The spectators in the stands were completely losing their minds! The appearance of the Martial Lord meant that one of the strongest leaders of the Empire's military was personally stepping in. This match was no longer ordinary. It felt more like a "judgment" for the very honor of the Empire!
Not only that, but just as the Martial Lord and the Headhunter Rabbit appeared, a grand and serious song began to play from the arena entrance.
Everyone instinctively turned to look. A squad of Royal Guards led the way. They wore bright armor and gave off a scary aura. Then, surrounded by a group of attendants and protectors, several figures slowly stepped onto the royal viewing platform at the highest level of the Colosseum.
At the head of the group was a young man wearing a rich black imperial robe and a golden crown. His face was handsome, but he looked tired, with heavy shadows beneath his eyes. However, at this moment, those eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He looked down at the arena with great interest. It was the ruler of the Baharuth Empire, the Bloody Emperor, Jircniv Rune Farlord El.
Beside him stood an old man with hair and a beard as white as snow. He wore a simple grey mage's robe and held an ancient wooden staff. The old man's face looked kind, but his eyes were as deep as the ocean. He was surrounded by a massive wave of mana that made people's hearts skip a beat. This was the Imperial Court Wizard and one of humanity's protectors, Fluder Paradyne.
Behind them were four knights. Each had a different personality, but they all gave off a powerful presence. These were the "Four Imperial Knights" who guarded the Emperor.
"His Majesty the Emperor! It's the Bloody Emperor!" "Lord Fluder! Heavens, even that man has come!" "And the Four Knights! What kind of day is this?!"
After a brief, dead silence, the arena exploded into cheers and salutes. The crowd was even more wild and respectful than before! The arrival of both the Emperor and the Empire's strongest mage turned this sudden trouble into a serious matter of state.
In the arena, everyone bowed deeply toward the royal box. This included the newly arrived Osk, the Martial Lord Go Gin, the Headhunter Rabbit, and all the gladiators, staff, and students.
Even the wild adventurers in the stands and the members of "Eight Fingers" had to lower their heads. Even those with secret dark plans looked away out of respect for the supreme power of the Empire.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the general seating, two other teams watched the scene with complicated feelings. One was a small group dressed in showy styles. They were led by a charming bard holding a lute. He was the captain of the Adamantite-ranked adventurer team, "Silver Thread Bird."
The other group was larger, with about nine members. Their equipment was more rugged and practical. They were led by a determined warrior with a greatsword on his back. He was the captain of the fellow Adamantite-ranked team, "Eight Ripples."
These two Adamantite teams were incredibly powerful and famous, but they did not get along. They were often rivals. Today, they had both come to the Imperial Capital for different jobs, but the loud noise had drawn them to the Colosseum. By pure luck, they had seen Ilya defeat the gladiators and kick apart magic.
Seeing the Emperor and Fluder arrive, the captain of Silver Thread Bird lightly played a string on his lute. A look of delight crossed his face as he whispered to his team, "What a dramatic scene! The threads of fate meet here! That silver-haired lady is as bright as moonlight. She is like a star that fell to the world, stirring the still waters of the Empire... Beautiful, powerful, and dangerously attractive. I truly wish to write a grand song for her!"
His poetic words made the captain of Eight Ripples roll his eyes. He grunted to his own team members, "Hmph, that makes my teeth ache! That sissy captain is at it again. But... that silver-haired woman is definitely strange. Her speed is insane. I couldn't even see how she broke those spells. With the Emperor and Lord Fluder here, things are getting serious." His teammates nodded, their expressions grim.
Up on the royal viewing platform.
Jircniv's gaze swept over the bowing crowd. Finally, he looked at the lone silver-haired figure in the center of the arena. She was the only one who hadn't bowed. She remained standing quietly and even seemed to be frowning, as if the interruption annoyed her. A flash of surprise and deeper interest flickered in his eyes.
"Interesting," he muttered to himself. 'To remain so calm in the presence of myself and Fluder... No, that's not just being calm. It looks more like... impatience?'
This made him think even more highly of Ilya. He didn't stop the Martial Lord, who had already entered the field. Instead, he took a wine glass from an attendant and took a small sip. He looked relaxed. "Very well. Let Go Gin test her strength. No matter what happens, it will at least add a bit of 'fun' to my dull life."
Fluder stood beside the Emperor, his eyes narrowing under his white eyebrows. His powerful senses spread across the entire arena like flowing liquid. He also focused on Ilya, specifically on the silver armor that glowed with a mysterious light. He tried to use his talent—the ability to see mana and hidden information—to check her.
However, the result he got was a blur. It was as if the armor itself were a separate world that blocked all prying eyes. Only a series of heart-stopping "???" appeared in his mind.
(As expected... even I cannot see through her. A being that the Lords of Nazarick specifically told me to watch is no ordinary person. That armor... it is no common item; it might even transcend the concept of Legendary-class.)
Fluder felt a chill in his heart, but his face did not change. He simply gave a slight nod to the Bloody Emperor. "Your Majesty, this woman... is impossible to measure. I fear the Martial Lord may not find an easy victory here."
Jircniv smiled. "No matter. We shall see. Besides, the Headhunter Rabbit is there as well, isn't he? His speed is the best in the Empire."
At the edge of the arena, Ivy watched the majestic Emperor and the legendary Fluder. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a drum, and her small face turned pale. "The... the Emperor... and Lord Fluder... Oh my god, I've never seen such important people before... Arche-姐姐, Linette-姐姐, will Big Sister... will she be okay?" She gripped the hands of the two female adventurers, her voice trembling.
Arche looked at the powerful figures on the high platform, then at Ilya. Ilya stood alone in the arena, yet she seemed more stable than a mountain. Arche took a deep breath to calm her fear and stroked Ivy's head. She tried to keep her voice steady. "Ivy, don't be afraid. Have faith in Miss Ilya. Look, she isn't afraid at all, is she?"
Hekkeran and Roberdyck also held their breath. Their palms were sweating. The situation had gone completely beyond their control.
In the arena, the merchant prince Osk wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He first bowed deeply toward the royal box, then turned to Ilya. A professional smile was on his face. His voice, made louder by magic, rang throughout the arena.
"Noble silver-haired lady, your strength is truly amazing. However, the arena has its rules. Your previous actions have caused some... complications."
He paused, looking at the giant Martial Lord Go Gin and the eager Headhunter Rabbit. Then he continued. "To settle this and to satisfy your desire to 'enjoy yourself,' why don't we have a formal sparring match? These two beside me—the Empire's Martial Lord, Lord Go Gin, and the swift Headhunter Rabbit—would like to 'exchange' skills with you. Surely, you wouldn't refuse such a fair challenge?"
His words seemed polite, but he was trapping Ilya. To refuse would look weak, making it seem like she was just a troublemaker. To accept meant facing the strongest fighters in the Empire.
The Headhunter Rabbit took a few elegant steps forward. His red eyes looked at Ilya with great interest. His voice was clear and pleasant. "Beautiful lady, your speed is truly enchanting. I happen to know a thing or two about speed myself. Why don't... I 'play' with you for a while first? Don't worry, I'll be very gentle~"
He licked his lips, his fingers lightly touching the handle of the sword at his waist.