Chapter 162: Lion Scorpion

Chapter 162: Lion Scorpion

Luo En took the slip of paper, unfolded it, and began reading. His brows furrowed deeper with each line, his expression hardening into solemnity.

"What's wrong, Teacher?" Liliya leaned in, her voice laced with concern.

"The rules of the Bloody Arena have changed."

He handed her the note.

"They've canceled the final showdown in favor of a beast-battling free-for-all involving both apprentices and their combat slaves. The final ranking will be decided by the mentors based on performance."

As Liliya finished reading, the color drained from her face.

"A beast-battling free-for-all? That means not only the slaves, but the masters themselves must fight?"

"Exactly."

Luo En's brow remained tightly knitted, but his eyes gleamed with an odd light—not fear, but calculated anticipation.

"It seems this competition's difficulty and risk have skyrocketed."

He paused, his mind already computing possibilities, strategizing optimal approaches and potential dangers. Then, determination flashed in his eyes.

"On the other hand, this is an opportunity. If Daire and I can demonstrate exceptional coordination in battle, our chances of securing a high ranking will increase dramatically."

"But Teacher", Liliya pressed, worry etched on her face. "Those combat slaves are specially modified monsters—extremely dangerous. Many participants master combat spells, but your expertise leans toward alchemy..."

"Don't worry, Liliya."

Luo En cut in calmly, his voice carrying unshakable confidence. "I've prepared for this."

——————

The Bloody Arena's final stage was a colossal circular coliseum.

The ground was covered in a special pale brown sandy earth, while towering mana-infused barrier walls dozens of meters high ringed the arena, engraved with protective runes.

These runes served dual purposes: shielding spectators from collateral damage and preventing contestants from fleeing mid-battle.

The towering stands were packed with apprentices from all ranks, their excited chatter vibrating in the air, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Clad in gray-white robes, common apprentices formed the majority, while the occasional High Apprentice stood out in their purple-edged gray garments, creating a striking visual hierarchy.

For those who'd spent years in the Black Mist Jungle, the bloody spectacle was far more thrilling than monotonous study and cultivation.

At the highest tier of the stands, a row of luxurious seats hosted several figures draped in Full Mage robes—the arbiters of today's competition and the institution's ultimate authorities.

Fuyuanzhang Haierke stood alone at the platform's edge, his robe quivering faintly against the air, creating an eerie optical distortion.

Beside him sat Soreng Griffiths, his lean frame and sharp, piercing gaze scanning the arena. To his right, Youni Seraphan toyed idly with a glowing crystal orb, his violet eyes glinting with intrigue.

Other mentors took their places, studying the participants with casual curiosity, exchanging murmurs.

The presence of Full Mages, especially Fuyuanzhang Haierke, cast an invisible aura of authority over the entire venue.

In the contestant waiting area, Luo En wore close-fitting soft armor beneath his apprentice robe, ensuring solid protection. His belt carried a Silver Pocket Watch, while his pockets held mana crystals to amplify spell potency.

Daire stood beside him, no longer the emaciated, starving creature she once had been. Now possessing the proportions of a human girl, her silver hair braided into twin plaits by Liliya, she wore lightweight battle armor.

"Master, you don't seem nervous at all", she remarked, her predatory eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Appropriate tension keeps one alert", Luo En smiled. "But too much clouds judgment."

"I'll protect you well!" Daire puffed her chest confidently, her voice resolute. With a playful wink, she added, "Besides, I can't wait to taste those rare creatures!"

Scanning the surroundings, Luo En observed other contestants making final preparations. Most apprentices brought grotesque, modified combat slaves.

One particularly striking creature—a multi-legged beast with a black carapace—drew attention, its coal-burning eyes glowing as each step vibrated the ground. A top-ranked High Apprentice's creation, supposedly a hybrid of an underground centipede and a Fire Lizard.

Holt stood nearby, his usual calm and vigilance intact. Beside him loomed a five-meter-tall Earth Elemental Golem, its deep brown body coated in dark, rock-like armor—solid and unyielding.

Luo En nodded briefly; Holt returned the gesture.

Both mentally calculating their strategies, they acknowledged an unspoken understanding: though competitors, their previous acquaintance meant they wouldn't be each other's primary targets.

Cui Xi and Li Yue occupied the opposite side of the arena.

The Panther Girl's form had grown sleeker, her muscles rippling with power. Her beast-like eyes glowed with latent danger.

Feeling Luo En's gaze, the brown-haired girl turned, nodding politely. Her eyes flickered with complexity—familiarity as an old friend, sharpness as a rival.

Every combat slave radiated menace, some so volatile they required specialized chains to prevent premature rampages.

"Interesting lineup", Luo En mused. "Besides Cui Xi and Holt, the rest's slaves are clearly rushed—ferocious on the surface but structurally flawed. Daire's bloodline may lack radical modifications, but her stability and endurance surpass them all."

Other unfamiliar contestants showcased diverse combat slaves: a Scorpionman armored in black chitin, a Six-Armed Aberrant, and an Azure Flame Bearkin wreathed in blue flames.

Most wore arrogant expressions, confident in their creations, maintaining wary distances from each other, eyes brimming with suspicion and hostility.

The stands grew tense as Fuyuanzhang Haierke slowly raised his hand. The arena fell silent under his mana pressure.

"The Bloody Arena's final will be a beast-battling free-for-all", Haierke announced, his voice calm yet carrying to every corner. "The winner takes all, the loser faces disgrace. Rankings will be determined by your performance in this battle."

With a sweep of his hands, intricate mana lines traced in the air, weaving into a complex three-dimensional structure. Each line was precise to an astonishing degree, the flow and control of mana displaying an almost artistic beauty.

"This is a Full Mage's mana manipulation", Luo En noted inwardly, his expression unchanged.

Through Transcendent Perception, he recorded every detail into his Consciousness Library, preparing for future mastery.

Over the past months, Soreng and Youni had hinted at Full Mage secrets during private lessons.

What Haierke displayed wasn't a complex spell model, but an advanced application of spiritual energy and mana—exclusive to Full Mages.

This skill didn't rely on specific spell templates, but on precise mana control and guidance, forming visible effects directly.

This advanced mana use allowed Full Mages to function without servants. With this technique, they could manipulate everything precisely: levitate objects, clean environments, even condense water or fire from the air to meet daily needs.

To ordinary eyes, these feats seemed like miracles, but in truth, they were merely mastered mana control.

"This is true mana mastery", Luo En mused, a flicker of longing in his eyes. "Not relying on fixed models, but shaping mana freely like an artist molding clay. One day, I'll reach this realm—and surpass it."

But for now, he had to focus on the present crisis.

Haierke's mana lines multiplied, forming a massive mana web.

The interwoven lines created a complex three-dimensional structure, like an invisible net. As it expanded, ambient mana particles vibrated violently, creating visible ripples.

With a sudden flourish, the mana lines transformed into chains, burrowing underground.

A thunderous roar shook the arena as the ground at the center split open. A gigantic monster was dragged upward by mana chains—

A Lion Scorpion.

Most of its body resembled a colossal lion, cloaked in dark golden fur.

Its tail, however, arched high—a venomous stinger glinting with a keratin sheen, glowing ominously emerald-green.

Over seven meters long, it crouched, its ruby-red eyes each as large as a dinner plate.

Each claw on its massive forelimbs gleamed with steel-slicing sharpness.

The stinger dripped toxic droplets, hissing as the acid corroded small craters into the sand.

Mana chains bound the Lion Scorpion, seemingly in a semi-conscious state, its breaths heavy, its gaze dazed.

Yet even in this condition, its aura made every combat slave on the field uneasy.

Luo En's face remained impassive, but his Transcendent Perception activated instantly, scrutinizing the Lion Scorpion.

[Lion Scorpion (Chimeraformulation)

Bloodline Purity: Gold-Ring 86% (relatively unstable)

Status: Mana not fully activated (current strength approx. 50%)

Danger Level: Extreme (currently moderate)

Special Abilities: ??? (not fully manifested)]

A chill settled in Luo En's mind, though his exterior stayed calm.

This Lion Scorpion was far more dangerous than it appeared. It seemed to be in a semi-awakened state.

Once fully awakened, its threat might eclipse anything the contestants could imagine.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end