”Yeah, there was a problem with the testing,” the clerk said. “You summoned a beast that our staff couldn’t rank properly, so we only had you to go by to say that it was Rank 6.”

”While it probably was, without concrete evidence, it’s hard to rank you as such.”

”However, do not worry. Even as Rank 5, you will lose no opportunity here as Rank 5 is the highest quest we ever receive anyway,” the clerk said.

”Well, that sucks,” Ning said. “I guess I can’t help it then. Thanks for upgrading my rank.”𝑜𝑽𝑙xt.𝓒𝞸𝓜

Ning turned around and left with Saphandra. He didn’t even bother looking at the Quest board as there was something far more interesting that was occupying his mind at the moment.

The two of them quickly made their ways through the city as they arrived at the northern end of the city next to the ocean.

There was a massive cliff on that side and on the cliff was a giant arena. It was far away from the edge that it wasn’t a disaster waiting to happen.

When Ning arrived outside the arena, he couldn’t help but be shocked at the sheer size of it.

It wasn’t much vertically, but horizontally it was massive. Ning wouldn’t be surprised if there was more than just a single arena in there.

And that was exactly what it was.

Inside that giant arena was 4 smaller arena. Ning and Saphandra decided to first check out the fights instead of directly joining to fight.

When buying the entry ticket, Ning and Saphandra were asked a few questions.

”Beastless or with beast?” the man asked.

”Uh… with beasts,” Ning said, unsure what that was about.

”Pros or newbies?” the man asked.

”Let’s start with newbies,” Ning said.

”Alright, here you go. Two tickets for beasts newbies, 16 Pearls,” the man said.

’That’s quite expensive,’ Ning thought, but he payed the pearls anyway.

He was made to go through one of the 4 doors, so Ning and Saphandra followed the people that went ahead of them and soon saw an opening to a massive arena.

The quickly found two empty seats and sat down as they watched the fights in the stages below them.

There was exactly 4 stages down in front of them and each of them had two humans sitting on the sideline as two beasts duked it out in front of them.

”Oh,” Ning said as he realized what the ‘beastless or with beasts’ choice at the front desk was about.

”The other arena must have people fighting without beasts,” Ning said.

”Wow, they really are newbies,” Saphandra said as she watched the young people on the stage fight.

Ning didn’t want to say it out loud, but he agreed too.

On the stage that was titled ‘B’ on its ground, one of the beasts vanished as it was unsummoned.

The crowd erupted into a shout of ‘hurray’ and ‘boo’.

”That’s a strong reaction for someone who’s watching newbies fight,” Saphandra said as the people around her confused her.

”True,” Ning said and focused on the people talking to eavesdrop and see what it was all about.

”Yes!” one man shouted while pumping his fists in the air. “I got 30 pearls.”

”Dammit!” another man shouted. “I should have known not to trust a goddamn beginner to win this match. I lost 20 pearls.”

”I told you. I earned more than your lost,” the first man said. “Imma go bet on that guy again with my profits.”

”Oh,” Ning said as he realized what was going on. “These people are gambling. There’s probably a bet going around— there!”

Ning saw a caged room where people were going to and from with pearls on their hands.

”Do you want to bet? Its an easy way to make money,” Ning said.

”Well, who will I bet on?” Saphandra asked as she looked down below. “I can barely tell if they have spiritual energy or not from up here.”

”Hm… let me see,” Ning said and looked at the people down below. “That guy in red, he’s rank 3, while that guy in orange is just rank 2. If you bet on the guy in red, you should win.”

”Alright, let me try,” Saphandra stood up and walked over to the betting area. Ning walked along with her just in case.

Using her broken language, she managed to bet 10 spiritual pearls on the guy in red. She was handed a slip of paper that mentioned her bet and said that if she won, she would gain 1.5 times as much as she bet.

Saphandra watched hopefully at the battle that then commenced. However, it was very quickly apparent that Ning was right.

So, when the man in red won, Saphandra wasn’t very surprised. However, she was happy at the fact that she just won 5 pearls all by herself.

She quickly received the 15 Pearls and handed 10 back to Ning before keeping 5 for herself.

”Who should I bet on next?” she asked.

Ning looked around and frowned. “Everyone is rank 2 down there now,” he said. “There is nothing definite you can bet on at the moment. Do you want to put it to chance?”

Saphandra looked at her 5 pearls and shook her head. “These are the first things I’ve ever earned, I’m not going to waste them on a bet I’m not sure about,” she said.

”Well, then you will have to bet them on a person you know will win, right?” Ning said.

Saphandra looked down at the 8 people that were getting ready for their fight. “Who do you say I should bet on?” she asked.

”I wasn’t talking about them,” Ning said.

”Not them? Then who?” she asked and turned to look at Ning. However, Ning only had a stupid smile on her face.

”Umm… you aren’t saying that…” Saphandra asked.

”I’m saying exactly that,” Ning said.

Somehow, Saphandra started feeling a little excited. “Alright, go register. I will wait for your turn.”