<h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 18: "Beautiful Beast" Ig</h4>
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"The new cult leader is going to a deathmatch with the ''Beautiful Beast''!"
"The Beautiful Beast doesn''t even let a single contribution point slip by?"
"Could it be that the cult leader has already fallen for it?"
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"Oh hoo, then it''s not just a single contribution point; the Beautiful Beast might earn 50 contribution points this time..."
Listening to the chatter from the audience, Ash, who was wrapping his fists with bandages, forced a smile: "Seems like you are indeed a wolf in sheep''s clothing."
"I actually think it''s you hiding your strength to lure me in," said the fair-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Ig with augh, "You dare to oppose the Blood Frenzy Hunters and are the Four Pirs God Sect''s hierarch. While I''m just a mundane swindler, no matter how you think about it, yourbat power should be higher, right?"
Indeed, before the deathmatch with Ig, Ash had already asked Lanna about Ig''s criminal record.
After all, almost every prisoner would first introduce themselves on the news channel upon arriving, so criminal records are nearly transparent to each other. Just like everyone knows that Ash is a small-time cult leader taken down by hunters.
Ig Bokin, also known as the "Swindler," worked in the insurance industry and was imprisoned for defrauding many wealthy individuals ofrge sums of money. He was a Spirit Mage with a series of Technique Spirits like the "Contract" that could manipte the mind.
Although theoretically, the use of Technique Spirits is banned in the prison, this ban was only a ''direct'' ban, not a plete'' one.
Spirit Mages like Ig, who focus on spiritual cultivation, can still use rhetoric, suggestions, bodynguage, etc., to trigger their Technique Spirits. Just like when Ig invited Ash to team up in the hall, if Ash agreed, the Technique Spirit would silently imprint Ash''s spirit.
It seems Ig indeedcked directbat ability, but——
Ding!
The lights around the Death Battle Society dimmed again, leaving only the light screen above the arena, capturing everyone''s attention.
"Ig Bokin bet 46 contribution points"
"VS"
"Ash Heath bet 1 contribution point"
In a deathmatch, everyone only bets the minimum amount, meaning Ig had already participated in 45 deathmatches!
Moreover, ording to Lanna, Ig had a perfect record in the past 45 deathmatches!
So why did Ash agree to this deathmatch?
Because he already agreed.
When Ig jokingly asked Ash whether he would fight, Ash casually replied, "Sure, sure," also as a joke. At that moment, he had already fallen into the trap—he couldn''t backtrack on this jest anymore.
It''s hard to describe this feeling; it wasn''t as though his body was being controlled, but his perception was altered. It''s as if some absurd belief like "water is highly toxic" had emerged, and Ash was sure he had to fight Ig.
Ash didn''t know the consequences of refusing, as the thought of ''refusal'' never even crossed his mind; it was as if even contemting the freest of thoughts had been shackled.
"So, always be cautious in responding to people''s invitations."
The Sword Maiden leaned against the railing and saidzily, "You are the Final Observer; as far as I''m concerned, you should refuse anyone''s goodwill or malice, say ''no'' to everything, take over with your power, dictate everything with your will, and rule the world like a Demon King—"
"No!"
"...You brat..."
Just as the Sword Maiden was stumped, transparent barriers rose around the arena, announcing the official start of the deathmatch.
As a ''ding'' sounded in his mind, Ash felt an internal shackle loosen, and the chip at the back of his neck no longer restrained them from attacking each other!
Simultaneously, Ig darted forward, his agile body charging like a hunting leopard!
Ash immediately raised his arms in defense and sidestepped, but Ig seemed to predict Ash''s reaction early on. He slid in with a tackle, causing Ash to lose his bnce and fall face-first into the ground!
Even though Ash quickly recovered and stood up, he still couldn''t avoid Ig''s follow-up, receiving a heavy punch to the abdomen with a muffled groan as if he was about to vomit bile.
"Bite down," Ig ''kindly'' reminded him, then mmed another punch to Ash''s temple!
Ash was hit dazed, his back against the wall, using his arms to protect his vital parts. However, Ig seemed to foresee all his moves, each direct punch and hooknding in areas Ash failed to defend. Before long, Ash''s face was bruised and swollen, wretchedly trying to evade while getting pummeled.
He roared in his mind, "Has the transmission of experience not started yet? I''m going to get beaten to death like this!"
"Damn it! Sword Maiden, take control and beat up this blondie!"
"Mom! Sword Maiden, save me—"
The Sword Maiden spoke perfunctorily, saying, "Soon, soon, the more you get hit, the faster the experience transfers. Also, don''t just take the hits, try to counterattack!"
"Will counterattacking speed up the experience transmission?"
"No, but it''ll make this deathmatch more interesting. Watching you get one-sidedly beaten is quite dull, to be honest."
She said this, yet the Sword Maiden was a bit surprised inside.
She had anticipated Ash being beaten like a punching bag; after all, this was Shattered Lake Prison. Ash participating in deathmatches here was like amb walking into a den of wolves—getting devoured would be expected.
She initially thought Ash would show an unbearable side, kneeling to beg for mercy while crying, yet, although Ash was wretched, he managed to do his best: leaning against a wall to reduce the target area, covering his face''s triangle area with both hands, quickly standing after falling down instead of being pinned...
What surprised the Sword Maiden most was that Ash hadn''t cried.
As a wandering soul from another world who lived in a greenhouse and had never experienced bloodshed, Ash''s resilience was unexpectedly strong, even exhibiting a certain degree of psychological selffort.
He continuously mumbled to the Sword Maiden in his mind, using conversation to mitigate the pain, without distraction. His defense became more efficient, and his movements to dodge attacks grew quicker, an embodiment...
An embodiment like a sponge that kept absorbing knowledge.
The Sword Maiden suddenly felt that even without her, without the Mage''s Handbook, Ash would quickly adapt to this seemingly beautiful and cruel world after enduring the initial shock of crossing worlds.
At his core, he wasn''t a cowardly person; changing environments would unveil his true nature.
Indeed... he was the Final Observer...
Snap!
Ash felt like his arm bone was burning as if it were on fire. The Sword Maiden urged him to fight back, and just then, Ash was also fueled by the heat from the beatings. Even a y figure would have three parts temper, not to mention that Ash wasn''t one to let himself be bullied easily.
He had his own methods at work: apart from not talking back to superiors, he wouldn''t suffer losses among colleagues. Plus, being capable and knowing how to tterled him to often mor for recognition loudly, achieving a semnce of sess in the workce. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been appointed as the head of the new game''s operations team.
Seizing an opportunity by recalling a punch from his military training, he threw a straight punch from a horse stance!
"Soft as cotton, how cute."
Ig dodged as if he were strolling, wearing a disdainful smile, avoiding Ash''s punch exquisitely, and striking Ash''s face with a counterpunch.
"You!"
"You—!"
"You—you—"
Ash couldn''t bring himself to curse, and he couldn''tnd even a single punch.
Ig could deliver a painful blow every time to Ash, evading all of Ash''s attempts, simply needing a slight turn to dodge Ash''s direct punch.
To the onlookers, it seemed less like a fight but more like a performance—as if Ash voluntarily offered his face to meet Ig''s fists.
"There it is again, the Beautiful Beast''s magic trick."
"Looks like the cult leader''s remaining 49 contribution points will also end up in the Beautiful Beast''s pocket."
"Hmph, it''s all shy tricks; if it were me—"
"What would happen if it were you?"
"If it were me, he''d have to kneel down to check if I was still breathing!"
"Though we couldn''t beat the Beautiful Beast, Master Tiger certainly could!"
The white-haired old man, Tiger, hastily shook his head: "No, no, the young generation is surpassing us; an old man like me will sooner orter be a stepping stone for you..."
Old man, could you let go of the rail before saying that? You''re about to twist it into a pretzel! Everyone cursed silently, and then someone turned to Lanna, nestled in a burly man''s arms: "Lanna, can you see through the Beautiful Beast''s tricks?"
"I don''t know, and words won''t help; you''ll only know by fighting," Lanna said with a smile, "But I wouldn''t want to fight the Beautiful Beast. He''s not my type. Don''t worry, darling, as long as you''re breathing, I won''t set my eyes on anyone else."
The brawny man Lanna was cozily leaning against broke into a cold sweat, forcing a smile in the dim light.
In the deathmatch arena, Ig flicked the blood off his fist and casually asked, "Do you know why I''ve won all 45 deathmatches? Although my physique isn''t that great and my reflexes aren''t particrly fast, why is it that you can''t hit me, but I hit you every time?"
Indeed, through the earlier fight, Ash noticed that Ig''s physical attributes were almost the same as his. Forget aboutparing with a monster like "Diamond" Tiger; even an average brawny man could suppress Ig. Despite being on the same level, Ash could hit nothing but Ig''s face.
If Ig''s boxing skills were extraordinary, it would make sense, but Ash could tell Ig''sbat skills were merely average; otherwise, Ash wouldn''t havested this long.
Both were weak, so why could only you peck at me?
"I have defeated Beastmen, Trolls, Goblins; their physical attributes far surpassed mine, yet they all fell on this arena, transferring the contribution points that weren''t theirs to me," Ig said leisurely, "The reason you and they meet such a pathetic end is one and only—"
"You are, all livestock."
"Your life never belonged to you."
"From the moment you stepped onto the arena, your neck was already wrapped in the chain I prepared for you. Before squeezing out yourst contribution point, you are the livestock under my control!"
"The fate of livestock is always one and only—"
"Bleeding, skinning, then..." Ig, tall and handsome, looked down at Ash, licking his lips with a cruel smile, "being ughtered and cut into delicious pieces by their master!"
"Keep going, Ash Heath, and don''t think about surrendering. There''s no such rule in a deathmatch. Rest assured, I''m gentle with my livestock; it''ll end soon."
Ash straightened up, twisted his neck, and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva: "Yes."
The Sword Maiden nodded from the stands,zilymenting, "It''s time to end."
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