Shattered Lake Prison, cafeteria.
"Even after winning forty-five contribution points, I still have to take part in the Blood Moon Trial in a few days?!"
Yaxiu, who had been scarfing down his food, looked up blankly, wearing the expression of a man who had been thoroughly swindled. "Didn't they say that the more contribution points you have, the further back your trial sequence is pushed?!"
"That is true," Langna replied between sips of milk. "But there's a prerequisite: no prisoner is allowed to miss their very first Blood Moon Trial. Only an extremely rare few escape it due to special pardons and the like. Only those who have survived one Blood Moon Trial have their subsequent trial sequences determined by their contribution points."
"And what if I die during my first Blood Moon Trial?"
"If you're worried about that, why not throw a match with me and hand all your contribution points over to me?"
"In your dreams!" Yaxiu grumbled, then paused in thought. "Didn't you say before that only one person dies in the Blood Moon Trial?"
"Yes, there are eight participants, but only one dies," Langna said. "A mere 12.5 percent chance of death is actually quite low—under normal circumstances, that is."
"And am I normal?"
"Evidently, as the leader of the Four Pillar Gods cult, you are not. Murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, bloody rituals... at least a thousand citizens have suffered because of you. Your notoriety has made you a household name lately. Barring any unexpected surprises, you are bound to be a prime target in the Blood Moon Trial."
*Fly boldly, Heath, and let Yaxiu take the blame...* Yaxiu harbored boundless resentment toward Heath. If you're brain-dead, just drink some walnut milk! Why start a cult?! And to stir up so much outrage and hatred—even loan sharks aren't this universally despised!
"So, what do you say? If you're giving up, you might as well gift those contribution points to me," Langna said. "I'll remember your sacrifice and live happily ever after with my boyfriend..."
"Get lost!" Yaxiu snorted. "Who's to say I won't survive? I'm not giving up!"
"Fine, then." Langna didn't seem particularly bothered about Yaxiu's ninety-five contribution points. "Someone wants to challenge you. Accept?"
"Is that why you were waiting for me in the cafeteria in the first place?"
"Exactly," Langna admitted openly. "As for why, you'll understand once you see how many contribution points he wagered—thirty-seven."
Yaxiu narrowed his eyes. "Someone who's already fought thirty-six death matches is challenging me? I only ever wager two contribution points, you know."
Langna shrugged.
"That's why I came specifically to tell you. Normally, rookies in death matches challenge veterans because they can turn a small wager into a big payoff. It's not unheard of for veterans to challenge rookies—after all, even mosquito legs are still meat—but usually that happens only after the rookie has had at least five matches. Otherwise, veterans can't even be bothered to earn such pocket change. So when a veteran took the initiative to challenge you, I was rather surprised. I wanted to ask if there's any bad blood between you two."
"Who is he?"
"Valkas Ur."
Yaxiu shook his head. "Never heard of him."
Naturally, he hadn't. After all, he didn't even possess Heath's memories; even if Valkas truly had a grudge against Heath, Yaxiu would have had no way of knowing.
"Shilin Dole."
"Huh?" Yaxiu blinked. "Who?"
Langna waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing. Just thought of an acquaintance. So, are you willing to accept Valkas's challenge?"
"What weapon does Valkas use?"
"A sword."
Yaxiu felt a stir. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced to the side. The Sword Princess was sitting on the dining table with one leg crossed over the other, arms folded over her chest, gazing at him placidly, the black silk stockings hugging her legs striking and luminous.
She eyed Yaxiu askance. "Is sneaking peeks at me that thrilling?"
*Sorry.* Yaxiu turned his head to stare openly at the black stockings, a sudden thought springing to mind. *Speaking of which, since you can touch me, does that mean I can touch you too? Ahem, Sword Princess, when we get back, go wash yourself clean...*
*Clang!* The Sword Princess drew her ornate, decorative sword. Straightening up in an instant, Yaxiu declared solemnly to Langna, "Tell Valkas to wash his neck clean and wait for me tomorrow!"
"Then come to the Death Match Club tomorrow morning. I won't disturb your meal any longer; my boyfriend is waiting for me. Goodbye." Langna finished speaking and swept away like a gust of wind.
Yaxiu had assumed Langna's boyfriend was waiting for him in a booked room in the lovers' quarter, but after a couple of glances, he noticed Langna wasn't heading in that direction at all. Instead, he was walking toward the Death Match Club... *Maybe someone's having a late-night death match just to work the healers to death on overtime,* Yaxiu thought.
"Let's head back to the dorm," the Sword Princess said, hopping down from the dining table. "You're going to have your hands full tonight. I'm going to take you to explore a world you've never known."
Yaxiu's face instantly flushed red with indignation—what did she mean, a world he'd never known?! Did he really look like such a virgin?!
This woman was going too far with her words. If he let her keep walking all over him, wouldn't he lose all standing whatsoever?!
"What are you waiting for?"
"Coming~"
...
...
At 8:45 PM, inside the spectatorless Death Match Club, a clandestine death match was taking place.
"Yaxiu accepted. But not because of the name you gave me. He was looking forward to an opponent who uses a sword—it was only after I mentioned you wield a blade that he made up his mind."
"Thank you. I owe you a favor this time, Langna."
"You can repay that favor right now, Valkas, if you just tell me why you suddenly set your sights on that cutie Yaxiu. Does it have something to do with that name—Shilin Dole?"
In the dim spectator stands, a gaunt, middle-aged man watched the feeding taking place on the arena stage.
Yes, *feeding*. No other word seemed more fitting. Though the food could move, flee, scream, and beg for mercy, in the end, it was merely food being devoured.
"I don't mind telling you, as long as you won't regret hearing it."
"Never mind, then. My boyfriend and I are very happy, and I'm quite content with my life. I have no wish to get entangled in the games of the powerful."
Langna tore off a strip of warm meat and chewed it thoughtfully. "Still, is Yaxiu really the leader of the Four Pillar Gods cult? I pride myself on having a decent eye for people, and he seems more like a fresh graduate who's just started working. I almost thought he was innocent."
The middle-aged man let out a cold snort.
"Every single person who steps into this cesspool is far removed from the word 'innocent.' The only difference is whether their skin has merely been stained by filth, or if they opened their own mouths to willingly swallow the stench."
"I'm eating here, Valkas. Could you not talk about excrement?"
"Then I will disturb you no further. Enjoy your meal."
...
As the heavy doors of the Death Match Club rumbled shut, the faint, indistinct wailing dissolved into the ink-black darkness.
Valkas walked through the prison corridors; every prisoner and guard he encountered coldly kept their distance from him.
Occasionally, he passed a newcomer who had only recently arrived. When the new inmate saw Valkas's ears, an instinctive look of gloating schadenfreude would surface on their face.
For Valkas's ears were pointed.
When Valkas returned to his cell, he found a guard waiting outside his door.
Having expected this, he unlocked the door while murmuring, "Yaxiu Heath has agreed to fight me in a death match."
"Make sure to thoroughly destroy his brain, heart, and spine—to a degree beyond the healing powers of even a Two-Winged Sorcerer," the guard said.
"I will do what you've asked. And what you promised me?" Valkas opened the door but did not enter, turning his head to fix his gaze on the guard.
"As long as Yaxiu Heath dies tomorrow, you will disappear from this prison once the next Blood Moon Trial ends," the guard replied. "However, you and the child cannot remain in Kaimeng City. That is Mr. Shilin's condition."
"I have no interest in continuing to breathe the same air as Shilin, either," Valkas said with evident disgust.
"Free recreation time is almost over. Don't stand out here; get inside your cell."
The corner of Valkas's mouth twitched. He stepped into his room and let the automated door slide shut.
Turning to leave, the guard's lips curled into a faint, sneering smirk.
"A mere elf on death row, yet he still clings to the pride of a born noble... Hah!"
Chapter 22