Chapter 62: Ch 54 wolf vs dragon (1) (1/2)

The moment Setsuna took off her helmet, an uproar swept through the crowd. Most people believed the gladiator king to be a man. An old and rugged man to boot. Never in their wildest imagination would they have thought that the strongest gladiator was a woman, and one so young.

But, out of all of those, the biggest reaction was in the lounge belonging to the Gorfard family.

Leonard, after seeing Sol's display, was already tearing his hair out in frustration as he screamed in the lounge.

He couldn't accept that. He refused to accept that. The fact that this shitty prince was so powerful, he was an irregularity.

'Yes! Camelia! The supreme daughter! It must be because of her, there's no other way.'

Calming his bruised ego with his thoughts, he failed to notice the reaction of the slave beneath his feet as she murmured with a surprised expression.

”Princess.”

----

Sol, facing Setsuna, calmed himself down before closing his eyes in reminiscence.

”As we have promised back then, once I beat you, you will tell me your past and you will totally submit to me, body and soul.”

”Indeed. Though, I already said that I was yours. I do not understand why we have to pass by this step.”

Sol smiled as he shook his head before opening his eyes, blazing with conviction, ”I do not wish for such a relationship. I know the way of the wolves. I studied them because I wanted to better understand you. The blue wolves follow a pack system, and only a strong male can be recognized as the alpha of the pack.”

Clenching his fist, he continued, ”Of course, you guys aren't animals controlled by your instincts. Feelings and instincts are different. The one who loves me is Setsuna the woman, but Setsuna the wolf does not see me as the leader of the pack. If I do not make you submit. Our relationship will most likely become strained in the future.”

This wasn't an exaggeration, beasts-kin were as much beasts as they were human. Though it would be a mistake to call them hybrids either. This made them a rather weird race that made instinct and reason coexist in the same being.

If he wished so, by asking her to force down her instinct, Sol could have a normal relationship with Setsuna even if he never beat her. But this wouldn't be a long term solution. Sooner or later, Setsuna would snap even if she didn't mean to.

He didn't wish for that. He wished not just for Setsuna, but for all the women close to him to have happy and fulfilling lives. He wished that they harbor no regrets over forming a relationship with him.

So, even if it meant he had to beat them up, he would make them happy.

'The irony of the situation.'

”...I see.” Her deep blue eyes gazed at the man she loved more than anyone else, seemingly searching for something in his eyes.

Once she was satisfied with what she found, she began to discard her armor one piece after the other.

Seeing this, Sol smiled as he began to do the same.

Setsuna's armor was different from his. Aside from the hard metal, it provided almost no protection. After all, it was filled with runes designed to keep her identity. Still, he didn't hesitate to take off his armor.

He did not wish to leave any doubts about his victory.

Once they finished, Setsuna was now clad in a simple kimono with a short skirt while Sol stood in his blue and gold regal robes. Seeing them like that, no one would think that they were about to fight with everything they had.

”Hey, old man!”

”Y-yes?!”

The referee squeezed out his voice as he asked politely.

”We will use the free for all rules. The only way for defeat is to be knocked out, surrendering or the incapacity to fight. Nothing else.”

”O-of course!”

There was no reason for him to hesitate, so he accepted quite readily.

Once Sol had this answer, he turned back to Setsuna.

”Are you ready?”

A savage smile formed on Setsuna's face as she replied, ”This time, I won't hold back.”

”I hop–huh?”

By the time Sol answered, a fair and dainty hand was already holding his face, before-

BAAM!!!!

-Bringing it down violently against the ground.

At least that is what it looked at first glance.

The moment Setsuna impacted the ground with her hands, the Sol she was holding faded, while another one appeared behind her.

<<Shadow clone>>

He had used a substitution technique that consisted of creating a double with mana and filling it with fighting intent. This double was unable to fight but was perfect for tricks and traps.