A collective gasp swept through the audience.

’’Double the rewards?’’

’’That’s an additional 40 million dollars if he succeeds!’’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

’’Even he isn’t crazy enough to fight two top students at once though!’’

Theo narrowed his eyes slightly.

He glanced up at the announcer’s booth on the side of the arena before looking back at the massive screens.

A single white and blue logo sat on the top right of the screen.

Whitmore Family.

’Not only do they want to expose my gifts to the world,’ he thought bitterly. ’You’re even going to try and make me lose this?’

Just then, the loud, excited voice from the announcer echoed through the arena again.

"Of course, should he refuse, the tournament will proceed as originally planned,’’ he paused for a moment. ’’The choice is entirely his."

Thousands of eyes locked onto him.

And unbeknownst to him, well over a million more were watching live.

Theo remained seated, his expression unchanging.

Instead, he silently ran the numbers through his head.

’If I include the resources, I’d be able to take 90 million dollars home,’ he thought. ’That’s far more than most missions on my rank.’

Even his inheritance was only half of that after paying his estate taxes.

But on the other hand, it was quite the risk.

’If I do have to use a lot of mana, who knows how much time I’ll have before the second phase starts? Not to mention, the Whitmores could pull more tricks at any time.’

BEEP!

A one-minute countdown appeared on the screens throughout the arena.

’’As you can see,’’ the announcer shouted. ’’Theo is carefully considering his options.’’

’’But we can’t have him recover in that time, thus a one-minute countdown has been started!’’

Murmurs spread through the crowd once more.

This time, most people were genuinely shocked he was even considering it.

Theo only contemplated for a moment longer.

Letting out a deep sigh, he pushed himself off the ground.

’In the end, it’s just gambling,’ he thought, cracking his neck once. ’But I’m not against that.’

If the Whitmores were going to give him money, he’d accept it with open arms.

As for the second phase... just twenty minutes of recovery would be plenty to deal with those regular students.

Heck, he doubted there were even Silver Cores amongst them, making them beatable with just his weapons.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

His gaze slowly fell on the announcer’s booth.

The announcer’s eyes widened.

"Could it be?!" he shouted. "Could Theo Lane actually be planning to accept the challenge?!"

Theo raised his arm into the air.

Then, without the slightest hint of hesitation, he raised his thumb.

For a moment, the entire arena remained silent.

Then the people in the stands exploded.

’’He’s taking it?!’’

’’Isn’t that way too arrogant!’’

’’There’s no way he thinks he wins this!’’

Very few even smiled, only a single thought in their minds.

’This arrogance and greed... it’s going to be his downfall.’

Only the instructor’s lounge was different.

The top three students, alongside many instructors, didn’t react, having understood his strength perfectly from the day before.

Just then, the announcer finally snapped out of his daze.

"HE ACCEPTED!" he practically screamed.

"Theo Lane has officially accepted the challenge!"

The giant screens above immediately shifted, lighting up two names simultaneously.

Not even a second later, the doors on the opposite side of the arena shifted open.

A low rumbling noise echoed through the floor.

The crowd’s excitement only continued to rise.

’’They’ll take care of him!’’

’’Come on Kara! Hup Darius!’’

’’Fight! Fight! Fight!’’

Theo calmly lowered his arm and glanced towards the gate.

Two figures slowly emerged into the light.

One was a tall, well-dressed young man with sharp, jet-black hair and a longsword tied to his waist.

The other was a very, very short young woman with a lean, athletic build. Two bright pink twin tails bounced behind her as she walked, a manic grin stretched across her face.

’’Welcome our participants!’’ the announcer rang out wildly. ’’Kara Knox and Darius Blackwell!’’

The girl, Kara, raised a peace sign into the air, still grinning manically.

Meanwhile, the young man beside her, Darius, looked far less enthusiastic.

’’Unbelievable,’’ he muttered, frowning.

Kara’s head spun towards him.

’’What is? What is?’’

Darius let out a slow breath as he rubbed his temples.

’’Everything.’’

’’Awwww,’’ Kara let out before he could even continue. ’’It’ll be fun! It’ll be fun!’’

Darius shot her a flat look.

’’This isn’t supposed to be fun. It is a proper tournament, so behave yourself.’’

’’Tsk!’’ Kara pouted. ’’That sounds so boring.’’

She spread her arms wide.

’’Tournaments are supposed to be fun!’’

Darius ignored her completely.

His gaze settled on Theo in the distance, his eyes narrowing cautiously.

’’He’s ruining the perfect structure Westridge had,’’ he said. ’’And now we’re being forced into a circus act because of someone’s arrogance.’’

Kara tilted her head for a moment.

Then she stuck out her tongue.

’’Screw you and your structure!’’

A vein popped on Darius’s forehead.

For a moment, it looked like he was about to argue.

Then he simply gave up.

Only a few seconds later, both came to a stop on their designated spots.

Darius immediately took several steps away from Kara.

The movement was so deliberate, even the crowd noticed it.

’’I have no intention of fighting alongside someone,’’ he declared, his hand resting on his longsword. ’’I will wait until Kara is done.’’

Kara rolled her eyes.

But clearly, it hadn’t been the first time she’d heard that.

’’Suit yourself!’’ she said with a shrug.

Theo looked at Darius for a moment.

’Can’t have that,’ he thought. ’It’d invalidate my strategy and maybe even the rewards.’

He shook his head lightly.

"I’d advise against that,’’ he said, casually pointing over his shoulder.

His gesture landed directly on the screen behind him, which displayed two eliminated names.

’’Or you’ll both end up like that.’’

Darius glanced at the names briefly, his expression growing even more annoyed.

Finally, he let out a scoff and stepped forward.

SHING!

He unsheathed his blade.

’’Fine.’’

The judge glanced between both parties, having only appeared a few seconds ago.

’’Are all of you ready?’’

A gust of deep green wind soared around Darius, making his clothes flutter.

BOOM!

Kara’s entire body exploded into dark crimson flames, shattering the ground underneath her.

’’Hehehe!’’ she chuckled. ’’Yes! Yes!’’