Pure, burning anger.
"Lily...?" Leo’s expression darkened. "Shit. Did something bad happen?"
He quickly collected the bags and bolted toward the arena.
— At Arena No. 4 —
Lily knelt on the ground, holding Miho’s bruised body in her arms. Miho was covered in wounds—deep cuts, bite marks scattered across her flesh, and one arm twisted at an unnatural angle, and a deep gash running across her face. Blood soaked into Lily’s clothes and pooled on the stone floor beneath them.
Lily desperately tried to heal her, mana surging through her hands, but the wounds refused to close. It was as if her skill simply wasn’t taking effect. Miho continued to bleed profusely.
She was in immense pain, though not in immediate danger since she wasn’t transported to the temple.
Lily sharply turned her head toward the man standing nearby—a man with golden hair, watching them with a downcast gaze that carried an unmistakable hint of superiority.
"Bastard," Lily spat. "Do you really think torturing someone weaker until they pass out is something to be proud of?"
Her eyes glowed faintly pink, the change so subtle it was imperceptible to the naked eye.
"What?" Nord scoffed.
"Didn’t I do the right thing? A weak person—and a girl at that—ranked higher than me? Me, the great heir of Birel Viscounty?" He puffed out his chest, flaunting his noble status as he played with a ornamental dagger that he had used to slash at Miho during the match.
"Shouldn’t I be teaching lessons to commoners who’ve gained nothing but a tiny bit of power?"
Around him, his supporters erupted into cheers.
"Lord Nord is great!"
"The weak have no say in this world!"
"Lord Nord is the strongest!"
Nord smirked and continued, his gaze locking onto Lily.
"And who are you calling a bastard? Do you think you’re something special? Challenge me. Let’s see who really has power."
He was confident that Lily was obviously ranked lower than him, and only she could issue a challenge.
Lily trembled with rage. She wanted to strangle him where he stood, but even the slightest movement caused Miho’s wounds to reopen, making her squirm in pain despite being unconscious. The blood beneath them spread further.
"Miho, hold on," Lily whispered "I’ll take you somewhere your wounds can heal. I’m sorry... my ability just isn’t working!"
Her frustration was overwhelming.
Nord looked her up and down, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Quite the body you have," he said slowly. "How about you spend one night with me, and I’ll help that girl heal? Of course, from then on, you’ll both be my slaves—"
Suddenly, Nord’s eyes bulged.
A thick vine shot up from the ground and wrapped tightly around his neck, lifting him off his feet. His hands clawed at it as the blood flow to his brain was abruptly cut off, panic flashing across his face in an instant.