The Author's POV

Hatred.

Pure hatred.

If there was one feeling to describe how the current Melissa felt, it would be pure hatred.

At the moment, about a quarter of the arena grounds' attention was drawn towards her. Clenching her fists and staring at Ren who was still standing on the arena grounds with a smirk on his face, Melissa's eyes turned into crescent moons.

For a brief moment of time, Melissa looked back at the time when Ren was presumingly dead. The good old days as one might call them.

Not even a week after he reappeared and he was already causing her problems.

Fortunately, with the preliminaries in full swing and the others couldn't approach her yet. She was still safe. At least for now.

"Ugh, my head hurts."

Just imagining what was going to happen once the first day ended, Melissa felt her head throb uncontrollably.

Without a doubt, she was going to be hounded from all sides, all trying to gain information regarding the magic cards.

"Haaa..."

She deeply sighed at the thought. Still, it wasn't the end of the world.

She naturally understood what Ren was trying to pull. By displaying the power of the cards in front of everyone, he was essentially advertising to all four races the effects of the cards.

Having spent over a year mass producing the cards, she had plenty to give away.

If she could secure a deal with the other races, she wouldn't need to worry about money for the rest of her life. She had to admit, Ren's plan was quite smart, 'ugh', Melissa's stomach suddenly churned at that thought.

The words 'smart' and 'Ren' being put together left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Number 456, Amanda Stern vs Number 096 Kodiak"

As Melissa's stomach churned in disgust at the thought of having complemented Ren, Amanda's name was suddenly called up.

Seated next to her, with her bow in hand, Amanda stood up.

As she stood up, instantly, half of the stares directed at Melissa lingered on Amanda who indifferently walked down the stands.

Melissa sighed in relief as she saw this. With half of the stares gone, she felt much more comfortable.

***

[At the upper echelon section.]

"…interesting."

Gervis muttered as he stared at the human in the distance. The cards in his hand had truly left him surprised. Never had he seen such artifact technology. Update faster, please come to Novel His inner dwarven mind instantly became excited at the prospect of analyzing the cards.

'I'll ask him to give me a sample.' Gervis thought as his eyes focused on the human standing in the middle of the square. He already knew who it was, but he just pretended to not know him.

This was obviously at his request.

Turning his head, he glanced at Octavious and complimented him.

"That's some peculiar technology. I didn't know you humans were able to create such artifacts."

"…It is indeed an interesting piece of technology." Octavious calmly answered from the side. His eyes never left Melissa who was currently everyone's center of attention.

Despite the attention she was drawing from everyone present, he remained completely indifferent to it. As though he didn't care about her current predicament.

'What a strange human…' Gervis thought as he studied Octavious from the side.

He had interacted with many humans before, but none were as weird as Octavious. To Gervis, his composure was something admirable. It made it harder for people to understand what he was thinking.

Even he had difficulty reading his expression.

"Number 456, Amanda Stern vs Number 096 Kodiak"

It was at that moment that the referee announced the next contestant and a young human female stood up.

The moment Amanda stood up, the elven queen's brows jumped up. Throughout the whole tournament, she had always remained seated with a stoic and indifferent look on her face.

had occurred her expression not once changed, yet, the moment Amanda appeared, her

in the square, they all wondered, 'Why would the queen react like that at her appearance?' Everyone believe that there was more to it than she let

forward. A rare trace of solemnity emerged

"…it can't be."

***

her name being called up, Amanda headed

"Good luck."

"Mhm."

on his face, Amanda nodded back. But just as he passed her, Ren

same move like yesterday.

and her head snapped backward only to see Ren's figure quickly headed for

figure, Amanda gently bit

yesterday in the training grounds, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. Lowering her head, and letting the hair cover her

you win. Forgive me. I

for forgiveness replayed in

'…Was yesterday not enough?'

her bow tightened

in for it. With her head still

the platform, tensing her legs, Amanda jumped up. Her foot

hair back, Amanda looked at her

orc. Just like any other orc, he had a well-built body and a ferocious look on his face. Staring at her with his ferocious gaze,

Amanda closed

Swooosh—!

soft wind blew and Amanda's clothes fluttered. Following this, the referee's voice rang

"Begin!"

to move following the

Bang—!

clothes flapped about, while a dark

the tremendous power bursting from the orc opposite of her, Amanda

offended by Amanda's nonchalance, the former's foot pushed off the

his body had appeared in front of Amanda, his enormous fist which was coated in a dark green hue quickly smashed in her direction. The orc's attack was extremely swift and ferocious, reaching Amanda's face in the blink of an eye. It was clear that he was

pretty face, Amanda raised her hand, the

followed after was the orc's fist entering the middle of her body. With cold eyes, Amanda twisted

"Ukek!"

let out a pained cry as his arm twisted upwards. A faint green line

her body up and tensing her core, Amanda agilely moved around the orc's massive body before her legs hooked onto his neck and she squeezed with all of her

"Khhhh..."

another groan as his face turned a deeper shade of green. Raising his hand, he gripped Amanda's leg and tried to remove it

teeth, Amanda raised her elbow and smashed

Thump—!

Not missing this opportunity, Amanda increased the strength of her hook even more as

"Khh..."

orc's movements became more and more sluggish as the air was starting

Thud—!

'thud' the orc soon kneeled on the ground

Amanda

the referee announced her victory did Amanda finally release her leg hook and the

"Haaa...haaa..."

was more impressive was the fact that throughout the whole

"Huuuuu."

head and staring into the sky Amanda took a deep

***

to never

down my spine as I stared at Amanda choking the

that Amanda could be fierce at times, now that I saw it firsthand, I realized

the match only lasted a total of two

that I haven't seen her.' I thought as I stared at her figure basking in the cheers of the crow. She looked especially dazzling standing underneath the

a

she returned. Out of precaution, I scooched over

her brow. 'You saw what I did there, didn't you?' That was

my lips pursed

have provoked

my

her eyes, I

"Beautiful day isn't it?"

"...It is."