As an arena renowned throughout the Empire, the rewards available to bounty fighters of the Kaimer Arena are self-evidently generous. Even those on the fringes, like Popoca or Venter—individuals unable to firmly establish themselves even among the lowest tier of honor fighters—still earn enough in annual prize money to significantly improve their lives.
On the other hand, the number of bounty fighters in each planetary branch of the Kaimer Arena is strictly fixed. If a branch desires more bounty fighters, there’s only one way to increase their numbers—travel to another planet’s arena, defeat their bounty fighters, and take their identity plaques from the honor wall back to your own arena!
For the fighters of the Kaimer Arena, bringing back an identity plaque from another planet is considered an extraordinary honor. Not only does the fighter who retrieves it become a hero of the entire arena, but it also brings immense prestige to the branch itself.
Of course, while bringing back an identity plaque from a distant arena is indeed glorious, achieving it is far from simple. This is because each planetary branch of the Kaimer Arena follows an unbreakable tradition—whenever outsiders appear in an arena, they will inevitably face united hostility from everyone present.
For example, if a local apprentice fighter wishes to challenge for honor fighter status, he will be randomly matched against one of the current honor fighters. However, if the challenger is an apprentice from another planet, there’s no randomness involved—his opponent will undoubtedly be an honor fighter who recently dropped down from the elite ranks, and who is already seething with frustration.
This situation is somewhat akin to the “home advantage” seen in Earth’s sports competitions—no one breaks the rules, but within the boundaries of the rules, the “away team” will inevitably face every possible form of obstruction. Since Zhang Wen became a bounty fighter at the Kaimer Arena’s Casares branch, he had encountered such “away teams” more than once.
Previously, however, the ones sent to deal with these outsiders were at most a few system-level fighters. This time, however, the “away team” had even managed to draw out the Iron Mask, a fighter known for his reclusive training habits—something quite rare. Thus, Zhang Wen had specifically asked about the opponents.
“They’re a group of very strong newcomers. They’ve definitely never lived in an arena before, and they clearly don’t understand arena etiquette,” Iron Mask explained coldly in a low voice as he led Zhang Wen and Lynora toward the top floor of the arena. “There are five of them. They all applied to become apprentice fighters this morning. Before I came down, they had already earned the right to challenge on the fourth floor.”
“Oh? That’s indeed unusual,” Zhang Wen replied, raising his eyebrows in surprise. He finally understood why the bounty fighters of the Casares branch had reacted so strongly that even Iron Mask had emerged.
As previously mentioned, identity plaques are of immense importance to an arena. Therefore, most bounty fighters who make a living in the arena follow an unspoken rule—when they travel to other arenas to earn their reputation, they almost always act alone. It’s extremely rare even for two to appear together.
But today’s situation was even more extreme—five of them had arrived together, and within a single day, they had climbed from apprentice fighters all the way to planetary fighters. This wasn’t just a slap in the face of the Casares branch’s bounty fighters—it was practically threatening their livelihoods! After all, in the Casares branch, there were only eighteen fighters who held the planetary fighter title.
“We’re here!” Iron Mask stopped outside the fourth-floor hall and pushed open the heavy door.
The layout of the fourth floor of the Kaimer Arena was quite similar to that of the first floor. At the heart of the hall stood three central platforms, prominently placed in the most visible area. However, the bases of these platforms were all carved from single blocks of the finest sea-urchin stone. Compared to the granite bases on the first floor, these not only looked more aesthetically pleasing but were also far superior in hardness.
As for the rest of the hall’s design, it was the work of a renowned designer from the planet Casares. Whether it was the luxurious chandeliers, the deep red carpets covering the floor, or the classical imperial-style murals of war gods, everything was arranged magnificently.
However, when Zhang Wen and Lynora followed Iron Mask into the fourth-floor hall, the atmosphere was anything but serene. The noise in the hall was akin to a bustling marketplace. And the loudest voices didn’t come from the excited youths, but from a group of elderly nobles.
All of these old nobles wore blue or blue-and-red sashes across their chests—clear proof of their status. These sashes indicated that they had all made significant contributions to the Empire. In the Casares system, far from the heart of the Empire, these retired military nobles were the most respected and influential group in society.
Though these old nobles were already advanced in age, they clearly hadn’t lost the fiery tempers they’d developed in the military. When Zhang Wen looked at them, he saw that not only were they shouting loudly, but many had even left their seats in anger, rushing toward the red rest area behind the arena platforms.
The planetary fighters in the rest area had none of their usual arrogance now. In the face of the nobles’ fury, they either hung their heads in frustration, sighing deeply, or clenched their fists, glaring angrily at the group in the blue rest area across from them.
After half a year in the Kaimer Arena, Zhang Wen was already quite familiar with most of the planetary fighters active on the fourth floor. Therefore, he quickly shifted his gaze from the bounty fighters to the group in the blue rest area.
These guys were no ordinary opponents! The moment Zhang Wen laid eyes on the group of “outsiders” chatting casually in the blue rest area, he immediately formed that impression.
From these individuals, Zhang Wen sensed something unusual. The most common trait among ordinary bounty fighters was confidence—something earned through dozens or even hundreds of battles and countless victories. Yet these newcomers also exuded confidence in their every move. But their confidence was different—it wasn’t forged through combat; it was more like an innate sense of superiority.
Such an aura was extremely rare among arena bounty fighters, but Zhang Wen had occasionally sensed similar vibes from aristocratic offspring like Zack, Cloud, and Carite.
Could they also be from a powerful imperial noble family? If so, their ignorance of arena etiquette could be explained. But then, why would they appear on the planet Casares? As Zhang Wen pondered this, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
As Zhang Wen was considering their origins, the crowd in the fourth-floor hall had already noticed Iron Mask’s arrival. Two sharp-eyed arena psychics quickly approached and broadcast the situation onto the large screen for all to see.
Iron Mask’s appearance immediately caused a wave of excitement among the audience. In this arena, Iron Mask was the undisputed king. Even a beauty as stunning as Lynora was completely ignored in that moment.
As soon as Iron Mask appeared on the screen, the old nobles in the red rest area immediately stood up and hurried forward. Leading them was an elderly noble with graying hair and a long scar on his left cheek, giving him a somewhat fierce appearance. This scarred old noble, wearing six sashes, was not only a passionate battle enthusiast but also highly respected among the group. Zhang Wen had often seen him in the audience during his time at the arena, but this was the first time they had met face to face.
“Iron Mask, you finally showed up! Where have you been? If this keeps up, they’ll be heading to the fifth floor soon!” Perhaps due to his status as a spectator, the scarred old noble’s tone toward Iron Mask was far less respectful than that of the bounty fighters. As he approached, he shouted excitedly.
Behind the scarred noble came the rest of the old nobles and about seven or eight bounty fighters. Among these seven or eight, besides the young planetary fighters Zhang Wen knew well, there were two distinctly different warriors. One was around Iron Mask’s age, dressed in a dark blue formal suit with a high collar that covered most of his face. The other was an old man with a large, bulbous nose and messy hair.
When they saw the two behind Iron Mask, the old nobles and bounty fighters ahead almost completely ignored Zhang Wen, lingering instead on Lynora with visible admiration. Only the collar-raised dark-clad warrior and the bulbous-nosed old man gave Zhang Wen a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment.
“Iron Mask, you said earlier you were going to find someone. Are these two your reinforcements?” The scarred old noble, now beside Iron Mask, finally tore his gaze away from Lynora and asked loudly.
“They are friends of ‘the Hermit.'”
“Ah? The Hermit is here too?” The scarred noble first showed excitement, but quickly hesitated and shook his head. “No good! Iron Mask, no offense, but the Hermit’s strength isn’t much higher than that of the Two-Headed Wolf. He probably won’t be able to handle these guys!”
“What happened?” Iron Mask immediately turned his gaze to a pale-faced man supported by two others in the bounty fighter group—the very Two-Headed Wolf mentioned by the scarred noble.
“Sorry. Iron Mask, I’ve brought shame to the people of Casares,” the Two-Headed Wolf shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with frustration.
Although the Empire valued strength above all, it was still humiliating for a senior fighter with over a decade of arena experience to lose to a young man barely in his twenties, barely out of adolescence.
“Enough. Iron Mask, the Wolf did his best,” the dark-clad warrior with the high collar gently patted the Two-Headed Wolf’s shoulder and continued coldly, “those guys fought hard. The Wolf probably won’t be able to fight again for a month or two.”
“Oh?” Iron Mask frowned, his sharp gaze sweeping across the group. “Old Drunkard, do you know who they really are?”
“No idea. Never seen them in the arena before,” the bulbous-nosed old man shrugged.
“They don’t look like regular arena fighters. They seem more like aristocrats from one of the Empire’s great families,” the dark-clad warrior mused thoughtfully.
“Right, Shura probably hit the nail on the head!” The bounty fighters and old nobles began chattering noisily, completely ignoring Zhang Wen and Lynora, who had just entered with Iron Mask.
However, Zhang Wen and Lynora didn’t care about being ignored by the scarred old noble and the others. Instead, they stepped aside to a less noticeable spot.
“Those people definitely aren’t regulars here,” Lynora whispered to Zhang Wen after they stopped.
“Oh? How do you know?” Zhang Wen’s interest was piqued by her expression.
“Hehe, Professor Zhang, don’t pretend you don’t know. Haven’t you already figured it out? At this particular moment, who else could appear on Casares besides them?” Lynora smiled, casting a flirtatious glance at Zhang Wen.
“Indeed. So they’re the visiting delegation from Themis Academy’s physical combat division? Hmph! These guys sure are relaxed, not even showing a bit of respect for Almace Academy’s physical combat division,” Zhang Wen said mockingly, smirking slightly. “But how did you recognize them?”
“Look! See him? He was one of their team leaders last year. His name is Douglas. I heard that he broke through the sixth-tier threshold at the age of thirteen, becoming a recognized genius in Themis Academy’s physical combat division. At eighteen, he graduated from Themis Academy at the peak of the seventh tier, causing quite a stir among the Empire’s major academies. Last year, he reached the peak of the eighth tier, just one step away from the ninth tier. Hehe, last year, many teachers from the psychic division were saying that with this guy around, Almace Academy’s physical combat division wouldn’t stand a chance for the next thirty years,” Lynora pointed toward the golden-haired man standing in the center of the five newcomers, introducing their background to Zhang Wen in a whisper.
Of course, Zhang Wen could tell that although Lynora’s words were ostensibly meant to inform him of the newcomers’ identities, she had ulterior motives. If Zhang Wen had been someone with a temper like Instructor Xin’s, hearing a nearby beauty so openly praise a Themis Academy opponent might have made him furious enough to charge forward and fight them to the death.
However, although Zhang Wen saw through Lynora’s little game, he had no intention of exposing it. Since Lynora enjoyed playing games, Zhang Wen was more than happy to play along. After all, deep down, Zhang Wen was a man who loved adventure, excitement, and conquest.
“Professor Lynora, saying such nice things about Themis Academy’s opponents—aren’t you afraid our Almace Academy physical combat instructors will get jealous?” Zhang Wen asked with a half-serious, half-joking tone.
“Professor Zhang, don’t accuse me unjustly,” Lynora smiled and shook her head. “Those weren’t my words. Besides, I think even though Douglas is strong, Almace Academy might still have a chance against him.”
“Hehe…” Zhang Wen smiled slightly. As he was about to speak again, he noticed that the bounty fighters had already finished their discussion. The bell in the hall rang once more, signaling the start of the next round of combat.
After one person each stepped forward from the group of outsiders and the bounty fighters to enter the arena, the audience’s eyes immediately turned to the combat stage. The old nobles grumbled as they returned to their seats, stretching their necks in anticipation.
“Did you hear everything we just said?” Iron Mask returned to Zhang Wen’s side and asked in a low voice.
“More or less.”
“Today’s opponents came prepared. I made a mistake in judgment. Now the Two-Headed Wolf can’t fight anymore, and only the Hermit might stand a chance against them on this floor. Are you sure you want to fight them?” Iron Mask’s expression hadn’t changed from when he first met Zhang Wen, but his voice carried a barely concealed anger.
Iron Mask could tolerate the Themis Academy instructors ignoring arena traditions and brazenly coming to challenge the arena. But when they attacked the arena’s bounty fighters with such brutality, that was crossing a line.
“Hehe, you’re worried I’ll end up like the Two-Headed Wolf?” Zhang Wen asked with a smile.
“Exactly. I know Almace Academy has important upcoming missions. If you don’t want to fight, I can explain to Shura and Old Drunkard. They’ll understand your situation.”
“No need,” Zhang Wen shook his head. “Thank you for your concern, but since the Hermit is already here, how can he just stand by and watch? Even if he’s alone, the Hermit won’t let outsiders run wild on his territory.”
“So the Hermit has made up his mind?”
“Yeah. No one knows the Hermit better than I do. When it’s his responsibility, he’s never passed it on to anyone else.”
“Good! Then this floor is yours. Teach them a lesson.”
“Haha! You don’t have to tell me that!”
“Just be careful yourself. If you really can’t handle it, retreat. When they go to the fifth floor, Shura and Old Drunkard will be waiting for them.”
“Hehe! I know. Oh, by the way, do me a favor later. I have three students downstairs undergoing special training. Help me arrange some decent opponents for them.”
“No problem.” Seeing that the match on the platform was about to begin, Iron Mask waved and returned to the main team’s red rest area first.
By now, Lynora had clearly figured out from the conversation between Iron Mask and Zhang Wen that the “Hermit” they were talking about was actually Zhang Wen himself.
“Zhang Wen, are you really not afraid of getting hurt?” Once Iron Mask had moved a little farther away, Lynora curiously asked Zhang Wen. Perhaps out of genuine curiosity, this time she directly called him by his name.
“Hehe, didn’t you just ask me that question earlier? My three students are still undergoing special training downstairs, risking injuries to prepare for the match against Themis Academy. If I, as their teacher, hear the name Themis Academy and don’t even have the courage to step onto the stage, how can I face them in class afterward?” Zhang Wen casually shrugged with a smile, not caring about Lynora’s reaction as he walked away with Iron Mask.
“Wait!” Lynora quickly followed.
At this moment, Lynora’s interest in Zhang Wen had been completely aroused. Just a few days ago during the academy festival, the strength Zhang Wen had displayed had already intrigued her greatly. He clearly only possessed fifth-tier battle energy, yet he had defeated two same-tier opponents armed with weapons using only his bare hands! Lynora was genuinely curious to see what other abilities Zhang Wen might reveal when facing truly seventh- or eighth-tier opponents whose battle energy far surpassed his own.
However, Lynora ultimately couldn’t catch up to Zhang Wen. She hadn’t taken two steps when she was called out. “Lynora?” Douglas, standing in the blue rest area, immediately recognized her.
Clearly, if Lynora could remember him, the genius physical combat instructor from Themis Academy, then Douglas had even less reason to forget Lynora, the sexy and alluring “Pearl of Almace.”
“Oh? Professor Douglas?” Lynora had no choice but to stop and greet him with a smile.
“Really you! Lynora, what brings you here?” Douglas smiled warmly as he approached.
“Hehe, did you think I couldn’t come? Professor Douglas, don’t you remember—I’m a true fighting enthusiast,” even though Lynora was eager to catch up with Zhang Wen, her charm still attracted everyone’s attention as she spoke.
“Haha! Impossible! I’ve never forgotten anything in my life,” Douglas laughed, slightly lifting his chin. “I just thought you should still be busy preparing for the psychic competition against our Themis Academy.”
“Yeah. I just happened to have some free time, so I came to take a look,” Lynora said casually.
“Oh? You just happened to come here and coincidentally met me. So we really are destined!” Douglas smiled even more brightly at Lynora, then glanced at the platform and shook his head disdainfully. “Unfortunately, the fights here aren’t worth watching. Once we earn the right to challenge the next floor, I’ll take you up there. There should be some fighters worthy of being my opponents. Hehe, if you’re really interested in combat, I can give you a live analysis. Lynora, opportunities to hear my live analysis are rare—you wouldn’t want to miss it, would you?”
“Hehe…” Lynora smiled and looked around, only to find that she had already lost sight of Zhang Wen. This ignited a slight anger deep within her heart.
At Almace Academy, countless people pursued her, eager to fall at her feet. Yet today, she had humbled herself to flatter Zhang Wen, only for him to ignore her and leave her behind like this.
“Of course!” Lynora quickly changed her mind, smiling brightly as she nodded to Douglas.
“Come with me,” Douglas said satisfactorily as he led Lynora back to their blue rest area.
Meanwhile, besides the Two-Headed Wolf, the other spiritual leader of the fourth-floor planetary fighters—the Hermit—also entered the main team’s red rest area.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage