Tier 2 Professional

"Looks like the Red Side I bet on is going to lose this round."

Suren's first impression was that "Red Demon" Golon would lose to the Grade A Fugitive "Shadow Scorpion" Aberk.

After all, they were both Tier 2 Professionals. A notorious fugitive's combat experience was sure to be exceptional, while the other was merely an obscure bodyguard.

No matter how gifted they were, a fat hunting dog raised in a greenhouse could never compare to a hungry stray that hunted on the wastelands.

But this match completely overturned Suren's understanding.

Under normal circumstances, once both gladiators entered the arena, the referee would strike a bronze bell and announce the start of the match.

But this match was different.

Aberk had no intention of following the rules. The instant the several burly men with Mechanical Arms released him, two firearms appeared in his hands as if by magic. He pulled the triggers and fired twice at the suited man opposite him.

The man clearly understood that only one person would walk out of this arena alive today.

What use were those damn rules compared to staying alive?

Because he was close enough to the arena, Suren could even see the cold mockery on his face. The man embodied the word "cunning" to the fullest.

This was an unrestricted fight. The fighters could use whatever weapons they were skilled with, so there was naturally no problem with using guns.

Only then did Suren understand why the Blast Shield had been raised.

But seeing a dignified Tier 2 expert launch a sneak attack, his expression instantly turned strange. "Th-this guy has no sense of honor!"

The cold and ruthless image of a Tier 2 Professional that Suren had just formed in his mind immediately collapsed.

Still, he felt that this man's devious personality was better suited to surviving under the laws of this cruel world.

A true villain, without any pretense.

No wonder he had committed crimes again and again yet still managed to live this long.

Everything happened too quickly. In less than a tenth of a second, the man had already fired.

To anyone watching, the situation was extremely unfavorable for the suited bodyguard.

The two shots were fired from such tricky angles that they were impossible to evade.

As long as they hit, even if he did not die, being wounded would cost him the initiative.

The gamblers who had bet on "Red Demon" Golon had just opened their mouths to curse his opponent's treachery when the situation suddenly changed.

As muzzle flashes erupted, the shock had not yet appeared on the gamblers' faces when they suddenly saw two flashes of light flicker before the suited bodyguard.

Only then did the two gunshots—"bang," "bang"—and the metallic clangs of contact—"clang," "clang"—ring out almost simultaneously in everyone's ears.

For a moment, the entire arena fell silent.

The gamblers stared in stunned disbelief.

Even Suren was dumbfounded as he looked at the two men facing off in the arena.

It was as if time had stopped for an instant, and only then did the thoughts in his mind begin moving again.

Seeing the short blade that had appeared from nowhere in the suited bodyguard's hand, Suren finally realized what had happened. Yet he still wondered if he had seen it correctly. "A blade... deflected bullets?"

All around them came the sound of people swallowing nervously.

No one had expected the suited giant to catch the two bullets of the sneak attack with nothing but a blade!

He simply stood there without expression, as calm as a cold stone.

The next instant, thunderous applause and cheers erupted throughout the arena.

"Red Demon!"

"Red Demon!"

"Red Demon!"

"."

The gamblers' excitement instantly reached its peak.

This high-level match had provided everyone with a visual feast from the moment it began, intensely stimulating their nerves.

The battle between two Tier 2 Professionals had opened everyone's eyes!

"So strong!"

Suren's pupils contracted slightly as he focused intently on everything happening in the arena, unwilling to miss the slightest detail.

At this moment, Aberk's expression also changed slightly.

Only an expert of the same tier could accurately appreciate just how strong an opponent was.

Although he had never underestimated his enemy and had expected the two shots might not injure him, he had not expected Golon to neutralize them so effortlessly.

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes, and he moved again!

Aberk's cloak flared, and a string of razor-sharp throwing knives suddenly flew out.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flashed as Golon once again easily caught the throwing knives with his short blade.

Clearly, Aberk had never expected the throwing knives to injure his enemy. In that instant, while sparks flew everywhere, his entire body appeared behind Golon like a ghost!

Like a phantom, he slashed another pitch-black dagger toward Golon's neck.

He was so fast that it looked like teleportation, utterly unbelievable.

Seeing this, the gamblers below grew excited as well.

"So fast! Is that the speed of 'Shadow Scorpion' Aberk? No wonder he's an Assassin Class Professional!"

"I heard that he awakened Talent C-009—Flash Step, which allows him to explosively surge forward over short distances. Within twenty meters, his opponent doesn't even have a chance to fire."

"A Grade A Fugitive truly lives up to his reputation."

"."

Listening to the gamblers' astonished exclamations beside him, Suren had not even had time to process them before the two men in the arena had already exchanged several more blows.

Aberk's movement speed was incredibly fast. Like a ghost, it seemed as though the entire arena had become his shadow.

If Suren's eyesight had not been enhanced several times over, he would not even have been able to see that the two men had exchanged thirteen blade strikes and blocked two elbow strikes.

Clearly, Golon was stronger.

Facing an assault as dense as a storm, he remained expressionless as he wielded his short blade, blocking every attack with perfect precision.

"That guy is completely calm in battle, almost like a machine..."

Suren watched carefully. "Red Demon" Golon had not moved his feet once throughout the entire exchange. He simply stood in place and swung his blade to block.

The two men appeared to be fighting fiercely, but on closer inspection, even the suit on Golon's body had not become disheveled.

"Are the bodyguards of those Inner City bigshots all this strong?"

Suren found it unbelievable.

Aberk's ghostly movement technique was enough to ensure that he would not be defeated. Moreover, whether it was his marksmanship or blade technique, in the eyes of Suren, an Advanced Combat Beginner, both were top-tier skills far beyond his reach.

Yet he still had not wounded his opponent.

Suren had never imagined that a bodyguard could be this strong.

And what he had even less expected was still to come!

The battle between the two Tier 2 Professionals in the arena was extremely fierce, but ordinary gamblers were merely watching the spectacle.

"That Golon keeps getting beaten down. Why isn't he striking back?"

"He'd have to be able to keep up with Aberk's reactions to strike back. Aberk is so fast that being able to block is already impressive."

"Heh heh, you don't understand. That's the smart way to respond. Aberk has the Flash Step talent, so it's nearly impossible to catch him. But that talent consumes a great deal of energy when activated, and attacks at this frequency can't last. The best response is to counter all changes by remaining still. Golon isn't stupid—he's actually quite clever. Just watch. Aberk will panic before long."

"Tch, I don't see how that big guy is so impressive. I still think Aberk will definitely win. His movement technique is too bizarre."

"."

Most of the gamblers were ordinary people who cared only about their bets.

Only a few could understand the rhythm and techniques of the battle in the arena.

Yet quietly, many experts from the surrounding area had already gathered in the Scarlet Bunker gambling den. Even Captain Kai and a group of veteran members of the Cross Society had rushed over after hearing the news to watch this spectacular death match between Tier 2 Professionals.

Beyond the gamblers' field of vision, the Inner City bigshots in the second-floor boxes were also standing before the one-way glass with great interest, watching the bloody death match.

They were the true protagonists behind this match. The enormous bets placed on the two gladiators were the most important reason this match had been arranged.

Beside the arena, Suren muttered, "The probing is over. Are they going all out now?"

He knew the real spectacle had only just begun.

After all, these were two alchemists!