now... what on earth... was that...?"
Fubuki, too, wore an expression of lingering fear.
Ye Chuanliu did not explain.
He merely reached out and soothingly patted Hinata's shoulder beside him, which was trembling slightly with tension, and said softly:
"It's all right. I just met a very interesting 'self,' that's all."
He turned, winked at Perona and Fubuki, and said with a lighthearted laugh:
"What's wrong? Weren't you fighting over a chance to show off just now? Scared already?"
His words instantly brought a blush to the women's cheeks, and their flirtatious interaction considerably diluted the terrifying atmosphere from moments earlier.
Just then, the system's exuberant voice rang out again, announcing the next match!
"[Exhibition match five]!"
"On one side, from the world of [Bleach], the former head of the Shihōin family, the guardians of heavenly armaments and one of Soul Society's four great noble houses-the pinnacle of speed, known as the 'Flash Goddess'!"
"-Yoruichi Shihōin!!"
"On the other side, from the [Nasuverse], the queen who rules the Land of Shadows, the strongest warrior in Celtic mythology, and the great mentor who trained countless heroes!"
"-Scáthach!!"
Hearing the name "Yoruichi Shihōin," Ye Chuanliu gave a nostalgic smile.
"Miss Yoruichi... come to think of it, she helped me quite a lot back when I was in Soul Society."
He had once spent some time undercover in Soul Society. After getting acquainted through a fight, he had formed a good friendship with the easygoing Flash Goddess.
Light flickered across the arena.
Two mature beauties, utterly different in bearing yet equally stunning, appeared at the same