Chapter 476: Nightfall Citadel Donut Arena Tournament
Chapter 476 -474: Nightfall Citadel Donut Arena Tournament
Early the next morning, Master Veridian and his group used their Island Entry Orders to board the island. Meanwhile, Faye Yardley followed her own plans and headed to Nightfall Citadel. However, this time, The Frigid World was closed for maintenance and off-limits to visitors.
Faye slipped the Smoke Person five silver coins and asked, “What happened here? Everything was fine when I came a few days ago. Why is it suddenly closed for maintenance? It’s such a massive world—couldn’t you just seal off one half and leave the other open?”
Given the generous tip, the Smoke Person answered her with immense patience. “It’s all because a guest went in last time and wreaked absolute havoc. They caused The Frigid World to become highly unstable. If we don’t properly repair it, that entire mini-world might be ruined forever.”
A mini-world incapable of incubating new intelligent species held very little value; it would indeed be virtually useless. Faye had gained some understanding of this concept by now, so she understood why the Smoke Person felt that way.
“What a shame,” she sighed, her tone full of regret. “I was hoping to hone my Combat Skills against the Frost Beasts.”
“If it is Combat Skills the guest wishes to hone, we have other venues available for you to choose from. Would you care to learn more?”
Since she was already here, Faye didn’t refuse. Ultimately, she chose to enter an arena tournament.
The arena began with a chaotic battle royale. The goal was simply to avoid falling off the stage for fifteen minutes to secure a victory. This process had to be repeated for three rounds.
One shouldn’t assume that squeezing into the center of the stage meant they were home free, either. The arena was actually shaped like a doughnut; stepping too close to the inner ring made it just as easy to fall. Moreover, because it was a battle royale, survival wasn’t solely a test of strength—it also required a healthy dose of luck.
When it came to luck, Faye had never been afraid. As for strength, she remained perfectly confident in her own abilities.
To her surprise, out of the four of them, Cole Kensington was eliminated in the very first round. Eamon didn’t make it past the second. As a result, only Bella and Faye pushed through into the third round of the battle royale.
By the third round, the overall combat power of the remaining participants had noticeably increased. Faye not only had to fend off opponents attacking and provoking her from all directions, but she also had to be excruciatingly careful not to step—or be pushed—out of bounds.
The battle proved genuinely exhausting. Although she and Bella could watch each other’s backs, the other fighters had companions of their own. Furthermore, their opponents outnumbered them, and everyone’s combat prowess was roughly on par. Some of the Otherkin even possessed Talent Skills, which were notoriously hard to guard against.
Surviving the third round of the battle royale led directly into the champion’s gauntlet matches.
Fortunately, completing the three battle royale rounds yielded a baseline reward. Both Faye and Bella received a Body Refining Pill produced by Nightfall Citadel. They were also given a half-hour rest period; if they didn’t challenge a solo arena by the time the break ended, it would be considered an automatic forfeit.
“Sister, are you two going to participate in the upcoming offensive and defensive arena matches?” Eamon asked as he squeezed his way over, then hurriedly added, “Kingston has re-entered the battle royale stage.”
Faye nodded. “Yes. You just stay on the sidelines and watch. Don’t go up there. Whether it’s the battle royale or the one-on-one duels, it’s quite dangerous.”
“Mhm, I’ll listen to you, Sister. If I hadn’t jumped down quickly during the second round earlier, I’m afraid I would’ve been cleaved right in half.” Eamon still felt a lingering fear just talking about it. This kind of blood-soaked, hack-and-slash activity really wasn’t suited for him.
Bella rolled her eyes at him. “You’re way too weak.”
Eamon just chuckled sheepishly, offering no argument.
Faye glanced toward the battle royale stage. Unable to spot Cole Kensington, she turned to Bella. “Let’s go. We’re going to challenge the arenas.”
There were ten arenas in total. Faye meticulously observed each one, finally settling on Arena 3 right before her rest period ended. Bella, meanwhile, charged directly onto the adjacent Arena 4.
The reigning champion of Arena 3 was a lean old man. Faye was the ninth challenger he had faced in this session; if he held out for two more rounds, he would secure the spoils he desired.
Faye clasped her hands in a martial salute. “Please enlighten me.” With those words, she launched herself at the old man like an arrow leaving the bowstring, taking the initiative to attack.
The old man boasted a wealth of combat experience, but his moves were incredibly vicious and underhanded. Faye sensed it after merely two exchanges. This was a man who had no regard for martial honor—all he cared about was winning. However, Faye wasn’t afraid. Instead, it only solidified her resolve, allowing her to counter his attacks with increasing ease.
She had chosen him, naturally, because she was absolutely confident in her ability to defeat him. Sure enough, the moment the old man’s momentum faltered and he paused to catch his breath, Faye seized the opening and promptly sent him tumbling off the stage.
Next came Faye’s turn to defend the arena. She was allotted a ten-minute rest period. She wasn’t allowed to leave the stage, but she was free to consume any healing medicines she wished.
During her break, Faye sat cross-legged, circulating her Energy through the Health Care Scripture to recover. As for the venomous glare the old man shot her from below the stage, she couldn’t care less. If he was truly capable, he could come seek his revenge out on the ocean.
She shifted her gaze to the neighboring Arena 4. Bella was still locked in combat with the previous champion. The two appeared perfectly evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand. Faye didn’t worry too much. If Bella won, great; if she lost, it wasn’t a big deal. As long as she wasn’t killed in a single strike, she could simply concede and walk off the stage alive. As long as her friend’s life wasn’t in danger, Faye saw no need to pay any further attention.
Faye had a youthful, unassuming appearance that made her look entirely unthreatening. Thus, the second her rest period ended, challengers eagerly scrambled onto the stage.
After she secured two clean, decisive victories, the average fighter no longer dared to underestimate her. The subsequent challengers boasted significantly higher combat power than those who came before.
Ultimately, Bella failed to defeat her champion. Since trying again meant she would have to re-enter the battle royale, she decided it wasn’t worth the hassle.
Eamon bought a cup of fruit juice and handed it to her. “Here, Bella. The juice here is pretty good. Sister shouldn’t have any major problems on her end; she’s already on her fifth round. Kingston just cleared the battle royale too, and he’s off looking at the other arenas now.”
She accepted the juice, keeping her eyes glued to Arena 3 for a long while before glaring resentfully at Arena 4. That purple-haired man had been absolutely insufferable. Her eyes shifted, locking onto Eamon. “You said Kingston passed the battle royale? Where is he?”
“He’s over at one of the arenas in the distance.”
“Go get him. Ask if he can challenge Arena 4 and get revenge for me.”
Right as Faye began her sixth match, Cole Kensington marched directly onto Arena 9. Having scanned the area from Arena 10, the moment he laid eyes on a Piranha-folk standing in Arena 9, he couldn’t see anything else. Once the champion’s rest period ended, he shoved past the others and vaulted up onto the stage before anyone else could.
Consequently, by the time Eamon found him, he was already fiercely engaged in a heated brawl with the Piranha-folk. Eamon had no choice but to head back and fetch Bella. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to call for help—he simply hadn’t been fast enough.
When Faye reached her ninth match, the lean old man climbed back onto the stage, letting out a sinister cackle that made him look like a massive idiot.
“Little girl, don’t even think about getting a ten-win streak.”
Faye smiled faintly. “Isn’t it a bit pathetic for a defeated foe to spout such nonsense?”
“Hmph!”
The old man’s gaze was as venomous as a poisoned blade, but he remained rooted to the spot, opting to bide his time and let her make the first move.