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.

of the exciting matches that had occurred her expression not once changed, yet, the moment Amanda

Amanda in the square, they all wondered, 'Why would the queen react like that at her

elven queen leaned her body forward. A rare trace of solemnity emerged

"…it can't be."

***

her name being called up, Amanda headed toward

"Good luck."

"Mhm."

a smug look on his face, Amanda nodded back. But just as he passed her, Ren didn't forget to whisper something in her

the same move like yesterday. Trust me, you will never lose if you

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

at his figure, Amanda

appeared on her cheeks. Lowering her head,

concede, you win. Forgive me. I will never do it again,

for forgiveness replayed

'…Was yesterday not enough?'

grip of her bow tightened

wanted to try her moves again, she was all in for it. With her head still lowered, unbeknownst to her, the corner of her lips tugged

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

body and brushing her hair back,

like any other orc, he had a well-built body and a ferocious look on

her bow, Amanda closed

Swooosh—!

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

"Begin!"

was the first to move following

Bang—!

clothes flapped about, while a dark green hue

orc opposite of her, Amanda remained motionless with her

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

orc's attack was extremely swift and ferocious, reaching Amanda's face in

fist was about to land on her pretty face, Amanda raised her hand, the one which

was so abrupt and masterful that the attack narrowly missed as 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

"Ukek!"

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

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

"Khhhh..."

orc let out another groan as his face turned a deeper shade of green. Raising his hand, he gripped Amanda's

elbow and smashed it towards the orc's

Thump—!

this opportunity, Amanda increased the strength of her hook even more as her body bent

"Khh..."

more and more sluggish as

Thud—!

'thud' the orc soon kneeled on the ground with his eyes

Amanda Stern

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

"Haaa...haaa..."

Update faster, please come to Novel What was more impressive was the fact that throughout the whole time, she had

"Huuuuu."

staring into the sky Amanda

***

to never piss

cold chill ran down my spine as I stared at Amanda

be fierce at times, now that I saw it firsthand, I realized that I had been playing with

match only lasted a total of two

the years 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 bright sun from the

a good

Amanda once she returned. Out of precaution, I scooched over to the

staring at me, Amanda raised her brow. 'You saw what I did there,

my lips

shouldn't have

and my big

her eyes, I

"Beautiful day isn't it?"

"...It is."