Socrates stepped outside the room, and the howling wind descended on him immediately as the biting cold struck him hard.
"Damn… maybe I should just go back inside the room." Socrates turned around to execute his action when the voice of Lady Achillia interrupted him.
"You should head to the arena."
"What! You can't tell me what to do…"
"Oh… and why do you think so?"
The moment Lady Achillia asked that question, Socrates felt his body begin to move without his command. His legs turned on their own accord as he tried to control them, but he couldn't. They were moving independently, as though something else had taken hold.
"You're trying to control my body… I won't let you…" Socrates forced his body back in place as he stretched his hand to push the door, only for his own hand to twist and slap his face.
He staggered back in shock as a frown formed on his face.
"I need to get rid of you…" Socrates said defiantly, and Lady Achillia chuckled.
"And how are you going to do so? You can't even absorb energy nor cultivate. How are you going to access your sea of consciousness? You're just a frog in the well… Start moving to the place where your death can be swift… so I can make use of this body." Lady Achillia replied, and Socrates gritted his teeth.
"I'm not going to the arena because you ordered so… I'm going there because I have to."
"Hmph… whatever…"
Socrates turned around and started walking through the only pathway. There was no sun in the sky nor stars, yet the surroundings were dimly lit as shards of snow continued to fall endlessly.
His footprints marked the ground as he walked along the pathway, taking note of the structures visible at the sides.
"I don't know the road to the arena… and I haven't even sighted a single person…" Socrates sighed as he continued forward when two men suddenly crossed his path.
They were wearing thick furs and holding makeshift weapons. They initially ignored Socrates because of his high-quality wears and noble robe, but the moment they got close and saw his face… and his red hair…
They froze in shock. Their minds immediately reflected on the tale that had been circulating everywhere—the red-haired youth who defeated the leader of the Brownhounds guild with just one strike. The same one responsible for rendering the arena unusable.
"What? What do you want?" Socrates asked in a pissed voice, and the two men fell on their knees instantly.
"We want nothing…"
"Yeah, absolutely nothing…"
"We came to greet you…"
"Yes… the great man who wiped out an entire guild…"
"We came to lead you to the arena…"
"Yes… the Rank 50 has challenged you… so we came to lead you there…"
The two men kept exchanging words rapidly between themselves.
"Enough. Lead me to the arena…" Socrates said, and they quickly rose from the ground.
"W-well well… time to die…" Lady Achillia giggled.
---
The moment Socrates entered the arena, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.
"Socrates!"
"Socrates!!"
"Brother Socrates! Look at me!"
"Brother Socrates, I'm cold!"
"Brother Socrates, come warm my bed!"
"Brother Socrates, I want to be your disciple!"
"Socrates, do you have someone you love?"
"Socrates, my money is on you!"
The voices surged as he walked in. The place they brought him to was different from where he had fought before.
This arena was an open space under the harsh cold weather. The floor spanned wide like a battlefield, completely covered in snow. It was steep, and surrounding it were rows of snow forming uniform columns like stairs that rose skyward.
On those ridges stood the spectators, watching everything unfold. Most wore thick fur coats, while some had already consumed Hot pills to keep their internal systems from freezing.
At the top ridges were canopies occupied by top rankers and powerful individuals.
Socrates looked around, realizing all eyes were on him, when suddenly someone descended into the stage, shifting the crowd's attention.
It was a short man with a protruding stomach. He wore a fur coat nearly scraping the ground, and in his hand was a black stone.
The black stone was a transmission stone used like a microphone.
He raised it to his mouth and addressed Socrates.
"Socrates… Ranker 51 of the outer ranking. Disciple of the Northern Gladiator Guild. Champion of the Sky Pavilion branch of the Northern Gladiator Guild. You have been challenged by Ranker 50 of the outer ranking… Kurama of the Ichigo clan."
The short man announced as Socrates sized up his opponent.
Kurama wore brown trousers and a black light armor covering his chest. He stood with arms crossed, two swords strapped behind his back.
Socrates wondered if he was unaffected by the cold, unaware that Kurama had already consumed a Hot pill.
"Do you dare accept this challenge?" the short man asked, earning a snort from Socrates.
Such a vile question after pushing him into a tight corner… how could he refuse when the reputation of the guild was on the line?
"I accept the challenge…" Socrates replied, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Suddenly, someone dropped onto the stage from one of the snow columns. It was a woman of striking beauty. She wore a brown short skirt revealing slender legs and a body-hugging armor. Her black hair was tied with a band, and she stood beside Kurama.
"Here we have Binata from the Ichigo clan… she'll be a partner to Kurama on this challenge."
"The nature of the challenge is to destabilize a formation that will trap you. The first to do so wins. The rule is the formation must be destabilized, not destroyed. If it is destroyed, that party automatically fails. So Socrates, please choose your partner so the challenge can start."
The short man finished his announcement as he looked at the red-haired youth.
"Big Brother Socrates, choose me!"
"Choose me, Big Brother!"
"I can help destabilize the formation!"
"Big Brother, I'm reliable!"
"Big Brother, trust me!"
"Believe in me!"
"Socrates, I'm here!"
"Socrates, I want to be your friend!"
Socrates stood amidst the attention, recalling that this was not the first time he had been treated this way. Ever since childhood, when his father was the Patriarch of the House of Trueblood, he had always been praised as a genius.
He liked this feeling. He enjoyed it. His eyes drifted across the crowd, searching.
In the next moment, the snow at the center of the field scattered as a silhouette landed with a heavy thud.
It was a female silhouette with graceful eyes, a well-developed body, and a gown that stopped just above her knees. Her long legs were covered in boots, while the armless gown emphasized her curves and cleavage.
Slowly, she walked toward Socrates with a seductive smile.
"That's Lu Yurao from the Lu clan."
"The prestigious daughter of the Lu clan."
"Yes… currently Rank 40 in the outer ranking."
"What is she doing?"
"Look… she's walking toward Brother Socrates."
"Is she interested in that red-haired youth?"
The crowd watched closely as Lu Yurao approached Socrates.
"I want to partner with you…" her voice reached his ears.
Before he could respond, the crowd exploded again.
"Go for it, Brother Socrates!"
"A beauty is offering you a chance!"
"This is your moment for fame!"
"Don't miss the opportunity with the Lu family!"
"Brother Socrates, Lu Yurao belongs to me!"
Socrates heard every scream as he narrowed his eyes, noticing someone in the crowd who did not look pleased.
The silhouette was staring downward, visibly devastated.
He glanced at her briefly, then turned back to Lu Yurao.
He sized her up calmly.
"Apologies, Miss Lu… you are a capable and competent partner to have, but unfortunately I've already chosen someone else…"
Silence fell.
Then shock spread through the arena.
"Kamira… Ranker 100 of the outer ranking. You will be my partner for this challenge."
The declaration stunned the crowd.
Lu Yurao froze completely before abruptly turning away and leaping off the field.
"She rejected such a beauty…"
"I'm afraid he has offended the Lu Family…"
"He has backing too… will the Lu family act against the disciple of the Northern Gladiator Guild?"
"This matter will be serious…"
"I heard Socrates wiped out an entire guild just to rescue that lady…"
"Who exactly is she to him?"
"That girl… I know her. She was a former member of the Brownhounds guild… the guild engineer."
"If she's an engineer, she should know formations…"
"Unfortunately, I don't think so."
"What are you waiting for? Come down quickly."
Socrates shouted out.
She looked at him, eyes full of tears.
A small toy spider on her head moved to her wrist before shooting out a web straight at Socrates.
He caught it and pulled her in.
Her body swung forward and landed in his embrace, arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.
For a moment, even the wind seemed to stop. The drifting snow hung still, as though watching them.
"How are you?" he asked.
She nodded softly, sniffing.
He placed her down and stepped forward.
"Are you ready?" the short man asked through the transmission stone.
"Yes…" Socrates replied.
Kurama nodded.
"Both of you, step forward."
Socrates moved, but Kamira grabbed his arm.
"Why did you pick me?" she asked.
"Because you're beautiful," Socrates replied instantly, continuing forward.
She froze, unable to respond, heat rising through her body despite the freezing air.
They stepped into position. The referee raised the transmission stone.
A blue barrier flared up, forming a square that enclosed both fighters at a twenty-meter separation.
Kurama stood inside one barrier. Socrates stood inside another.
"The both of you will dissect this formation while your partner protects you from external attack," the referee announced.
Binata released her aura—mid-stage Qi Condensation realm pressure—locking eyes on Kamira, who was only at the early stage.
From the stands, Judas observed quietly and shook his head.
"This isn't protection… it's a setup. If the partner can destroy the barrier from outside, they win instantly. Unfortunately Socrates, you made a rash decision. You should have chosen Lu… this girl is too weak. She will be the cause of your failure."