The arena was packed, the audience's cheers rolling like waves.
Lights from the high arched ceiling dappled the dusty central stage, ready for the fighters about to enter.
At the commentary desk, announcer Katahara Sayaka was hyping up the atmosphere.
The crowd was excited: this was the fourth match of the first day—the most anticipated fight. Fang of Metsudo, Gusion, vs. the Assassin Queen from Koyo Academy Group.
This match was hotly anticipated for many reasons.
First, everyone wondered why the Fang of Metsudo had changed—and how strong the new one was.
Second, Koyo Academy Group's female contestant was a first in Kengan history!
No one meant to look down on her, but in most combat sports, women are at a disadvantage in size and muscle, and she didn't look like a huge bodybuilder—just a slender beauty. So how would she win?
"Next up is the rising storm of the martial arts world—the first-ever female fighter in Kengan history, the thorny beauty, Koyo Academy Group's secret ace, with a 2-0 record and 17.5 billion yen in assets—the 'Assassin Queen' Eve!"
Katahara Sayaka's introduction was passionate. "Will she bring victory to the Academy? Will she make Kengan history?"
A figure appeared from the entrance—a woman in a high-slit qipao.
Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, her figure tall and her exposed arms and legs as fair and flawless as a noble lady's, not a lifelong fighter.
She was cold and beautiful, her pitch-black eyes lively. She glanced briefly at the crowd, didn't wave or interact, and simply took her place in the center.
"So tiny and she wants to challenge the Fang of Metsudo? Try challenging him in bed!"
"Hahaha, the Academy really has no one left, sending a girl because it's a girls' school?"
"Oh, lovely lady! Come with me after the match!"
...
There were plenty of jeers and crude remarks from the audience, making even Sayaka frown.
In the seats, Koyo Academy Group's Chairwoman, Soryuin Shion, was furious. "These idiots thinking with their crotches—how dare they look down on Eve!"
Her secretary shouted, "Eve, show them your power! Defeat that Fang of Metsudo and show everyone who's the strongest!"
Shion didn't shout—she just lit a cigarette and watched Eve. She knew her true strength.
After Kiryu Setsuna was killed, Eve volunteered as their fighter. With only two Kengan matches, her extraordinary strength and technique amazed them.
Shion couldn't say if Eve or Kiryu Setsuna was stronger, but Eve was first-class among fighters. She'd even beaten the super-wrestler Sekibayashi Jun.
To her, Eve was a breath of fresh air among fighters. Who says women can't compare to men? She didn't expect Eve to win against the new Fang of Metsudo, but she believed Eve would impress everyone.
"Go, show them your power!"
Shion stared at the entrance, waiting for the legendary new Fang.
Sayaka went on: "And now, the man who replaced Kanoh Agito, representing Dainippon Bank, the new Kengan king, making his Kengan debut—Fang of Metsudo, Gusion!"
Gusion strolled out lazily. To him, this tournament was just a joke—the only opponent he was interested in was Kuroki Gensai.
As he reached the center, the woman across from him tensed up.
Assassin Queen Eve stared at Gusion, her expression shifting as if she saw something absurd.
She was a lower-ranked member nurtured by the Botanical Garden adventurer team, armed with high-level scouting tools—she could see opponents' stats, and if their mental stat was under 30, she could even see some skills and fighting specialties.
Armament Haki, Hado, Kaido, Bakudo, Master-level swordsmanship, Master-level kenjutsu, Master-level martial arts, Master-level force dispersal, Master-level movement, Master-level...
She was stunned by the string of Master skills, even rubbing her eyes to check.
Eve's pretty head was full of question marks.
This guy's stats were normal, but the rest of him was abnormal!
How could anyone have so many Master-level specialties? And you're using Haki and Shinigami powers in Kengan? Isn't that cheating?
Eve, chosen by the famed Botanical Garden, was a genius herself—a level 7 explorer, already at expert level in martial arts, exceptional among first-tier explorers.
But she never dreamed someone could have so many Master-level specialties at her level!
No wonder her mission had such a wide difficulty range, from average to certain death.
Now she understood. Against the Kanoh Agito, she could probably last 30 seconds. But against Gusion, if he wanted to kill, she'd be dead in less than ten seconds!
She'd tried to take a shortcut, but it seemed like a shortcut to death.
Her mind spun, and she remembered the legendary "Guide to Survival" circulated among low-level explorers in the End Space.
Following its seventeenth rule, she had her answer.
"Will Eve, Kengan's first female fighter, make history? Or will the new Fang of Metsudo establish his kingly might? Who will win? Let's find out!"
With Sayaka's passionate commentary and the referee's signal, the match officially began.
But at the very start, something shocking happened. Soryuin Shion's cigarette fell from her mouth in disbelief.
The Assassin Queen became the Kneeling Queen—she performed a perfect dogeza, kneeling before Gusion.
"Goshujin-sama! Please don't hit me!"
Her soft voice was clear enough for Gusion to hear.
Just as he was about to swiftly take her down, Gusion froze. What the heck was this?