Luca also stared deeply at Olivia. "You're Black Moon, aren't you? No need to deny it. Although we've never spoken, we're both regulars here. I remember your voice.
"We're both Sensates. So, do you dare go into the iron cage and fight me?
"If you win, I'll give you two hundred thousand Belu.
"If I win, you just have to sell me the Purgatory Blood Lion's eyeball. Yes, sell it to me—I'll still give you two hundred thousand Belu.
"In this bet, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
"Of course, even if I win, I won't kill you. I'll write that into the contract before we enter the cage."
Luca's voice carried a hint of temptation. After all, he had placed all the disadvantageous conditions on himself and gave the advantages to his opponent.
Of course, all of this was because he possessed sufficient confidence.
Olivia gave Luca a long, deep look. "Fine, I accept."
Luca immediately let out a sigh of relief.
Fearing that Olivia might change her mind, he hurried to lead her toward the iron cage.
It didn't take long for the people of the underground black market to draw up a contract for the two of them.
Olivia glanced at the contract and pointed at the Varian text on it, pretending not to understand. "What does this part say?"
Luca's voice was calm. "That's Varian. I'm a Varian, and I'm used to using that language. I only realized it wasn't right after I wrote it, so I rewrote it in Kelidosian below. Just look at the Kelidosian part."
Olivia sneered inwardly.
In contracts within the underground black market, the language didn't matter—whatever was written on it would be enforced.
The Varian text Luca had written clearly mentioned that this was a duel to the death.
In other words, the battle would only end when one party died.
He wanted to kill Olivia!
As for the Kelidosian part below, the line 'If I win, then a gentleman should not kill a lady' was nothing more than a play on words.
Who was the gentleman? Who was the lady?
Without explicit definitions, such content clearly meant nothing.
Olivia pretended not to notice and signed her codename—Black Moon.
At that moment, the previous battle happened to end. The blood-stained victor dragged the corpse of the deceased out of the iron cage.
The people betting around them erupted into cheers or curses.
"Guests, the next participants in the cage battle are the gentleman codenamed Lion and the lady codenamed Black Moon! So, who will emerge victorious? Everyone has a short time to place your bets, because they're about to start. Once the situation becomes clear, betting will be closed."
As the black market official spoke, many gamblers immediately crowded toward the betting area.
Both Lion and Black Moon were regulars in the underground black market, and those who knew them had already begun placing bets.
Those unfamiliar with the two kept their eyes glued to them, planning to place their bets after the battle started but before the market closed.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Olivia and Luca entered the iron cage.
Everything was going according to plan.
She lightly tapped her waist and grasped the hilt of Water Moon Dance. The flexible sword slid free, held firmly in her hand.
"Let's begin," Olivia's voice turned cold.
Now that they were in the cage, only one question remained.
And that was: could she defeat this Druid who was on the verge of advancement?
It wasn't a difficult question to consider.
One had to remember that when facing the Twilight Council, she had killed even the Transcender Necromancer, Dalia, and had easily dispatched many Sensates along the way. Why? Because those people were within the magic mirror's range of control, allowing her to know everyone's intentions in advance.
And now, this Druid was also within the magic mirror's range.
Therefore, all Olivia needed to worry about was how to play the role of a Swordsman convincingly.
Yes, having usurped Ruth's identity, she had to be a Swordsman for now!
With a loud click, the iron cage was locked.
This signified the start of the battle.
"You brought this on yourself."
Luca whispered softly, speaking in Varian.
The moment he finished speaking, he lunged at Olivia.
"Roar!"
As he charged, Luca completed his transformation. He changed from a living human into a brown-furred leopard with black spots. On the leopard's forehead was a horn flickering with electrical sparks.
It was a One-horned Thunder Leopard!
A Druid was someone who could transform themselves into various monsters to gain their corresponding abilities.
This made a Druid's combat style complex, varied, and highly unpredictable.
Luca had chosen the codename Lion because once he completed his third advancement, he would be able to transform into a Purgatory Blood Lion.
As for now, the One-horned Thunder Leopard was his strongest form.
He didn't want to waste time. He wanted to end this quickly and eliminate this woman who had hindered his path to the next step.
Whoosh!
To many, it was just a blur. Luca, transformed into the One-horned Thunder Leopard, crossed a vast distance in an instant and arrived right in front of Olivia.
The One-horned Thunder Leopard was highly satisfying in terms of both speed and offensive power.
Clang!
Olivia swung Water Moon Dance with a heavy flick, causing the flexible blade to become exceptionally rigid as it blocked Luca's strike.
That strike was merely a prelude.
As soon as Luca's first hit was blocked, his next one followed, and this time the attack appeared directly behind Olivia.
He was so fast that his movement seemed like a mere flicker of the eyes.
However, Olivia took two steps forward, swinging Water Moon Dance behind her as she moved. With another clang, she blocked Luca's attack again.
The ensuing battle unfolded like a series of lightning strikes.
Luca moved rapidly around Olivia, using claws, lashing out with his tail, or lunging with his jaws. It was as if he were a true monster, a One-horned Thunder Leopard, his attacks varied and terrifying.
But Olivia was even more terrifying!
No matter how swiftly Luca launched his attacks, Olivia blocked them all. His speed was incredible, and his angles were cunning, yet he couldn't land a single scratch on her.
After just one round of fierce attacks, the look in Luca's eyes changed.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
Why did this woman seem to know exactly where his attacks would come from before he even made them?
This was too strange.
'The time hasn't come yet. I can't kill him if I strike now, but the moment is near.'
Olivia was also thinking to herself.
Because she had to pose as a Swordsman, she couldn't use any methods that would expose her true identity. Therefore, once she struck, it had to be a thunderous blow that ended the battle instantly.
Soon.
Very soon.
Rate on N.U.
