Chapter 607 What punishment?
Inside the Gladiator Arena, as the array in the sky disappeared into a shower of tiny sparks, Elizabeth was the first to take flight, followed by Old Hal. The other robed figures accompanying the old man hurried to help Ned with his injuries. But they were taken aback when they saw the man's condition, silently vowing never to judge a person by their appearance again.
The people from the dark side were completely terrified at the fate awaiting them with the two shadow generals gone. Realizing they had to fight to survive, they launched an immediate attack. However, before their strikes could land on anyone, Elizabeth swiftly raised her hand, creating a powerful barrier that trapped them all.
She was a powerful presence, unmatched by anyone in the Gladiator Arena except for the men called Ceano. Sadly, that bastard was stronger than her.
Her booming voice resonated through the air as she pacified the audience.
"Settle down, everyone. It's not the time to panic. It's the time to celebrate! Finally, after so many years, one of the shadow generals has met his demise!"
A broad smile appeared on her lips.
"I can't express the happiness I feel that such a formidable enemy was defeated by none other than a young human... and that human is from my planet! Haha, Kyle, I will always remember this name I heard, and I believe you all will too. Indeed, he deserves the title of nature's favorite... or maybe any title he chooses for himself."
Instantly, her smile turned stern, and a solemn expression graced her face.
"He accomplished the unimaginable, vanquishing a powerful foe. I aim to acknowledge his deeds and those of his companions, yet their transgression in the Gladiator Arena cannot be overlooked. Rules are rules, and they must face the consequences of their misconduct. No exceptions shall be made to uphold the integrity of the Gladiator Arena as a place where regulations are important."
Whispers swirled through the air as the crowd chattered about the silver-haired man and his companions. They caused quite a stir and then vanished.
Surprisingly, the crowd seemed somewhat pleased that the silver-haired man and his friends would face consequences. Nobody likes being chained up for hours, and to top it off, Kyle even messed with Ned, one of the powerful folks overseeing the Arena.
From various individuals' points of view, despite the silver-haired man taking down a shadow general, Kyle's arrogant attitude deserves some punishment. Some might just be hiding their jealousy behind their critiques of his actions and power.
Elizabeth gazed into the distant sky with a contemplative look and let out a sigh.
"The first punishment I have chosen for the group is to ban them from the Arena. They are also prohibited from entering the Lost Treasure Tomb. The second punishment is something I cannot reveal, but rest assured it is not a light one."
After her words disappeared in the air, Xavier and the two humans accompanying him, who were attempting to stay discreet and blend in with the crowd, were swiftly apprehended by Vexana, following Old Hal's instructions. They weren't the only ones caught; Wesley and the elves who entered the Arena with Yue, along with the lizard race individuals who arrived with Nine, were also captured for interrogation.
Xavier muttered curses under his breath, much like the supreme-rank old man from the lizard race who was rueful of the day he allowed Nine to integrate with his people. Wesley and Ronan faces were also grim as they were presented before Old Hal. The old man in a robe asked them about Kyle and his companions, wondering if they knew where the group had headed after leaving the Gladiator Arena, but they had no clue about their whereabouts.
Old Hal nodded, and Xavier and the individuals gathered in front of him breathed a sigh of relief when he let them all go without any punishment, stating that only Kyle and his friends who had run away would face consequences, not those who were with them unknowingly.
After the Arena settled, and all the dark side participants were removed from the Arena to be sent to a distant planet inhabited by flesh-eating beasts by the array masters since Elizabeth and Old Hal both avoided getting their hands dirty with their blood. Vexana declared that the battles in the arena would promptly recommence.
Elizabeth once again rose into the sky to convey her parting words to the audience before leaving the Sacred Divine Land to return to the war. With the shadow generals gone, her presence became unnecessary.
"I encourage all of you to do your best to claim a spot in the Lost Treasure Tomb now that the dark side's presence has been eliminated from the arena. Give it your best shot. And remember, don't mimic what the nature's favorite attempted, for you lack the power to endure my wrath, hahaha."
Her loud laughter echoed through the air, making everyone scrunch their noses in annoyance. As Elizabeth floated towards Old Hal to say goodbye, Ned, who had regained consciousness, stopped her with a serious expression.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but besides kicking Kyle out of the Gladiator Arena, what other punishment did you have in mind for him?"
He asked with fists clenched and jaw tight. He wanted to see Kyle suffer for what the human did to him. This kind of humiliation, Ned had never faced before, and he felt he had lost all his dignity.
All those who saw him being beaten by Kyle would mock him for life for being defeated by a mere divine-rank human. He waited for Elizabeth's answer with anticipation. After all, even if he couldn't find the human, she could with her powerful influence.
Elizabeth blinked, tilting her head with a puzzled expression.
"What punishment?"
Ned's expression sank upon hearing her words, a realization hitting him.
"Don't tell me...?"
Elizabeth patted his shoulder, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Listen, Kyle and his crew, they are a big plus for our side. Their strength is top-notch, and I'm sure they will be a huge help to us in the future. I noticed their strong aversion to the dark side."
Her smirk widened.
"I am not going to punish any of them. It was simply a way to calm the crowd. Forget what happened to you; it was a result of your own actions. Kyle and his friends will soon join us, fighting against the dark forces alongside you as comrades. Clear your heart, or you may regret it."
Elizabeth's gaze turned cold with a warning. After seeing Ned grow pale under her stare, she departed the Gladiator Arena.
She wanted to personally let everyone fighting in the war know that the future looks bright because many formidable allies would soon join them.