—

After appearing on the platform, a notification surfaced before Kieran’s eyes.

〈System: You have entered the «True Gladiator’s Coliseum»!〉

“The second batch… begins!” General Zieg announced with a grand wave of his arm.

As the timer manifested overhead, Crimson Ashrune appeared in Kieran’s hand with a blaze of crimson glory.

At the same time, a subtle spiral of sanguine energy wrapped around his body.

Thanks to his continuous training, Kieran’s manipulation of his vitality entered a new stage where he could enter his most powerful state, outside his monstrous buff skills, on a whim.

The delay grew negligible and was only noticed by those much stronger than him.

“Oh?” Ezrath’s brow arched while turning toward Scar. “It would appear that your boy is certainly of some skill. To think he’s this adept in wielding that power. Still, compared to those of the highest ranking, he’s lacking.”

“There is no use in me trying to convince you. I have already surpassed you. Watch as my inheritor does the same,” Scar stated calmly. His gaze was peaceful as he stared at the stadium below with crossed arms.

‘Show me something good, twerp. Don’t forget; there’s an Esoteric Skill on the line.’

Due to Kieran activating his power, many participants turned their heads toward him with ill intent.

“The brat of Scar! Watch how I eliminate you before the competition grows fierce!”

A man clad in black-colored heavy armor glared at Kieran. Two serrated chain blades sat in his grasp as he spun and unleashed a move that could only be described as a chained blade hurricane.

Kieran looked at this newcomer indifferently and lifted Crimson Ashrune in a subtle arc.

Clang! Clang!

The chained blades’ momentum was neutralized due to how Kieran swung his sword.

At the same time, information on his opponent appeared.

「Lv.47 Ambak, The Chained Whirlwind (Titled Rare NPC)

Class: Tempest Mutilator

Health: 5,600,000

/5,600,000 (100%)

Affiliation: «War Deity Council»」

‘A Titled Rare NPC?’ Kieran thought. His belief that the competition was only filled with Epic NPCs appeared incorrect. As a result, a hint of disdain filled Kieran’s gaze.

This look infuriated Ambak as he ignored those nearby individuals and unleashed an immense skill.

Boom!

Ambak rushed forth explosively while simultaneously turning into a whirlwind.

Due to the way he held his weapons, Ambak’s attack gave off an incredibly dangerous sensation. Anyone with insufficient Defense would crumble before such an attack.

However, Kieran indifferently glanced at the floor and spoke, “Blood Bind!”

The floor within a two-meter radius grew dense with viscous blood. A few spots in this puddle bubbled over and sprouted thorned chains at terrifying speeds, which made Ambak squint apprehensively.

Scar grinned after watching Kieran’s display. ‘That’s my twerp. Reveal the fruits of your efforts obtained during our hellish training. Your Blood Bind now is incomparable to what it once was.’

Ambak roared after witnessing Kieran’s counterattack. “Do you believe those feeble chains can contain me?! I am Ambak, the Chained Whirlwind! To use chains in my presence is blasphemous!”

“You speak too much,” Kieran said in a cold tone. “A dog with a loud bark often possesses a meager bite. Tell me, do you talk so much to hide your inferiority?”

Rage clouded Ambak’s mind after listening to Kieran’s retort.

Forget the rules; Ambak wanted to rip him apart. It was bad enough that Scar had embarrassed his master, and now this nameless boy traveled in the same footsteps?

Inconceivable!

“Constrict,” Kieran called out while bringing his fingers together.

The violent blood chains converged on Ambak’s location before crisscrossing. The strange pattern formed a compact barrier that repelled his Chained Whirlwind. To Ambak’s dismay, the chains tightened despite his attempts to shatter them.

“What the hell is this?! How can these fragile chains be so solid?” Ambak shouted in disbelief.

Ambak’s momentum abruptly halted as the thorns on Kieran’s blood chains burrowed into his armor and flesh.

Whoosh!

Kieran disappeared like a crimson ghost. Using a Surge Step, Kieran closed the distance separating him and Ambak in an incredibly short timeframe.

“Fury Rush!”

Bang!

Crimson Ashrune’s hilt was driven into Ambak’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

Afterward, Kieran leaned forward and angled his body upward while loosening the chains to give them further extension space.

“Wild Crash!”

The savage fallout from Wild Crash was contained to a radius of Kieran’s liking, and his decision just so happened to be storing the momentum into Crimson Ashrune’s hilt.

Thud!

Due to Kieran’s previous action of loosening the chain, Ambak was launched into the air while in utter disbelief. Kieran concentrated his Strength into his legs as he jumped above Ambak’s ascent, completely overshadowing him.

“No! No! Wait-!” Ambak screamed out after realizing his fate. However, his frantic plea fell upon deaf ears.

“Goodbye, fool!” Kieran uttered.

“Grand Stomp!”

BOOM!

〈System: You have gained 130 points. Your standing has increased from 7,666th to 6,669th.〉

Kieran’s attack didn’t kill Ambak, but it disqualified him by sending him out of the ring. While the coliseum was closed off, a small gap existed between the platform and a humongous fence for participants to fall into.

Ambak’s unconscious body slid down the arced spire until he reached the floor. The force in Kieran’s Grand Stomp was not something he could contend against, especially not while helplessly floating in the air.

Upon starting his descent, Kieran noticed two people eyeing him with malicious intent, thanks to the effects of Retaliatory Sense. This situation amused Kieran, causing his lips to curve into a slight yet cold smirk.

He lifted his hand above his head and swiped down.

“Crimson Current!”

A torrent of blood appeared in the form of a sanguine downpour that descended with frightening force. Those who sought to knock Kieran out of the sky were immobilized by the heavy and continuous impact of the Crimson Current.

Once he landed safely, Kieran lifted his arm but suddenly ducked while throwing back his left leg. His foot connected with something solid, whereas a large zweihander passed above his head.

Had he not ducked, he likely would have suffered grave damage. This type of malicious intent was something Kieran deemed unacceptable. Kieran’s gaze bled a crimson light as his Vengeful Soul triggered outside of his control.

〈System: NPC Agna has been marked as «Prey». All of the corresponding effects will apply.〉

“You’ve made a foolish mistake,” Kieran said grimly. “You should learn to think for yourself and not carry out ploys that don’t involve you.”

Kieran suddenly let go of Crimson Ashrune and spread his arms. A strange thing happened after he performed this move. Crimson Ashrune began rotating on a stable axis while drawing power from Blood Bind’s residual effects.

After his training, Kieran had learned the importance of reusing the expended vitality to conserve Stamina.

Although his Stamina was more than double his Health, and his title reduced the expenditure, Kieran couldn’t overlook the number of battles he would fight during the span of this event.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

Once Crimson Ashrune reached its absorption capacity, Kieran thrust his hand forward toward Agna, who had a vacant and regretful look in his eyes.

He had truly underestimated his opponent. There was more to Kieran than what met the eye. What they sensed was his natural might, not the power of his peak condition.

“Seethe Burst!” Kieran bellowed. His deep voice shook the platform around him, gaining the attention of a few participants.

After unleashing Seethe Burst, Crimson Ashrune rushed forth with a frightening force. Many people tracked the attack and gleaned its target. They could only pray this attack wouldn’t eliminate poor Agna, but it was difficult to say.

Why? Because of the status afflicting Agna.

〈System: NPC Agna has succumbed to «Fear». Any attack launched during this period will deal 50% additional damage.〉

BOOM!

The impact ejected Agna from the ring while suffering several fractured bones in his chest. This could already be considered Kieran being forgiving because, while dreadful, the attack wasn’t enough to kill.

Kieran ensured no surprises would occur by neglecting to use Blood Strengthening or Fervor Augmentation.

〈System: You have gained 210 points. Your standing has increased from 6,669th to 6,434th.〉

Current Points: 760

Scar smirked while glancing in Ezrath’s direction with a mocking expression. “What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you. My twerp just eliminated two people in an instant.”

Ezrath scoffed without sparing Scar an answer. Regardless of Kieran’s display, Ezrath felt it was too early to judge his performance. However, would his opinion change if he learned that Kieran had only revealed his most basic skills?

Kieran extended his hand and recalled Crimson Ashrune through a special technique, which Scar helped him master. It worked by stimulating the Mark of the Maddened, which was the name of the symbol on both Kieran’s palms.

It was inherently attracted to the Vampiric Blood Encrustation, so Kieran merely needed to will Crimson Ashrune’s return, and it would oblige like a magnet drawn to metal.

While Crimson Ashrune traveled toward him, Kieran lifted his hands and manifested four Blood Waves at once.

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The two contenders that targeted Kieran were bombarded with rapidly fired attacks.

To finish off his combo, Kieran flicked one finger at the ground, which conjured a ring of seething blood beneath their feet.

“Wrath Eruption!”

“Blood Wave!”

Before the two could respond or perform an aerial recovery, a Blood Strengthened Blood Wave hurtled through the air, knocking them out of the ring.

Thud! Thud!

〈System: You have gained 220 points. Your standing has increased from 6,434th to 6,137th.〉

〈System: You have gained 245 points. Your standing has increased from 6,137th to 5,857th.〉

Current Points: 1,225

After dealing with four enemies in under one minute, Kieran turned toward the others with a callous gaze. “Anyone else interested in targeting me? If you believe me to be an easy target, I have more of where that came from.”