The abyssal ability Jason had utilized with only a small margin of mana had dragged Jarid's distracted mind into a bottomless pit of pitch-black darkness.

At least, that's what it looked like to Jarid and everyone else who had entered this place.

Time seemed to continue to pass, but somehow it felt different, and Jarid was unable to tell whether seconds, minutes, months, or even years had passed.

Suddenly after a moment that felt like an eternity, the outlines of something gigantic, eerie, and terrifying appeared in front of him.

Just as the huge hands of the ominous being were about to grasp him Jarid was released from that queasy feeling, only to find himself in the arena. 

All of this had happened so quickly that he felt as if he had been dragged out of that abyss and thrown back into the arena at the exact same moment he had left.

His mind was seemingly blank, and the distraction caused by the abyssal ability completely deteriorated Jarid's control over his thunder ability as Jason appeared in front of him.

Ignoring the torment energies caused by the thunder that began to spread through the entire arena, Jason slashed out with Byakur.

The Floating Sky movement technique was activated, increasing his speed starkly, but that was still not enough to pierce Byakur mercilessly through Jarid, who had instinctively moved.

Owing to the combat experience he had attained over years, evading Jason's simple slash was not a problem.

However, what the visibly confused Olympian hadn't realised was that Jason's three-meter long tail had already been coiled around one of his ankles.

Shock could be seen on Jarid's face as Jason used the three-meter-long tail to lift the young olympian once before the tail whipped on the ground, crushing him into the floor as a gaping hole and several cracks appeared on it.

Jarid's physical strength was not lowered despite the first throw, making it impossible to injure him heavily with such a move.

As such, Jason had simply flung Jarid further away, yet again.

Yet, instead of throwing Jarid out of the combat ring and ending the battle once and for all, Jason let the Olympian take a deep breath as he wanted the fight to continue.

He could now roughly gauge how powerful his Emperor Eyes' ability was. At least, if he were to ignore using the two curses and his eyes' ability in one lethal attack, and instead use them in quick succession by making use of every little distraction!

While Jarid was flung to the other side of the arena, Jason unleashed his entire Celestia aura and stigma, before he began to absorb the surrounding mana rapidly.

There was still more than enough mana left in his mana core, but he didn't want to end the fight so soon.

Jason had yet to get his turn to release his strength and actively attack the Olympian, who was struggling to regain his senses.

It didn't take him long to get back on his feet, but his mind had been consumed by the eternal darkness his mind had been dragged to. 

The expressions of terror and worry chased his facial features and he had difficulty coming to terms with the eerie sensation he had just experienced.

Other than that, Jarid's confidence to defeat Jason had crumbled as he was unable to even utilize his Thunder legacy properly.

Meanwhile, Jason absorbed mana without minding that Jarid was standing inside the arena ring as if his fighting spirit had left him for good.

There was no pity in Jason's eyes and he left the choice to Jarid whether a single exchange of blows was enough for him to give up his goals and desires.

If that was it, he would be disappointed, but everyone was free to make their own choice!

Due to his passive mana gathering technique exerted by his sub-area combined with his active mana absorption, Jason's mana replenish speed was terrifically high.

Both the active and passive mana absorption was further accelerated through his stigma and Celestia aura that had been reinforced by the divine aura he had annexed and absorbed months earlier.

Their fight had come to a momentary standstill and the entire atmosphere of the colosseum had changed the moment Jarid had lost control over his body.

Some spectators were voicing out their complaints, saying that the fight had been rigged.

Almost everyone had betted on Jirad, and except Jason himself, a handful of gamblers and opportunists, nobody betted on him.

The complaints quickly dispersed when the short clip of the fight had immediately been processed and projected on the large screen that was suspended from the center of the colosseum.

In the end, the clip had to be replayed several times, every single replay at a lower speed, only to allow everyone to realize that Jarid had jumped straight into Jason's trap.

There was a moment Jarid's eyes had turned black, while the silver-dragon mask had been dyed in a golden hue, only for both to disperse a moment later.

This had left behind a terrified Olympian and Jason, who had used the opportunity in his favor.

Moments later after Jason thought that he had given Jarid enough time to recuperate from his shock, he stopped absorbing mana.

Averting his gaze towards the young Ilian, Jason couldn't help as he sighed.

"How is it possible for you to be discouraged by that already? Will you ever be able to face someone from a stronger race with that attitude? Your will was too easily shaken. Talent is worthless if you can't even stand up after a single failure. If you're not dead, stand up after falling down, learn from it and improve, become better than the past you! I doubt it...how could I even remotely think that this fight will be worthwhile...How disappointing…"

Jason was fully aware that he'd exaggerated a few facts, but that was not what he was bothered about right now.

He was simply disappointed while using his last effort to turn the fight that seemed to have lost all its meaning into something glorious.

There was no need for his excitement to completely die and there was only a last ray of hope left within Jason.

Somehow it seemed as if Jarid was trying to progress everything, trying to overcome the terror he had witnessed.

However, at the same time, Jason could tell that Jarid's pride had been shattered into smithereens.

Fortunately, there was no need for Jason to stay disappointed. His words elicited the reaction he had been expecting from Jarid.

Previously, Jarid had thought that his fight against the silver-dragon masked man would be epic, turning into a glorious legend about his first revelation.

Unfortunately, now it felt like Jason had pulled a tight slap across his face even though his hand hadn't even come anywhere near him. His dream, his pride, and the expectations others had about him had been blown to dust.

Despite all of that, Jarid couldn't help but hear two sentences Jason had said, ringing through his head countless times. 

[Talent is worthless if you can't even stand up after a single failure. If you're not dead, stand up after falling down, learn from it and improve, become better than the past you!]

Clenching his fists, Jarid couldn't help but feel ridiculous. After a single failure, he had been already on the verge of giving up on himself, his entire race, and the Olympus federation that was in a dire need of strong and talented warriors?

From the beginning, he had known that the silver masked man was an opponent he couldn't face, but his pride and arrogance had blinded his eyes, preventing him from accepting the bitter truth.

Gritting his teeth, he finally regained his composure as he stared straight at Jason, who felt the determination glimmering in Jarid's eyes.

However, just a moment later Jason heard something he hadn't expected to hear at all.

"Use all your strength...please!!"

While this had been unexpected, Jason just nodded his head while an uproar swept through the entire colosseum.

"The silver masked man hasn't used his entire strength yet? How can that be?" 

"This is ridiculous! Nobody with a cultivation base at the peak of the 1st Lique stage can reach such a high combat prowess!!" 

"How can this not be rigged!! I demand an explanation!"

Despite the complaints ringing through the colosseum, neither Jason nor Jarid heard any of it. They were focussed on each other and Jason cautioned,

"Alright, be careful, I won't hold back! It's my turn now!"

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