The Ocelot Colosseum Opens

According to Alexia, back from her scouting mission, the latter half of the preliminaries had been just as chaotic.

Master thanked her for going alone and treated her to sweet fruit.

Before long, Alexia's mood improved. Master breathed a sigh of relief.

Two days later.

The Ocelot Colosseum's main tournament was finally here.

The three slaves entered the arena before the starting time and headed for the waiting room.

Master had lined up while it was still dark to secure the best seat possible and claimed a spot in the very front row.

The opening ceremony began, and King Grace of Spartia entered to thunderous applause.

The crowd erupted.

His popularity was staggering.

He wore the same battle garb as any other Spartian warrior.

The difference was his build.

He had to be past fifty, yet showed no signs of decline.

He was two sizes larger than any other Spartian warrior.

Old scars covered his body.

Flanked by his warriors, he strode to center stage, cleared his throat, and drew a deep breath.

"Who is the strongest in this world?! Do you want to know?!"

King Grace's voice thundered across the entire arena.

Without any magic to amplify it. The man's lungs were something else.

"I want to know! That's why I created this Ocelot Colosseum! Fight to your heart's content! The champion receives six hundred gold coins and the right to challenge me!"

In Spartia, the strongest warrior became king.

Whoever defeated the king earned the right to the throne.

Even if they were from another nation.

The Spartian warriors beat their spears against their shields, and King Grace exited to roaring applause.

Once the king had taken his seat in the best vantage point, the referee took the stage.

He reviewed the rules and unveiled the tournament bracket.

Azu's name was in the very first match. Her opponent was… not a name Master recognized.

Probably someone who'd advanced in the latter half of the preliminaries.

Elza was the only one of the three who'd been seeded in the competition.

Had her performance earned it?

Alexia's name appeared fairly late in the bracket.

Five Spartian contestants in total. Apparently some years saw as many as ten, so this was indeed a chaotic edition.

Azu and her opponent made their entrance.

As the youngest competitor, looking every bit the young girl she was, Azu stirred the audience's protective instincts. She was hugely popular.

Of course, that was purely sentimental support. It wasn't reflected in the betting odds.

Most likely only Master and a handful of enthusiasts had bet on Azu.

The odds were over ten to one.

Virtually no one expected her to win. Master had seized the opportunity and wagered one gold coin on her.

Azu's opponent carried no weapon.

His hands were wrapped in cloth, fists raised.

Teftos Vines.

A pugilist.

Tap, tap, tap.

Teftos shifted his weight between his front and back foot in a light, rhythmic bounce.

Azu drew her sword.

Her movements were stiff.

The deafening cheers had her visibly on edge.

The instant Azu gripped her sword and stepped forward to close the distance, Teftos blitzed in and threw a left jab.

Azu saw it coming but couldn't react to the sheer speed. It caught her flush in the face.

Sensing another strike on the way, Azu released her left hand from the sword to guard her face.

But that left her torso wide open. A body blow drilled into her midsection.

Azu folded in half.

A strangled sound escaped her lips.

Teftos loaded a right straight from above her head, aiming to end the fight then and there.

But the left hand he'd buried in Azu's body wouldn't come back. Azu had clamped down on it.

A grip that didn't belong on a girl her age.

Training alone couldn't produce this kind of strength.

Teftos could tell from the start that Azu's muscle mass wasn't nearly enough for this. So how many monsters had this girl killed at her age to have this kind of power?

Azu raised her head.

The gut punch had left saliva dripping from her mouth, but her eyes were locked on Teftos.

"I can't lose. I can't afford to lose."

Still gripping Teftos's arm with her left hand, Azu swung the sword in her right.

Even a one-handed swing could deal damage to Teftos.

And if the Sealed Sword Grungaus's effect activated, it would deal even more.

Teftos arched his upper body backward in time with the swing, slipping past the blade.

After the follow-through, Azu tightened her grip once her elbow crossed in front of her neck.

This time, she aimed for the torso to prevent him from dodging, and swung again.

Teftos wrenched his left hand free of Azu's hold by brute force.

Azu's sword cut through empty air.

She watched Teftos retreat, then wiped her mouth with the back of her left hand.

When Teftos resumed his footwork, Azu watched and copied it.

Her guard remained the stance she'd borrowed from the Ash King.

Azu didn't yet have the knowledge or experience to create anything of her own.

But her judgment was sharp, and she prioritized efficiency in carrying out Master's orders.

Teftos was impressed.

Just by watching, Azu had nearly mastered the pugilist's footwork.

It was slightly rough, but that would smooth out with use.

He knew in his head that any girl competing in the main tournament was no ordinary girl, but even so, Teftos couldn't hide his surprise.

One breath. That was all it took him to swallow the shock.

No matter how well Azu copied his footwork, Teftos was faster.

Teftos hunched low like a prowling cat, brought both fists up to guard his face, and launched himself at Azu.

He shot forward like a cannonball.

Azu reacted with a lunging thrust to intercept.

Teftos used his powerful legs to shift trajectory mid-charge, sidestepping the blade and circling to Azu's flank.

Azu's eyes tracked him.

With Azu wide open, Teftos unleashed a devastating right straight aimed at her face.

Everyone thought it was over.

But Azu let go of her sword, leaned her upper body back, and swayed past Teftos's fist.

Then she clenched her right hand into a fist.

Hard as rock. Tight enough for her nails to split the skin.

Azu twisted her torso and channeled the rotational force into a right hook aimed at Teftos.

Teftos reacted, turning his face to slip the blow.

Azu's counter barely grazed his chin.

But that was enough.

Teftos's brain rattled.

That he didn't go down was the pride of a pugilist.

But those nimble feet that had danced so brilliantly could no longer hold him upright.