Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!

Chapter 247: Chapter: 246 Watching Duels.[2]

As soon as the soul beasts were summoned, both fighters moved.

Kyle gripped the handle of a massive axe that materialized within his hand, its heavy blade gleaming beneath the arena lights.

Without wasting a second, he charged forward behind the Lightning Bear, using the beast as the spearhead of his assault.

James reacted immediately.

With a swift leap, he landed upon the back of the Slime Eagle.

The creature spread its watery wings and shot into the air, carrying him above the battlefield. Wind swept through James’s hair as mana gathered around his hands.

"Infinite Cast: Water Spear!"

One spear after another formed around him.

Sharp streams of condensed water solidified into deadly projectiles before hurtling downward toward Kyle and the Lightning Bear. The sky above the arena quickly filled with dozens of glistening blue spears.

At the same time, the Slime Eagle opened its beak.

A stream of greenish liquid sprayed downward.

The acidic substance hissed violently wherever it touched the stone platform, melting shallow pits into the arena floor.

The audience finally showed a little interest.

A few gamblers leaned forward in their seats.

Others glanced up from their betting slips.

Compared to the earlier exchanges happening across the other arenas, this was at least somewhat entertaining.

Kyle, however, showed no sign of concern.

The incoming barrage reflected in his eyes as he swung his axe through the air.

A golden circle appeared at the tip of the weapon.

Lightning erupted across the blade, crackling violently while arcs of electricity danced around his arm.

"Stun."

The moment the word left his mouth, a bolt of lightning exploded forward.

BOOM!

A flash of blue light crossed the battlefield.

The bolt struck the Slime Eagle directly.

The beast let out a shrill cry as electricity surged through its body. Its wings stiffened instantly, and for a brief moment both the eagle and its rider became completely unable to move.

Only a few seconds....but in battle, a few seconds could decide everything.

The Lightning Bear moved.

True to its name, the beast crossed the distance in a single explosive burst.

The audience barely had time to register what happened.

One moment it stood beside Kyle.

The next it was already directly beneath the paralyzed eagle.

James’s eyes widened.

The Slime Eagle’s eyes widened. Unfortunately, neither of them had enough time to do anything about it.

The Lightning Bear rose onto its hind legs.

Its enormous paw became covered in crackling lightning.

Then it swung downward.

BAM!

The impact echoed throughout the arena.

The Slime Eagle was smashed directly into the stone platform. The force shattered the arena floor beneath it while lightning exploded in every direction.

A sickening tearing sound followed.

One wing ripped apart.

Then the other.

Feathers made from living water scattered across the battlefield as the beast released a horrifying scream.

"SCREEEECH!"

The cry lasted only a moment. Then the Slime Eagle crashed lifelessly onto the arena floor.

James wasn’t much better. Thrown from his mount, he struck the stone platform headfirst.

The impact produced a crunch loud enough for many nearby spectators to hear.

His body rolled several times before coming to a stop. Blood quickly spread across the arena floor.

The audience collectively winced. Even gamblers who had been cheering for Kyle looked slightly uncomfortable.

Brain matter was visible near the impact site.

The man was still alive..... though barely.

The host immediately rushed forward. After a brief inspection, his expression changed.

"Medics!"

Several healers stationed around the arena hurried onto the battlefield carrying equipment.

They quickly surrounded James, pressing cloth against the massive wound while desperately attempting to slow the bleeding.

The unconscious man was placed onto a stretcher and carried away as quickly as possible.

Whether he survived or not would depend entirely upon how skilled the city’s healers were.

The host waited until the medics disappeared before raising his voice.

"After thirty days as Rank Forty-Nine, James has been defeated!" His amplified voice echoed across the arena.

"The new Rank Forty-Nine is Kyle!"

Scattered applause followed. Several spectators simply stood up and left.

Their annoyed expressions suggested they had just lost a considerable amount of money.

Others didn’t even bother reacting. After all, this was still a duel between the bottom ranks. For most people, it wasn’t worth getting excited over.

Around the arena, the remaining matches were also beginning to conclude. Victories and defeats were announced one after another while spectators either celebrated successful bets or cursed their terrible luck.

Not long afterward, the crowd gradually began dispersing.

*******

Kavin and Jasmine left their seats and walked through one of the stone corridors leading deeper into the arena complex.

"Such a boring match."

Jasmine yawned so widely she nearly looked ready to swallow a small animal.

She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms above her head.

The duel had lasted only a short while, yet somehow she felt more exhausted watching it than she ever did during actual combat.

"We were far stronger when we were at the Arcane Core Realm, weren’t we?"

She glanced at Kavin. "These people even have soul beasts helping them cast spells and fight. Yet somehow they’re still terrible."

Her shoulders rose in a disappointed shrug. "What a waste."

Kavin maintained the same cold expression he had worn ever since they adopted their new identities.

To outsiders, he appeared like a grieving father silently enduring unimaginable pain.

In reality, he was mostly discussing battle standards.

"These are peasants." His tone remained completely flat.

"They lack resources, proper inheritances, quality teachers, advanced techniques, and most likely spend half their lives trying not to starve."

Jasmine blinked.

Kavin continued. "Under those conditions, reaching this level is actually impressive."

Jasmine blinked again. "So are you praising them or insulting them?"

Kavin considered the question. "Both."

"..."

Jasmine stared at him. Sometimes she genuinely had no idea what came out of his mouth.

One moment he would call someone talented. The next moment he would explain why they were worthless.

Then somehow both statements would be true at the same time. After several seconds of thought, she eventually gave up trying to understand him.

It wasn’t worth the effort. Besides, there were far more important things occupying her mind.

Namely a certain person who was also a peasant and she absolutely despised.

Unfortunately, the moment that thought appeared, the name followed.

Alia Ruth.

Jasmine’s face twitched.

"Damn it." She hadn’t even wanted to think about that woman today.

In fact, she had successfully avoided thinking about her for almost an entire month.

That was practically a personal achievement. Yet somehow the name still appeared.

Like an annoying mosquito that refused to die no matter how many times someone slapped it.

The more she tried not to think about Alia, the more she thought about Alia.

Which naturally made her even angrier.

A vicious cycle....an extremely irritating vicious cycle. Jasmine felt her blood pressure rising.

If there was anyone she hated more than her father and the Valentina Clan, it was that woman.

Well...perhaps not more than them.

That would be difficult....but definitely close, very close actually.

She also hated Crypian Thorne and the entire Thorne Family, but even that hatred felt different. Whenever she thought about them, she felt murderous.

Whenever she thought about Alia, she felt murderous and annoyed.

The distinction was important...at least to her.

"Ahhhh..."

Jasmine screamed internally. Her expression on the outside remained completely indifferent.

Years of experience had made hiding her emotions second nature. Inside, however, she was practically on fire.

After all, in Jasmine’s eyes, Alia was a shameless slut. More importantly, she was a shameless slut who had stubbornly refused to die.

And that was the real problem. Because Jasmine had actually tried to kill her.

Yet somehow, despite all logic, despite all reason, despite all common sense, the woman had survived.

Even now, remembering it made Jasmine irrationally angry.

As she was thinking about these things, Kavin suddenly stopped.

Jasmine failed to react in time and walked straight into his back.

Startled, she immediately spat out, "What the fuck, man?"

Kavin turned toward her and narrowed his eyes.

"Recently, you’ve been cursing too much," he said. "Do you need therapy?"

"Ah."

Jasmine shrugged and ignored the question entirely.

"Anyway, why did you stop?"

Kavin turned and pointed toward a nearby board.

Underground Registration Hall

Jasmine followed his gaze.

A large sign hung above the entrance, displaying the words clearly for everyone passing by.

"Underground registration," Kavin said. "We’re here."