Chapter 279: Midnight Chapter 279: Midnight To the audience, the fight looked like a natural exchange of attacks—misses, near-hits, and chaotic combat, giving credits to Aaron for ’skillfully’ avoiding critical hits. But to a trained eye, it was obvious that she was dragging it out and actually testing him. Wanting to see if someone in the top 10 would eventually surrender to pain. But it seemed that the people in the top 10 were of a whole different breed. Especially Aaron. He didn’t just endure pain but actually thrived in it. In that regard, he and Ronan were the same. No wonder they were friends. There was also his earlier attitude toward Leo or how he and Ronan made fun of his looks. From the stands, Ronan cheered loudly, eyes shining. "Fuck that bastard up! Yes! That’s the way!" "Show him hell!" But as if not wanting to go with his words, Lily made her move. A thick root surged forward and struck straight into Aaron’s chest, and in the next instant, he was teleported out. Until the very end, she didn’t summon Lunaria or use any advanced wind techniques along with the thunder skill. Those were reserved for Uraan, the most likely candidate to challenge her for the 3rd position. "W-what a match..." the host said nervously. Even he hadn’t expected something like this. To most of the audience, it looked like a fierce fight, but to trained eyes, it was clear Lily had been holding back. Because there was no way a pseudo-3-star like Aaron could truly contend with a mid-3-star like Lily for this long. Even with better skill, if Lily truly intended to end it, the fight would have been over before he even drew his greatsword. Lily was already considered a bit off after she had sneered at the crowd when they made those marriage proposals, but after this bloody display—and the calmness in her eyes despite being the one who caused it—a different kind of wave spread through the audience. It made their skin crawl. This time, no one dared to cross the line with any "proposals." They only cheered her name. And this wasn’t limited to just the arena. Across the Empire, people had seen the match. She had already begun establishing a name for herself, one that would be remembered for the amount of blood spilled in that arena. In that regard, Aaron was also gaining a name—one tied to the sheer amount of blood he lost, showcasing his abnormal vitality. Leon, as usual, only strengthened his resolve not to mess with Lily. As for the two girls, they couldn’t really do anything. Lily never took the initiative to speak. She would only listen and answer if asked—and even then, only if the question wasn’t about her, her life, or Leo. And knowing the kind of topics girls usually talked about, there was a high chance Lily wouldn’t open her mouth at all. Of course, the eyes of the top 10 students were on Leo. After all, he was the one who had tamed that woman. It was finally Leo’s turn to fight. It was only 7:30 PM. Leon had finished his match quickly, and it would have been even earlier if Lily hadn’t dragged hers out. When Aaron reappeared, fully healed, it was as if he had never been tortured at all. He immediately went over to Ronan, excitedly describing his experience. As usual, both of them were loud. "Now! Ladies and gentlemen! We get to see Leo in action once again! Though his last match was short, I feel this one will be a good one!" the host announced as the betting pools opened. Leo’s odds: 1.70 Uraan’s odds: 1.75 This time, Leo was slightly favored. He had technically defeated Tavian much earlier than Uraan did. However, Uraan’s beasts were obedient and well-known, while Leo’s abilities were still largely unknown. Because of that, the odds remained close. Betting Pool: Leo: 1,887,789,899 AC Uraan: 1,999,981,674 AC Once again, the one with controlled, obedient beasts held a slight edge. "Am I allowed to call you by your name?" Uraan asked. No matter how hard he tried, he—and everyone else—found it difficult to act casually around the pair without permission. The reason was simple. Even with their family resources, they couldn’t properly dig into their background. The last confirmed information was that both of them came from a small outskirts tier-1 city. Which, to them, clearly sounded false. Because of that, they chose to be cautious. "Yeah, sure," Leo replied, pulling out his daggers. Uraan’s gaze fell on the weapons. "Those look too plain for your strength, don’t you think... Leo?" Leo glanced down at his twin daggers. "These? They’re a gift from my girl. How can they be plain? They’re the most valuable things I’ve seen." But at that moment, something felt off. Why does it feel like he’s stalling...? Leo’s eyes narrowed as he sensed a presence closing in. Clack! He extended his hand into seemingly empty air—as if grabbing nothing. But he caught something. Searing pain rippled through his arm as he stopped it mid-motion. Midnight Raven (Pseudo 3-star) – Super Bloodline. Uraan’s eyes widened. Leo had not only sensed the ambush, but he had directly caught the Raven’s moon-beak attack. "You actually sensed Midnight through its moon shroud? Damn... I need to re-evaluate you." Leo looked at what he had caught. It was the raven’s beak—and it was coated with the same energy that nullified healing. Which meant his hand was now permanently damaged for the rest of the match. The moon had already risen along the horizon. It was 7:45 PM now. The Raven’s abilities were finally in play. Kraaaaa! The raven screeched, struggling against Leo’s grip. The next moment, its wings turned silver and slashed toward him. Leo released it and jumped back. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Moon, huh? What if I use Solar Beam?" He looked towards the otherside to see that the sun was still visible, which meant the solar beam could still pack a punch