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.

the exciting matches that had occurred her expression not

surprise on their faces. Then, turning their attention towards Amanda in the square, they all wondered, 'Why would the queen react like that at her

them, the elven queen leaned her body forward. A rare trace of solemnity emerged on

"…it can't be."

***

called up, Amanda headed toward her

"Good luck."

"Mhm."

Amanda nodded back. But just as he passed her, Ren didn't forget to whisper something

you want to win, all you have to do is pull the same move like yesterday. Trust me,

head snapped backward only to see Ren's figure quickly

figure, Amanda gently bit

on her cheeks. Lowering her head, and letting the hair cover her face, Amanda's eyes flickered

me. I will never

begging for

'…Was yesterday not enough?'

her bow tightened

it. With her head still lowered, unbeknownst

up. Her

her hair back, Amanda looked

look on his face. Staring at her

Amanda

Swooosh—!

and Amanda's clothes fluttered. Following this, the referee's voice

"Begin!"

the first to move following the

Bang—!

while a dark green hue swirled on the surface

from the orc opposite of her, Amanda remained motionless with her bow hung

the former's foot pushed off the ground and he shot in Amanda's direction at incredible

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

raised

it brushed past her nose. What followed after was the orc's fist entering the middle of her body. With cold eyes, Amanda twisted the bow up and bent the

"Ukek!"

as his arm twisted upwards. A faint green line appeared on the part where

core, Amanda agilely moved around the orc's massive body before her legs hooked

"Khhhh..."

a deeper shade of green. Raising

teeth, Amanda raised her elbow and smashed it towards the orc's

Thump—!

with pain. Not missing this opportunity, Amanda increased the strength of her hook even

"Khh..."

and more sluggish as the air was starting to get

Thud—!

the ground with his eyes completely white. He

456, Amanda

after the referee announced her victory did Amanda finally release her leg hook and the orc fell face-first onto

"Haaa...haaa..."

was more impressive was the fact that throughout the whole time, she had done this while fighting in close range, rather than long-range which

"Huuuuu."

the sky Amanda took a deep breath

***

to never piss

my spine as I stared at Amanda choking the

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

a total

at her figure basking in the cheers of

a good

once she returned. Out of

head and staring at me, Amanda raised her brow. 'You saw what I did there, didn't you?' That

lips

have provoked

and my big

I

"Beautiful day isn't it?"

"...It is."