Moving back to the arena was an experience filled with both joy and anxiety. Thinking about how much trouble did we cause to the town's mayor, I couldn't help but worry that this fight against a demonic beast was just a way to get back on us!

It was commonly known that a beast and a cultivator of a similar realm would be greatly mismatched, even with the use of weapons or fighting arts. It all boiled down to the number of hardships one had to go through to raise his prowess and the innate experience that came with all the efforts to grow.

While humans could just cultivate to absorb the free energy of the world, demonic beasts had to either feed on expensive and rare medicinal herbs or just consume the opponents of similar or higher realm to advance.

Outside of the rare cases when someone went to train in the forbidden areas and didn't bother to dissect the prey he hunted as he went, allowing the beasts to feed of the corpses, most of the mana creatures gathered in there would need to go through a lot more than humans to grow!

"Don't worry about me. Even if they bring some dangerous best, worst-case scenario, you will save me like always, won't you?"

Sending me off with a sweet smile, Eve dived inside the depths of the arena, while leaving me alone in front of the entrance to the tribunes. Unable to do anything at this point, I could only calmly go back to my seat designated by the ticket provided to me by the City Mayor for some reason.

I guess this was part of his scheme to give me the best seat from which I could watch how he would humiliate my fiancee!

Little did he know, there was no way she would succumb to something as silly as a demonic beast!

"Look who we have here!"

The same second I managed to find my seat and find a comfortable way to sit on it, an annoyingly familiar voice resounded right behind me. Not even bothering to move my head to face the speaker, I made sure to cover myself with a weak shield before speaking.

"What the hell do you want, trash?"

I guess I took Jelier too lightly. Not only did he present me the best spot to watch the fight, he apparently knew about the enmity between me and this fucking Baxhar! I already humiliated him once, was he seeking death by trying to annoy me here and now?

"To think that someone like you would hide behind the back of a woman as she would fight for your achievements… Wait, this actually makes total sense!"

Considering how he managed to get relatively rich by selling off my own sword, I could see where his confidence was coming from. While he was still trash, I could feel the aura of two developing core experts lurking nearby. I guess he invested the coins he got from the auction to hire the bodyguards in hopes that I would actually let him provoke me!

"Scram before I throw you on the arena to sate the hunger of the beast that will soon appear there."

Focusing on the duel that was going on the stage, I simply waved him away. Compared to the first day of fights, current challenges were far more interesting, with the competitors reaching the development core level. While I could say with just a single look that they held back their strength as far as they could, it was still far greater show than the fights between mortal level cultivators!

"Oh, you dare to threaten me? Are you looking for a beating?"

Unable to comprehend my lack of interest in his actions, he actually managed to send a punch my way! While I sensed it before it reached the distance that could allow him to connect it, I didn't do anything to stop it. Allowing it to smash against my shield, I instantly pulled out my energetical sword, turned around on the spot and placed the vibrating edge just a millimetre away from the skin of his neck.

"I can kill you before your so-called bodyguards would be able to even reach me, not to speak about saving you. I will spare your life out of consideration for the Dracon's sect, otherwise getting rid of such a small fry like you would allow them to call my duel with my beloved cousin down. But that doesn't mean I can't properly teach you a lesson. Scram!"

Repeating the trick that I used back in the city hall, I infused my voice with the strength of spirit attainment cultivator, a single-stage higher than Baxhar currently was at. Unable to fight back against the pressure that I pushed him away with, he couldn't help but pace a few steps backwards, before pointing his hand at me.

"He made the first move! Kill him!"

This guy had the talent to face slap himself. Before his guardians managed to make their move, I simply looked at them with ridicule in my eyes. While forcing mortal enlightenment level cultivator back wasn't something hard for a spiritual cultivator like me or them, doing so with just a few words, were still far away from their level of capabilities. Seeing how they didn't move a finger despite Baxhar's shout, I understood that they actually had some brains.

Turning back to the arena, I shoved my sword back to the storage ring, as to not attract even more attention. It was obvious that every single move of mine was observed by someone from both the city hall and the Katenari clan, not to speak about Heavenly Sword faction. No matter how much I would love to just cut him down, I couldn't give them any reason to step up right after the court trial concluded!

"Welcome the new challenger, Eve Katenari! While her earlier duels got postponed due to her recent advancements, we are bringing you a great show this time! She will face a mighty demonic beast of the expanding senses level! For those who want to bet, don't hesitate to do so!"

With the loud cheer from the spectators, Eve entered the arena and waved at the crowd. Ignoring the fuming Baxhar, I focused all my attention at the side gate, where the monster would come from. Just as my anxiety reached it's maximum, I suddenly lost my mind.

Seeing the monster being pulled out in the cage to the arena, Eve couldn't help but scream with joy!

"PENGU!"