The Extra Villain: I Made a Contract With The Dragon Empress!-Chapter 298: Battle Arena (1)

Three days later...

Merlin, Catrine, Luna, and Margaret stood at the edge of the battle arena.

Merlin was positioned between Luna and Catrine, with Margaret to Luna’s left.

The prospective students couldn’t hide their jealousy toward Merlin.

Each of the three girls was breathtaking, with her own distinct charm.

Luna was elegant and distant, her figure striking—particularly her full chest and slim waist.

Catrine radiated an ice-queen aura, causing anyone who looked at her to instinctively bow their head.

Margaret, in contrast, carried a calm, approachable presence.

Her upbringing in a wealthy family was evident in her demeanor, and the constant, gentle smile on her lips made her irresistible.

"Damn... who is that boy? How can he be so lucky to have three goddesses at his side?" One of the prospective second-test participants muttered, clutching his chest in disbelief.

"He’s Merlin Clay. If you’re thinking of protesting, go ahead," another replied, smirking.

The name Merlin Clay had become legendary among the students who had passed the first test.

Not only was his name recorded in the academy’s history, but his younger sister had also taken first place—earning him even greater admiration.

Realizing who he was, the boy quickly swallowed his anger.

Picking a fight with Merlin Clay was practically a death wish.

"All eyes are on us. What do you think, Merlin?" Margaret asked with a playful grin.

Her question was like a spark thrown into a forest.

Catrine and Luna immediately fixed their sharp gazes on him.

Merlin glanced at Margaret, who was giggling, and shot her an annoyed look.

He couldn’t blame her, though, and could only sigh softly.

"Let them do whatever they want. As long as it doesn’t bother us, I don’t care," he said casually, looping his arms around Luna’s and Catrine’s waists.

The sudden movement surprised the two girls, and their faces flushed red almost at the same time.

"Tch!" Margaret clicked her tongue, a mix of annoyance and jealousy.

If only she had arrived at the arena earlier, either Luna’s or Catrine’s spot could have been hers.

But time couldn’t be turned back, and all she could do was grumble in regret.

"Damn... this is so annoying and makes me jealous!"

The other students burned with envy and frustration as they watched Merlin holding two beautiful girls on either side.

Yet all they could do was bite their nails helplessly.

"Thank you all for coming," Ronald said with a smile, standing on the stage and surveying the crowd.

"Three days have passed, and now we have the ten strongest survivors," he continued. "We will now begin the decisive battle. The ten who survived will face the ten who won the first test."

As soon as his words fell, cheers erupted across the arena.

Those who had lost, and even the first wave of students, couldn’t wait to witness the battle.

Unlike the battles of the past three days, the one about to begin promised to be far more thrilling.

The first wave of students had already heard of Catrine’s abilities—and those of the other top ten from the first test.

They wanted to gauge the true strength of these fighters.

After all, they could end up facing them once the second test concluded, so careful observation was crucial.

"First up: Miya from the Arcadia Magic Kingdom versus Nysera of the dragon race!"

At the mention of the names, cheers erupted once again among the students.

Nysera leapt onto the stage, stretching her arms and legs.

"Looks like I’ll be the first to show my abilities," she said arrogantly. "Let’s fight!"

Miya stepped onto the stage with a calm, composed demeanor.

Her short blue hair rested gracefully on her shoulders, and her blue mage’s cloak radiated a serene aura that put anyone who looked at her at ease.

"Who do you think will win?" Margaret asked curiously.

Merlin didn’t answer right away. He studied the two in the arena, then said calmly, "I choose Nysera. She will win this fight, without a doubt."

Luna, Catrine, and Margaret exchanged surprised glances.

"Why are you so sure? Is it just because Nysera ranked third in the first test?" Margaret asked skeptically.

"Not just that. I can feel an incredibly powerful force from her, like a raging fire. I’m certain she will win," Merlin replied simply.

"Hmm..." the three girls murmured, pondering for a moment.

Then Margaret’s lips curved into a broad smile.

"How about we make a bet?" she suggested mischievously.

The three of them were taken aback and, without realizing it, asked in unison, "A bet?"

Margaret nodded slightly. "The rules are simple—the loser has to obey the winner’s wishes. How about it?"

"Hmm... I’m not joining." Catrine shook her head in refusal.

Her instincts told her something was off about this bet.

"I’m not joining either," Luna added coolly.

From the start, she had never trusted Margaret. Though she always seemed elegant and easygoing, Luna could see through her cunning nature and chose to stay out of it.

Margaret didn’t seem upset. Her target wasn’t them—it was Merlin.

"What about the bet? Do you accept?" she asked, lifting and lowering her eyebrows teasingly.

It was a trap from the beginning, designed to lure Merlin in.

She was confident Miya would win the fight; after all, the past three days had shown Miya’s extraordinary abilities.

Merlin surely understood her intentions, but he showed no fear and nodded.

"All right, let’s bet. I’ll bet on Nysera, and you bet on Miya. Agreed?"

He extended his right hand toward Margaret.

With a delighted smile, she grasped his hand and shook firmly.

The two exchanged knowing smiles, as if each had their own secret thoughts.

Luna and Catrine glanced at each other and sighed in unison.

"I’m worried Margaret will lose," Luna whispered.

Catrine nodded. Her brother wasn’t easily fooled. If he was confident enough to accept the bet, then he must be certain of victory.

Unfortunately, Margaret had no idea—she believed she was in control of everything.

"The battle begins!"

Ronald’s enthusiastic voice echoed across the arena.

Nysera and Miya locked eyes, their gazes sharp, and charged at each other.

Boom!

Their clash sent a thunderous shockwave rippling through the battlefield.

Being a dragon, Nysera relied on her immense physical strength, while Miya, a mage, strengthened her body with magic.

She managed to withstand Nysera’s attack briefly, but only temporarily.

Nysera raised her fist and struck Miya in the face. Caught off guard, Miya quickly crossed her arms to block the blow.

Bang!

The force sent Miya flying several meters, nearly out of the arena.

Fortunately, she channeled her magic in time, allowing her to hover in midair.

"Huh... as expected of a dragon—truly amazing!" Miya said, wiping the corner of her mouth with admiration.

A faint trace of blood appeared on her thumb, sharply heightening her alertness.

"Woah! Nysera is really strong!" a student shouted, unable to contain his astonishment.

The others nodded in agreement. With a single blow, Miya had been sent flying to the edge of the arena.

The dragon princess, Nexara, shook her head and murmured, "Boring."

Nysera was strong, but that was all. By dragon standards, she was merely "average."

Still, Nexara wasn’t shocked. Nysera was nothing more than an ordinary dragon, lacking any noble heritage.

Meanwhile, Nexara herself was the dragon princess—the heir to the dragon clan. She had no reason to take Nysera seriously.

Boom!

Boom!

Nysera reappeared at Miya’s right side, striking again, but Miya managed to dodge.

Nysera’s relentless attacks left the arena in ruins.

Fortunately, a magical mechanism protected it, allowing the arena to restore itself despite the destruction.

"What’s the matter, Miya? Is that all you’ve got?" Nysera grinned as she continued her assault.

Miya was in trouble. Though a Four-Star Mage, her skills were better suited for long-range combat.

Against Nysera’s close-range dominance, she was at a serious disadvantage.

’Seems there’s no other choice,’ she whispered to herself.

Quickly, she cast a speed spell. Her figure vanished and reappeared high above the arena.

She then summoned her magic staff and whispered, "High-Level Magic: Flame Area!"

Whoosh!

The entire arena erupted in heat. Soon, pillars of flame shot up, locking Nysera in place.

With a confident smile, Miya shouted, "Destroy!"

The pillars of fire merged into a colossal dragon, roaring fiercely before lunging toward Nysera.

Nysera struggled to move, her feet trapped.

Boom!

A massive explosion rocked the arena, sending a violent tremor that knocked all the students outside off their feet.

Merlin stomped his foot, sending magical energy rippling outward.

Luna, Catrine, and Margaret, who were about to fall, regained their balance instantly.

They turned to Merlin with grateful looks.

Black smoke filled the arena, obscuring Nysera entirely.

"Hehehe... looks like I won, Merlin," Margaret said proudly.

Merlin shook his head. "Don’t be so sure. Let’s wait and see."

Margaret kept her smile, her eyes fixed on the arena.

When the black smoke finally cleared, everyone gasped.

Nysera stood unharmed, smiling calmly—not a single scratch on her.

"I—Impossible!" Margaret exclaimed, stunned.