Chapter 189: The Seventh Wave

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: The Seventh Wave

The sparse applause wasn’t loud amidst the clamor of The Coliseum, yet it strangely silenced all other sounds once again.

The corners of its mouth slowly curled into a cold, mirthless arc.

"How... surprising."

"Blacktiger Ford, hmm? I’ll remember you."

"Then, as you wish."

"The seventh wave. I hope you can provide me with... more entertainment."

It raised a hand, holding a card that looked like a bank card between two slender fingers. It seemed to pay for something. Behind it, the spectators stood up one by one in excitement, no longer bothering to disguise their non-human identities as a strange red light began to glow in their eyes.

From Seraphina Sinclair’s perspective, the stands were filled with pair after pair of glowing red eyes.

The scene was all too familiar, reminding Seraphina Sinclair of some rather unpleasant memories. She raised her hand, extended a single finger, and offered her most sincere greetings to the things in the stands!

"What does that gesture mean?"

"What’s there to ask? Don’t you have it in your database? That human, she’s scorning us!"

"Arrogant! So arrogant! The President personally paid points! I want to see how this one survives!"

Of course Seraphina Sinclair could survive.

This was already the seventh wave. She could leave whenever she wanted.

That was precisely why she dared to provoke these creatures so recklessly.

As the President paid the points, the blood marsh in the center of The Coliseum began to boil violently, as if a red-hot iron had been plunged into it! Dense bubbles burst with a GLUG GLUG, releasing an even stronger, pungent stench of sulfur mixed with decay.

Amidst the spreading smoke, what emerged was not the sound of heavy footsteps, but a skittering and screeching so dense and frenzied it made one’s scalp tingle.

The seventh wave wasn’t a single, powerful individual as expected, but—an insect swarm!

Densely packed, bizarrely-shaped insects of all kinds poured out from the blood marsh and smoke!

They varied in size; the smallest were only the size of a fist, while the largest were as big as hounds. Their carapaces shone with a greasy black light, their compound eyes were scarlet, and their mandibles opened and closed to reveal dense rows of sharp teeth. The scraping of their articulated legs created a KSHH KSHH sound, converging into a death tide that could shatter one’s sanity!

[Bonerot Swarm (E+ Level)]

[Description: A terrifying cluster composed of countless mutated arthropods. Due to their mutations, individuals may not even share any common traits. The threat of a single Bonerot Bug is limited, but their horror lies in their nearly infinite numbers, their extreme craving for flesh and blood, and a hive mind capable of instantly sharing information via special pheromones. Friend, you’re in deep trouble!]

[Weakness: Fire is the best counter.]

The frenzied cheers from the audience instantly turned into even more excited screams:

"It’s an insect swarm! The Bonerot Swarm! She likes to use a blade, doesn’t she? Let’s see how she plans to cut through *that*!"

"Numbers! This is true suppression by numbers! Can she even kill them all?"

"Hahaha! You’d better not give up. You’re Rank 1, after all, representing all of humanity! Your performance right now is constantly affecting the future status of the human race!"

The other spectators had all been focused on Seraphina Sinclair in the arena. Upon hearing the spectator next to them say such a thing, they all turned their heads stiffly to look.

That spectator seemed to realize they had misspoken. They hastily covered their mouth, their face turning deathly pale in an instant.

When the President’s gaze fell upon them, they were already terrified beyond measure. Their knees trembled as they fell to the ground, but it changed nothing.

Seraphina Sinclair had no time to worry about what was happening in the stands. The swarm was upon her!

The black tide surged from all directions. Though the situation was tense, Seraphina Sinclair’s thoughts were clear and orderly.

One Heavenly Light Rune to weaken all the monsters, one Fire Drawing Rune to ignite a flame.

Inside her Silver Moon Earrings, she still had the gasoline she used for rune painting. This wasn’t the time to be frugal.

The acrid smell of gasoline immediately filled the air. The liquid sprayed out in a fan-like arc, precisely covering a large area in front of her and drenching countless Bonerot Bugs that had been weakened by the Heavenly Light Rune!

Seraphina Sinclair started tossing out Fire Drawing Runes like she was handing out red envelopes.

One here, one there. No need to fight or squabble, every little bug gets one!

This move practically stunned the spectators in the audience.

"Is that something that can appear this early? Isn’t this still the early game? How does she have such a game-changer?"

"That’s not really a game-changer, is it? Isn’t that the most basic type of rune?"

"She’s splashing oil, right? That’s why the fire is so big. What a..."

"Clever human!"

"But shouldn’t we change the rules of The Coliseum? The last human brought a table in and stood on it shooting arrows the whole time. This human brought in gasoline. If this keeps up, what’s the point of The Coliseum?"

"I, for one, think this makes it more interesting."

The last sentence was spoken by the President. The audience immediately fell silent.

There was only admiration in the President’s eyes as it stared intently at Seraphina Sinclair’s figure.

After a long moment, it shook its head. "But it’s a shame. Still not exciting enough."

Seraphina Sinclair seemed to sense something. She turned her head and met the President’s gaze directly.

The monsters were kept at bay by the flames, twisting and struggling, but unable to get even an inch closer to Seraphina Sinclair.

Even though it was the seventh wave, Seraphina Sinclair was more relaxed than she had been during the first. Her gaze swept across the audience before she casually tossed two more Fire Drawing Runes into the burning monsters. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she took rune paper and a pen from her Silver Moon Earrings, sat cross-legged on the blood-soaked sand, and began painting runes.

The President: "..."

The other spectators: "..."

The monsters twisting in the flames: "ROAR ROAR ROAR!!"

Whatever they were thinking, Seraphina Sinclair’s expression was as focused as if she were in a quiet study. She didn’t look up at the monsters wailing and struggling in the flames, nor did she pay any mind to the countless gazes of shock, anger, or amusement from the stands.

The tip of her pen, dipped in gasoline, landed on the Yellow Rune Paper with a faint rustling sound.

Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, possessing a strange rhythm that seemed to create a world entirely separate from her surroundings.

As soon as she finished one, she tore it off without a glance and used it to stoke the dying flames.

The whole motion was as practiced as a chef controlling the heat at their stove, casually adding a log to a dying fire.

The flames surged once more, completely engulfing a few charred bugs that were trying to break through.

"She... What is she doing?"

"Rune painting on the spot?! What does she think this place is?"

"A lunatic! A complete lunatic! But she seems to be... actually succeeding?"

"Her mental fortitude is just too strong, isn’t it? Is this what humans are like? No wonder they have to..."

"This is already the seventh wave. If she can clear it at this difficulty, she’ll be able to get that Skill Book."