“Sorry, everyone,” he said with an apologetic smile. “I don’t fight to entertain others. But I’ll be cheering you all on from the sidelines.”
“Ah, why Zero? It would’ve been enjoyable.” Alisha felt disappointed.
The group exchanged looks, a mix of understanding and disappointment, before a few turning back to their forms.
“It’s fine Zero, me and Nate won’t be joining either. We would be gathering information from the Crowds if possible,” Sofia said nonchalantly.
“Yes, only Hank, Alisha, Mara and Lark would fight and earn us some coins heh heh. We would just enjoy the show.” Nate smiled, patting Aengus’s shoulder.
—-
Nate, Sofia, and Aengus made their way to the spectator’s area, while the rest of their group headed to the waiting area for their turn to fight.
The atmosphere in the colosseum was lively, buzzing with excitement. Though the fights were not death matches, accidents could still happen, making the tension all time high with their nerves on edge.
The trio settled in the furthest seats on the back, because the massive arena was already packed to the brim with people of all kinds. Their shouts and cheers echoed across the vast space, blending into a chaotic symphony.
Aengus scanned the crowd and noticed the diverse crowd. There were evem demi-humans of all shapes and sizes mingled with the other spectators. Cat people, rabbit folk, wolves, elves, dwarves, and even a few fox people filled the seats, each cheering for their favorite combatants.
“So many people! It feels like we’re at a festival,” Nate remarked, smiling brightly, his icy blue hair catching the sunlight.
Nate’s good looks, along with Aengus’ physique and Sofia’s striking snowy white hair, quickly drew the attention of nearby onlookers. Even in a crowd this diverse, they stood out, radiating an aura of uniqueness and quiet power.
“Wow! So handsome and hot!” a few girls exclaimed, their eyes gleaming as they gazed at Aengus and Nate.
“Yeah, right. I like the blue-haired one,” a beautiful girl remarked, armed with a weapon.
“I like the black-haired one. He looks so manly and cold!” another added with fascination.
Sofia chuckled at the naive girls’ expressions.
“Someone seems popular,” she remarked, glancing at the duo beside her.
Nate smiled lightly. “Don’t be so sour, Captain. Look, those guys are ogling you too.”
Sofia seemed disinterested, but one timid guy appeared in front of her.
“Hey, miss, you look really beautiful, especially your hair. Can I talk to you?” he asked nervously.
Sofia furrowed her brows. “No, I’m not interested. Please go back to your seat,” she replied politely.
But another red-haired guy rudely interrupted, “What’s with the arrogance, b**ch? My brother asked politely, didn’t he?” he spoke with force.
Aengus and Nate immediately turned serious, sensing the situation escalating.
Sofia remained unshaken. “And I turned him down politely. But what’s this got to do with you?” Her expression hardened.
The polite young man tugged at the red-haired man, “It’s fine, bro. Let’s go.”
“No need to go anywhere, little brother. You’ve finally liked a girl after so long, and I can’t let you be insulted like this.”
Nate interrupted, “Oh, was he impotent all this while?” he mocked, clearly unafraid. His hand gathered icy particles. “You want to fight? Come on!”
“Who’s afraid of who, boy?”
The red-haired man wasn’t afraid at first because his companions quickly came to back him up.
Aengus stood up calmly and released his crushing aura little by little.
The red-haired man and the others sensed the aura, and their hearts skipped a beat.
With cold and ruthless eyes, Aengus came closer and looked at them, his aura increasing with every passing moment…
Gulp!
The other men swallowed hard and began backing down, one step at a time, leaving the red-haired man standing alone.
“Leave!” Aengus said with a single, commanding word.
“B-Bro, let’s go. I don’t like her anymore,” the timid guy pulled his brother, and the red-haired man allowed himself to be dragged away, trembling slightly under the killing intent of the other party.
Nate and Sofia looked at Aengus speechlessly. They had thought Aengus was strong, but this was something else. Even though they weren’t the targets, they could still feel the shivers from his aura.
Nate gave a thumbs-up and returned to his seat with a smile.
“Thanks, Zero,” Sofia said as she took her seat.
Aengus replied, “It’s nothing, captain. We’re a team now. Besides, I just felt like meddling. I knew you could have handled them on your own.”
Sofia shook her head, “No, you may be right, but it would have been more of a hassle if you hadn’t subdued them so easily.”
“Hey, if you’re done talking, look at the stage. It’s our Hank’s turn now,” Nate said, looking at the center of the arena.
Aengus and Sofia turned their attention to the fight.
Hank, with his big mace ready in hand, was fighting an opponent wielding a longsword.
Everyone watched with excited faces, shouting their names and cheering.
There were also VIP guests present in a separate section.
After a while, the match ended with Hank’s victory. Hank wasn’t weak. it seemed he had some tough skills rivaling same generation.
“Alright, with that done, Nate, go and use your shrewd brain to gather some information for us. Offer them money if needed,” Sofia said, taking her eyes off the stage.
Nate grinned and stood up, “Okay, Captain. Let me try. But I can’t guarantee anything.”
Sofia and Aengus were left alone, creating a bit of awkwardness between them. For a while, neither knew how to initiate a conversation.
The people nearby remained cautious around them after witnessing Aengus’ earlier intimidation.
“So Zero, can I ask why you’re going inside? And do you fall under 20 like us? I heard they won’t allow us to enter if you’re older than that,” Sofia asked casually.
High humans had longer lifespans, so their age sometimes couldn’t be judged by their appearance.
Aengus replied in a neutral tone, “Yes, I’m 18 this year. And I’m going inside to find something important. Sorry, Captain, but I can’t say more than that.”
Sofia didn’t mind, “It’s fine, Zero. Everyone has their secrets. I just hope you won’t go back on your word.”
Aengus reassured her with a faint smile, “I won’t.”
