Chapter 276: 2nd Level Match Start Chapter 276: 2nd Level Match Start Leon Vs Ronan Virex Lily Vs Aaron Stone Leo Vs Uraan Hurricane The sequence of the first match was displayed as Leon and Ronan were brought into the ring. A tingle rang through the board as the betting pools opened. Only 1 phase betting odds. Leon: 1.05 Ronan Virex: 3.1 Maximum bet by an individual – 500,000 AC Seeing the odds, Aaron couldn’t hold back his laughter in the top 10 room. As if sensing that amusement, Ronan slowly turned his head towards the Top 10 student room and sneered, lips curling with disdain. The odds themselves made it clear who was expected to win. But nonetheless, there were always a few brave souls—or reckless gamblers—among the crowd and across the empire who bet on Ronan, lured by the massive returns. Betting pools: Leon: 1,989,767,877 AC Ronan Virex: 788,666,781 AC Miho, of course, went all out on Leon even when the returns were low. Once again, she made use of the three girls, and this time they had sufficient funds to place the maximum amount from all four accounts. When both contestants appeared in the ring, a faint shimmer of barrier light sealing the arena, it was Ronan who spoke first, his voice carrying a mocking edge after seeing the odds. "Don’t you think the odds are rigged?" he said to Leon with a grin, tilting his head. "I mean, obviously, I’m the one who’s going to win," he continued, spreading his hands slightly, "but still, the house made my odds so high and yours so low. Maybe it’s a trick? So the big figures cash in on me while the house walks away with huge profits?" Ronan added, raising a brow, clearly amused by his own words. Hearing him, Leon simply shook his head, a faint sigh escaping him, astonished by the sheer shamelessness. At this point, Ronan could even contend with Leo in that regard. "Sure," Leon replied flatly, his tone matching the mockery. "I guess that must be the case." "Sentinel! Go, get him!" Suddenly, Ronan pointed at Leon, his voice snapping with command as his beast materialised mid-charge, claws already igniting, tearing through the air towards Leon. Leon had expected a surprise attack. His stance shifted instantly and eyes locking onto the incoming threat. At the same time, Ronan drew his sword, metal ringing sharply, and followed just behind his beast for a coordinated assault. Leon’s aura surged, heat radiating outward as his fist became coated in an orangish glow. Without waiting, he bolted forward, the dust blowing from the ground beneath with each of his steps. Swosh! Moltenbrand Sentinel’s claws blazed as it reached for Leon, flames trailing behind each swipe. But Leon’s fist met it head-on. Manoeuvring past the claws with a sharp twist of his body, Leon drove a crushing blow straight into the beast’s chest. CRACK! TWUOOSSSSS! The lava-cast armour shattered instantly, fragments scattering like molten glass. At the same time, flames surged up Leon’s arm, swallowing his figure in fire. But in that very next moment, the beast was launched away—and before it could even hit the ground, it vanished mid-air. Ronan, who was just a step behind, had his eyes widen, breath catching—but before he could even process what had happened, Leon’s flame-covered figure turned towards him. And struck. A single punch, direct and merciless, slammed into Ronan’s face. The impact echoed. Ronan was defeated within 20 seconds of the match start. The arena fell into a silence. The audience sat frozen, unable to process what they had just witnessed. A Pseudo 3-star beast—defeated in a single strike. Its master—eliminated immediately after. And Leon hadn’t even summoned his own beast, which was, without question, stronger than him. Slowly, Leon stepped forward, emerging from the fading flames, completely unscathed. Not even his clothes were singed. A faint orange glow shimmered across his body, like a thin protective layer—his aura application, perfectly controlled. Ting! Balance: 3,612,090 [2,000,000] -> 3,712,090 AC Miho only made 100,000 AC even with all four girls betting together. For a brief second, there was still silence. Then— The arena exploded. "LEON! LEON! LEON!" "I’m putting my entire savings on you!" "Not even that Leo guy can beat him!" Cheers roared like a tidal wave, echoing across the stadium, shaking the very air. Back in the Top 10 student rooms, Leo simply shook his head, a faint sigh escaping his mouth. "The [Critical Strike] skill was really unnecessary there..." he muttered under his breath. Both Leon and Ronan reappeared. Ronan now stood stiffly, his eyes filled with wariness as he looked at Leon. Even he hadn’t expected to be defeated in a single strike—without Leon even summoning his beast. Uraan, on the other hand, seemed unsurprised. He had already witnessed Leon’s monstrous strength before and remained calm. But Tavian was observing something different. Instead of watching Leon in awe like the others, his gaze was fixed on Leo, studying him, trying to read even the slightest change in expression. "So expressionless..." he thought, narrowing his eyes. "Is that bravery, confidence... or overconfidence?" His gaze then drifted towards Lily, who was far easier to read. But seeing her expression only made him more confused. "What’s with this... expressionless environment...?" Lily remained calm, completely sure of Leo’s victory. What she didn’t know... was that Leon still had something hidden. The next moment, space twisted— And Lily, along with Aaron, was teleported into the arena. "Now, ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer’s voice boomed, charged with excitement. "Our next match is between Lily and Aaron! Who will win? Will it be our Windblade dancer—or the rocky heavy-hitter?" Lily: 2.3 Aaron Stone: 1.8 Betting pool: Lily: 1,237,693,759 AC Aaron Stone: 1,845,674,785 AC Maximum bet by an individual – 500,000 AC Aaron already had the reputation of defeating a strong girl and overpowering her to a great extent. And Lily had the reputation of dragging the fight until Dhalia got tired. It was obvious who the crowd favoured, and thus the odds. Without hesitation, Miho tapped her device, placing her bet on Lily along with the three girls. They exchanged proud looks, as if the victory was already theirs. "Shardfall, control the area—Gravelflow, dig inside the earth!" Aaron commanded the moment he appeared. Both beasts materialised instantly. The Shardfall Warden slammed into the ground, jagged stone spikes beginning to rise, while the Gravelflow Serpent burrowed beneath the surface, the earth rippling as it disappeared. Lily didn’t wait even a second. "Treant! Pull out that serpent—and take control of the field before they do." The treant emerged with a heavy thud, its massive wooden form shaking the ground. It slammed its fist down— THOOM! Thick vines burst outward, spreading rapidly, roots tearing through the soil. Some lashed towards the Shardfall Warden, while others burrowed deep, hunting through the earth. A low hiss echoed from beneath. In the next instant, the ground ruptured as the treant yanked the Gravelflow Serpent out, dirt scattering into the air. Aaron was momentarily taken aback, his brows tightening— —but the very next moment, his grip tightened on his sword as he surged forward, charging straight at the treant.