"Yeah, look at the odds board! Logan's odds just changed to 50 to 1. They're only taking bets for the next three minutes. After that, Federation Bookmakers will shut betting down completely."
"Pfft. Who would still put money on Logan now? You might as well throw it away."
"I would!" With a light snort, Principal Mark walked into the stands with a group of Morning Light High School students.
Behind him, nearly a thousand students shouted in unison: "We, Morning Light High School, support Logan. We're betting on Logan!"
As the big crowd of students poured into the stands, people turned their heads, surprise written all over their faces.
Each student handed their betting slip to Mark. Soon, he was holding a thick stack.
People couldn't understand it. How could anyone bet on someone who was sure to lose—just because he's their classmate?
They didn't agree, but many women in the crowd were still moved by this simple bond between classmates. Tears welled up as they took out their handkerchiefs.
Just then, a message scrolled across the big screen: the betting channel was now closed.
The audience turned to the students with a hint of sadness and sympathy in their eyes, as if they couldn't bear to watch.
"Sigh, students' money shouldn't be used for gambling."
"Exactly. Blame that principal for setting a bad example."
"These kids are so unlucky. In a moment they'll watch their classmate lose, and they'll lose their money too."
"Maybe this will teach them how harsh the world can be, and how complicated people are."
Right as the audience started talking, Natalia at the front took a sharp breath in.
With nearly a thousand high schoolers backing Logan to win, if he pulls it off, not only will everyone who bet on Evelynna lose everything—Federation Bookmakers might also have to pay out a huge sum.
Thinking of this, Natalia was grinning from ear to ear. Her eyes on Logan were full of praise.
Right then, Julia and Nancy Priest came back to the main stand. From a distance they saw Natalia smiling and looked a bit surprised.
"City Lord, what's making you so happy?" Nancy Priest had just finished placing her bets and was in a great mood.
Julia looked relaxed too, and started chatting with Natalia.
It turned out Julia had been watching the fight from afar.
She had planned to wait until the tenth challenger stepped onto the stage, but after she saw Logan looking so worn out, she grit her teeth, changed her mind, and shut the betting channel right away.
"City Lord, did you know? The amount bet on the Holy Girl to win has already passed 500 million. I thought closing early would mean a big loss." Julia felt extra pleased as she remembered Principal Mark coming with a letter signed by many to place a bet. "Thanks to the students from Morning Light High School all betting on Logan, the book is a bit more balanced now."
Natalia raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying the people who bet on Evelynna are sure to win?"
"What else?" Nancy Priest sat nearby, eyes full of confidence. "Natalia, I know Logan still has an ace up his sleeve. But whatever ace Logan has, Evelynna might have it too."
She finished her glass of red wine.
Looking toward Evelynna on the stage, she murmured: "Plus, Logan used so much energy in the first fight. How's he going to handle the rest? Let's wait and see."
"Natalia, I'm sure once you see Evelynna show her full power, you'll change your mind about her."
On the stage, Evelynna was also watching Logan's fight.
She was very dissatisfied that Logan took nearly thirty minutes to finish the fight.
She believed that someone like Logan being her opponent was a disgrace to her.
While Diana had just taken down another challenger, Evelynna asked: "Diana, did you watch that kid's fight with the succubus? Are they really that weak?"
The angel Diana had been watching Logan the whole time. She snorted and said, "He was hiding his strength. That final move where the two Red Phosphorus Pythons killed each other—that was secretly controlled by the succubus."
"So that's it. He's hiding his skill info." Hearing that Logan was hiding Lilith's [Enslave Mind] ability, Evelynna felt relieved.
If that's true, then Logan really has some skill and is worth beating.
Thinking this, Evelynna grew more curious about Logan. "Diana, what do you think that succubus's real combat power is?"
"Don't worry, Evelynna. That succubus is useless except for having higher mental power." Diana lifted her proud chin, turned, and went to face the next challenger.
On the other stage.
Logan sat cross-legged in the center, looking relaxed as he watched the City Guard soldier who had just stepped up. "Soldier, let's start. I don't need a rest."
He had also seen the scrolling text on the big central screen.
Now that the betting channel was closed, he had nothing to worry about.
But to the soldier challenging him, those words sounded like a taunt.
"Logan! Stop pretending!" The soldier stomped hard, cracking the tiles of the stage. "You only won by luck once. You're so tired you probably can't even stand, right?"
As he spoke, a yellow light flared around him, and he summoned two familiars, one big and one small.
[Race: Crimson Lion]
[Element: Storm]
[Rank: C-rank, 3-star]
[Stage: Elite, 3-star]
[Talent: Frenzy of Blood]
[Skills: Roar of the Lion, Blood Bomb]
[Stats: Power 45, Stamina 33, Mind 21, Agility 25]
...
[Race: Ghost Cat]
[Element: Darkness]
[Ranking: C-level, 4 star]
[Stage: Elite 3 star]
[Talent: Blink]
[Skill: Static Invisibility, Deadly Backstab]
[Stat: Power 32, Stamina 29, Mind 29, Agility 45]
...
"Logan, even if you're a student, I won't hold back!" After saying that, the challenger ordered the Ghost Cat to use [Static Invisibility].
At the same time, the Crimson Lion was already building up wind in its mouth, getting ready to unleash [Roar of the Lion] at Logan.
Logan saw the soldier's classic command sequence and gave a small nod.
With [Static Invisibility], the Ghost Cat becomes completely invisible to the eye.
While it's hidden, the Crimson Lion can use big-hitting skills like [Roar of the Lion] and [Blood Bomb] to keep strong pressure.
This creates a good opening for the Ghost Cat to use its [Blink] talent next.
If the Ghost Cat blinks behind the familiar tamer and lands a [Deadly Backstab], the tamer's weak defense means they might pass out on the spot, maybe even be near death.
Thinking that, Logan almost wanted to clap for this City Guard soldier. Great teamwork.
"But too bad, I'm done playing. I'm laying my cards on the table!" Logan said, then gave Lilith a direct order: "We need to hurry and catch up with the Holy Girl next door."
At his words, Lilith burst into light, her eyes shining pink-red.
"Enslave Mind!"
With that simple skill, the Crimson Lion, who was about to use [Roar of the Lion], went blank-eyed, turned, and fired at empty air.
Boom!
That empty spot suddenly blew up in a cloud of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the Ghost Cat was lying on the ground, blood at the corner of its mouth, eyes full of resentment.
Seeing this, the challenger stomped in anger and yelled at the Crimson Lion: "Damn it! What are you doing? I—"
But before he could finish, the Crimson Lion that had just dealt with the Ghost Cat turned toward the challenger, its eyes blood-red.
It was the first time the challenger had seen something like this. He stumbled back two steps. "Y-you… what are you doing?"
Wham!
With one slap, the Crimson Lion sent the challenger flying off the stage.
At the same time, that slap also sent the crowd into an uproar.
"What the hell?! What's going on? Is Crimson Lion going to defect?"
"Damn it, that Logan got lucky again—he won another one!"
"No! It's not just luck. He might be hiding his strength!"
...