Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Lazuli Replaces Scarlett?!
At the same time.
The news of Cang’s crushing defeat reached the Great Elder like a thunderclap.
"What?! Defeated in one move?"
The Great Elder’s pupils contracted sharply, his face full of disbelief.
As Cang’s father, he knew his son’s strength better than anyone.
Although he was only at Commander Tier Three, he could definitely rank in the top thirty among the younger generation.
Even for a Commander Peak expert, defeating Cang in one move would be no easy feat.
Yet Veridia did it!
What does this mean?
A Tier Four Xenos with battle power comparable to a Commander Peak!
The Great Elder’s heart sank, an ominous premonition rising spontaneously.
If Veridia were to take first place, the possibility of the Divine Pattern recognizing a master...
No way!
This Onyx-Horned Ghost Race must not be allowed to touch the Divine Pattern!
At this moment, the Great Elder sat on pins and needles, unable to care about anything else, and immediately set out for the arena.
The competition, originally hosted by a designated person, now had to be personally controlled by him.
However, on his way, his mind raced, yet he couldn’t find a perfect strategy.
The competition was held in front of everyone, making it extremely difficult for him to manipulate anything.
Damn it!
Do we have to hand over the Divine Pattern to that Onyx-Horned Ghost Race?
When the Great Elder arrived at the scene, suppressing his inner anxiety, it was just in time for Scarlett to take the stage.
Scarlett faced a Xenos, merely a Commander Tier One.
But even a Commander Tier One was a formidable opponent for Scarlett.
However, with her mastery over the Void, even this Commander Tier One Ghost Race couldn’t touch her at all.
"Bang!"
Scarlett’s counterattack hit the opponent, yet left not the slightest mark.
With thousands of attribute values, her power seemed pale and powerless against the tenacious physical defense of a Commander Level Ghost Race.
"All you can do is scurry around like a rat?"
Unable to land a blow, the Commander Tier One Ghost Race shouted angrily.
He had tried to use his Void Ability, but Scarlett’s proficiency in the void far exceeded his imagination.
No matter how hard he tried...
He couldn’t catch a trace of her void signature.
This feeling of impotence made him resort to provocation.
However, Scarlett was not foolish.
She knew that confronting this Commander Level Ghost Race head-on held no chance of victory; she could only bide her time by slipping between the real and the unreal, relying on the Void Power.
The Ghost Race audience watching this scene began to curse:
"What a disgrace to the Ghost Race, hiding like a coward!"
"Indeed! No wonder she was expelled from the tribe back then!"
"Just admit defeat already and stop wasting our time!"
The voices of ridicule made Veridia furrow her brow.
If these words were directed at her, she would remain unresponsive.
But for Scarlett...
A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.
Aster Grant also frowned.
He understood that evading battle was indeed Scarlett’s only option.
Even granting Scarlett the Soul-devouring Talent, doubling her attributes...
She still lacked the offensive skills to inflict substantial damage on the Commander Level Ghost Race.
Fortunately, the rules of the Ghost Race competition dictated that a match only ended when one side fell off the platform.
Thus, while Scarlett couldn’t win, she at least wouldn’t lose.
Just as Aster Grant believed the match would stalemate, the Great Elder’s figure suddenly appeared before him.
"Human, this stalemate is not a solution."
"How long will your Beastbond evade battle until a victor is determined?"
Aster Grant’s gaze turned to the Great Elder who appeared in front of him.
He was curious as to what plan this Great Elder was concocting by bringing up this matter at such a moment.
Seeing Aster Grant’s expression, the Great Elder continued:
"How about this: you replace this Ghost Race with another Beastbond for the match?"
After witnessing Scarlett’s performance, a brilliant idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
This Ghost Race’s talent is so mediocre that even winning the competition hardly means securing the Divine Pattern’s recognition.
In comparison, keeping Scarlett in the arena is much safer than facing Veridia, who poses a greater threat.
However, to get this human to agree to these terms, he must make some concessions.
"Oh?"
Aster Grant raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Replacing Scarlett with a Beastbond?
Could this Great Elder really be so generous?
His eyes were sharp, fixed on the Great Elder’s face.
This Great Elder surely had conditions not yet stated.
Sure enough...
"Of course, if you replace the Ghost Race on the field with another Beastbond, Veridia must withdraw from this competition!"
Upon hearing this additional condition, Aster Grant couldn’t help but laugh coldly.
Just as expected.
This Great Elder intended to revoke Veridia’s eligibility to compete.
He probably saw Veridia’s strength as daunting, difficult to find an opponent among the competitors this time.
That’s why he proposed such a condition.
But this Great Elder probably couldn’t have dreamed...
His strongest Beastbond has never been Veridia.
Since this Ghost Race Great Elder proposed such a demand, he would fulfill it.
"Alright, I agree!"
Aster Grant’s straightforward response made the Great Elder momentarily stunned, a hint of unease rising in his heart.
This human... why did he agree so readily?
He had prepared to use both coercion and enticement, but he didn’t expect the other party to not even haggle.
But then again, wasn’t this exactly what he intended?
After all, the Ghost Race is inherently a combat race, Veridia must be this human’s strongest Beastbond.
As long as Veridia is withdrawn...
"The Ghost Race’s Void Power and Path of Strength are undoubtedly the most troublesome for other races."
The Great Elder mused to himself, "It’s much simpler to deal with Xenos than to handle Veridia, who is of the same race."
With this thought, he forcibly suppressed his unease.
This human’s other Beastbonds couldn’t possibly match the young generation of the Ghost Race.
Nonetheless, to be doubly sure, he decided to insert a Monarch Level strongman among the contestants.
"Pause the match! This round is void, and we will restart shortly!"
The Great Elder loudly announced Scarlett’s withdrawal and the replacement with Aster Grant’s other Beastbond.
This decision immediately drew cheers from the entire Ghost Race audience:
"It should have been like this long ago! This Ghost Race only knows how to hide!"
"Let that human’s other Beastbond feel the might of our Ghost Race!"
"Get down already, coward!"
Amidst the Ghost Race’s ridicule, Scarlett returned to Aster Grant’s side, somewhat dejected.
Even though she tried her best... the attribute gap was undeniable.
Aster Grant reached out to gently stroke Scarlett’s hair, comforting her in a warm voice:
"It’s not your fault, combat was never your forte."
"I’ll leave the next battle to Lazuli."
Upon hearing this, Scarlett nodded.
Soon after, a summoning array appeared before Aster Grant.
In the next moment...
A radiant light streaked across the sky!
The Ten-winged Angel Lazuli suddenly descended upon the arena.
As her sacred wings unfolded, a vast aura swept across the arena like a tsunami.
The terrifying presence abruptly silenced all ridicule, plunging the entire arena into a deathly stillness.
...
...