Chapter 46: Four VS Twenty

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Four VS Twenty

As Nathaniel’s words fell, the smile on Colin Whitmore’s face vanished completely.

Victoria Shaw stared at the three Shadow Soldiers, shock and suspicion appearing in her eyes for the first time.

Marcus Reed’s breathing faltered.

They had always believed they had taken Nathaniel seriously enough. After all, they knew he had slain a Level 100 powerhouse.

But only now did they realize a crucial problem.

They didn’t understand Nathaniel at all.

Their judgments, preparations, and confidence in victory had all been built on speculation.

They had assumed Nathaniel had killed the Level 100 professional by relying on trump cards left behind by his parents. They had assumed he dared to challenge them because he was young, hot-headed, and ignorant of the strength standing against him.

Now, reality had slapped them hard in the face.

Nathaniel hadn’t even lifted a finger himself. His three Shadow Soldiers had overwhelmed a Level 150 professional in seconds.

The expressions of the executives became uncertain.

Their carefully planned sequence had been shattered by Nathaniel’s summons.

Nathaniel stood in the arena, his gaze sweeping across their faces.

"What? No one else?"

Colin’s expression darkened.

Nathaniel continued indifferently, "Didn’t you say earlier that I wasn’t qualified to control the Beaumont Trading Consortium? Now, is there not even anyone willing to step forward?"

His words struck directly at the executives’ pride.

The eyes of the spectators became subtle.

Too many influential people were present. The City Lord’s Mansion was here, along with representatives of Westmere’s major families and commercial organizations.

If the executives backed down now, all their earlier boasts would become a joke.

Colin understood that they had no way out.

Either they won, or they lost the initiative completely.

He took a deep breath.

"Young Master Beaumont, your strength has exceeded our expectations. We are impressed. Since that is the case, let us begin the formal contest."

Victoria nodded slowly.

The other two high-level professionals stood up at the same time.

One was a thin, gaunt man wearing gray mage robes, with a staff engraved with formation runes in his hand.

His name was Gideon Shaw, a Level 207 Array Rune Master.

The other was a middle-aged woman with short hair and a cold expression. Six slender flying blades hovered behind her.

Her name was Mara Whitaker, a Level 211 Blade Shadow Controller.

Together with Colin and Victoria, all four powerful professionals were now ready to fight.

The spectator hall immediately erupted.

"They’re going to attack together?"

"Four high-level professionals against a young man who awakened his class only a few days ago?"

"That’s shameless!"

"They were acting like respectable elders just moments ago, and now they don’t even care about appearances!"

Others shook their heads.

"But doesn’t this show how terrifying Nathaniel is? One summon nearly defeated a Level 150 professional, forcing four powerful opponents to join forces."

"That’s true. Even if Nathaniel loses today, this battle alone will make him famous throughout Westmere."

Colin and the others knew this wouldn’t look good, but compared with control of the Beaumont Trading Consortium, their reputation was secondary.

They no longer understood Nathaniel’s strength. Since they couldn’t predict his abilities, they would use the safest method available.

Overwhelming force.

Colin faced Nathaniel, his tone no longer as condescending as before.

"Young Master Beaumont, your strength has indeed exceeded our expectations. Continuing one by one would only waste time."

Victoria spoke next.

"Your agreement states that you will challenge everyone who refuses to accept your authority. The four of us have chosen to stand against you. Therefore, fighting together doesn’t violate the agreement."

She looked at Nathaniel.

"Young Master, it’s not too late to admit defeat."

Nathaniel looked at the four of them and smiled.

"You make it sound so reasonable."

His expression turned cold.

"In reality, you’re just afraid."

The expressions of all four darkened.

Nathaniel continued, "A moment ago, you were sitting there, looking as though victory was already yours. Now, four of you are preparing to attack together. If that isn’t fear, what is it?"

Gideon Shaw said coldly, "Verbal provocation is meaningless."

Mara Whitaker’s six flying blades began to rotate behind her.

"Your summoned creatures are certainly powerful. But if you think three of them can defeat four high-level professionals, you’re mistaken."

Nathaniel raised his eyes.

"Who told you I only have three?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand.

"Shadow Summoning."

The shadows around him surged.

The three Shadow Soldiers already standing beside Nathaniel remained in place as additional black-armored figures emerged from the darkness.

One after another, they joined the formation.

By the time the summoning stopped, twenty Shadow Soldiers stood in the arena, including the original three.

Their featureless helmets faced the four opponents. Two faint crimson lights glimmered beneath each helmet, while their black armor swallowed the light around them.

The entire hall seemed to grow colder.

The four executives felt their scalps go numb.

Shadow Soldier had nearly defeated a Level 150 professional. Now they faced twenty.

The spectator hall exploded.

"Twenty of them?!"

"He can summon twenty of those monsters?"

"Three defeated Ethan Cole. What’s the meaning of twenty?"

"No wonder Nathaniel dared to challenge the entire consortium alone!"

Daniel Mercer jumped to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.

"Uncle George! Twenty! Nathaniel has twenty Shadow Soldiers!"

Uncle George remained silent, staring at the figures in the arena. He finally understood why Nathaniel had dared to make the agreement.

The young master had been prepared for this confrontation.

In the arena, Colin gritted his teeth.

"Attack!"

If they delayed any longer, their momentum would collapse completely.

The four executives attacked simultaneously.

A thick metallic sheen covered Colin’s body, making him appear as though he were encased in steel.

Dense runes lit up around Victoria’s fingertips, releasing waves of enhancement that strengthened her companions.

Mara’s six flying blades vanished, turning into cold streaks of light that slashed toward the Shadow Soldiers.

Gideon took a half-step back, spreading formation runes across the floor as he began constructing an auxiliary formation.

The twenty Shadow Soldiers moved.

They charged directly at the four professionals, attacking from different directions and coordinating their movements.

Boom!

The moment the two sides collided, the protective barrier shook violently.

Colin blocked two Shadow Soldiers head-on, but their terrifying strength forced him backward three steps.

His expression changed.

Their power was far greater than he had expected.

Mara’s flying blades continuously slashed at the Shadow Soldiers, carving wounds into their armor. Yet the damage failed to stop them.

They didn’t fear pain. As long as their bodies remained intact, they continued fighting.

Victoria repeatedly released slowing, binding, and weakening abilities. However, the Shadow Soldiers’ base attributes were so high that these control effects had limited impact.

Gideon’s formation runes had barely spread across the floor when a Shadow Soldier crushed one section underfoot.

His expression turned ugly, and he had to begin constructing the formation again.

The battle became chaotic.

Four high-level professionals were being suppressed by twenty Shadow Soldiers!

The spectators stared in disbelief.

"Did I see that correctly?"

"Nathaniel is suppressing four powerful professionals at once!"

"It’s his summons doing the fighting!"

"That’s even more ridiculous! He’s still standing in the same place!"

"He awakened his class only a few days ago, yet he can already do this?"

Across the hall, Edmund Sterling watched with a smile in his eyes.

Adrian Cross spoke quietly beside him.

"An SSS-Rank evaluation."

Edmund nodded, keeping his gaze on the battle.

"Now they understand what that evaluation means."