The first ring's fight had ended without anything particularly extraordinary.
Though for Davis and Mash, it had been a deadly clash, the overall impression it left on the arena was… underwhelming. The crowd had enjoyed it, but it wasn't enough to truly ignite the atmosphere.
Near one of the massive stone pillars of the arena—
Lumian stood, leaning casually against it.
A faint shadow covered his face as he observed everything in silence. But at this moment… it wasn't truly Lumian.
Reyax was in control.
He clicked his tongue in clear dissatisfaction, his gaze cold and indifferent.
"Such a trivial fight… and they ended up like that?" he muttered under his breath. "Pathetic… boring."
His eyes slowly scanned the arena, completely detached, as if none of it held any real value.
---
Moments later—
"Ring 3—Lumian of Wuu Clan… versus Kromy of Ka Clan!"
The announcer's voice echoed again.
Yet this time—
There wasn't much excitement.
No roaring cheers.
No rising tension.
Just a quiet curiosity.
---
From a distance, Lu focused his gaze toward the ring.
Beside him, Chesse also turned his head after hearing Lumian's name, his expression filled with mild interest.
From the front booth—
Mili noticed that small reaction.
A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips.
---
Inside a private section, Cross began laughing loudly, though his voice didn't leave the room.
"Hahaha! That boy?" he said with clear disdain. "My Kromy won't even need a second thought to crush him!"
---
The two stepped into the ring.
Kromy stood tall, his posture full of confidence. But the moment he saw his opponent—
He paused.
Lumian's thin frame… his long hair…
For a brief second, Kromy almost mistook him for a girl.
But then—
The name registered.
His expression shifted.
A mocking smile appeared.
"With that kind of body… you dare step into an intense fight like this?" he said, voice dripping with ridicule. "Ridiculous. You won't last even a moment."
---
Lumian didn't react.
His face remained completely blank.
Cold.
Emotionless.
And that…
Annoyed Kromy.
---
After a brief silence—
Lumian finally spoke.
His voice was low. Calm.
"I want to make a bet… that I won't lose."
Kromy blinked in surprise.
"…What?"
Then he smirked.
"Fine. I agree."
He casually removed a bracelet from his wrist and tossed it toward Lumian.
"If you win… it's yours."
---
Lumian looked at it.
Then spoke again.
"I'll add one more."
A slight pause.
"I'll kill you… in one hit."
---
For a moment—
Even the announcer almost burst into laughter.
But strangely—
He couldn't.
Something about the atmosphere… felt off.
---
Kromy, however, burst out laughing.
"You?" he shouted. "A mere Rank 2 dares to threaten me? Crazy!"
Then he pointed arrogantly.
"Go ahead. You take the first hit."
---
Lumian tilted his head slightly.
"…Sure?"
"Su—"
---
He didn't finish the word.
---
Darkness.
---
Kromy's vision went black.
His pupils shrank violently—
Then—
Blood.
---
It burst out from his eyes… his mouth…
Like something inside him had exploded.
---
A massive hole appeared through his body.
Clean.
Horrifying.
---
His body froze—
Then dropped.
Dead.
---
Silence.
---
It was so sudden—
So unreal—
That no one was even sure if they had truly seen it.
---
Jeju froze.
Mili's eyes widened.
Cross—
Shot up from his seat.
"What…? What? What?! HOW?!"
His voice cracked.
"Impossible…!"
His eyes trembled as he stared at his grandson's corpse.
---
Around the arena—
Other rings slowed.
People began looking over.
Lu and Chesse stood frozen.
"…How is this possible?" Lu whispered.
"One moment… and he's dead?"
---
In the ring—
Lumian raised his hand slightly, signaling the announcer.
He took a cloth.
Then calmly walked toward the corpse.
Step by step.
No hesitation.
---
He stopped in front of the body.
Then gently—
Covered Kromy's face with the cloth.
---
Suddenly—
A presence rushed past him.
Cross.
---
He stopped ahead, then slowly turned back.
"You…!" his voice trembled with rage. "You dare—"
---
Lumian looked at him.
Calm.
Cold.
"What?" he said quietly. "I warned you."
A slight pause.
"And until this tournament ends… you can't do anything."
Then—
He lightly kicked a broken piece of stone toward the corpse.
"Take him."
---
The disrespect was undeniable.
Heavy.
Brutal.
---
Chesse and Lu were speechless.
"…Is this really Lumi?"
---
Inside—
Lumian's voice trembled.
"I… can't endure this anymore… What have you done?"
Reyax responded calmly.
"…You'll understand. When the time comes."
---
From the stands—
Misa watched everything.
Her fingers tightened.
Her heart pounded.
"Do they… not feel anything?" she thought.
"Is a life… really this worthless?"
Fear slowly crept into her chest.
---
Cross stood there, barely holding himself together.
The pain of losing someone close—
It was something no one could ignore.
---
Mili glanced at Jeju, her eyes sharp.
"…What kind of monster are you raising?" she said softly. "If he goes the wrong way… this could become dangerous."
Another voice added—
"He's already on a hit list from the start of his career."
"Indeed…"
"For now, he's only safe because of the tournament."
---
Jeju remained silent.
But inside—
His thoughts raced.
So my assumption was correct…
There is something connecting Lumian… to Lymian's incident.
But how does someone change this much in a single night…?
---
Lu rushed toward the ring.
"Lumi! What was that? Why did you kill him like that?!"
---
Lumian replied calmly—
"I only kept my word."
"That's all."
---
Then—
He turned.
And walked away.
---
Inside the tunnel—
A sudden pull.
Someone grabbed his hand.
---
His balance almost broke.
A cheerful female voice rang out—
"Hey, little one! How did you do that?"
Lumias.
His older sister.
"I thought you were just a useless idiot," she laughed. "But damn—you erased him completely!"
---
Lumian looked at her.
For a moment—
He was silent.
---
Then—
His eyes shifted.
Behind her—
Another figure.
---
Sumian.
---
A name that felt like a nightmare.
---
"Surprised?" Sumian laughed. "In a month, I'm marrying your sister."
Lumias blushed slightly.
---
Lumian remained calm.
"So?"
"You can marry. As long as elders approve… it's fine."
---
Sumian's smile faded slightly.
"…Your sister said you'd lose today—"
He stopped.
Corrected himself.
"—I mean win."
---
At that moment—
Lumian's aura changed.
Reyax took over.
---
He said nothing.
And walked forward.
---
"Hey! Where are you going?" Sumian called out.
---
Lumian glanced back.
A faint smile formed.
"I don't have the mood… to talk to trash."
"I have another fight."
---
A fist suddenly shot toward his face—
But—
Lumias blocked it.
"Sumian! Are you crazy? You can't attack him here!"
---
Sumian's face twisted in anger.
---
Lumian clicked his tongue.
Then walked away.
---
A faint…
Terrifying smile lingered on his lips.