In the corner of the stands, Jeremiah watched with a frown as the mangled mess George lay in the battle ring. His expression was somber.
He knew exactly how strong George was. Compared to the flashy Bill, George was in a league of his own.
With his exceptional talent and genetic modifications, George’s physical strength, defense, and speed had reached the absolute limits of human capability. Even Dragonmarsh’s grandmaster martial artists would struggle to last a single round against him.
Yet, he couldn’t believe Abigail had taken down the invincible George. And not just defeated, but beaten to a pulp with fists. He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.
“This is giving me a headache.”
Jeremiah narrowed his eyes as his face darkened. He had known the mission would be challenging, but he hadn’t anticipated it to be this tough.
They had started as a team of three. But now, halfway through the tournament, he was the only one left. The pressure was intense.
Jeremiah realized that withdrawing at this point would be unacceptable to the Hall of Gods. So, he had no choice but to take it one step at a time.
The only silver lining was that the top martial artists on the Legendary List had already fought in the match. He believed the remaining opponents would be less formidable. With careful strategy, he still had a high chance of making it to the top eight.
After clearing and repairing the battle ring, Oron announced, “The fourth match is about to begin. Please welcome contestant number four and contestant number 13 to the ring.”
Crystal stood with her sword and made her way toward the ring. She was contestant number four.
After her victory over Aurora from the Celestial Alliance, Crystal advanced to the top 16. At that moment, she had no idea who her next opponent would be.
“Give it your all, Crystal!” Ruby cheered from the stand.
Though making it to the top 16 was already an impressive achievement, advancing to the top eight would bring her fame. Additionally, she would receive rewards upon returning to her guild.
Once Crystal took her place in the ring, a man in black with a sword strapped on his back walked up. His sharp, piercing eyes and tall frame made him stand out. His presence was reminiscent of Glenn’s but slightly less imposing.
“Emeret?” Crystal was momentarily stunned upon recognizing her opponent. To her surprise, he was Emeret Dwight, a disciple from the Sword Union.
Within the Sword Union, he ranked just below Glenn in skill. His mastery of swordsmanship was similarly unparalleled. Emeret kept a notably low profile, which kept his reputation under the radar.
His most notable achievement was his flawless performance against Cyrus, where he remained unbeaten across three rounds. His strength was evident through his accomplishments.
“Crystal, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect you to be my opponent,” Emeret said with a warm smile. “How about we have a friendly spar, like old times?”
“A spar?” She shook her head helplessly. “When have I ever beaten you since joining the guild?”
She knew her chances of winning were slim. Plus, she couldn’t withstand three of Emeret’s full-force strikes. The difference in their cultivation was immense, and their sword techniques were on entirely different levels. There was simply no comparison.
“I know I can’t compete with you. I won’t waste your time, so I’m conceding.” Crystal nodded respectfully. She understood her limits and recognized that continuing would only result in defeat.
“Give up? That’s not like you,” Emeret said, surprised. He was familiar with her tenacity and knew she typically fought fiercely, even when outmatched.
“This match isn’t the same as sparring. You should save your energy for tougher opponents tomorrow,” she replied.
Disguising one’s true strength was crucial for keeping opponents off balance and increasing the chances of victory. Since she couldn’t defeat him, there was no point in wasting energy.
“I see. Thank you for understanding,” Emeret said and returned the gesture.
“Good luck tomorrow. Show them what you’ve got.” Crystal smiled faintly before stepping down from the battle ring.
“Contestant number four has conceded, so contestant number 13 is the winner,” Oron announced promptly.
“What? That’s it? She’s giving up already? That’s boring.”
“Seriously, she didn’t even try? She has no fighting spirit at all.”
“They’re from the same guild. It makes sense not to go all out. It’s smarter to save energy and let someone stronger advance to the top eight. That’s actually a smart move.”
“Passing up a chance at the top eight? She’s not as simple as she seems.”
Crystal’s surrender sparked a flurry of reactions from the spectators. Some criticized her, while others understood her decision.
It would have benefited the other contestants if Crystal had gone all out against Emeret. Since they were from the Sword Union, it was more honorable for her to concede. After all, not everyone was so generous.
“The fourth match is over. We’ll now begin the fifth match. Contestants number five and contestant number 12, please come to the battle ring.”
Oron wasted no time. When Emeret and Cryslat left the ring, he immediately called for the next match.
Just as his voice faded, a sharp clang rang out, and a golden beam shot into the sky. It soared 300 feet before crashing down and embedded into the battle ring.
Everyone turned their eyes to the source of the noise and saw a golden saber gleaming on the ring.
