Wildness and Masks

Boom—Boom! Boom!

The pounding of Ogre's heart was like a resounding drum, beating faster and faster, and his movements became increasingly elusive and strange.

As his body adapted over the past ten days, the rate at which Ogre could endure the drum-like heartbeat had increased significantly.

This also meant that his speed and explosive power had reached new heights.

'If only my bones were stronger...'

The only thing limiting Ogre's speed now was the strength of his bones. Two days ago, Ogre discovered that when he moved too quickly, it was his bones that couldn't keep up.

His bones would dislocate or even fracture with large movements.

This was due to the rapid increase in muscle strength.

Fortunately, even if his bones cracked, for Ogre, it was just a matter of resting for a night. His robust Ogre Physique combined with Breathing Technique training allowed him to quickly recover from most injuries, except for disabilities.

'But, this is enough!'

At this moment, every explosive step Ogre took left a small pit in the ground!

His incredible speed turned him into a near blur, a blue streak of lightning darting left and right.

In a split second, the spear rained down on Will.

The storm-like spear strikes made it seem as if dozens of people were attacking Will simultaneously.

Speed is power!

The fierce force, like thunder, broke through the surface layer of Battle Qi.

The sturdy plate armor dented under the continuous impact.

Finally, after such a barrage, Will could finally see Ogre, crackling with electricity.

But it was too late.

For at this moment, Ogre's final crouching kick sent him flying into the air, with no way to evade.

"Crash!"

Joints twisted, gathering momentum—Dragon's Head Rise!

The spinning spear arrived!

Overflowing with thunder, it surged with the spear, like a fierce dragon devouring its prey.

"No!" someone shouted, standing up in the stands.

But nothing could stop the final scene that was about to unfold.

The spear pierced through the armor, thunder broke through the Battle Qi.

When the blood appeared, the outcome was decided.

Ogre never strikes unless it's fatal!

Will and his sword crashed heavily to the ground, and as his protective Battle Qi dissipated, the spear once again plunged into his throat...

This battle was over, the victor and the vanquished decided...

'No... if only I had more time to use that move...'

In the end, Will didn't even have time to fully feel his unwillingness and regret before he lost consciousness.

He died, an exceptionally frustrating death.

"How dare you kill a noble!" A middle-aged man, not lacking in presence, tried to rush into the arena.

But he was stopped.

"Chamberlain Changberji, the sacred duels of the Empire cannot be disrupted, not even by your master." The one who stopped him was a burly, blond man.

"Robertson, didn't you see this guy killed Will!" The middle-aged man called Changberji was angry, but he dared not continue his actions.

If Will were still alive, he would have rushed up regardless, but now that he was dead...

He had to consider whether his actions were worth it.

Bringing back a corpse wouldn't quell the viscount's anger...

"The Viscount won't let this guy go."

"Hmph, in any case, the sacred duel is legitimate and legal. Retaliation would be a challenge to the Emperor's authority! Besides, Will hadn't truly inherited the nobility yet..."

Once a death duel is initiated, any immediate retaliation under public scrutiny would break the rules.

This would give other families an opportunity to act, and even the two major churches wouldn't stop them.

Nobles who survive in the borderlands are never easy to deal with.

They are essentially a pack of hungry wolves.

Just look at the taxes in the city; nowhere else dares to collect taxes twenty years in advance except the borderlands.

This is one of the reasons why some commoners would rather live in villages or slums than stay in the city.

"Ogre Kessing wins! This duel, agreed upon by both parties, is protected by sacred law, with life and death disregarded!"

The judge's verdict gave this match its final definition.

This ruling, at least on the surface, in the city, could shield Ogre from others causing trouble.

After all, Ogre was considered half a member of the arena, and the judge naturally favored him.

This was one of the reasons why Ogre insisted on fighting in the arena despite the physical toll.

Fighting here was advantageous for him.

'Actually... I didn't want to kill you.'

Ogre put away his spear, looked at Will, and then put his mask back on.

In essence, Ogre didn't want to kill indiscriminately.

But from a rational perspective.

In this confrontation, he had to show his fangs.

Otherwise, the troubles would continue to pile up.

Engaging in a death duel wouldn't make Ogre's life better.

But it could give him some safety for a certain period.

At least—it could ensure he secured the money from this opening.

Moreover, a bad reputation is also a form of protection.

This was the most prudent choice at the moment, and it could also deter the arena from recruiting him.

A person who dares to kill a noble is not truly welcomed in most places.

'The matter of changing identities... needs to be prioritized.'

Does Ogre care about these impacts?

He doesn't...

From the beginning, Ogre never intended to join this noble game.

He needed an event to isolate him from the vortex, and this death duel, though unplanned, fit perfectly.

Either do nothing or do it thoroughly.

This was one of the warnings his father left him.

Though reluctant, Ogre wouldn't regret it.

As Lange said, if you act, just act—don't overthink it.

Hesitation only leads to losing everything.

Wanting everything often results in getting nothing.

Reflections and thoughts can be left for later.

"Settle my money, eighty gold coins at forty-eight times the odds, minus the handling fee for the profit, you should give me three thousand six hundred and fifty-two gold coins." Ignoring the noise and commotion, Ogre stepped off the stage and asked the staff for the reward he deserved.

Ogre's purpose for coming here was clear from the start—to make money.

With these gold coins, he could do whatever he wanted.

Three thousand six hundred and fifty-two gold coins, this exceeded all of Ogre's savings from the past two years...

"Yes, please wait a moment."

If Ogre had chosen to back down just now, he didn't know if there would be trouble later, but he definitely wouldn't have gotten this money, and those nobles might have extorted him instead.

Ogre could endure almost all verbal provocations and doubts, but he would never allow his interests to be severely harmed—because harm is often endless.

As for the issue of identity exposure.

What a joke, do you really think a mask can hide anything? A simple investigation could easily reveal Ogre's identity here.

Rather than waiting for someone to investigate, it's better to take off the mask and reveal his 'true face' to ensure the effective conduct of the death duel.

The mask beneath the mask was just a means Ogre had prepared for his escape.

"Here are your gold coins..."

Before long, Ogre's gold coins were presented to him.

Under normal circumstances, taking out this amount of money might have been difficult.

But after what Ogre just did, the managers behind the arena probably couldn't wait to sever ties with him.

How could they dare to continue entangling with him?

Didn't you see that the chubby spokesperson didn't even show up?

"Alright."

Ogre nodded, setting his eyes on the small chest of gold coins.

Three thousand six hundred gold coins were enough to buy a family's food for over three hundred years.

It doesn't sound like much, but it certainly looked like a lot.

So much that it could only fit in a small chest, and the staff struggled to lift it onto the stage.

Ogre reached in and stirred the coins to ensure there were no traps before picking up the chest to estimate its weight.

The whole set, including the chest and coins, was indeed not light, weighing around fifty kilograms.

Of course, this weight was nothing for a Martial Artist Apprentice.

'This is all gamblers' money... Tsk.'

Ogre sighed slightly in his heart, then closed the chest.

He then easily carried the spear and the chest, leaving the arena.