Chapter 258 - 257 : Insult

Chapter 258: Chapter 257 : Insult

The moment the question left the announcer’s mouth, Bryan let out a sharp snort.

"Him? Isn’t he just overrated?"

The arena gradually fell silent.

Bryan’s grin widened.

"Just because he’s a little more handsome than me doesn’t mean he’s stronger than me. In fact, I could defeat him with a single punch."

The Golden Colosseum exploded.

Cheers, gasps, laughter, and excited shouts echoed throughout the arena.

Bryan’s eyes remained fixed on Arthur.

’That idiot better not act tough.’

His fingers slowly tightened.

’Or I’ll make him regret it.’

The announcer looked delighted by the reaction.

"So you’re saying you could defeat Arthur with one punch?"

Bryan didn’t hesitate.

"Of course."

The announcer turned toward Arthur.

"And what do you have to say about that, Arthur?"

Arthur slowly stepped forward.

His expression was calm.

Almost unnervingly calm.

Then he smiled.

"He is nothing more than a brute who relies entirely on his strength."

The laughter died.

Arthur’s crimson eyes settled on Bryan.

"Let me put it this way."

He paused.

"If you put boxing gloves on a gorilla, does it suddenly become a boxer?"

For one second, the entire Golden Colosseum froze.

Then the arena erupted with laughter.

Some spectators doubled over, while others slapped their friends on the shoulders. Even several representatives struggled to hide their smiles.

Arthur remained perfectly composed.

"It’s something like that."

Bryan’s face turned bright red. A vein bulged against his forehead as Christopher and Amaya openly laughed from the other side of the stage.

Arthur continued.

"Frankly, I don’t consider him—or anyone else here—worthy of challenging me."

Another wave of shocked murmurs spread through the crowd.

Arthur then tilted his head slightly.

"But he is my senior."

He looked directly at Bryan.

"And I respect my seniors."

A faint smile appeared.

"Even if one of them behaves like the animal I just described."

The crowd exploded again.

Arthur gave a slight bow.

"I deeply respect you, Senior."

He straightened.

"I am certain you can teach me a great deal."

His smile widened.

"Isn’t that right, Senior?"

Bryan’s killing intent surged.

For a moment, it seemed as though he might actually charge across the stage. But thousands of mana cameras were pointed directly at him. He couldn’t attack. He couldn’t lose control.

So he clenched his teeth.

"Of course."

The crowd erupted in laughter once again.

The announcer hurriedly moved on before Bryan completely lost his temper.

Then a clear, cold voice came from the Lumina Academy delegation.

"Mr. Arthur."

The laughter gradually faded.

Everyone turned toward Karina.

The Saintess of Lumina Academy stepped forward, her expression cold.

"Do you think it is amusing to disrespect a senior like that? To mock his appearance and insult him in front of the entire world?"

The announcer’s eyes lit up.

"Oh!"

He looked between Karina and Arthur.

"It seems the Saintess of Lumina Academy did not appreciate Arthur’s comments!"

Karina ignored him.

She stared directly at Arthur.

"You should apologize to Bryan immediately."

Her tone was firm.

"He is your senior."

Arthur stared at her for a moment.

Then he blinked.

"Who are you again?"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The Golden Colosseum became so quiet that the faint hum of the mana cameras could be heard.

The announcer’s smile froze.

Karina’s eyes widened.

Everyone knew who she was.

She was the Saintess of Lumina Academy, the representative of the reigning champions, and one of the most famous young warriors in the world.

And Arthur had just pretended he didn’t know her.

The meaning was obvious.

He was deliberately insulting her.

Diana suddenly burst into laughter.

She tried to cover her mouth, but it was too late. Isabella followed, while Evangeline covered her mouth, desperately trying to hide her smile.

Even several of Arthur’s teammates began laughing.

"This guy really is unbelievable," Diana muttered.

Layla rubbed her forehead.

A headache was already forming.

’Then what’s even the point of being his vice-representative?’

She sighed internally.

’He does whatever he wants anyway.’

Karina’s face slowly turned red.

Humiliation and anger burned in her eyes as she took a breath.

"Do not worry. Soon, I will teach you some manners."

Arthur nodded casually.

Then he interrupted her.

"Go away."

Karina froze.

Arthur’s expression remained indifferent.

"I don’t talk to pawns."

The arena fell silent again.

"Tell your leader to come speak with me."

Karina’s face became even redder.

The humiliation was almost unbearable.

The announcer immediately stepped forward before the situation could escalate further.

"I-I see."

He laughed awkwardly.

"Well, moving on!"

He turned toward Arthur.

"Arthur, is there anyone else you believe you should be careful about?"

Arthur looked across the assembled teams. His gaze slowly passed over every representative.

"To be honest, if this tournament were being held in the real world without restrictions..."

He smiled.

"I am confident I could beat the hell out of all of them by myself."

The audience gasped.

Arthur continued as though he had said nothing unusual.

"However, the tournament rules require everyone to suppress their power levels. The purpose is to prevent one-sided battles and give every participant a fair chance."

He paused.

"So there is one team I will not underestimate."

The crowd became completely silent.

Arthur’s crimson eyes shifted toward the Glacier Peak Academy delegation.

"The twins."

The giant mana screens immediately displayed two beautiful girls standing together.

"Ava and Eva."

The twins exchanged a glance.

Arthur continued.

"They are the representative and vice-representative of Glacier Peak Academy."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Their fighting style is unique."

A subtle tension entered his voice.

"And their technique..."

He paused.

"Frozen World."

Ava and Eva’s expressions changed instantly.

Their eyes widened.

’How does he know about that?’

Frozen World was a technique they had been secretly developing with their father. Almost nobody outside their family knew about it.

Yet Arthur had identified it without hesitation.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"It could pose a genuine challenge even to me."

A wave of shocked murmurs swept across the arena.

The audience had expected Arthur to boast.

Instead, he had singled out two opponents and openly acknowledged them.

For the first time, many spectators began wondering just how much Arthur actually knew about the other competitors.

The announcer cleared his throat, desperately trying to regain control of the interview.

His gaze shifted toward Layla.

"And what about you, Miss Layla? Do you have anything to add?"

Layla sighed.

"I do not."

She looked at the announcer with exhausted eyes.

"Can we just start the tournament now?"

Laughter spread through the crowd.

The announcer awkwardly smiled. ℯℯ𝘭.

"Of course, of course."

He turned toward Karina.

"And you, Miss Karina? Anything you’d like to add?"

Karina didn’t answer.

She simply looked away.

The tension hanging over the stage was already enough.

The announcer raised his microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

The crowd quieted.

"After these interviews, it seems the tournament has already given us plenty of rivalries!"

Cheers erupted.

"Challenges have been made!"

The crowd grew louder.

"Warnings have been issued!"

The representatives looked toward one another.

"And, most importantly..."

The announcer’s smile widened.

"Promises have been made!"

The spectators roared.

The announcer raised one hand.

"Now..."

The entire Golden Colosseum gradually fell silent.

"It is time to find out who can actually back up their words!"

The enormous mana screens suddenly changed.

The academy emblems disappeared, replaced by a massive holographic roulette wheel that materialized high above the arena. Its glowing surface was divided into countless sections, each bearing the name of one of the participating academies.

The crowd erupted the moment it appeared.

The wheel began to spin.

Faster.

And faster.

And faster.

The names blurred together as brilliant mana illuminated the entire colosseum.

Every representative looked upward.

Some smiled.

Some narrowed their eyes.

Others clenched their fists.

Arthur simply watched in silence.

Beside him, Layla folded her arms.

The excitement in the arena reached its peak.

The roulette wheel suddenly began to slow.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The first match of the Inter-Academy Tournament was about to be decided.

And with it...

The true battle for the championship was finally about to begin.