"What just happened?"
"Why are they suddenly having a duel?"
"I heard it's Bete against someone from another Familia."
"Seems Bete mocked them, so they challenged him."
Word of the impending duel spread like wildfire, and the crowd erupted in whispers about the possible outcome.
Underground betting quickly began. Those who believed in Bete's strength — and those who hoped to see him fall — rushed to place their wagers.
Tiona, never one to shy away from mischief, boldly bet V$100,000 right in front of Finn that Bete would be thoroughly defeated.
Having witnessed the 18th floor incident, she saw a golden opportunity to recoup her recent losses. With tears of anticipation, she wagered V$100,000 that the fight would end in three moves.
If she'd had deeper pockets, she would have bet even more!
Her sister Tione had also quietly placed several bets of her own.
As excitement in the plaza reached a fever pitch, it fell to Riveria, the Familia's voice of reason, to restore some semblance of order.
Yet the two combatants remained unfazed by the commotion.
Bete rolled his neck, warming up for the fight, while Adam stood perfectly still, watching with casual indifference.
Finally, the werewolf completed his preparations.
"Alright! You little—"
"Come at me whenever you're ready." Adam interrupted.
The man who had so irritated Bete now beckoned with his index finger, eyes gleaming with unmistakable contempt.
"Huh?!" Bete's pride crumbled.
He'd positioned himself as the superior fighter, yet before he could finish his taunt, his opponent had stolen his thunder.
Now he'd been reduced to the role of challenger.
Never had Bete faced such humiliation! His fury erupted instantly!
"Hahaha! Fine then — don't blame me for what happens next! I won't show any mercy or apologize when I beat you to a pulp, you bastard!" His laughter rang with rage.
His twisted, ugly expression nearly scared Lefiya as she approached to mediate. The foolish elf still hoped to resolve their conflict peacefully.
Little did she know that the duel between Adam and Bete was inevitable. Even if Bete hadn't provoked him, Finn would have arranged for one of his Familia members to test Adam's strength.
Though this situation had escalated beyond what he'd anticipated.
"Really now, the weak should know their place, Mister Puppy." Adam lectured with exasperation, "A truly strong person maintains curiosity about the unknown and reverence for their betters — these are virtuous qualities."
"Stop talking nonsense! I'll teach you a lesson!" Blinded by rage, Bete couldn't listen to reason. With a roar, he charged forward, "Take this!"
He lunged straight ahead and leaped high, his tall figure blocking out the sun above.
He aimed a powerful kick directly at Adam! His fierce expression showed he wasn't holding back.
Though Bete was rough and rash with questionable intellect, he was extremely sharp in combat. His crude attack — one that any Level 3 Adventurer could dodge — was deliberate. He wanted to defeat Adam quickly and decisively to restore his reputation.
But he'd forgotten something crucial: his opponent wasn't some small fry, but an overwhelmingly powerful demon lord!
An opponent even Finn, Ais, and Riveria considered troublesome — one he couldn't defeat at full strength!
"Is this what you call being strong?" Adam's disappointment was palpable.
Bete talked big, but his actions were disgraceful. He was nothing but a paper wolf.
"Facing an unknown opponent so carelessly — even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. You're just a mere Level 5, not even Orario's strongest, yet you're so cocky."
"Well, a crooked tree needs pruning, so I'll give you a little lesson." Adam's words were infuriating, but his actions left everyone stunned.
He simply grabbed Bete's right leg as he fell, then with a whip-like motion, slammed him into the ground like a club!
Simple and brutal! Clean and decisive, with a strange kind of beauty.
Shocking! Consider that Bete's Flosvirt (boots) were made of adamantite! They could absorb magic energy and possessed a rare cutting attribute!
Yet such powerful equipment was casually grabbed? Its wearer slammed into the ground?!
This had to be a joke!
The spectators watched in shock. None had expected the powerful, ill-tempered werewolf to fall in one move.
Adam wasn't about to let Bete off easily. This instigator had to pay for his foul mouth!
Still gripping his right leg, he swung him around like a hammer, left and right repeatedly.
In his mind, Adam counted methodically: 'One! Two-one! Three-one!'
Only when the ground was cracked and Bete lay unconscious, eyes rolled back and mouth foaming, did Adam finally release him at Finn's request.
The werewolf hadn't even lasted a single move.
Indeed, it was just one move — a devastating combo.
"Is this what you call being strong? How amusing. Perhaps 'Puppy' suits you better than Fenris." Even with Bete unconscious, Adam's mockery continued.
The spectators quickly realized that while the newcomer possessed incredible strength, his personality was equally ruthless.
"What a devil, this one!"
This thought echoed through their minds.
The crowd instinctively backed away, leaving the arena eerily spacious.
Tiona, however, bounded forward with unbridled enthusiasm, seizing Adam's arm and shaking it vigorously. Her betting gamble had clearly paid off.
"Tiona, mind your manners!"
After Riveria had tended to Bete, Finn stepped forward to reprimand Tiona, who still clung to Adam.
"But I just want to hug him a little!" She ignored her Captain's authority, gazing up at Adam with pleading eyes.
"Besides, Adam doesn't mind."
"Please release me, Miss Tiona. Your chest is jabbing me."
"Ah?!!!" Tiona froze in mortification.
She let out a cry before frantically attempting to emphasize what little she had, as if trying to prove herself to the onlookers.
Adam, however, showed only contempt, delivering a final, crushing blow.
"Heh, such a tiny A-cup. How pathetic."
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