Ryu calmly gazed at Jonete's unconscious body. Without much more thought, he turned and left the stage.
The moment the array was lifted, the chorus of boos grew louder. Though Ryu could hear what was happening while he fought, the sound was greatly muffled. Only now was the true level of rage the crowd felt by him.
Melody couldn't help but worriedly look toward Ryu. But, Ryu had long since forbidden her from interacting with him during this tournament. Though she was now much more powerful, the level of enemy Ryu planned to face was beyond this Pedestal Plane. He couldn't easily reveal weaknesses.
An array powered board flickered. Soon, a set of thirty-two names shuffled, placing Ryu's '1-0' record at the very top.
The gazes of rage and the heckling seemed to roll off his shoulders. He simply found his allocated spot and closed his eyes, reviewing his gains from this past battle.
As Ryu was entering silent meditation, a half-eaten apple was suddenly flung in the air toward him. As though taking this as a cue, a barrage of garbage and food soared through the skies.
Maybe if the perpetrators were just mortals, it wouldn't be a big deal. However, many of them were in the Divine Vessel Realm and above.
The various projectiles streaked across the skies, each with their own supply of qi powering them. It might have been impossible to kill Ryu without suffering consequences, but why not humiliate him? They really wanted to see if he could keep that calm, cold demeanor if he had to fight smelling and adorned of trash.
In the stands, a young man was feeling very pleased with himself. He had taken a risk going first, but the results were even better than he expected.
'Serves you right. How dare you do this to Goddess Jonete?'
However, none could have possibly expected what happened next.
Ryu's body was suddenly engulfed by the platform below him. That could figure they had all aimed their ire toward completely disappeared.
In the next instant, another figure appeared, but it was plainly obvious to them all that it wasn't Ryu at all.
The figure turned out to be a young man of the Divine Vessel Realm. He looked around in confusion, completely unable to grasp what had just happened. Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to think about it all before he was suddenly bombarded with the very half-eaten apple he himself had thrown.
With one came two, then three. A barrage of trash and half-eaten foods assaulted his frame, sullying whatever clean image he had had in a flash.
If those in the audience didn't understand what happened by now, they'd truly be too stupid. The hail of food and drink stopped, no one daring to act for fear of being the next on Ryu's list.
However, by the time they located the Ryu the feared so much, they found that he was still quietly mediating. The only difference this time was that he silently floated in the air a distance away from the sudden pile of trash.
The young man shivered in embarrassment and rage. He didn't know where to place his gaze, he could only run, not daring to look toward Ryu.
The host's visage darkened. He was meant to be a neutral party, but as a member of the Minn Clan himself, he hated Ryu even more than he had for ignoring him before. Jonete in her current condition wouldn't be able to fight another battle for weeks, let alone gain a spot to enter the Ice Devil Legacy World.
Suddenly, his eyes flashed with a sinister light.
"If contestant Ryu could please return to his designated seating area, we can move on with the next round. It is inappropriate for participants to sit where they please, lest they interfere with the coming battles. Also, take this as your first warning. Making moves against the audience will absolutely not be tolerated. If there's a second time, I will have to implore the Apostles to consider disqualifying you."
Though Host Minn's visage didn't fluctuate as he spoke nonchalantly, many sneered in response to his words. However, these sneers were all aimed toward Ryu himself.
How could his actions not be easily seen through? Ryu's so-called designated area was now no different from a trash heap. Pieces of food, liquids of sauces and juices, and wrappers of all shapes and sizes were strewn in every direction. How could any dignified person sit amidst such nonsense?
Ryu's eyes slowly opened, meeting Host Minn's gaze.
In those moment, Host Minn felt he had suddenly been plunged into ice cold water, his heartbeat uncontrollably slowing to the point he was scared it might stop completely.
"Host Minn, is it?" Ryu said faintly. "I'll be sure to remember that…"
Ryu floated to the ground and slowly walked toward his sitting arrangements.
But, just when many thought he was truly swallow this humiliation, his body suddenly lit on fire. No… It was more accurate to say that hellish flames began to follow his every step, wafting the arena with an oppressive heat that sought to burn everything down.
Ancestor Ember's pupils constricted into pinholes. His sensitivity to fire was far beyond anyone else in attendance. This flame… Somehow made even him feel fear.
The garbage and remnant food was burnt to a crisp, fluttering in the air as grey and black flecks of ash.
Somehow, the meditating platform itself remained completely untouched, leaving the area just as clean as it had been the very first time Ryu sat.
Host Minn's eye could only twitch, his mouth suddenly feeling exceptionally dry.
Coughing, he redirected his attention. "The next battle. Throne Byrine. Guiot Alos."
Guiot nervously made his way to the platform, almost jumping in fright as the array barrier closed around them. He could have never guessed that a Throne would be his first opponent.
His family looked on nervously from the stands. Of course, they were extremely proud of Guiot for making it this far, but as an Outer Ring Clan, this was the best they could hope for. Their only wish was for Guiot to gain some insights that would help him rise to an even greater height in the future.
Seeing Byrine standing silently across from him, Guiot bowed respectfully, acknowledging their difference in standing.
"Please advise me, esteemed Throne."
His nervousness seemed to disappear the moment his spear entered his hand. His back straightened and his gaze sharpened. Even if he knew he would lose, he wouldn't lose spinelessly.
"Advise, huh?" Byrine's expressionless visage suddenly upturned to a sinister sneer.
Guiot felt that something was wrong, but the battle had already begun. There was nothing he could do but admit defeat, but his pride in his spear art wouldn't allow him to do so before exchanging even a single strike.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. 'I'll show the Core Region your spear, father. Our Alos Clan will rise again.'
He smiled lightly toward his mother and little sister in the stands. That adorable little thirteen-year-old girl waved her arm as hard as she could toward her brother as though she wasn't scared it would fall off. Such a scene warmed Guiot's heart. For their sake… He must perform.
A scorching palm suddenly appeared above him. Guiot had no idea how it was cast, nor did he know it was possible to execute a technique so quickly. In an instant, he already had no path of retreat.
A roar escaped his lips as he sunk into his stance, his qi surging as far as he dared to push it.
"[Alleviating Pierce]!"
The strike was exquisite. It flowed with the wind like a carefree swallow making its way to its nest. The tip of the spear meandered, changing forms constantly without rhyme or reason before finally meeting the flaming palm head-on.
However, no matter how exquisite the technique… The difference was simply too large…
As a genius of the mere Outer Ring, Guiot was only a Peak Spiritual Severing Realm expert, and this alone was already impressive beyond belief.
Without suspense, he was completely crushed. All that was left behind was a charred body, black from head to toe to the point of not leaking a single drop of blood. Even the spear he had cherished with all his being was burnt into a rain of grey and black flecks of ash…
"I do have some advice for you." Byrine said emotionlessly. "Those who are ants should stay ants. Never provoke a lion… Or else the consequences will be severe. You Inner Ring and Outer Ring "geniuses" should know your place."
Byrine's glance very obviously shifted toward Ryu, the rage in his eyes flickering.
"Big brother!"
Guiot's little sister's heartrending cry was completely drowned out by the chorus of cheers.
"That's right!"
"Show them who's boss!"
"The Core Region reigns undefeated!"