Chapter 177: The Queen of the Arena
The shock created by Tony’s victory lingered throughout the Battle God Arena long after Parker had been carried away by medical personnel.
The projection screens continuously replayed the moment.
The broken spear.
The dragon-shaped energy.
The terrifying punch.
The body flying across the arena.
Many spectators had initially viewed Tony Clark as an entertaining participant. A shameless opportunist. A lucky fellow constantly escaping difficult situations through absurd methods.
Nobody laughed anymore.
Even the commentators had become cautious.
Something powerful was hidden beneath Tony’s carefree personality.
Something dangerous.
Meanwhile, the tournament continued.
Academy Master Da Vinci eventually restored order and announced the next elimination phase.
The competitors gathered once more.
Another draw began.
Another round of matches awaited.
The spectators quickly focused their attention.
Especially beneath the Golden Flag.
Because that battlefield contained the strongest collection of talents.
The crystal balls were drawn.
One by one.
Then the result appeared.
A strange silence spread.
Tony Clark... Received another bye.
For several seconds nobody reacted. Then the entire arena exploded.
"What?!"
"Again?!"
"Impossible!"
"Did he bribe heaven itself?!"
"Technically, Tony fought the second round in the process of taking revenge for his brother. That’s why he promoted to third round directly." Da Vinci clarified to elders.
Tony blinked several times before smiling brightly.
"Academy Master, I think fate likes me."
Several participants nearly vomited blood.
Emma Rock closed her eyes.
Mark Smith’s jaw tightened slightly.
Even the calm bald monk seemed momentarily distracted.
Meanwhile, Tony shamelessly returned to his seat and began eating fruit again.
The audience wanted to riot.
Unfortunately, the rules were the rules.
Since Tony had already used his challenge battle against Parker, his victory counted.
The numbers happened to create another unmatched participant.
And somehow...
That participant was Tony Clark.
Again.
The remaining battles began shortly afterward.
Mark Smith faced the giant carrying the iron pillar.
The moment both men stepped onto the battlefield, excitement erupted throughout the arena.
The giant had dominated every previous opponent.
His physical strength appeared almost monstrous.
Meanwhile, Mark Smith represented the pride of the Imperial Family.
The battle started violently.
The giant attacked first.
His iron pillar descended from the sky like a falling mountain.
The impact shattered the stage.
The spectators gasped.
Mark responded by finally drawing his sword.
The Serpent Spirit Sword.
For the first time during the tournament, the legendary weapon revealed itself completely.
A gigantic serpent phantom appeared behind him.
The pressure instantly doubled.
The battle became a clash of raw force.
Pillar against sword.
Mountain against serpent.
The giant fought bravely.
Several times he even forced Mark backward.
Unfortunately...
Mark was Mark.
The Imperial genius eventually unleashed a terrifying sword strike that split the battlefield apart and blasted the giant completely off the stage.
The crowd erupted.
The Imperial Family stood proudly.
Mark advanced.
The next battle attracted less attention initially.
Lily Frost.
Versus.
The bald monk.
Many spectators immediately favored Lily.
She belonged to the Frost Family.
She had performed consistently throughout the tournament.
Her sword techniques were elegant and deadly.
The monk, meanwhile, appeared almost ordinary.
He smiled too much.
He bowed too often.
He looked more like a wandering priest than a fighter.
The battle began.
Lily attacked first.
Snow-like energy filled the battlefield.
The temperature dropped noticeably.
Many spectators nodded approvingly.
Her opening attack alone exceeded the level displayed by most participants.
The monk smiled.
Then he bowed.
And bowed.
And bowed again.
The spectators became confused.
Lily became irritated.
Every attack she launched somehow missed by the smallest margin.
Every sword strike that should have landed touched empty air.
The monk continued smiling.
The monk continued bowing.
The monk continued apologizing.
"Forgive me."
"Dangerous."
"Very dangerous."
"Please slow down."
The audience began laughing.
Lily nearly exploded.
Eventually she unleashed her strongest technique.
The battlefield transformed into a frozen world.
The spectators held their breath.
The monk finally stopped smiling.
For the first time, he raised a hand.
A golden palm appeared.
The ice shattered.
The sword shattered.
The Frost energy exploded.
And Lily was blasted from the stage.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The spectators stared blankly.
The Frost Family stood frozen.
Even Lily herself looked stunned.
The monk immediately bowed.
"Thank you for the lesson."
The crowd almost fainted.
Tony laughed so hard he nearly fell from his seat.
Lily’s face turned red with embarrassment.
Then came the final announcement.
Only four competitors remained.
Tony Clark.
Emma Rock.
Mark Smith.
The bald monk.
The projection screens displayed the next matchups.
Mark Smith versus Emma Rock.
Tony Clark versus the bald monk.
The crowd erupted immediately.
These were finals before the finals.
Everyone understood it.
Mark Smith walked onto the battlefield calmly.
Emma Rock followed shortly afterward.
Neither smiled.
Neither spoke.
The pressure surrounding the stage became suffocating.
The Imperial Family members stood confidently.
They expected victory.
Mark Smith had dominated the younger generation for years.
Even Emma’s supporters looked nervous.
Only the disciples of Healing Tower shouted loudly.
"Senior Emma!"
"Beat him!"
"Show him!"
The battle began.
And immediately exceeded every expectation.
Mark attacked first.
His sword erupted with serpent energy.
Emma met it head-on.
The collision produced a shockwave powerful enough to shake the arena.
The spectators rose to their feet.
Nobody remained seated.
The battle became increasingly violent.
Sword energy filled the sky.
Healing energy covered the battlefield.
The more they fought, the more shocked people became.
Emma wasn’t weaker.
She wasn’t surviving.
She was matching him.
Move for move.
Attack for attack.
Even Mark’s expression gradually changed.
For the first time during the tournament, he encountered someone capable of pushing him completely.
The battle lasted nearly twenty minutes.
The longest battle of the entire competition.
The spectators became exhausted just watching.
Then...
Emma changed.
A strange silver light appeared around her body.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The Healing Tower elders stood up.
Da Vinci narrowed his eyes.
Even Ancestor Long leaned forward.
Mark attacked.
Emma didn’t dodge.
Instead, she stepped forward.
One palm.
Just one palm.
The silver light exploded.
Mark’s sword energy shattered.
The serpent phantom screamed.
The Imperial genius staggered backward.
The audience froze.
Emma attacked again.
Another palm.
Another explosion.
Mark’s defenses collapsed.
For the first time in years...
The strongest genius of the Imperial Family was forced backward repeatedly.
The crowd couldn’t believe it.
The Healing Tower disciples began screaming.
The Imperial Family members looked horrified.
Then came the final exchange.
Mark unleashed everything.
Emma unleashed everything.
The collision illuminated the entire arena.
The explosion shook the protective barriers.
When the dust settled...
Only one person remained standing.
Emma Rock.
The Battle God Arena exploded.
The cheers became deafening.
Healing Tower disciples jumped from their seats.
Several elders openly laughed.
The Imperial Family remained silent. Mark Smith stared at Emma for several moments before finally lowering his sword.
The result was undeniable... He lost.
Emma Rock had defeated him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, Tony slowly stood up and began clapping.
The sound echoed clearly throughout the battlefield.
Everyone turned toward him.
Tony’s smile widened.
"Not bad."
Emma looked toward him.
The crowd followed her gaze.
Suddenly everyone remembered something.
The next battle.
Tony Clark... vs The bald monk.
The two strangest participants remaining. One hid terrifying power behind a shameless smile. The other hid terrifying power behind endless bows.
