Chương 107: A One-Way Ticket

Cheers erupted. Most of the audience flushed with excitement. A deathmatch. This was only the fourth deathmatch in Heavens Arena's centuries of history. Seeing it live was already worth the ticket. No matter how refined the audience claimed to be, what many of them truly pursued was other people's blood, violence, and death. Of course, the small portion of Aren's fans in the venue felt worried. They believed in him and did not think he would lose.

'But what if something goes wrong?' To Aren's fans, winning or losing had never mattered that much. Even if Aren lost, he would still be handsome, and they would still like him. They were Aren's fans first and fight fans second. Their attention was always on Aren himself, not the match. The problem was that this match was a deathmatch. If Aren lost, he would die. That was something they could not accept.

While the fight fans shouted in excitement and enjoyed the anticipation, Aren's fans looked at him with worried eyes. Some emotional fans clasped their hands together and prayed through tears that the gods would help their idol win.

"I knew something felt strange when I came in. The ring looked like it was missing something. So it's because this is a deathmatch. They didn't even arrange a referee below." One fight fan in the stands spoke excitedly to the person beside him.

"Look, Aren dared to accept a deathmatch. That proves he isn't a fraud. If he were fake, why would he accept Tour's request?" A fan who had supported Aren earlier immediately fired back at the people who had opposed him. The person who had sworn Aren was a fraud choked for a moment. That was true. If Aren were truly weak, he would never have accepted a deathmatch. Fame and profit meant nothing if he had no life left to enjoy them. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road.

If you see it on Amazon, please report it. From the moment Aren accepted, the label of fraud no longer fit him.

"All right, all right. If Aren isn't a fraud, that's even better. The match will be more interesting. Getting tickets for this is incredible. We're witnessing history." He cleverly shifted the topic toward the historical nature of the match. In the center of the venue, Tour wore a gentle smile and walked leisurely toward Aren. He stretched out one hand with a friendly attitude.

"You must be Aren Voss. Wow. Newcomers these days are impressive. I heard it took you only about two months to go from entering Heavens Arena to earning the right to challenge a Floor Master. Thinking back, I'm almost ashamed. I spent a full year before becoming a Floor Master." Aren looked at him.

'Have too many compliments made this man believe becoming a Heavens Arena Floor Master means standing at the top of the world?' Tour sounded like he was praising Aren. Usually, Aren did not strike someone who came with a smile. If someone showed him a decent attitude, he would not take the initiative to provoke them unless they annoyed him. But that rule did not include a smile hiding a knife. Aren glanced at Tour's extended hand. His own hands remained in the pockets of his black coat.

He had no intention of shaking it. Looking at Tour's false smile, Aren smirked.

"Stop pretending. Has no one ever told you your smile looks fake and ugly? Isn't it tiring to keep that clown face on?"

"Oh my. I was seen through. Newcomers these days really don't hold back." Tour scratched his head as if embarrassed. Then his tone changed. The gentle smile vanished completely, leaving only the ridiculous arrogance buried deep in his bones. He leaned his head slightly toward Aren.

"I don't know why you chose me as your challenge target, and I don't know why you accepted my deathmatch request. But none of that matters. After this match, you will disappear from this world. In the truest sense." Aren laughed. Tour's arrogance made him look like a man who had mistaken his little tower for the whole world.

"That really does make me look forward to it. But you're right about one thing. After the match ends, you'll leave this world. And from your point of view, I'll disappear too." Tour did not grow angry after Aren's counter. Because his arrogance was real. He did not feel rage toward Aren's words. He simply looked at Aren coldly and said one last thing.

"Sharp-tongued brat." Then he stepped back out of habit, keeping a certain distance.

"Aren Voss versus Tour officially begins now. This match permits all weapons and all methods. Both contestants, stake everything you have. Begin." With no referee in the arena, the commentator spoke the opening words in the referee's place. The moment she gave the signal, Tour's aura erupted. He was arrogant, but he was not stupid. Since Aren had dared to challenge him by name, he must have something to rely on. Strategically, Tour looked down on Aren. Tactically, he still took him seriously.

Aren analyzed Tour's aura. Without accounting for ability, Tour's aura reserve was far higher than Uvogin's current level. Overall, it was a little over twenty thousand aura units, with a margin of error under five hundred.

'Decent.' Compared with the later Floor Masters from the era Gon encountered, Tour could already be considered quite strong. If placed in that period, he might even have become the strongest among them. Tour saw Aren standing still and looking at him with faint approval. Irritation rose in his chest. His pride could not accept that gaze. It looked like an elder evaluating a junior.

'What is wrong with him?'

'Is he trying to disturb my state of mind?'

'Naive.' Thinking that such a minor psychological trick could affect his performance would only make Aren die faster. Tour's right foot stomped down. The ground cracked into a shallow pit beneath the force. Using the recoil, Tour vanished from the audience's sight. When he appeared again, he was already at Aren's left side. An ominous green, viscous aura coated his hand. He struck toward Aren's head. Bone-Melting Touch.