The match ended with Finn's victory, which resulted in another fatal blow to Gargo Village's force. And, since it wasn't a death, Elder Gabriel had no authority to comment on Xiao Fan's paralysis.
The origin of the paralysis was unknown, but since Finn was backed by Lijkao Village and refused to be interrogated, Gargo Village could not retaliate. They were stuck in a deadlock with no option out.
Except Arthur's presence.
"What happened?" Isabella inquired as the crimson-eyed man silently sat beside her, letting out a sigh. Arthur's gaze swept over the old woman, and he hesitated, considering whether to reveal Elder Gabriel's threats.
"Elder Gabriel politely asked me to participate in the next battle, and I agreed," said the crimson-eyed man, maintaining an emotionless facade. Since Elder Gabriel had revealed his true colors, perhaps Isabella was the same.
Isabella tilted her head, scrunching her eyebrows. "I see. Are you sure he didn't force you? I can talk to him about it, you know?"
Arthur calmly shook his head, turning to face the battlefield. "It's fine. I haven't had the chance to test out my skills in a while, so this could be a learning experience. Besides, the village is on the road to collapse."
"Don't say that…" Isabella muttered under her breath. An unknown expression formed on her face, which went unnoticed by the crimson-eyed man, who contemplated and considered which cards to reveal.
There was a possibility that he would need to escape the village.
With Skofnung, he was certain he could at least reach the central cities of the First Floor. It was only a matter of time. Also, depending on the outcome of the battle, Elder Gabriel might be busy reducing the damage to the village.
'I'll come back,' thought Arthur. He would never forget this.
Making him fight was equivalent to hindering his progress, in turn forcing him to lose valuable time spent containing those losses.
A few minutes passed, and the announcer stepped onto the stage.
"There has been a change to the competitors," said the announcer, reading from a script firmly gripped between his fingers. Elder Feyright's expression changed slightly, but he was not too worried. "For Gargo Village, Kim Seo-Jun will be replaced with… Avalon… Ah, yes, Avalon!"
The crowd broke into confused chatter, while the announcer observed their reactions before stepping off the battlefield. A wave of uncertainty flooded over those who spectated, causing a seed of doubt to be nurtured in their minds.
Kim Seo-Jun was a renowned, rising star of the Gargo Village.
How could a person with a cryptic identity replace one of the most well-renowned stars of the Gargo Village? How had Elder Gabriel allowed such a change, and for what reason had he switched her?
"Avalon… That's a strange name, for sure."
"Indeed. For what reason has Elder Gabriel allowed a person with such a mysterious identity to participate."
"It's nepotism, I tell you."
"No, Gargo Village is on its last legs. Elder Gabriel wouldn't be as foolish as to allow one of his own to enter solely for the purpose of flaunting. Perhaps this is one of his last resorts… It'll be interesting to see what this Avalon can do."
"Perhaps…"
Once the confused chatter of the crowd had subsided, the announcer stepped forth once again, attracting the attention of those who showed immense interest in the competition of ascendance.
He glanced at Elder Feyright's complicated expression, allowing a soft chuckle to escape his lips. "For the next battle, Avalon shall engage with Cassius."
As Arthur rose from his seat, several eyes turned in his direction. Many were curious gazes, while others were wary and cautious. A few snarled at his ordinary appearance, while others leaned back, expecting a great show.
Those who knew of Arthur's identity were warned by Elder Gabriel not to disclose it, as it would only attract unnecessary trouble. Even the latter–if the former abided by his wishes–did not wish for Arthur's identity to be revealed.
Gargo Village would suffer consequences if a Divine Ranker decided to step in.
Well, not that a Divine Ranker would personally take the time, but perhaps an Elite Ranker would be dispatched to investigate the man who conquered the 22nd level of the First Floor, shocking the entities residing in the tower.
"Avalon?" Isabella inquired, letting out a soft chuckle as she remarked on the cheesy name.
Arthur revealed a faint smile, stepping onto the hard, rocky ground of the battlefield with Skofnung in tow. The Demonic Blade hadn't tasted blood–except Arthur's own–in a while, and was begging for the taste.
'I don't think I can kill this guy…' Arthur took note of the battle's rules, clicking his tongue. However, dissecting the man was definitely a possibility. That way, he could win, assert his dominance, and allow his trusty sword to have a taste of blood.
'It's been a while since I fought a person one on one in an organized battle,' thought Arthur, recalling the last time, which was during the tutorial. His last arena battle was against Oscar Rune, in which he lost control of his emotions for a few seconds.
Bloodlust.
That was what escaped his suppression.
A few seconds passed, and from the other end of the battlefield, a somewhat handsome man emerged. His face was like an ancient sculpture attempting to forge perfection, with a chiseled jawline and not a strand of facial hair.
His long, silky, stark black hair was tied in a ponytail, and fell to his upper back. He wore a deadpan expression, while his maroon pupils remained unwavering. His stance portrayed his strength, displaying his sheer confidence.
For an unknown reason, Arthur felt an approaching danger.
'This is not someone unbeknownst to the ways of the tower,' thought the crimson-eyed man. The man before him had at least climbed two floors… Usually, defeating such a person would be easy.
However, with Arthur's strained mana circuits and the inability to reveal his Blessing in public, he was stuck with a massive handicap.
This was Cassius, also known as the Cassius The Enigma in the future.
