Chapter 434: First Battle – Newcomer

Not long after fighting against the bouncer, a new set of staff ushered Nikolai and his group into the Arena. The filthy stairs gave way to a beautiful and rather clean-looking floor inside, with red carpets and black walls. There were various paintings of fox spirits and foxes on the walls.

The imagery reminded Nikolai of Kumiko, his wife… she must have lived in this country for a long time.

Foxes seemed to be important to the Silver Clan in the west, maybe in the past because of their deep connection and marriage vows, but now… the last remaining royal blooded fox became Nikolai’s woman—a Volkov, the Silver Clan’s former master and now enemy.

“Phew… this place is quite good, the atmosphere is a little too steampunk, but the neon lights and feel are great.” Ryan muttered as he followed Nikolai, who held Clara in his arms like a bride, with Aru curled up on her stomach and legs.

Although he wanted to complain about Nikolai touching his sister like that… Ryan couldn’t help but stop the moment he tried to speak.

“The Arena Master is inside, dear customers.”

When the group entered the room, a strange sight awaited them.

Contrary to the dirty room Nikolai expected in an underground Arena, the room was pristine, with a massive screen that showed the current fight. A short man with a crooked spine sat in a chair, with a glass of whiskey in his hand, and a cigar in the other; a thick cloud of smoke covered.

However, the moment the group came inside, he quickly stood up, “I-Ivan’s son!?” He looked at the towering Nikolai with eyes of terror, his body physically shaking despite Nikolai doing nothing.

“Oh? You know my dad, haha. That makes things simple.” Nikolai commented as he dropped onto the two-seater and grabbed the bottle of mid-grade whiskey, necking it down. “So, I want to enter the Arena and reach the top. What do I have to do?”

The man’s eyes darted from Nikolai to Clara, then Ryan and Aru, who was still a cat. “I see… is it just you? And what kind of wager…”

“My life, and… you joining Ryan?”

Ryan almost spat out the glass of whiskey he poured for himself, his eyes wide as he coughed, “What the hell are you saying, I’m not fighting in the Arena!”

“Eh? Well I guess without your guns you’d get destroyed, haha.”

“Shut up!”

While listening to the crooked male observe the atmosphere and reactions, he noticed that Clara, whom Nikolai had placed on a seat, like a delicate flower, remained silent while watching the Arena with shining eyes.

Then the friendship of Ivan’s son with this strange human from the SSS.

Nikolai sat in the musty VIP suite, facing the unappealing, submissive Arena master, while enjoying the neon lighting and distant chants from the gathering crowd. In the box, while Clara and Ryan sat beside him on small single-seat couches.

He spread his legs with a deep breath, the scent of whiskey lingering, and placed his arms across the backrest. He focused on the caged Arena. The smell of mixed blood coming from the centre was disgusting. However, at the same time, it sparked a sense of excitement inside him.

“So you’re the leader of this join, really? You are a member of the Silver Clan?”

Nikolai couldn’t help but feel sceptical. The hunched back and dull grey hair with specs of silver meant his blood purity was low. He couldn’t even be considered a branch member with this level of blood.

“Y-Yes, yes, of course! It is I Cedric Silver! You can trust me”

Cedric’s eyes darted between Nikolai and the others, his hands trembled as he spoke, and he kept glancing at the door.

“If you want to leave, then first set up my first match, Cedril”

“It’s Cedric, Young Master…”

Ryan, who had been sitting quietly, burst out laughing at the name mix-up.

“I don’t give a damn, Cedril, just set up the fight, I want to win and become the champion, just like my father, and since you look annoyed at my presence. I give you permission to book me the hardest fights possible. Let me enjoy this challenge okay?”

“A-Are you sure?” The hunchback male smirked, his body shaking with a different emotion; the arrogance of the Volkov clan always angered him.

“Yes, and make sure I’m booked for three fights a week. I can’t wait to fight.”

Clara and Ryan looked on with concerned eyes; even they could sense the amount of death and bloodshed that had happened in the Arena.

“Then I’ll set up the first match. Please, follow the staff to your waiting room.”

“Yeah sure.”

Nikolai waved him off. He wanted to test something that had started brewing inside him from the moment he slept with Lunaria and Selene… their power, the Tepes blood arts’ unique ability to turn elements into blood art.

“I think it should work…” He touched his chest, feeling the slow thump of his vampiric heart, squeezing the Vermillian Essence through his veins on command.

Today, I will fight without using my Lupus Diabolus bloodline.

***

After the Arena master left, Ryan rushed to Nikolai with a look of concern. “Oi! Did you have to provoke him?! What if he sends Elders up against you!?”

“Relax Ryan, when did you last meet me? If an Elder wants to fight… the Elder will die.”

Despite his strength being at the peak of Maturity right now.

Nikolai knew that if he used all of his power, transformed, and fought without care for the injuries, he could probably take down a low or mid-tier Elder without losing.

A Higher or Peak Elder might be a challenge, but I want a challenge…

Without challenge, one will stagnate!

“Well if it looks bad, I will help you.” Ryan huffed, his hands rubbing the two huge handcannons at his waist.

“It’s great to have a good friend like you.”

“Shut up!”

The two laughed; their relationship had changed, but the bond they shared remained strong.

Over time, they started to adapt and forgive the mistakes of the past. Nikolai watched Ryan’s eyes. He could see them shining in the Arena. Ryan also enjoyed fighting, but unlike Nikolai, a loss would mean death for a human in here.

Clara, on the other hand, looked the most pumped about this fight.

“Can you win?” Her soft voice danced on the wine. Her black eyes shimmered as she looked at Nikolai. She didn’t seem worried, but more curious.

“Of course, princess. If I win, will you reward me?”

He leaned in, his hot breath blowing against her neck, his eyes focused on her exposed cleavage. The gossamer dress was a little see-through, but it made her look even more stunning, and Nikolai couldn’t help but wonder how she’d react if he pushed her down and took her right there.

“Reward you?” She tilted her head, her long white hair swaying, and a sweet scent of honey and milk filled the air before she flicked his nose, the force strong enough to send his body floating back onto the couch.

Eh? She’s stronger than she seems…

“Hehe~ you look so cute, maybe if you win I’ll give you a kiss.” Like a charming seductress, she giggled and winked. “I’ve seen how you look at me… Mister wolf, undressing and hungering for me.”

She slipped closer, leaning over the arm of her chair, allowing her silky dress to stretch further, showing her cleavage and milky skin.

Then, with a lower, more sensual tone. “But I’ve always liked wolves…”

Ryan’s jaw dropped, while Aru’s ears perked up and she hissed, jumping from the fairy’s lap as if in protest.

The most stunned was Nikolai.

I had been treating her like an inexperienced young girl subconsciously…

However, despite these naive thoughts, he now realised. This fairy had been hiding its claws and waiting for the right moment to reveal them!

“I’ll head down to the wating room.”

“Oi, should I bet on you?” Ryan called out, with a sarcastic smile plastered on his face.

“Yeah, I don’t care… but this is my first fight, the odds should be low.” Nikolai picked Aru up, who looked unhappy and slunk her tail around his neck as the two headed to the entrance of the Arena. “I’ll be betting on my self though.”

I’d like to buy some gifts while I’m here, so let’s earn some extra money.

***

The cage’s iron gate opened with a rusty squeak, its scent stale with the mix of human and supernatural blood.

Inside the waiting room, it was a far cry from the VIP booth, with a dirty bench that was broken and rusted. The thick scent of various beasts mixed, making Nikolai’s nose burn, as if someone had poured bleach down his nasal cavity.

He noticed the man waiting inside, with a solid muscular chest, broad shoulders, and a wild mane of black fur. His beast-like eyes met Nikolai’s with a sharpness and fierceness that seemed to cut the air. “Newcomer?” A gruff voice that vibrated beneath the air.

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

“Hmm… you’ll suffer with that handsome face.”

“I’ll endure it!”

“Haha, I see.” The big man’s advice didn’t seem malicious to Nikolai, his face and body covered in scars and faded bite marks. It was a brutal battle for him to reach this far.

He chuckled at Nikolai’s response and turned away.

“Take care, kid. Remember my name, Black Bear.”