Anuver turned his head slowly, meeting Tina's curious gaze with a calm, almost resigned expression.
His golden eyes dulled by the glamour to look ordinary held a faint shadow of old pain as he spoke.
"Yes," he said softly, voice low enough that the roaring crowd almost drowned it out. "I was useless. That's why they kicked me out of the house. Can't even use my family name anymore."
Tina's ears twitched sharply, her cocky smirk fading into a deep frown.
Her tail stopped swishing, hanging still as her blue eyes widened in shock.
"I had no mana or aura, you know. My sea is completely dried up unlike yours."
She leaned forward abruptly, elbows on her knees, staring at him like he'd just confessed to some grave injustice. Her fangs peeked out as her lips curled in anger.
"What? That's too cruel!" she hissed, voice rising with genuine outrage. "Are your parents animals or something, just kicking you out like that?"
Anuver shrugged, a bitter half-smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes remained distant.
Tina scooted closer on the bench, her leather armor creaking softly. She scanned him head to toe pale skin, lean build, the way he sat with relaxed posture despite everything.
"Your body's kinda pale," she said, tone shifting to teasing as a mischievous grin crept back, "but you look like you can hold a sword. At least defend yourself, right?"
Anuver nodded, meeting her grin with a small one of his own.
"Of course. Since I was a child, I've been training with a sword to build my body."
If I remember correctly, he thought, suppressing a smirk, the original Anuver used swords for so long he doesn't even need one anymore.
Pure muscle memory from eons of practice he could shatter mountains with a flick.
Tina's eyes lit up, her tail starting to swish again as her grin widened, fangs glinting playfully.
"You can call me Big Sister Tina!" she declared proudly, puffing out her chest. "As you can see, I'm from the cat-eared tribe Nomono Clan!"
Anuver's expression stayed neutral, but internally his mind raced.
Nomono Clan… the ones who launch the attack on this festival in the game. The hidden antagonists opposing the Mirlode Empire for their treatment of demihumans. And they lose… because of Alto.
Tina leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
"If you don't have a home or anything… how about joining my team for this tournament? If we win, I'll give you 10% of the prize. How's that?"
She smirked confidently, ears perked forward, waiting for his answer.
Anuver pretended to think it over, rubbing his chin.
"Not a bad deal. I can't do much anyway, so… sure, I'll join your team."
Tina's face lit up like she'd just won a prize herself.
"How many people are on your team?" he asked casually.
She threw her head back and laughed loud, dramatic, full-on villain mode.
"Yup! Just two now you and me!" Her laughter echoed, drawing a few glances from nearby spectators. "I'm already enough, though. Rank 7 Aura Master! Who can even challenge me? Muhahahaha!"
Anuver stared blankly, one eyebrow twitching.
Shit… why does she laugh like a lunatic from a bad theater play?
But he couldn't deny it Rank 7 this early in arc 3 was monstrous. Strong enough to dominate most fighters here.
Alto hits Rank 5 after 100 days with Predator. Impressive for a protagonist… but Tina's on another level.
"Ohhhh!" Tina suddenly exclaimed, jumping in her seat and pointing down at the arena. "The paladin and that werewolf guy are still going at it! Who do you think will win?"
She turned to him, tail flicking excitedly.
"Ummm… what was your name again?"
"Sora," Anuver replied smoothly, voice steady. "Surname doesn't matter anymore."
Tina nodded enthusiastically.
"So, Sora who do you think wins? I bet that foul-mouthed paladin. She's already winning look!"
Down in the sand pit, the paladin moved like a storm of silver and steel. Her blade flashed in precise arcs, leaving deep gashes across the werewolf's thick fur. Blood sprayed with each hit, staining the sand dark. The beastman staggered, roaring in pain, claws slashing wildly but hitting only air.
The crowd erupted as the paladin taunted again: "Come on, puppy! That all you got?"
Anuver watched calmly, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"The werewolf will win."
Tina blinked, turning to him with wide eyes and flattened ears.
"Huh? How? He's bleeding everywhere almost on his knees!"
Anuver glanced down, eyes narrowing slightly as he noted the werewolf's stance feet planted firm, muscles tensing, eyes glowing with berserk fury.
"But he's not on his knees yet."
The werewolf let out a guttural, earth-shaking snarl. Dark aura exploded around him, wounds steaming as rage overrode pain.
The tide was turning.
Tina leaned forward, grip tightening on the railing, her mischievous grin returning.
The real fight was just beginning.
Anuver leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the railing as he watched the bloodied werewolf stagger under another precise slash from the paladin. His voice stayed calm, almost conversational, like he was commenting on the weather.
"How do I know he'll win?" he repeated Tina's question with a small, knowing smile. "A werewolf's main trait kicks in when they're injured too much. Their rage hits a peak they forget pain, fear, everything. They turn into pure killing machines."
Tina's ears twitched, her blue eyes narrowing as she glanced between him and the arena.
Anuver continued, gesturing lazily downward. "Look at his eyes. They're getting redder, glowing brighter with every slash he takes. The more she cuts him, the stronger the berserk state becomes."
Tina leaned in closer, tail flicking curiously. "So you're saying…"
"If the paladin doesn't end it right now," Anuver said, voice dropping just a touch, "and keeps toying with him provoking him like she has been she's done. Drunk on her own arrogance."
Down in the arena, the paladin laughed again, blade flashing as she circled her bleeding opponent.
"Is that all, puppy? Come on, entertain me more!"
The werewolf's breathing grew ragged, chest heaving. Blood dripped from dozens of gashes, staining the sand dark. But his eyes… those eyes burned crimson now, pupils dilated into slits of pure fury.
The paladin raised her sword for another mocking strike.
Then it happened.
The werewolf exploded forward no warning, no wind-up. Just raw, primal speed.
His claws raked across her silver armor in a blur, metal screeching as plates tore like paper. One swipe shattered her ornate helmet, sending it spinning across the sand.
Her face revealed for the first time was pale with shock.
Before she could recover, the werewolf's massive leg shot out in a brutal kick.
Full power.
The paladin flew like a ragdoll, crashing into the barrier near the audience seats with a thunderous impact. She slumped, unconscious, silver hair spilling out from under the broken helm.
The arena fell silent for a split second.
Then the crowd erupted half in shock, half in wild cheers.
The announcer's voice boomed: "Unbelievable! The beastman wins by knockout!"
Tina's jaw dropped, ears standing straight up. She whipped around to Anuver, blue eyes wide.
"Oh shit… how did you know?!" she hissed, grabbing his sleeve. "Have you read about this or something? Studied beastman traits?"
Anuver leaned back again, hiding his smirk behind a casual shrug.
Of course I know, he thought. I played this damn game all night like a madman. I know every pattern, every trigger, every arc.
Out loud, he just said, "Yes. Back home, I studied a lot. I wasn't much of a fighter myself, so… I focused on the details. Small things like that."
Tina stared at him for a long moment, then her face broke into a huge, fanged grin.
"That's so cool!" she exclaimed, punching his shoulder lightly. "Even though you're weak, you've got a brain! Muhahahaha!"
Her laugh echoed again dramatic, over-the-top, full chunni mode.
Anuver just smiled faintly, glancing back at the arena where medics rushed to the fallen paladin.
One fight down.
Many more to go.