Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After the thick chains on his wrists and ankles were removed, Ashnamov led five of his clansmen and slowly stepped across the steel railings, each weilding a long spear. They faced the fifteen hungry Giant Komodo Battle Beasts, amidst the crowd’s deafening cheers.
“The battle is about to begin. It will be too late if you do not place your bets now!” cried the black robed man, who had become increasingly anxious the longer Yang Ling went without placing a bet. Most of the nobles that attended these matches would bet at least once. A few didn’t gamble at all, but they were in the minority. The black robed man thought there might only be one of those each year, not more. He was horrified at the thought of losing his cut if Yang Ling did not gamble. He had spent so much time and effort already!
But Yang Ling surprised the man, when he turned to him and said, “I need a few strong servants. It is better if they know a little Battle Energy or magic spells. Do you have any suitable warriors?” Yang Ling continued. “As long as they are suitable, we can discuss the price.”
Yang Ling knew, you see, that the quickest way to learn Ashnamov’s secret was to simply purchase him. But he had no choice but to do it in a roundabout way, to prevent against revealing his motives too quickly.
In addition to Yuna’s reasons for wanting to get to know the Galapagos Tortoiseman better, the development of Yang Ling’s territory was tied to convenient sea travel, and a powerful naval force was a must if they were to chart naval paths. Since Ashnamov had once led an army to defeat the Sea Tribe even though they had the home ground advantage, Yang Ling knew that the man had exceptional abilities. If he could recruit a follower like Ashnamov that possessed both brain and brawn, it would be worth it, no matter how many Purple Crystal Coins he had to spend.
While Yang Ling thought through his next moves, the black robed man reeled in surprise, and then answered Yang Ling. “Sir, you might only find the servants you need on the servant market. I can bring you there if you need. But the warriors of the arena are not for sale. There are only three ways for them to leave the arena in their lifetime. They either have to win forty-nine battles in a row, die in the arena, or be granted a pardon by the King.”
Seeing that Yang Ling required more explanation, the black robed man continued.
As it turned out, even though they had no status, the arena’s warriors had several differences compared to an ordinary slave. As long they worked hard, a slave had the chance of obtaining the admiration of their master and the chance to be freed to the status of commoner. The warriors of the arena were different. Death was their only reliable way out. Even though they could regain their freedom by winning forty-nine battles in a row or being granted a pardon by the King, in theory, the likelihood of those events happening was next to none.
Finally Yang Ling understood the situation. Sighing, he placed a bet of fifty thousand Purple Crystal Coins on the complete victory of the Galapagos Tortoiseman Ashnamov.
Before Yang Ling had left home, the old butler Murbaqi had stuffed his Space Ring full of Purple Crystal Coins. It was not too painful for him even if he were to lose all of the fifty thousand Purple Crystal Coins he took out. But if he won the bet, he would make ten times his capital and make a full five hundred thousand Purple Crystal Coins.
Under the nervous gazes of the crowd, the so-called greatest warrior in the Rossi Empire Ashnamov led his group of Beastmen and began a fierce battle with the fifteen Giant Komodo Battle Beasts.
The members of the crowd that had seen him fight before figured that Ashnamov would use the same strategy he had used before, and instruct his clansmen to dodge as they attacked the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts. But Ashnamov surprised them, instructing his clansmen to climb onto the backs of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts while dodging their attacks.
Roar…
In their fury, the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts sprinted at full speed around the arena, bucking and swaying, in hopes of throwing the Galapagos Tortoisemen off their backs. Unfortunately for the Battle Beasts, the Galapagos Tortoisemen stuck onto their backs like snails. In the end, six of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts were unable to dislodge their riders, despite all the effort they put in.
“Tsk tsk, the Tortoise Suction ability. Powerful. They sure lived up to their reputations as Galapagos Tortoisemen with immense strength!” muttered someone close to Yang Ling.
“They are powerful indeed, but they can’t just keep doing this indefinitely. Even if he had crawled up the back of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts, Ashnamov would not be able to defend himself against their piercing Wind Dagger attacks!” Someone else answered.
…
The crowd broke into crazed cheers when they saw Ashnamov and the rest easily avoid the charging and trampling Giant Komodo Battle Beasts. No one could have thought that Ashnamov would think of such an ingenious method to dodge the attacks of his opponents, nor could they have expected his movements to be so nimble, able to climb up the backs of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts while dodging their attacks.
After calmly avoiding the first wave of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts’ attacks, Ashnamov once again put up a shocking display. All at once, he roared and plunged the long spear in his hand down through the giant beast’s body.
The Giant Komodo Battle Beast roared with pain, and thrashed desperately in all directions. It even crashed into the metal railings that surrounded the arena. But Ashnamov had trained his Tortoise Suction ability to the highest degree, which allowed him to remain stuck tightly on the beast’s back, not moving an inch.
Finally, after smashing its injured body into the railing a few times, the injured Giant Komodo Battle Beast switched tactics, and began to run backward as fast as it could. But just as the creature was brushing past another Giant Komodo battle Beast, Ashnamov took action again. He moved his long, sharp spear across the other giant beast, leaving behind a deep wound.
The second Giant Komodo Battle Beast now howled in pain, then inhaled deeply and released a bolt of sharp Wind Dagger, which whipped through the air straight toward Ashnamov, still stuck to the other giant beast’s back.
The crowd went wild. “My goodness, such a big Wind dagger! I think it could even split a giant boulder!” cried one. “You fool! Quick, jump off that beast’s back! Can’t you see what’s coming?” cried another.
The crowd saw the Giant Komodo Battle Beast’s Wind Dagger, about half the height of a grown person, whipping toward the first beast and Ashnamov, and they quieted, pale. A few people screamed.
Suddenly, and at the exact right moment, Ashnamov twisted at the waist, easily avoiding the Wind Dagger that was approaching him. In the end, he remained uninjured, but the Giant Komodo Battle Beast under him received a deep wound.
In its intense pain, the Giant Komodo Battle Beast under Ashnamov released an even thicker Wind Dagger, retaliating blindly. Soon, the two Giant Battle Beasts were locked in a battle against each other.
With Ashnamov setting the example, the rest of the Galapagos Tortoisemen took action, each one of them inciting a chaotic battle between the giant beasts. Soon after, the arena fell into chaos, with Wind Daggers covering every corner. Luckily, the top of the arena had a magical barrier that was rich with energy, able to block the sharp Wind Daggers.
Amidst the chaotic battle, even with their quick reactions, the Galapagos Tortoisemen could not avoid the concentrated rain of Wind Daggers. Luckily, the thick black shell on their backs played a critical role to defend themselves against a large number of the piercing Wind Daggers. Otherwise, Ashnamov and his group might have long been torn to shreds by them.
The Giant Komodo Battle Beasts were capable of piercing attacks, but they were not too intelligent, all of them falling for the schemes of the Galapagos Tortoise Warriors. In their battles with each other, they had depleted much of their energy. Some even died on the spot, much to the Galapagos Tortoisemen’s advantage.
After an hour, all fifteen of the Giant Komodo Battle Beasts fell to the ground. Ashnamov and the other Galapagos Tortoisemen were covered in blood, but were all miraculously alive.
The crowd was awed. They couldn’t believe their own eyes: all fifteen Giant Komodo Battle Beasts littered the floor of the arena. Ashnamov had pulled off another miracle. As the crowd came to their senses, some broke into hysterical laughter, having won buckets of Purple Crystal coins; some lamented to the heavens, crying in despair, as they had gambled their life savings away.
Yang Ling, for his part, calmly collected five hundred thousand Purple Crystal Coins, and tipped the polite, attentive black-robed man a hundred crystal coins. Now Yang Ling’s coffers were full.
His only regret was that he had been unable to learn Ashnamov’s secrets. Why did he emanate the energy of a Heavenly Fox? What made him such a brilliant warrior?
Yuna was thinking about Ashnamov, too. “Brother Yang, can you get Miss Harribell to think of a way?” Looking at the victorious Ashnamov and the rest once again returned to their chains and sent back to the arena’s jail, Yuna was loathe to go.
“Yuna, let’s leave this place before talking!” Yang Ling whispered. He looked around them, and after confirming no one was in earshot, he continued, “We’ll come back tonight.”
Recalling Yang Ling’s mysterious evasion techniques, Yuna understood. The arena had many guards, but they were all warriors below the level of Great Swordsman. It was not possible for them to defend against Yang Ling, who could teleport. Getting back in at night would not be difficult for them.
That night, Yang Ling donned black garments and called Yuna to his side. She appeared instantly, having been waiting at the ready for some time. They made their way stealthily to the arena, which was not far from the inn.
He summoned Yuna to him when they arrived at a deserted corner, then put her back in the relative safety of the Wizard Pagoda when they confirmed Ashnamov’s general location. Then he sprinted straight for the destination. He decided he would make his way past the guard patrols, or patiently wait for them to pass.
His teleportation-like Earth Evasion Technique was practical, but it expended a large amount of Wizard Power and mental energy every time he used it. He was not willing to use it freely unless it was absolutely necessary.
After all, the master of the arena must have massive influence, for him to be able to operate the arena to such a degree. It was not possible that he only has a bunch of low level warriors under him. Unless he had no choice, he was unwilling to get into conflict with a faction like this on their home turf.
After safely making his way past patrolling teams of warriors and hidden scouts, Yang Ling sneakily arrived near the jail facility. He hid in a dark corner, then summoned Yuna to ascertain Ashnamov’s precise location.
Unlike the chaotic morning, Yuna’s senses were not disrupted in the quiet night. She quickly ascertained that Ashnamov was in a heavily guarded underground cell.
The cell was heavily guarded. Other than the several hundred heavily armored warriors, there were also several Spellcasters, dressed in their customary long robes. According to Yuna’s estimates, one of them had reached the level of a high level Great Spellcaster, just one step away from Magical Tutor!
