Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!

Chapter 258: Chapter: 257 Arrogence can get you killed.[1]

"I guess it’s finally my time."

Kavin let out a long sigh as he rose from his seat. The excitement from Jasmine’s victory had barely settled before his own match arrived. He stretched his arms lazily before glancing toward Jasmine.

"Once I get back, we’ll collect the money, okay?"

Jasmine gave a simple nod. She had no intention of speaking unnecessarily in a public place. Kavin had already grown accustomed to interpreting her reactions, and that small nod was more than enough for him.

"Good."

With that, he turned and began walking toward the arena.

The moment he stepped out, a wave of cheers rolled through the Grand Arena. Thousands of voices mixed together into a deafening roar that echoed from every direction.

Kavin could even see groups of spectators rushing toward the gambling stalls before the match officially began.

Apparently, Jasmine’s performance had inspired a lot of confidence.

Many people were still betting on him defeating the Mountain Crushing Twin Fists within three seconds.

The odds had dropped significantly after Jasmine’s duel, making the rewards much lower than before, but that hardly seemed to discourage anyone. Some gamblers were even becoming more ambitious.

Several betting boards had already opened new categories.

"Defeat within three seconds."

"Defeat within two seconds."

"Defeat within one second."

The higher the risk, the greater the reward.

Judging from the number of people crowding around those boards, quite a few lunatics were willing to stake their fortunes on impossible dreams.

Kavin chuckled softly.

"Oh well. I’ll try winning in one second just like my wifey."

His amused murmur disappeared beneath the roar of the crowd.

As he continued walking, his gaze wandered through the audience.

Countless faces filled the massive arena, but after a few moments his eyes landed on a familiar pair seated within the VIP section.

Magnus and Selena. It appeared they had arrived sometime during the aftermath of Jasmine’s duel.

The moment their eyes met, both of them smiled.

Kavin returned the gesture without hesitation. From their faces it seemed they were enjoying the duels.

With a final wave, he continued toward the center of the arena.

The referee was already waiting. "Are you prepared for your opponent?" the old man asked.

Kavin responded with a simple nod. The referee nodded back in acknowledgment.

"Very well."

Turning toward the opposite waiting area, he raised his voice.

"Now then!"

The sound-enhancing formation spread his words throughout the entire Grand Arena.

"Let us welcome the one and only fighter who possesses the longest reign among the Ninth Rankers!"

The crowd immediately grew louder.

"The undefeated veteran whose record has endured for over nineteen months and 19 days!"

The anticipation rose further. "The Mountain Crushing Twin Fists..."

The referee pointed dramatically toward the waiting area.

"Donaven!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the audience.

Although impressive, it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as some previous introductions.

Most of the cheering came from Donaven’s supporters, while a large portion of the crowd had already placed their hopes and money on Kavin.

After all, many spectators currently cared less about rankings and more about whether their gambling slips would transform into mountains of wealth.

Kavin remained calm.

His eyes focused entirely on the darkness beyond the opposite entrance. The cheering gradually intensified.

Then a silhouette appeared. At first, it seemed like a large man emerging from the shadows.

A moment later, Kavin realized that description was completely inaccurate.

The figure wasn’t merely large, the figure was simply gigantic.

As Donaven stepped into the light, the crowd released another wave of excitement.

Kavin’s eyes narrowed.

The man was enormous.

Even compared to most Zlycons, his physique bordered on absurdity. He seemed almost comparable to Magnus in height, his massive frame casting a shadow over the arena floor.

His upper body was completely bare, revealing layers of dense muscle that looked less like flesh and more like carved stone.

Every movement caused those muscles to shift beneath charcoal-brown skin that glistened under the arena lights.

His shoulders were broad enough to make ordinary men appear like children standing beside him.

His arms resembled ancient tree trunks.

Even his legs looked powerful enough to crush boulders beneath a single step.

A rough grin rested on his face, revealing absolute confidence.

No....confidence wasn’t the correct word. It was certainty.

The certainty of a man who had stood atop the Ninth Rank for years and crushed every challenger who had come before him.

Then Donaven took another step. The instant his foot touched the ground, Kavin felt a heavy pressure descend upon him.

A nurtured aura that naturally radiated from the giant’s body.

For a brief moment, goosebumps rose across Kavin’s skin. His expression remained calm, but inwardly he froze.

Something was wrong. His eyes widened slightly as realization struck him. This pressure and aura. The feeling radiating from Donaven’s body.

Kavin knew it well. A sudden sense of regret appeared inside his heart.

Because he had overlooked something important. Something extremely important.

His gaze locked onto the approaching giant.

The grin on Donaven’s face suddenly looked much more annoying than before.

Kavin swallowed.

"When did this bastard pass the First Heavenly Trial?"

The realization hit him like a hammer.

The aura surrounding Donaven was unmistakable.

This wasn’t the aura of an ordinary Void Core spell caster.

This was the aura of someone who had successfully crossed the first heavenly barrier and stepped onto an entirely different level.

Donaven had passed the First Heavenly Trial. The bastard had hidden it. Or perhaps the information simply hadn’t spread yet. Either way, the result was the same. Kavin clicked his tongue in annoyance.

There went his beautiful plan, more importantly...There went his one million taels.

"Tsk."

Watching the giant continue his approach, Kavin felt genuine pain for the first time since entering the arena.

Not because of the opponent....it wasn’t because of the pressure either.

It was because he suddenly realized there was a very real possibility that he was about to lose a million taels.

*****

"Are you two ready?" the referee asked once the giant arrived before Kavin.

Standing face to face, the difference between them appeared even greater than it had from the stands. Kavin looked almost tiny before the massive Donaven, whose broad shoulders and towering frame resembled a moving wall of muscle.

Kavin nodded.

"Yes!" Donaven answered immediately.

His voice echoed throughout the arena with such force that many spectators turned toward him despite the noise surrounding them. Kavin couldn’t help wincing.

"Geez, there’s no need to shout like that," he muttered under his breath.

The referee ignored the complaint and raised his voice.

"Very well! Let us begin the ranked duel between the Eleventh Rank and the Ninth Rank! The victor shall claim the Ninth Rank!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as the referee retreated from the battlefield.

"Begin!"

Kavin rolled his eyes. Even as the match officially started, part of his mind remained focused on the painful loss of his one million taels.

He was still confident he could defeat this oversized brute, but winning within three seconds had suddenly become much more difficult now that he knew Donaven had already passed the First Heavenly Trial.

Unfortunately, while Kavin was busy mourning his money, Donaven had no intention of giving him time to think.

"Where is your attention, boy?!"

The booming voice reached Kavin at almost the same moment Donaven himself did. The giant crossed the arena with terrifying speed, the Light Path runes covering his body blazing brilliantly as he moved.

For an instant, it genuinely looked as though a streak of light had flashed across the battlefield.

Kavin’s expression changed.

’Fast.’

Far faster than he had expected.

By the time he realized what was happening, Donaven’s fist was already in front of him.

There was no time to dodge and no opportunity to counterattack. Instinctively, Kavin raised both arms and crossed them before his body.

The punch landed a moment later.

The impact felt less like being struck by a person and more like being hit by a charging beast.

A violent force surged through his arms, and Kavin immediately heard an unpleasant cracking sound from his left hand. Before he could even process the pain, his feet left the ground entirely.

His body shot backward across the arena.

The world blurred around him as the force carried him through the air. His mind blanked for a brief moment, overwhelmed by the sudden impact, and when his senses finally returned, he found himself flying directly toward the arena wall.

A loud explosion followed as his body crashed into the stone.

Fragments scattered in every direction along with pain exploding through his chest.

Kavin could feel several ribs fracture from the collision, and for a few seconds he remained embedded within the damaged wall while dust drifted around him.

"...Fucking hell."

The curse escaped almost automatically.

The match had only just begun, and he had already discovered that fighting a Heavenly Trial spell casters was considerably less enjoyable than he had imagined.