Because the magic in the arena either affected both duelists or existed purely for amusement, Bell only gave it a glance before shifting his attention to the imposing figure at the center of the arena.
"Yo! Um... long time no see."
Bell had forgotten the other man's name again. Or rather, he had never remembered it in the first place.
"Hmph!"
Two thick streams of white vapor shot from Viktor's nostrils. He merely glanced at Bell before closing his eyes again, trying to push his already peak condition to an even higher level.
"All right."
Having made things awkward for himself, Bell shrugged and turned his gaze toward the surrounding stands. The orcs were filing in orderly, and it looked like it would still take some time.
After waving at Shanna and the others standing in the front row of the stands and watching him, Bell imitated Viktor and closed his eyes to adjust his condition.
Time slowly passed, and the noisy arena gradually fell silent. Some orcs stared excitedly at Viktor, while others glared hostilely at Bell, all silently awaiting the official start of the duel.
Finally, once everyone in the tribe had taken their places, Nairuila nodded to an orc on the raised platform to one side.
'Boom~ boom~ boom boom boom~ boom!'
An exceptionally muscular orc, whose arms looked even thicker than his thighs, swung the two drumsticks more than a meter long in his hands and forcefully beat the hide drum before him.
The muffled drumbeats echoed through the arena, making everyone who heard them feel their blood boil, eager to immediately throw themselves into a fierce battle.
"ζ--!!!"
The instant the drums sounded, the stands erupted. The orcs roared one after another, their faces red and necks bulging, startling the meditating Bell.
When he opened