Gage, a warrior, at the fifth level of Domain.
Harks, a psychokinetic controller, at the fourth level of Domain.
To reach the fourth and fifth Domain levels at the Cosmic Grade 6 stage, both of them could indeed be considered geniuses! More importantly, these two possessed extraordinary combat talents. Many other geniuses, even at the fourth, fifth, or even sixth Domain level, had died by their hands. 691 victories, 821 victories… these two were undoubtedly true veteran powerhouses within the Axe Fighting Arena!
“These two,” Luo Feng murmured inwardly.
Looking at their records, Gage fought for his homeland and clan, while Harks had once been an oppressed slave under a slaver.
Yet between them, one must surely die!
“This battle must be watched,” Luo Feng carefully read the description on the screen. “An hour?”
…
A spaceship, traveling through cosmic space from Baelan to Earth, would take about eight hours.
Luo Feng immediately summoned Hong and Thunder, urging them to watch this battle together.
…
The Axe Fighting Arena was one of the five greatest powers among the human race in the cosmos.
Within the Virtual Universe Network, a special plane of existence had been carved out. Within this plane stretched an incredibly wide river spanning the entire space. The buoyancy of the river was astonishing. On this endless river floated countless islands, each island serving as a battleground.
Island 08921.
This was a snow-covered island. The grandest structure upon it was the massive fighting arena. In the center of the arena lay an expansive open space, while surrounding it were densely packed rows of seats. The second, third, and fourth levels of the arena were filled with private boxes.
Private boxes were reserved for members only.
Ordinary spectators could only watch from the tightly packed general seating.
“I’m rooting for Gage. His blade techniques are truly amazing. Every time I see his swordplay, I feel as if I’m entering a dream… filled with the power of life. He will definitely win.”
“Bet on Gage? His odds are very low.”
“So what if they’re low? Gage’s odds are 1:1.31, while Harks’ are 1:2.68. According to the official odds given by the Axe Fighting Arena, it’s clear that the arena itself also favors Gage greatly. Who cares about low odds, as long as we make money. I bet on Gage. I’ve already made a lot from him, and I’m betting on him again this time!”
“I bet on Harks. Maybe I can break even. I’m betting 600,000 cosmos credits!”
“Only 600,000? I’m betting 2 million cosmos credits on Gage’s victory!”
“I’m betting one million cosmos credits. Just for fun.”
Three green-horned beastmen clad in opulent attire lounged in the general seating area, their laughter echoing through the hall. Suddenly, from the adjacent corridor emerged a silver-haired, strikingly handsome man cradling a child in his arms. With swift, determined strides, he ascended the nearby staircase, his movements as fluid as a shadow dancing across moonlight.
“He’s going upstairs?”
“He must be at least a three-star member of the bank account system. Who is this silver-haired guy?”
“Don’t recognize him. We three brothers only know people from our own star region. In a place like this, many visitors might not even be from the same cosmic nation as us. Who would know him?” The three beastmen with green horns exchanged remarks.
Moments later, five more people ascended to the upper floor together.
As the live broadcast of the final battle approached, the entire arena grew increasingly crowded. More than half of the general seating on the first floor was already occupied, with at least over a hundred thousand spectators. Many more were heading upstairs! Those who could enter the private boxes were at least three-star bank clients or higher.
“Look at those three kids. Their curious eyes and mannerisms clearly mark them as naive newcomers from some remote corner.”
“I agree with you, elder brother. From my experience of dealing with people all day, these three clearly lack composure. They’re not important figures.”
“I agree too.”
Three beastmen with green horns watched three young men walking side by side down the corridor nearby. The three young men conversed and laughed, occasionally curiously observing the arena structure, then with a loud “clomp,” they ascended the stairs.
The three beastmen with green horns immediately widened their eyes in shock. They had misjudged!
“A three-star client?”
“This is ridiculous! I actually misjudged them!”
…
Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder quickly ascended the stairs, following the box number into one of the private boxes. As members, they were entitled to a private box. Members could bring family, friends, or servants to watch the battle.
As for how many people they brought, it was entirely up to the member’s discretion.
However, the box was only so large. The more people brought, the more crowded the box became.
“Little brother, this Axe Fighting Arena is truly generous. I checked earlier; the ticket fee to watch such a live broadcast is very expensive! Yet members can watch for free,” Thunder marveled. “And just now, entering the arena, hearing the crowd’s discussions, they were placing bets of hundreds of thousands or even millions of cosmos credits. They’re really rich.”
Hong smiled, “Most of those who come here, even those in the general seating, possess many planetary territories.”
“Right.”
Luo Feng smiled and nodded, “Precisely. One trillion Black Dragon Coins equals 300,000 cosmic credits. In other words, the bets they casually place are equivalent to stakes involving several—or even dozens—of planets. Within their own star sectors, they are undoubtedly towering figures.”
Even the most prominent figures couldn’t become members.
The entry threshold for the Axe Battle Arena was being a three-star banking client! Generally, only Universe-level powerhouses could attain such status… Take the Black Dragon Mountain starfield for example—even among the sixteen major families, though all their patriarchs were Universe-level experts, not every one of them necessarily qualified as three-star clients.
“Ladies and gentlemen from various cosmic nations.”
“This life-and-death battle is about to begin. Please place your bets quickly. Time is limited.”
“Gage wins, odds at 1:1.31.”
“Harks wins, odds at 1:2.68. Should both perish, the payout soars to 1:81—yes, an eighty-onefold return. When mighty warriors of equal strength clash, mutual annihilation is ever a possibility.” A booming voice, fluent in the Cosmic Universal Tongue, resonated through the arena, reaching every spectator’s ears. “Wagers close in five minutes. Place your bets swiftly.”
Inside the private box.
“This is my first time here. I should place a bet,” Thunder smiled. “Elder brother, Third Brother, who are you betting on?”
“I bet on Harks,” Hong said in a low voice. “Looking at him reminds me of my childhood training as an assassin… The suffering Harks endured was millions of times greater than mine. The hellish oppression of the slavers. I believe he should win. I bet one hundred million cosmos credits on him.”
“One hundred million?” Luo Feng looked at Hong in surprise.
Luo Feng clearly knew how much Hong had. Previously, he had transferred 4 billion cosmos credits to Hong, and Hong also received over 1 billion cosmos crystals from the distribution. In terms of assets, Hong’s total wealth was over 5 billion cosmos credits. To bet one hundred million at once, it seemed he had truly resonated with Harks.
“I choose Gage, one hundred million cosmos credits. I feel his chances are higher,” Thunder said. “Third Brother, what about you?”
“Me?”
Luo Feng looked through the private box window at the massive arena center, where a giant floating screen displayed detailed profiles of the two life-and-death combatants. Harks… cold as ice, as if emerging from hell. Gage, with determined eyes, faintly carrying a trace of hope, often smiling.
“I choose him, Gage!” Luo Feng said. “Also one hundred million cosmos credits.”
For some reason, as I gazed at Gage, my thoughts turned to this mighty warrior fighting for his homeland and kin—struggling to reclaim freedom for his homeworld Lushiu, to liberate his people from bondage, even willing to sell himself into the brutal Axe Fighting Arena just to secure their aid…
Luo Feng felt a deep resonance.
He himself was also under immense pressure, with the looming threat from the Noran family still unresolved. Yet, unlike this ‘Gage,’ he possessed far more hidden aces up his sleeve.
“I hope you can succeed, survive a thousand battles,” Luo Feng silently wished.
…
In the Virtual Universe, within Arena 08921.
“Betting closed!”
“Ladies and gentlemen, this life-and-death battle is about to begin.”
“The two combatants in this life-and-death battle are the warrior ‘Gage’ and the psychokinetic controller ‘Harks.’ Both are at the sixth Cosmic Grade!”
“The location for this life-and-death battle is an ordinary, desolate planet in the Redbird Star Region of the Huangfeng Cosmic Nation.”
“Now, we begin the live broadcast switch for the final battle.”
As the host’s voice echoed, the arena instantly darkened. Simultaneously, at the center of the arena, a snow-white planet appeared. The planet rapidly expanded, its surface raging with fierce winds, swirling with white ice particles. Faintly, within the storm, two figures emerged.
One wore a deep blue battle robe, with battle boots on his feet, a battle blade and a round shield strapped to his back. His expression was cold and stern. He was Gage!
On the distant opposite side stood a young man in black battle armor, his long hair flying, a scar across his face. On his waist hung two curved blades, and around him danced a snow-white dragon. He was Harks!
The battlefield was a desolate planet.
Between these two, only one would leave the planet alive!
“Begin!”
A profound, thunderous voice echoed from the heavens, reaching the ears of the two mighty warriors upon the planet’s surface.
Above the planet’s exceedingly tenuous atmosphere, a powerfully built, bald man clad in golden armor gazed downward at the surface below. He, a mighty Domain Lord, served as the overseer of this mortal duel. Should either warrior attempt to flee before the battle’s end, he would strike down the deserter without hesitation!
Cosmic-level battles were supervised by Domain Lords.
The clashes between Domain Lords were overseen by World-level powerhouses.
World-level battles were supervised by Immortals!
This was the rule of the Axe Fighting Arena. Once a contract was signed and battle accepted, there was no turning back.
“Rushiu,” the blue-robed youth whispered softly, then his eyes flared with light, like twin beams, gazing toward the distant black-clad man.
“822 victories!” The black-clad man, Harks, his eyes filled with dense killing intent, like a demon returning from hell.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
The raging storm exploded violently, while the Axe Fighting Arena’s filming equipment captured the battle scene with incredible clarity and speed, transmitting it into the Virtual Universe Network, projecting it onto Arena 08921. All the spectators within the arena could clearly witness the unfolding battle.
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