NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1354: Condition!
"Let me contact the higher ups and see what they have to say," the announcer's voice rang out loudly over the chaos, forcing its way through the madness of the Divine Colosseum and gradually pressing the crowd into an uneasy silence as everyone waited with bated breath.
Max, on the other hand, stood calmly at the side of the arena, his back resting against the cold stone wall and his eyes closed as if none of this concerned him, his posture relaxed to the point where it felt almost disrespectful to the storm he had just stirred.
Several long minutes passed, each one stretching endlessly as anticipation gnawed at the hearts of everyone present, until the announcer's voice finally echoed once more through the colosseum.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the higher ups have agreed to Max's proposition," he declared, and the moment those words landed, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their excitement exploding as if a dam had been shattered. The noise only grew louder as people screamed Max's name, stomping and shouting with reckless abandon.
"But," the announcer continued, his single word cutting through the frenzy like a blade, instantly plunging the Divine Colosseum into silence once again as all eyes snapped back to him. He turned his gaze toward Max and spoke clearly. "The higher ups have one condition. Only if Max agrees to this condition will he be allowed to fight all four opponents at the same time."
Max opened his eyes and smiled faintly, already sensing what was coming. "What condition?" he asked calmly.
"It is simple," the announcer replied. "Your four opponents will not be randomized. They will be chosen directly by the higher ups."
Max sneered inwardly, because the intention behind this decision was obvious, yet he showed none of that on his face. "Go ahead and give them the green light," Max said with a relaxed smile. "They will just be four more warriors for me to defeat."
"Very well," the announcer said loudly. "Since Max has agreed, the higher ups will now reveal the final four opponents. Look to the sky and witness who will face Max Morgan."
Every head in the Divine Colosseum tilted upward at once, hearts pounding as the massive hologram above the arena lit up. The crowd already knew what this meant, because if the higher ups were choosing directly, then these would not be ordinary ascendants. These would be the ones who had once stood before the Grim Gladiator and lived to tell the tale.
The first name appeared, glowing ominously in the sky.
"Bloodfang Korr."
"What, Bloodfang Korr," someone shouted in disbelief. "He actually fought the Grim Gladiator head on and survived for three full exchanges."
The second name followed immediately after.
"Silver Gale Yuren."
"You have got to be kidding me," another voice yelled. "Silver Gale Yuren retreated after seeing the Grim Gladiator's aura alone, and that man is still considered a legend here."
The third name emerged, radiating heavy pressure.
"Stone Tyrant Malkor."
"No way," someone screamed. "Stone Tyrant Malkor took one direct blow from the Grim Gladiator and did not die, how is that even possible."
Then the final name descended slowly, as if the colosseum itself was holding its breath.
"Sword Dancer Selene."
The reaction this time was explosive. "Sword Dancer Selene is here too," a woman cried out. "She is the one who injured the Grim Gladiator's arm before conceding, that was the only time anyone ever managed that."
The Divine Colosseum descended into complete madness as the reality settled in. "All four of them fought the Grim Gladiator," someone roared. "This is not a battle anymore, this is an execution."
"Hahaha, this is insanity, they are throwing every surviving legend at Max all at once," another voice shouted, half laughing and half trembling.
"If Max wins this, then the Grim Gladiator will no longer feel like an untouchable god," someone screamed as the hype spiraled out of control.
The crowd went completely berserk, voices crashing together in a deafening storm of awe and madness, because everyone understood one undeniable truth in that moment. What they were about to witness was no longer just a battle, but a turning point that would redefine the Divine Colosseum forever.
'All four of them are people who once fought the Grim Gladiator,' Max mused inwardly as a faint smile curved his lips. 'But do they really believe they stand a chance against me?' The thought amused him, and a cold sneer followed soon after.
No matter how renowned they were within the Divine Colosseum, as long as they had not stepped into the realm beyond Divine Rank, they were nothing more than ants in his eyes, beings that could be crushed without effort if he chose to do so.
"All four warriors, along with Max Morgan, please come to the arena," the announcer called out, his voice carrying a solemn weight this time. Max did not hesitate and stepped forward immediately, his figure calm and composed as he entered the arena.
Not long after, the four chosen contestants arrived as well, their appearances drawing a silent ripple of tension across the colosseum. Korr was a heavily built man who wielded a massive halberd, his body radiating brutal strength. Yuren carried a long spear, his posture sharp and disciplined, every movement hinting at refined technique.
Malkor stood firm with a heavy axe resting at his side, his presence solid and unyielding like a mountain. Selene, the only woman among them, held twin swords lightly in her hands, her eyes cold and alert, her reputation for swift and lethal strikes well known throughout the stands.
These were not ordinary warriors. Each of them bore titles bestowed by the crowd itself, titles earned through blood, survival, and legend, making them the most formidable figures the Divine Colosseum had produced aside from the Grim Gladiator.
As they stood before Max, there was no arrogance on their faces, only seriousness and caution. After witnessing Max's battle with Raymond, they understood clearly that the man standing before them was an existence comparable to the Grim Gladiator himself, and that realization alone was enough to suppress any trace of recklessness.
The crowd held its breath as Max faced the four warriors alone. Not a single sound echoed through the Divine Colosseum, as if everyone present instinctively understood that even the slightest noise would feel out of place in this moment. Thousands of eyes remained fixed on the arena, watching in tense silence.