“Is it necessary?"

Kuse lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the document Rancy handed him.

According to the official competition rules, there were indeed some disclaimers and risk statements. However, when Student Council President Monast negotiated with them, it was Dean Sphintos who made a fair verbal agreement.

The document in front of him simply listed the rules in detail. Once signed, it would have formal legal effect.

The terms were simple and clear, without any traps. It was simply a matter of determining who was superior, and who would die.

However, with the protection of the high-level ancient field barrier technique in the Knights' Arena, no one would die.

"To standardize the competition, the participants should set an example," Rancy said seriously and impartially.

"Very good, just what I wanted."

Kuse's mouth twitched slightly, and he took the document with a hint of viciousness in his smile.

Although the other party looked a bit strange now, the difference in strength was too obvious. Bluffs and psychological tactics wouldn't work.

With this life-and-death agreement, he could attack without restraint later and let these ignorant guys know what cruelty was.

After reviewing the contents, Kuse and the other martial artists signed the agreement.

Then, Kuse scanned the five people behind Rancy one by one, as if he couldn't wait to ravage them.

"Then, please keep your distance, and after the coaches leave, the barrier can be activated to officially start the match."

The referee put away the *Knights' Arena Team Fighting Competition Disclaimer - Risk Awareness Form*, which was filled with the names of ten martial artists, and then informed them.

"Heh."

Kuse smirked and looked back at Rancy, running his thumb across his neck, gesturing as if to tell Rancy that he was next.

Rancy ignored him, holding the coach's clipboard in one hand, and walked off the battle stage.

He never wasted words.

Raindrops fell from the dark clouds, blown by the cold wind onto the arena's barrier.

As the participants took their positions, the audience's chatter gradually grew louder, anticipating the upcoming match. Some held hot drinks, trying to dispel the cold, while others held their friends and relatives close, sharing warmth.

"The odds for the Yaroran Royal Academy martial artists against the Ikeryte Academy martial artists are almost 1 to 6.5 now."

"The previous match that was stopped halfway was said to be because the difference in strength was too great. After all, Kuse is at the sixth rank, and the strongest on Ikeryte's side is only at the fifth rank."

"Let's see if Coach Rancy can bring any changes."

Although the Ikeryte Academy side's momentum when they entered seemed a bit too strange.

But on second thought, this might also be a style. As the weaker side on paper, making the match more suspenseful would make it more interesting.

As the hands on the clock pointed towards the sky, the sound of the ancient clock tower of Ikeryte Academy began to ring out in the winter afternoon. The deep, rhythmic clang echoed, mixed with the audience's suppressed cheers in the arena.

The final bell rang throughout the arena, and the match was about to begin. Victory and defeat, glory and loss, would all be decided in the coming moments.

In the center of the battle square, ten contestants faced each other from a distance, the atmosphere heavy to the extreme. As long as one side made a slight move, it would trigger a storm-like conflict.

In this dark arena with howling winds, the standoff between the two sides became the only focus, everyone waiting for the decisive moment to begin the war.

"Match—start!!"

After the third ring, the referee waved his hand and shouted, and the cheers reached their climax.

Both sides adopted direct attack tactics!

Ten figures all tentatively approached forward.

The Ikeryte Academy side, who were originally expected to keep their distance first and use tactics for defensive counterattacks, were now more like caged beasts eager to break free.

At the same time, they began to use the only magical items they could use in this match, which were the magic cards bound to their bodies.

"Wait, isn't this match supposed to be a competition between pure martial artists?"

A series of surprised voices came from the audience.

Generally speaking, martial artists who are not good at spells will bring enhancement and immunity spell cards in the limited card slots, in order to maximize their natural strength attributes, fighting skills, and flexibility.

However, these guys from Ikeryte Academy had already put on dark heavy armor with equipment cards, and even held blood-stained giant axes, scythes, and jagged broadswords in their hands. The terrifying aura and eerie smiles on their bodies made them look like a group of bloodthirsty butchers.

In that instant, the Yaroran Royal Academy martial artists, who had originally planned to confront them head-on, stopped in astonishment.

Just looking at the eyes of those guys in the distance made the other unarmed martial artists feel a chill.

Heavy armored warriors can withstand attacks and deal damage, but their disadvantage is that they are clumsy. Lightly armored warriors are flexible and have high burst damage, but are more fragile.

This terrain, seemingly open, is actually a cage after being framed by the barrier. If the heavy armored warriors are shameless enough to spread spells like ground thorns, they can even block the flexibility of the martial artists.

The rules didn't prohibit carrying weapon equipment cards, but since everyone was a martial artist, it was taken for granted that they should use weapons like gauntlets and arm guards.

But those weren't the main points.

The important thing was that the eyes of those guys from Ikeryte were almost bulging out of their sockets, bloodshot, as if they hadn't closed them for several nights. Their pupils were abnormally dilated, appearing bloodshot and fiery.

The muscles on their faces seemed to be twitching due to prolonged tension, their lips trembling, and their breathing was rapid, each breath accompanied by a strange vibrato.

Wearing heavy armor, their heads shook non-stop as they approached, as if suppressing the pain and madness in their hearts.

The other side's attire and mental state finally made the people of the Yaroran Kingdom feel a danger from their instincts.

They weren't acting.

They didn't look like they were acting!

"Hehehehe, let the slaughter begin..."

The laughter of the members of the Martial Artist's Soul group was like the heaviest bass register on a piano, even with a hint of metallic sound.

The only thing that could alleviate their hunger was the blood and marrow of those pigs in front of them.

Loren on the high stands widened his eyes and stood up, grabbing the table.

Were these five people really students of Ikeryte Academy?

If they were said to be members of the Rebirth Cult, Loren would have to doubt it for a moment.

Even the members of the Rebirth Cult weren't usually like this!

And on the battle square.

"Kill!!!"

"War!!!"

The martial artists' bodies leaned forward, as if pulled by the knives in their hands. Their surprisingly fast charges were extremely fierce!

(End of chapter)