Li Wei checked the requirements to obtain the Magic Forbidden Curse Fragment.

’An item this incredible must require a huge number of Points.’

When he saw the requirements, Li Wei was stunned.

He met the conditions.

He met one of them.

The first condition was to kill any Ancient Calamity Beast Nitro.

Li Wei had killed a White Nitro not long ago.

He met that condition.

There was also a second condition.

Occupy the hidden arena for three minutes during the final hour of the competition.

No Points were required.

All one had to do was kill a Nitro, then occupy the hidden arena for three minutes during the final hour of the competition to obtain the Magic Forbidden Curse Fragment.

There was only one Magic Forbidden Curse Fragment.

Only the person who had killed a Nitro and was the last one standing on the arena could earn this distinction.

And claim this special hidden item.

With this in mind, Li Wei decided to leave immediately.

’After all, I just need to come back during the last hour.’

Just as Li Wei was about to leave...

a voice sounded in his ear.

"If left unguarded, the hidden arena will be destroyed by Nitros."

Li Wei frowned.

’Looks like there’s a hidden third condition.’

Protect the hidden arena from being destroyed by Nitros before the final hour.

’What a demanding condition!’

Resigned, Li Wei had no choice but to remain on the hidden arena.

He managed to contact Eiris to tell him about the hidden item.

He had to find a way to draw the others over.

His goal was to protect the hidden arena.

Roger had the same idea, though his was tinged with a personal vendetta.

He hoped to see Li Wei battered and exhausted from facing a gauntlet of challengers.

Unfortunately for him, he never imagined Li Wei would simply plan to give up control of the hidden arena.

Occupying the hidden arena granted five Points per minute.

Whether for the rankings or to redeem for items...

...no one would easily give up the generous Point reward from the hidden arena.

When Li Wei contacted Eiris, Eiris was next to an arena, watching a fight.

"Right, I understand. I’ll tell the others."

Eiris took a deep breath.

He was inwardly shaken.

’I can’t believe the hidden item is this incredible.’

"A Forbidden Curse Fragment, and you can even take it out of the Secret Realm... Tsk, tsk! I never thought the Space Tower would be willing to part with something this good."

Eiris was also quite surprised.

Even if it was just a fragment and lacked the true power of a Forbidden Curse...

...it was still an incredibly precious treasure.

A Legendary Mage could cast a Forbidden Curse, but one who could inscribe its power onto an object was exceedingly rare.

You could count them on one hand.

In this day and age, it was basically unheard of for anyone to possess such an ability.

The last person known to create a Magic Scroll on the level of a Forbidden Curse was the Magic Goddess, Mistral.

He just didn’t know if this Magic Forbidden Curse Fragment was a relic passed down from the past or a treasure created by a modern-day Legendary Mage.

If it was the latter, the implications would be immense.

Eiris glanced at the battle on the arena, losing any desire to compete.

He turned and walked away, using the Frozen Sound Transmission Technique as he went to inform the others.

Soon, news of the Forbidden Curse Fragment spread throughout the Secret Realm.

Almost everyone learned what the hidden item was.

However, as the news spread, its nature began to change.

What began as a "Forbidden Curse Fragment" became a "complete Forbidden Curse."

Obtaining it would allow one to dominate the entire Secret Realm and claim victory in one fell swoop.

Then, it became a lost Ancient Forbidden Curse Manual.

By obtaining it, one would have the chance to learn a lost Ancient Forbidden Curse.

The rumors grew more and more outrageous.

Many even abandoned the arenas they occupied and rushed toward the stone bridge.

Not long after Li Wei had spread the news, a challenger arrived.

Erica walked onto the stone bridge.

Li Wei’s expression became composed as he said with a smile, "Are you here to challenge me?"

Erica said, "Of course. Don’t you want the hidden item?"

Li Wei was about to say, "In that case, you can have it..."

...when Erica said with a serious expression, "I’m attacking now."

THUD!

The ground beneath Erica’s feet sank slightly.

Her figure instantly appeared before Li Wei.

She was so fast that Li Wei didn’t even have time to blink.

Erica threw a punch at Li Wei’s abdomen. Afraid of killing him in one hit, she held back some of her strength.

WHAM! CRACK CRACK CRACK!

One punch. Layers of Invisible Armor: -8.

Li Wei’s expression changed. ’This terrifying Power... it’s even more absurd than a Nitro’s!’

"You..."

Li Wei was about to ask what was going on.

’She’s an Alchemist, so why is her strength so astonishing?’

Meeting Erica’s gaze, Li Wei noticed her eyes had turned into golden, vertical pupils.

In an instant, Li Wei understood.

Erica possessed the Power of the Giant Dragon.

’A Dragon Blood Potion? Or is she a member of the Dragon Race?’

Li Wei looked at Erica, uncertain.

Erica looked at Li Wei with some surprise, then broke into a smile.

"I didn’t expect you to be so sturdy. Good, now I don’t have to worry."

With that, Erica unleashed her full power.

There were no fancy moves, just pure brute force.

He had no idea where Erica’s terrifying power came from.

She didn’t even look that muscular.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

A single punch shattered seven or eight layers of Invisible Armor; a sweeping kick obliterated another ten.

Li Wei’s scalp tingled. It felt like he was brawling with a Giant Dragon.

’Good grief!’

’I’m just a Mage, why am I supposed to brawl with a Giant Dragon?!’

BOOM!

Finally, Erica blew him apart.

He burst into a shower of flames.

The flames rapidly ascended, forming a Flame Lord over ten meters tall.

Li Wei looked down, gazing at Erica from above.

Erica looked up at him, a smile on her face.

"An Elemental Body? Not impossible to beat."

Li Wei sneered. "If you want a fight, I’ll see it through to the end."

He had been planning to just concede to Erica, but since she attacked him without a word, his own temper flared.

He’d show her.

"Flame Domain, activate!"

The Flame Domain enveloped the entire arena.

"Potential Unleashed: Blue Fire Form."

Li Wei transformed into a blue Flame Lord, his power surging.

Over a hundred Blue Fireballs materialized behind him, raining down on Erica like a meteor shower.

Erica dodged rapidly, easily evading the falling Blue Fireballs.

She stomped the ground, and the resulting shockwave extinguished the surrounding flames.

She launched herself upward, charging toward Li Wei in his Flame Lord form.

Li Wei saw faint, fine, golden Dragon Scales appear at the corners of her eyes.

Erica had activated the Power of the Giant Dragon within her.

WHOOSH!

The falling Blue Fireballs didn’t crash into the ground; instead, they reversed course and flew toward the mid-air Erica.

Erica glanced down and kicked an incoming Blue Fireball, blowing it apart.

BOOM!

Using the recoil from the explosion...

...Erica accelerated her ascent.

"Rising Dragon Fist!"

Erica aimed for Li Wei’s chin and swung with all her might.

BOOM!

Li Wei’s head exploded, scattering like a firework display.

Even without a head, Li Wei did not stop his attack.

"Extreme Fire Resistance Ring!"