Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 52: Veil of Intrigue

After bidding farewell to the Serpent Queen, Neven skillfully navigated into a small room perched on the edge of a cliff. It was a cramped space designated for contestants, furnished with two luxurious high-backed armchairs and a crystal ball on the table that offered a view of the entire Arena of Asura. His iron-masked opponent was already pacing within the Arena of Asura, appearing restless and uneasy as he wandered near the elevator.

Aria, her golden mask barely concealing the anxiety on her face, bit her lip. After a painful internal struggle, she finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "You should withdraw. He's bigger than Oak; he'll kill you." Her words were filled with worry. "You can choose to be the first. The Serpent Queen likes you; at least you'd stay alive."

Neven exhaled sharply and stepped closer. "Are you really willing to give me to the Serpent Queen?" he asked, his voice heavy with suppressed anger.

"But isn't that better than risking your life?"

"Aria, even if you can accept other women by my side, my heart cannot be split in two." Neven removed his mask, his eyes burning with both anger and sorrow. "Emotions are like blades; they cannot remain sharp at both ends. Don't push me towards others, don't try to divide my feelings." His gaze fixed on Aria, his tone tinged with melancholy.

Aria bit her lip harder. She knew Neven was pretending to be strong, and tonight's fight would be exceptionally brutal. What made her feel immensely guilty was that all of this was happening because Neven wanted to save her.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Sir, it's time."

Neven took out a bottle of Essence Elixir and downed it in one gulp.

They donned their masks again and headed to the Arena of Asura, where the nobles were gathering along the narrow cliffside gallery. Aria followed Neven through the crowd of masked faces. This narrow viewing platform, though not as grand as the Moon Tower's coliseum, could still accommodate thousands of bloodthirsty spectators. More and more people gathered, their excitement palpable even behind their masks.

Aria reached the railing, peering down at the boiling magma below. In the center was a vast rocky platform, and the elevator would descend directly onto it. An iron door on the rocky ground emitted constant roars from within.

Aria broke into a cold sweat as she heard the cries of the Night Ghouls. Neven leaned against the railing, lacking any hard armor, not even a cloak, with only his Soul Stone sword at his waist. The black-gold Soul Stone emitted a faint glow. He pulled Aria into his arms, his eyes under the mask glimmering with golden light.

"Don't worry. If all goes well, I'll be back by midnight. If you get tired, rest in the room we were just in."

"How can I not worry?" Aria said anxiously. "That night we entered, there were only a few hundred Night Ghouls, and Damian happened to save us during his patrol."

Neven chuckled softly. "That night, we were lucky; today, we rely on skill." He kissed Aria's forehead gently and said.

The Arena of Asura echoed with the voice of a Serpent host, his tone resonating throughout the space:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to today's ultimate showdown, the Arena of Asura's kill match is about to begin! This is a ruthless and brutal battle where only the strongest will survive! Are you ready to witness this bloody spectacle?"

He paused, his unmasked serpent eyes scanning the crowd, his voice growing more fervent. "Today's warriors are prepared to defend their honor with blood and sweat! You will witness the limits of courage, strength, and death! You will hear the cheers of victory and the cries of defeat!"