Chapter: 30. The Witch! (5K)
For those who have stepped onto the battlefield, looking at the Gladiatorial Arena makes it seem particularly small and insignificant.
When the black wings swept out from the western passage and the imposing Six Wings appeared in the audience’s view with almost no turbulence, everyone would surely hold their breath, remembering the fearsome figure of the Demon Princess, the Calamity Witch.
—In fact, Princess Xue Feiya simply walked out casually, without any attempt to show off.
But you can’t interfere with the audience’s judgment, which is surely tainted by some kind of filter!
It must be noted that Princess Xue Feiya is a legendary figure in the gossip of many races.
Wherever the Witch goes, not a blade of grass grows, everything withers, and whether in scorching heat or icy winters, she is a synonym for unrelenting malice.
All the audience seemed to remind each other with their eyes to not be deceived by her cute appearance; she must undoubtedly be a monster capable of killing without blinking!
Princess Xue Feiya was indeed in a bad mood right now, her expression not very amiable.
The reason being the silent and indifferent Princess Belis on the high platform above.
She looked out without saying a word, her indifference and composure showcasing the stable demeanor of the Second Princess of the Demon Race.
But in reality…
She was incessantly bombarding Xue Feiya’s mind with the [Telepathy] cast by her Mother Queen!
[Queen Sister is so cool! Queen Sister is the best in the world! Queen Sister! I love you!]
Could you please calm down for a moment?!
What happened to your aloofness when talking to others?!
Xue Feiya quietly snapped her fingers from behind, sending an invisible burst of high-speed air to suddenly strike the back of Belis’s head.
Well, now it’s much quieter.
The host quickly ran outside, informing the barrier constructors to exert more effort for this match, before tirelessly picking up the amplification crystal to announce the ongoing match to the audience in real-time.
[Princess Xue Feiya has… arrived! Please keep quiet and observe the match, and be sure to comply with the rules! Maintain restraint!]
Keeping quiet during the match means telling the human compatriots… to hold back any insults and not let any riots break out!
Today, the King, Pope, and Demon King are present; they certainly don’t want any conflicts at the scene. Otherwise, it would surely lead to a bloodbath. Not to mention them, the host himself wants to live a few more years!
The venue was quiet, but this did not affect Xue Feiya’s mood regarding the match.
At first glance, she wasn’t focused on her opponent across from her—but on the bulging bag of money placed on the championship podium.
Then, she looked over at the burly man standing in the eastern passage, clad in light armor, with short brown hair and a beard, wielding a giant axe.
He approached the circle where he was supposed to stand at the beginning of the match, his face filled with confidence.
The giant axe rested on his shoulder, gleaming coldly even in the night.
Xue Feiya also stepped toward her designated area.
However, the small shoes adorned with a bow and the little yawn she couldn’t suppress while covering her mouth due to the quietness of the venue made her seem quite relaxed.
Did this arrogant Witch really understand that she was in a match right now?!
As per tradition, whenever a unique contestant appears tonight, the host would announce some common knowledge.
For instance, Vorof is the first member of the Adventurers’ Guild to appear tonight, so it is necessary to elaborate on his background to help the audience understand the match.
[Both contestants are getting ready. I’m sure all the esteemed guests have heard of the Adventurers’ Guild, which has branches spread all over the world, recruiting the strong. Members joining the Adventurers’ Guild will not be part of any official government structure, but will instead seek wealth through accepting guild commissions; they are hidden experts beyond national statistics—a group that speaks with strength!]
[Apprentice, Copper Rank, Silver Rank, Gold Rank, Platinum Rank, Obsidian Rank—this is their unique hierarchy.]
[There are a total of eight Obsidian Rank adventurers in the world, and our Aulus Kingdom has one seat! Unfortunately, we couldn’t invite him to be here today… but Mr. Vorof is also one of our only three Platinum Rank adventurers, and today’s match will surely not disappoint us!]
Applause thundered.
Cheers and shouts erupted in unison, as the human audience area completely boiled over.
Vorof could be said to be humanity’s trump card tonight, a leading favorite to win the championship, apart from the unknown variable of Xue Feiya.
In fact, they didn’t know how strong Vorof truly was; the strength of adventurers isn’t as clearly ranked as the Knight Corps, making it somewhat ambiguous, plus they do not participate in wars.
But he had a record of slaying dragons.
The Platinum Adventurer medal was personally awarded by the King, so there is naturally no doubt about Vorof’s strength!
Since the hero could face the Witch directly, as one of the top three ranked adventurers in the kingdom, Vorof should be able to compete too, right?
Perhaps it would take a bitter struggle to defeat Princess Xue Feiya the Witch, but the human side was all hoping he would at least make the Demon Race feel embarrassed.
Ideally, he would inflict a heavy blow on the Witch and thoroughly humiliate the Demon King!
Both contestants had already positioned themselves.
Yet the host was still slow to declare the match started.
Xue Feiya tilted her head to look at the audience area, where members of the Knight Corps were gradually filling in, securing the spectators.
It seems the high focus of this match with Xue Feiya called for pre-emptive deployment by the Knight Corps to maintain order.
It looks like there will be a bit of wait before it can start~
The burly Vorof lowered his giant axe, the tip embedding into the ground.
The weight of the axe’s fall seemed to make the ground tremble.
He stretched his neck and muttered to himself with a wry smile.
“Ha… Looks like I’m really unlucky, meeting the Demon Princess in the first round. I have heard so much about your deeds, I’ve long admired your fame.”
Oh? Is this the pre-match trash talk session?
Xue Feiya really likes a bit of pre-match banter!
Just like in the previous fishing competition, she claimed she could catch ten baskets; just saying it felt quite pleasant!
What if she couldn’t catch ten baskets?
Who cares! Just making bold claims was already joyful! It was a gain to say it, regardless of whether or not she caught a single basket!
So, Xue Feiya casually shrugged her left hand and replied indifferently.
“Heh, so you’re saying, like those humans up on the platform, you’re also out for ‘revenge’? For your fallen comrades on the battlefield? Planning to go all out and play the role of the hero today?”
“Hahaha, no, no, no, Your Highness, please don’t say that; I can’t bear such glory.”
Vorof’s eyes did not contain any deceit.
His indifferent demeanor was entirely the typical mindset of adventurers.
“The big issues of the kingdom have nothing to do with me, right? We adventurers are just a bunch of mundane individuals who lick blood from the edge of knives to earn money. We don’t understand or want to understand wars between nations. As long as the Adventurers’ Guild exists, we can go anywhere. So, Your Highness, we adventurers do not deserve to be associated with the term ‘hero.'”
“I can see that. There is indeed no connection. Ha… Hearing those cheers for you, don’t you find it a bit noisy?”
Xue Feiya’s smile was very disdainful.
Vorof frowned slightly; it seemed he sensed the sarcasm in her laughter.
There was no helping it; Xue Feiya originally thought that since adventurers had branches, they would at least at some level have a national stance.
But who would have thought that even a Platinum Rank adventurer had such a mentality? No wonder their country didn’t value you, not giving you a formal role~
“So, does that mean, Mr. Vorof, you have come to the match today purely for money?”
“……”
Due to the noble status of the other party, Vorof felt a bit angry but refrained from exploding.
The match was about to officially start.
Yet Vorof suddenly said something that sounded strange to Xue Feiya.
“Your Highness, as I said, I have no interest in competing for honor or victory.”
“Oh? Are you surrendering?”
“Not at all.”
Vorof removed the heavy gauntlet from his wrist and moved it, revealing that he intended not to surrender but rather to go all out with full efforts.
“I have self-awareness. The magic you emit is intimidating and astonishing… Even when facing a dragon, I never felt this ‘inevitable defeat’; it is truly fearsome.”
Is that so?
But Xue Feiya had already suppressed the amount of magic she could project to less than one percent.
She was a bit curious about what Vorof wanted to say.
Xue Feiya signaled him to continue.
“I have slim chances of winning, but may I request that after the match starts, Your Highness, you show a little mercy so I don’t lose too embarrassingly? This wouldn’t affect your victory, and if you are willing to do so, we wouldn’t need to fight seriously; this would help you conserve strength for subsequent matches. Additionally, I would be willing to offer you a substantial reward; you know we adventurers have plenty of wealth earned with our lives! What do you think?”
“?”
You should think about what you’re saying!
I mean, if you don’t want to fight, then just surrender! Why do you want to lose gracefully? Didn’t you just say you didn’t care about honor?
Feeling this person’s speech was contradictory, Xue Feiya’s patience was gradually disappearing.
“Oh… If you really think giving your all will exhaust my strength, then feel free to keep thinking that way. But let me ask, is there something wrong with your brain?”
“Something wrong with my…! Ugh… This…”
Vorof had been hesitating whether to speak.
But seeing that the referee in charge of the match had already walked toward the referee’s seat, preparing to announce the match start, Vorof felt he had to clarify matters.
The nearly two-meter-tall brute suddenly turned pale, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile.
The audience had no idea what they were talking about, but looking at Vorof’s performance, they felt utterly baffled.
“Ha… Don’t mind if Your Highness laughs at me. I’ve been an adventurer for so many years, earning quite a bit of money, and I’ve achieved the peak of reputation. I suppose I have no hope of becoming an Obsidian Adventurer. So, I was thinking I need a powerful partner just like me! It’s time to take a new step in life! My goal is right in today’s audience, so I need this match to showcase my abilities and gain affection. I hope Your Highness can lend a hand!”
Oh-oh, I get it. So you’ve been trying to flirt all along!
Xue Feiya wasn’t gossipy; she just would never suppress her curiosity.
“Ha? May I ask, who is your target?”
“Don’t be embarrassed! The one I wish to pursue is our kingdom’s Hero! The Hero is beautiful and strong, and I’ve heard she’s still single! If I could court such a woman, that would be truly the mark of a real warrior! Hahaha, the hero is here in the audience; this is a rare opportunity for me! So I hope you must… uh… Your Highness?”
“……”
Xue Feiya suddenly fell silent.
Fuming…
An inexplicable anger…
You little… Do you know?
You have your eyes on the wrong person.
Nightfall descended.
No, it was originally nighttime, but now there was a darkness deeper than night enveloping the entire Gladiatorial Arena.
The magic she had suppressed at one percent began to uncontrollably rise, swirling chaotically between the six wings.
That ominous feeling…
Was like countless screams of the dead, whispers of evil gods, and laughter from the abyss.
As the concentration of magic in the area intensified, Ecklight, responsible for the barrier construction, urgently called for personnel to strengthen the barrier, only to discover—this high concentration of magic was being well-controlled, and there was no intent to break the barrier at all.
Those outside the barrier were safe.
But those inside were not so lucky.
Vorof froze in place.
Just moments ago he had seen light before him, but now, in the blink of an eye, it was like being in hell… filled with blood and darkness.
He felt an intense unease churning in his stomach.
The moment this feeling appeared, Vorof knelt and began to vomit uncontrollably, tears and snot pouring down his face.
All of this was witnessed by the audience.
The human audience that had just cheered for Vorof was now in shock; they had no idea what the Demon Princess did, causing a Platinum Rank adventurer to kneel and vomit uncontrollably!
No… she had clearly just been standing there and hadn’t done anything!
The invisible golden light behind the Pope surged even more rapidly—as if excited to see something interesting.
Vorof found it hard to comprehend… as a Platinum Rank adventurer for so many years, he had seen everything… he didn’t believe there could be such weirdness in this world!
His trembling hands gripped the giant axe tightly; he only wanted to stand up, and already began roaring to motivate himself.
Humans, after all… are so insincere.
He claimed he didn’t need honor or accolades; all of that was false.
When he was forced to kneel before humans to the Demon Race, he finally realized that everyone wants to be a hero!
With tremendous pressure, he pushed himself upright with the giant axe, Vorof was certain this was just the Demon Princess’s trickery.
How could there possibly be such magic in the world? This must just be a form of illusion magic!
A paper tiger… casting illusion magic wouldn’t be able to defend against timely attacks.
As long as he gathered all his magic into the axe, took courage and rushed at the Witch to strike down, who would win or lose was still uncertain!
At this moment, Vorof’s ambition nearly exceeded just being an adventurer; he felt that glory and status were beckoning him!
Wanting to pursue the Hero was just a desire to no longer be looked down upon because of his status as an adventurer!
Is the hero that impressive? Is the Knight Corps that noble? Don’t look down on adventurers!
As long as he could cut the Demon Princess in half here… everything would…!
Boom…
Not being able to take even a single step forward.
Because Vorof’s tears streamed down, he truly did not understand what he was seeing…
[Desert][Purgatory][Flying Flow][Wind Demon][Extreme Cold]
The pitch-black half-air.
Five distinct yet overwhelming forms of magic condensed and took shape.
Standing there, never having moved an inch, the Witch Xue Feiya remained beneath the dark shadow, only a pair of purple eyes shining with light — disdained.
It was as if the stars of all heavens were looking down upon mere dust.
At this moment, humans would understand just how small and ignorant they truly are.
His so-called ambition was utterly unworthy of mention.
Is this also an illusion?
But what about this magic blade that has already broken the skin… what exactly is it?
Slaying a dragon?
Ha…hahaha… is that kind of thing really worth boasting about and embarrassing oneself?
Bang!!
The giant axe slipped from his grip and fell to the ground.
Vorof’s face was filled with terror, his tears and snot due to excessive fright, he crashed heavily onto the ground.
He was down.
But the magic attack across did not stop because of this.
Although the four types of magic gradually dissipated, the remaining [Desert] had fully activated.
The originally solid floor instantly transformed into endless quicksand!
The entire terrain was changed.
The magic did not directly attack the protective barrier, but the barrier seemed to sense the power of this magic, emitting a massive roar, as if even the protective magic was fearful of something.
The sand stirred, and the unconscious Vorof gradually sank into the quicksand.
Before long, only his two legs were left floundering outside towards the sky, while his head and body had already sunk into the sand and been buried.
Xue Feiya pressed her fingers.
The magic stopped, the quicksand ceased moving, and everything returned to normal.
Everyone on the scene was still in a stupor… but Xue Feiya had already opened [Storage Magic].
After rummaging around inside for a moment, she found a small handy shovel.
With a blank expression, she walked over to the sand pile where Vorof was half-buried.
Xue Feiya, with a cold face, actually began to scoop dirt one shovel at a time, humming a little tune, continually compacting the pile of dirt, burying Vorof even deeper!
With a terrifying smile on her face, Xue Feiya muttered to herself repeatedly; from a distance, she looked just like a heartless and terrifying Witch!
“Heh… You dare to target Xiya when you have no sense of your own abilities… I’ll bury you directly… bury you deep!”
The Witch is killing again!!
The host, watching the arena that had completely transformed, finally snapped out of his daze.
His legs went weak, and he collapsed by the amplification crystal, urgently shouting!
[The winner is… Princess Xue Feiya!]
[Emergency rescue team! Emergency rescue team!! Vorof has been buried! Urgent situation! Please intervene immediately and rescue Vorof!]
