Novel Full Chapter 1072 - 1072: Grand Finals [2]
Kent’s eyes narrowed behind the mask. “And what’s this stumbling worth?”
The crimson fan closed with a snap. Red Face leaned forward, lowering his voice as if whispering to the heavens themselves. “Sixty-six million mana crystals. Not sixty… not sixty-five… but sixty-six. I like beautiful numbers. Also, we will pay all losses for Golden Rat gambling house.”
Kent raised an eyebrow with disinterest.
“Not enough? Hah! How about this—” Red Face’s hand danced as if scattering treasures in the air. “—a permanent seat in the Gambling Association. You’ll never want for resources again. Every auction, every dice game, every card table will favor you. You’ll be one of us.”
Kent was silent.
“Still too dry? Fine. Three women—perfect beauties, raised by the Association itself. Cultivated in etiquette, music, and cultivation dual practices. Yours to command, to share your bed, to polish your boots if you want.”
The mask hid Kent’s smirk, but his silence spoke volumes.
Red Face licked his lips. “One Saint rank weapon of your choice. Sword, staff, bow, spear—we’ll give you the sharpest tooth in the realm. And, finally, the full backing of the Gambling Association. Wherever you go, our shadow will follow. Protection. Resources. Allies.”
The crimson fan spun once and stopped. “What do you say? With one word, you’ll never have to bleed in an arena again.”
Kent rose slowly, stepping closer. His aura rippled faintly, thunderous but restrained. “Not enough.”
Red Face blinked. “Wh—what?”
“Not enough,” Kent repeated, voice cold. “Not equal to the benefits provided for winning the Golden Heir Tournament. Titles. Legacies. A path carved into the higher realms. Your trinkets don’t match what I can claim with my own fists.”
Red Face’s mask twitched. “You ungrateful brat! Do you think Shui Lan is someone you can defeat? Do you think fate bends for you? The Association can make you or break you. Agree… or you’ll regret standing against me.”
Kent’s gaze was steady, lightning simmering in his pupils. “I regret nothing. And I bow to no dice-thrower.”
Red Face’s temper snapped. He jabbed his fan toward Kent. “Then don’t blame me when your bones are scattered tomorrow!”
But before the venom could spill further, a strange sound cut through the room.
Clink… clink…
Red Face froze. His hand was suddenly bare. He looked down. The storage ring on his finger… gone. His pendant… gone. The jade pouch at his waist… gone. Even his shoes suddenly felt looser.
“Wha—?! Where are my treasures?!”
A low growl answered him.
From the corner of the balcony, a shadow peeled itself into existence. A one-eyed beast, its left socket glowing faintly like an ember, stepped forward. It’s hair reeked of wild beast blood, and a jagged grin cut across his scarred face. In his hand dangled a storage ring—Red Face’s storage ring.
“Thieves… thieves everywhere!” Red Face sputtered. “Who are you?!”
The one-eyed bandit didn’t answer with words. He let out a guttural, beast-like growl—half tiger, half wolf, half nightmare. The sound reverberated like a curse, pressing into Red Face’s chest until his heart thudded wildly.
“Y-You demon!” Red Face stammered, stumbling backward. The growls grew louder, the beast tone echoing with ancient savagery. Red Face’s crimson mask slipped, revealing pale lips trembling in terror.
“Curse you! Curse you both!” he shrieked, before bolting through the door, crashing into the hallway and disappearing into the night like a terrified child.
For a long moment, silence reigned. Then Kent tilted his head toward the bandit.
“You didn’t have to scare him that much.”
The one-eyed bandit shrugged, jingling the stolen treasures in one hand. “I was hungry for entertainment. And look—” he tossed a pair of red silk shoes onto the floor “—the man had nice shoes too.”
Kent chuckled under his breath, the sound rolling like thunder in the distance. “Keep them. I don’t like gambling debts. Also your skill improved after evolving into human form.”
The one-eyed bandit grinned, already slipping on the oversized shoes with comical satisfaction. “It’s all your help, master. As for these shoes… Comfortable. I’ll wear these tomorrow when I sit in the front row to watch you fry Shui Lan.”
Kent shook his head, a rare smile curling beneath his mask. Outside, the moonlight gleamed over Phoenix range, where rumors were still boiling about the coming battle.
–
Next Day Morning…
The sun blazed over Sky Fire Arena, painting the hovering cloud platforms in shades of molten gold. Millions of spectators crowded the floating galleries, the roar of their anticipation shaking the very air. The final day of the Golden Heir Tournament had arrived. This was the moment the entire Seven Nations had been waiting for—the battle that would decide the true heir of destiny.
The Sky Fire Arena itself had been reforged overnight, the stone floor polished to reflect the sky like a mirror, every ancient rune inlaid with glowing light.
From the clouds above, dozens of aurora glasses floated, shimmering and capturing every angle of the battlefield. Even the smallest twitch of a contender’s finger would be magnified for the crowd.
When the sixth elder of the syndicate rose into the sky with a booming aura, silence fell instantly, like an ocean freezing in place. His voice, amplified with spells, thundered across the mountain range.
“Today,” the elder declared, “the grand finals will continue! First of all, an esteemed guest is expected. The fight might be stopped midstage if he arrives. Coming to the point, Five contenders stand for the first position! Only one will wear the mantle of the Golden Heir. You may fight. You may kill. No restrictions, save the rules already known. No outside help. One pet only. Spells, weapons—use everything you have. This arena shall be your judge.”
The elder’s spear thrust into the heavens, exploding into ten thousand sparks that cascaded like falling stars. The crowd erupted, shouting names, calling odds, cursing, and praying all at once.
One by one, the five names were called.
The first to stride into the arena was Shui Lan. His white robes gleamed like the waves of a divine sea, and behind him floated his treasure spear, the famous Ocean Breaker. His presence alone made the air hum with pressure. The crowd screamed his name like a hymn.
“KILL HIM, SHUI LAN!”
“The Golden Heir belongs to Shui Lan!”
Even the noble families leaned forward in their sky seats, their eyes fixed on him as if watching a god descend.