“Me?” Dustin was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected Fenley to steer the conversation toward him.
Still, he nodded and said, “Sir Hudson is right. With Dalen’s talent and strength, he definitely has what it takes to challenge the top ten in the Legendary List.”
Dustin had a lot of faith in Dalen.
“Since he can earn such high praise from both of you, he must be someone worth keeping an eye on,” Alicia said thoughtfully.
Unfortunately, Dalen was from the Shadow Citadel. She might have convinced him to join the Celestial Alliance if he had come from a smaller guild.
“A handsome and capable talent like him is a rare find these days,” Aurora remarked. Her eyes were sparkling with interest.
While she wasn’t instantly smitten with Dalen, his striking looks certainly made her take a second glance.
“We win. Crystal, did you see that? Mr. Shade won.” Ruby jumped up excitedly when Dalen’s victory was announced.
Her joy came from his win and her successful bet. The thrill of winning big from such a small wager was simply exhilarating.
“Crystal, you’ve got a keen eye. Mr. Shade actually won.” Miles, sitting beside her, beamed with joy.
He was grateful he had followed her advice and bet on Dalen. Otherwise, he would have suffered another big loss.
His only regret was not going all in. Now, he felt a twinge of disappointment.
“Mr. Shade not only won, but he did so effortlessly. He’s even more formidable than I imagined.” Crystal narrowed her eyes. Her expression was complicated.
She had always suspected Dalen was strong, though it was only a hunch since she hadn’t seen him in action. But after the match, she realized he had achieved Grandmaster level. His strength was simply astounding.
At that moment, she felt defeated once again. First Dustin, and now Dalen. Both had become her friends on her journey, yet their abilities were genuinely astonishing.
She had once considered herself a prodigy for reaching halfway to Grandmaster at such a young age-a remarkable achievement. But compared to Dustin and Dalen, her skills were barely worth mentioning.
“Yay! My honey won. He’s amazing.”
“You’re the best, honey. Let’s start a family.”
“You’re so handsome. Look at me.”
Dalen’s victory ignited a wave of joy among his fans, who were already swooning over his charm. Cheers of ” Honey” and excited screams echoed through the stands; their voices were loud enough to drown out the entire arena.
For these fans, his appeal wasn’t merely about his appearance. It was the combination of his good looks and excellent skill that drove them wild.
Under the spotlight, Dalen made a cool exit while Thaddeus stumbled off amidst a chorus of boos. It was a classic case of “to the victor go the spoils”.
The winner was praised, while the loser was met with jeers.
The battle ring became a stage for fierce clashes as the match continued. One by one, talented elites began to shine.
Meanwhile, Abigail’s betting ring operation was booming. With every match result, the winners celebrated, and the losers cursed their luck.
“The next match is Number 8 versus Number 22. Contestants, please come up on the battle ring,” the referee announced as the previous match ended.
“Number 8?” Aurora glanced at the number tag around her waist. She was momentarily stunned before jumping up excitedly. “It’s my turn! I’m Number 8.”
She and Alicia had signed up for the tournament and were shortlisted for Group B. Since Alicia was still recovering and unable to participate, Aurora was the only one able to compete.
“Aurora, make sure you shine out there and don’t let Celestial Alliance down,” Alicia encouraged with a smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been preparing hard for this. I’m about to leave my mark,” Aurora replied confidently.
After watching countless matches, she was eager to flaunt her skills and make a memorable debut in the battle ring. With that in mind, she strutted confidently toward the battle ring.
On the other side of the battle ring, Crystal rose to her feet. She had the number 22 tag around her waist.
“Crystal, I know contestant Number 8. She’s Aurora Marshall, daughter of the Celestial Alliance guildmaster,” Miles said.
With a serious expression, he reminded her, “I’ve heard she’s incredibly talented and strong. Just be cautious when you go up against her.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” Crystal replied calmly. She tightened her grip on her sword as she strode toward the battle ring.
These two striking women immediately captured everyone’s attention. While the tournament featured many female martial artists, it was uncommon to encounter women as elegant and beautiful as them.
