840  Back home III

    Neon whipped his head toward Kyle and glared at him. He had wagered all his mana stones on Bia and was sure she would win!

    "How can you say Bia won''t win? The phoenix is your own bonded beast! She will be so upset when I tell her that you said she might lose! Look at how she is beating up Nox; it''s obvious she will win!"

    Kyle''s eyes flickered with amusement. Ray turned to him, nibbling his nails, convinced Nox would lose because Neon was right—the lynx was taking a brutal beating. Yet, hearing Kyle, he felt a glimmer of hope.

    "Who do you think will win?"

    Ray asked tentatively and stared at the dark-haired man who had leisurely leaned back in his armchair. Kyle tapped his chin thoughtfully while humming.

    "Nox will win."

    Ray rejoiced after hearing Kyle''s words.

    Neon stood up, clenching the supreme rank storage ring filled with mana stones that he would have to give to Ray if Bia lost.

    "Impossible!"

    His voice was so loud that Ohan yelled at him to speak a bit softly, or else he would face consequences. Neon murmured an ''okay'' to his father and turned to Kyle.

    "I mean, how can it be possible for Bia to lose? Can''t you see she''s winning?"

    Yue and Ray also glanced at Kyle with curious eyes, awaiting his response.

    He gazed up into the sky where the two beasts were battling each other fiercely.

    "It''s because Bia is being too aggressive. She believes she will win, which is why she isn''t paying attention to the openings she''s creating in her attacks. As for Nox... even though he''s getting beaten up, I can see he is waiting for the right moment to trap her."

    She shouted so loudly that even the sky shook in response. Every single person in the city, and even those outside, heard it.

    Those who had bet their money on the phoenix cried tears of blood.

    Nox wanted to hear it one more time, but the menacing aura radiating from her was enough to send chills down his spine.

    He quickly backed off, realizing this was sufficient for now. He could always exact the rest of his revenge later.

    He retracted his attacks, and the chains binding the phoenix dissipated along with the spears aimed at her body.

    Bia huffed and turned around, treating him like he was invisible before reverting to her smaller form to go and eat in an attempt to lift her sour mood. Nox watched her figure, feeling a bit confused about why he felt hurt that she didn''t glance back at him.

    He shook his body, causing his horns and iridescent scales to shimmer in the light.

    However, before he could harness his spiritual energy to heal himself, someone else beat him to it. A familiar spiritual aura expanded from behind him and enveloped his body. He blinked and looked back, only to see Bia return and settle onto his back, still not meeting his gaze.

    Sensing his gaze, Bia scoffed.

    -"Don''t misunderstand. It''s not because I''m worried about you. It''s because I''m the one who injured you. It''s about older individuals taking responsibility for their actions. Kids like you wouldn''t understand."

    Nox''s eyebrow twitched, but then he burst into laughter. He felt giddy when she came back and settled on his back. However, his smile faded when Bia glared at him.

    -"What the hell are you hehe for? Revert back to your smaller form so we can go down to eat with the others!"

    He didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. He was the one who had won, yet she was still ordering him around? Shouldn''t the roles have shifted by now?

    Regardless, he complied with her request, almost as if he were accustomed to it.

    Ohan and Iva had finished roasting the meat, and everyone gathered around the table Eon had set up in the garden to eat together. Neon wanted to sneak away quietly with his supreme rank ring filled with mana stones, but Kyle grabbed his shoulder and ensured he couldn''t escape, resulting in him losing all his mana stones. Hopefully, next time he wouldn''t wager so much.