Inside the arena, the crowd roared. Cheers rose and fell like crashing waves, deafening and overwhelming.
Lights poured down from the high arched ceiling, scattering across the dust-filled battlefield at the center, ready to welcome the fighters about to enter.
At the commentator's booth, Katahara Sayaka was delivering an impassioned introduction, her voice igniting the atmosphere.
The audience was unusually excited—this was the fourth match of the first round, and also the most anticipated bout of the opening day:
Metsudo's Fang, Kurosaki Rei,
versus
the newcomer from Kōō Academy— the Eerie Killing King.
From every angle, this match was packed with talking points.
First and foremost: why had Metsudo's Fang been replaced?
And just how strong was this new Fang?
Secondly, the newcomer from Kōō Girls' Academy drew enormous attention. In the eyes of the audience, she was even more eye-catching—because this was the first female gladiator in the history of Kengan matches.
It wasn't necessarily disdain, but in most combat sports there were weight classes for a reason. Women were naturally smaller, with less muscle mass, and were at a disadvantage in pure combat.
What's more, the official preview photos showed that this "Eerie Killing King" wasn't some towering, musclebound amazon. On the contrary, she looked like a slender, elegant beauty.
So how exactly was she supposed to win?
"Next to enter the arena is a storm of the new generation! The first-ever female fighter to debut in Kengan history! A thorned妖花 from the mysterious East! The hidden ace of Kōō Girls' Academy!"
Sayaka's voice rang out, full of passion.
"With a Kengan record of 2 wins, 0 losses, and total assets won of 17.5 billion yen—
The Eerie Killing King, Liu Wuxiang!
Will she bring victory to Kōō Academy? Will she become history itself?!"
As the introduction ended, a figure stepped out from the entrance tunnel.
She was a woman wearing a high-slit qipao.
Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, her figure tall and graceful. Her exposed arms and thighs were pale and lustrous, looking nothing like those of a fighter trained since childhood—more like a wealthy heiress.
Her expression was cool and aloof. Those dark, agile eyes swept over the audience once, but she didn't wave or interact. Reaching the center of the arena, she simply stopped and stood still.
"That tiny thing wants to challenge Metsudo's Fang? Go challenge him in bed!"
"Hahaha, Kōō Academy really has no one left. Just because it's a girls' school, they sent a woman?"
"Ohhh, what a pretty lady! Come have a round with me after the match!"
...
Mockery and jeers rang out from the stands. Many clearly looked down on the female fighter, while others hurled vulgar obscenities that made even Sayaka frown deeply.
In the seating area, hearing those voices, Soryuin Shion, chairwoman of Kōō Girls' Academy, had veins bulging on her forehead.
"These monkeys who think with their dicks—how dare they underestimate Xiangxiang like this!"
The assistant beside her was equally furious, shouting down toward the arena.
"Xiangxiang! Show them your strength! Take down that so-called Metsudo's Fang and let everyone see who's really the strongest!"
Shion didn't shout. She calmly lit a cigarette and watched Liu Wuxiang below. She understood her strength better than anyone.
After Kiryu Setsuna was killed, Liu Wuxiang had volunteered to take his place as their fighter. Though she'd only fought two Kengan matches so far, her abnormal strength completely at odds with her appearance, combined with her refined technique, had left a deep impression.
Shion couldn't say whether Liu Wuxiang was stronger or weaker than Kiryu Setsuna—but she firmly believed Liu Wuxiang was first-rate among Kengan gladiators.
After all, in an assets-based match, she had defeated the super heavyweight wrestler Sekibayashi Jun.
In Shion's eyes, Liu Wuxiang was a breath of fresh air among fighters.
Who said women were inferior to men?
She didn't expect Liu Wuxiang to defeat the new Metsudo's Fang—but she was confident Liu Wuxiang would fight beautifully and leave an unforgettable impression.
"Come on… let them witness your power."
Shion fixed her gaze on the opposite entrance, waiting for the legendary new Metsudo's Fang.
At the same time, Sayaka began the next introduction.
"And now, the fighter entering from the other side—also from the mysterious East! The man who has inherited the essence of all ancient martial arts! The one who replaced the former Kengan Emperor, Kanoh Agito!"
"The representative gladiator of Dai-Nippon Bank!
The new-born Emperor of Kengan matches!"
"First appearance in Kengan!
Record: 0 wins, 0 losses!"
"Metsudo's Fang—Kurosaki Rei!"
As the introduction echoed, Kurosaki Rei strolled out of the tunnel at an unhurried pace, his expression lazy and relaxed.
To be honest, this entire tournament felt like child's play to him. The only opponent he genuinely looked forward to was Devil Lance, Kuroki Gensai.
The moment he stepped into the center of the arena—
The woman opposite him stiffened completely.
Liu Wuxiang, the Eerie Killing King, locked her phoenix eyes onto Kurosaki Rei. Her expression shifted again and again, as if she'd seen something utterly absurd.
She was a junior member cultivated by the "Botanical Garden" adventure team, and carried a high-grade reconnaissance item. Not only could she see her opponent's attributes, but as long as their mental stat didn't exceed 30, she could also glimpse part of their skills and combat proficiencies.
And what she saw made her mind go blank.
Armament Haki.
Hadō.
Kaidō.
Bakudō.
Master-level Blade Arts Proficiency.
Master-level Swordsmanship Proficiency.
Master-level Unarmed Combat Proficiency.
Master-level Force-Dispersion Proficiency.
Master-level Movement Proficiency.
Master-level…
She was stunned by the endless string of Master-level tags.
So stunned that she even raised a hand and rubbed her eyes, convinced she had to be seeing things wrong.
Above Liu Wuxiang's pretty head, question marks practically floated.
What the hell?
Aside from his attributes—which were still within "normal" range—
this man was abnormal from head to toe!
Master-level proficiencies?
And not just one?!
And you're bringing Haki and Shinigami-level supernatural abilities into a Kengan match?!
Isn't this a bit too much bullying?!
Being selected by the famous Botanical Garden meant Liu Wuxiang was no ordinary genius herself. As a level-7 Explorer, she already possessed Expert-level unarmed combat proficiency, placing her at the very top among first-tier Explorers.
But she never would've dreamed that someone could push proficiencies to Master level at the first-tier stage—
and multiple ones at that.
This was insane.
Her original main quest's final objective was:
after obtaining gladiator status, enter the tournament, face Metsudo's Fang, and survive 30 seconds without losing.
Worried about running into invincible monsters like Kuroki, or freaks like Raian, she had deliberately adopted a cold, intimidating persona—then had the unlucky-draw Shion directly choose her to face Metsudo's Fang in the very first match.
Her thinking had been simple:
Take a shortcut.
Complete the quest immediately.
Based on her assessment of her own strength and her estimate of this world's fighters, she believed that while she couldn't defeat Metsudo's Fang, lasting 30 seconds should've been no problem.
That was why she'd been confused before—why the quest difficulty ranged from "Average" to "Certain Death."
Now she understood.
If the Metsudo's Fang were still Kanoh Agito, she could definitely clear the mission.
But if the Metsudo's Fang was Kurosaki Rei—
If he had any intent to kill, he wouldn't need ten seconds to kill her.
She had indeed chosen a shortcut.
Unfortunately, it looked like a shortcut through life itself.
Her brain raced at full speed, until a book flashed through her mind—
A legendary manual circulated among low-tier Explorers in the Terminus Space:
The Art of Survival: The Coward's Bible.
According to Rule Seventeen of the Coward's Bible, she had found her answer.
"Will Liu Wuxiang, the unprecedented female gladiator, create history—
or will the new Metsudo's Fang display the majesty of an emperor?!"
Sayaka's passionate voice rang out.
"Who will emerge victorious from this battle?!
Let us witness it together!"
As her words fell and the referee's hand came down, the match officially began.
And in that very instant—
Something happened that left everyone stunned.
Jaws dropped.
Eyes bulged.
Even Shion's cigarette slipped from her lips as she stood there, speechless with rage.
Because the Eerie Killing King had instantly become—
The Kneeling King.
She performed a flawless, textbook dogeza, kneeling straight down before Kurosaki Rei.
"Boss! Please don't hit me yet!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough to reach Kurosaki Rei's ears.
Kurosaki Rei, who had been about to end the match in a flash—
froze on the spot.
What the hell is this supposed to be?
⭐ Want more? Read chapters early on Patreon ⭐
https://www.patreon.com/VoidInk08
Advance chapters are finished-all that's left is to unlock them.
BONUS CHAPTER SYSTEM 10 reviews → Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones → Bonus Chapter
🔥The stronger your support, the faster the story moves.