Silence lingered in the air as the unexpected unfolded.
No one uttered a word, their eyes fixed on the swirling dust cloud where the sound of battle continued.
Suddenly, the roar of a serpent broke through the tension, and a black Great Serpent emerged from the smoke, diving back into the cloud with a resounding crash!
The dust churned, and Bel's body was hurled into the air, crashing onto the platform and rolling dozens of times. In her wake, streaks of her tainted, blackened blood marked the ground. Even the audience could tell something was terribly wrong with her.
Bel struggled to stand, her hands trembling, her head spinning. She coughed up another mouthful of blood and wiped her mouth, glaring at her opponent as he slowly approached. She finally understood how Arke had done this.
Now it made sense—why he had acted so recklessly, why he hadn't cared about getting injured. Every time he got close to her, he would reach out, and a small amount of dark, murky smoke would seep into her body. At first, she hadn't thought much of it, believing her body could withstand the smoke. But this time was different—he was actively forcing the dark smoke inside her.
Worse, the smoke inside her was far more potent than what he let out during their earlier fights. It was so strong that it was disrupting her ability to gather Qi from the surroundings.
Bel only realized this when they fought within the dust cloud. With each of Arke's punches, more dark smoke enveloped her, and now he wasn't even trying to hide it.
Her instincts were screaming louder than ever—warning her of one thing.
Death. She could sense it. Yet her eyes remained resolute.
At the same time, the Referee sent a thought to her. "Do you want to concede?" His tone was neutral, but anyone looking at his face would see a frown.
Bel glanced at the Referee and shook her head.
"You should accept his offer," Arke said with a smirk, clenching his fist. Her actions made it clear the Referee had asked if she wanted to admit defeat. "Let me tell you this: I can't control my power."
"And let me tell you this: I will never give up!" Bel shouted, lowering her stance before dashing toward him.
Arke sighed, though it was more for show than anything. He accepted her charge with open arms—but clenched fists!
With a thunderous crack, Arke's fist struck her chest, sending her flying backward. Not wasting the opportunity, Arke activated his movement technique and caught up to her.
Their eyes met as Bel barely managed to regain her footing.
"Goodbye," Arke whispered, his right hand now enveloped in the thick, dark murky smoke—so dense it nearly took on a liquid form. "Let's meet in the afterlife." His words were spoken softly, meant only for her to hear.
Bel's eyes widened, and before she could comprehend the meaning of his words, his fist slammed into her chest. The sickening crack of bones echoed, followed by her body soaring through the air and crashing into the One-Layer Inscription Barrier!
The barrier hummed and vibrated for a moment, and with a dull thud, Bel collapsed outside the stage.
The sound woke the audience, still in shock, who burst into cheers. Some favored Bel, while others rooted for Arke. However, the fight was far more spectacular than they had expected, making their blood boil! They were amazed at how evenly matched the two were, especially when it seemed like one was about to lose, only for the other to make a sudden comeback.
"Arke wins!" the Referee announced, raising his hand.
White-robed men rushed to Bel's side to check her condition, while the Host stepped onto the stage, about to offer congratulations and comment on the incredible fight. Suddenly, something flashed before their eyes. The white-robed men around Bel took a few steps back and bowed their heads.
The Host noticed the newcomer and, upon recognizing who it was, stood respectfully straight and fell silent.
The only Core Creation Cultivator in Klown City appeared beside Bel. Glancing at his pale daughter, her mouth stained with black blood, he spread his senses over her entire body. Mathias's face darkened when he sensed the volume of poison within her. He turned to the participant still on the stage and glared at him with cold, piercing eyes.
The audience, unaware of the tension, continued to chatter, making the arena quite noisy. This further soured Mathias's mood. "Too noisy," he muttered. As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire venue fell silent as a suffocating pressure emanated from him.
The pressure weighed on everyone in the venue, making it hard for them to even open their mouths. Though they could still breathe, the relief was short-lived.
At the center of the pressure, Arke was already kneeling on the ground. Sweat poured down his face as he gasped for air.
A blur appeared in his peripheral vision, and when Arke looked up, he saw a boot in front of him. Staring up, he found Mathias looming over him with cold, unblinking eyes.
"Y-Your Excellency, w-what… brings you… here?" Arke stammered, his voice barely audible as he struggled to speak, taking in large gulps of air between words.
"You know what you did," Mathias said, his low voice cutting straight through Arke.
"I… I… don't know… what you… mean—" Arke's face contorted as he clutched his throat. The pressure was unbearable, and speaking any more would likely make him pass out.
"Pretend all you want." Mathias raised his right hand toward Arke's head, his eyes flashing dangerously as a terrifying light erupted from them. "I'll give you one last chance to admit what you've done. Don't blame me if I can't control my powers."
Hearing this, Arke's eyes widened. He quickly masked his surprise with fear. He glanced around, hoping for help, but saw no one stepping forward. Damn it! Are they just going to abandon me?!
"Your chance is gone," Mathias muttered as strong winds whipped around them. Particles of light gathered in his palm, forming into a small white ball aimed at Arke's head. "Begone."
Arke's mind went blank as the Core Creation Cultivator's words hit him. Only one thought occupied his mind.
"I wouldn't advise that," a voice suddenly echoed, making both Arke and Mathias turn toward the source.
"Holst," Mathias said, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer.