CHAPTER 61: PERFECT TIMING

In the arena, Carlos flew like a shot past maze walls until he hit a crimson gate up ahead.

The gate wasn’t huge, only about 10 feet tall, with "#1" carved into it.

In front of Crimson Gate #1 sprawled a tiger-shaped dark mist monster.

Its massive body, just lying there, completely blocked the entire crimson gate!

Black-red fur, eyes like dinner plates, and flames occasionally shot from its thick nostrils.

This was the final guardian of the Crimson Maze—the Fallen Flame Tiger!

Spirituality 15, Strength 7, Constitution 6, Speed 6.

Among low-tier monsters, an absolute powerhouse with the title of "little beast king."

"Fallen Flame Tigers are rare as hen’s teeth.

The organizers really pulled out all the stops for this competition."

Carlos hovered in mid-air, checking out the Fallen Flame Tiger chained with thick black links in front of the crimson gate.

At the same time, the Fallen Flame Tiger’s black nose twitched as it suddenly caught wind of the approaching human scent and got to its feet.

"Clank clank clank!"

The iron chains on its body rattled as it looked around on high alert.

Suddenly, the tiger head snapped up, its lantern-like pupils instantly turned to razor-thin slits, and every hair on its body stood straight up.

"Roar!"

It let out an earth-shaking tiger roar, erupting with absolutely savage and fierce energy.

Then it crouched slightly, accompanied by the sharp sound of clanking chains.

It actually launched itself toward Carlos in mid-air, jaws gaping wide with razor-sharp fangs sparking flames.

Carlos stayed cool as a cucumber, still floating at the same height.

If this were out in the wild, at this height, he might actually be in hot water.

But... here...

"Clank! Screech!"

The Fallen Flame Tiger had jumped halfway when suddenly the thick iron chain went taut as a bowstring, and its violent charging momentum stopped dead in its tracks.

"Thud!"

Its tiger eyes went wide as its massive body dropped like a rock and crashed hard to the ground.

It scrambled back up, shook its tiger head, and roared furiously at Carlos in the sky, sparks flying from its mouth, absolutely livid.

"Talk about a hothead."

Carlos’s wings beat as he hovered above it while the Fallen Flame Tiger went completely berserk.

The Fallen Flame Tiger looked up and roared, jumping over and over.

But the chain’s length was its leash, and it kept getting yanked back.

This ticked it off so much that it furiously chomped at the chains. After a teeth-grinding racket, the chains stayed rock solid.

It snarled and growled nonstop, lowering its head to keep gnawing, dead set on chewing through this thing that cramped its style!

Carlos figured the timing was perfect as spiritual energy surged through him.

Then, four shadows suddenly appeared on the ground and started growing fast.

The ear-splitting sound of cutting air got closer as the Fallen Flame Tiger, busy wrestling with the chains, looked up all confused.

"Roar?"

Four Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards, bone claws gripping greatswords, bone bodies straight as arrows, were dropping like meteors.

The four greatswords had wicked sharpness, and the Fallen Flame Tiger’s gut told it this was serious trouble.

No time to dodge, it let out a low roar as black flames burst across its whole body.

It quickly rolled over, its four tiger claws turning deep black-red, then savagely met the four approaching shadows head-on.

One tiger claw for each one—the Fallen Flame Tiger’s knee-jerk defensive counter was pretty smart.

Carlos watched and couldn’t help shaking his head, half-closing his eyes.

"Slash!" X4

The outcome was a foregone conclusion—the Fallen Flame Tiger had seriously underestimated the bite of Light Gold Quality greatswords.

Under the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards’ terrifying 9-point strength and the momentum from their dive,

The four greatswords punched clean through the crimson tiger claws!

Four geysers of blood erupted, blood flying everywhere.

"Roar! Roar!"

The searing pain from getting skewered hit the Fallen Flame Tiger’s brain almost at the same time. It howled in agony, desperately trying to roll away.

But with only 7 points of strength, it couldn’t hold a candle to the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards. Unable to budge, it was forcibly pinned to the ground.

"Roar! Roar!"

The Fallen Flame Tiger desperately fired up its black flames, trying to turn these horrible enemies into ash.

Too bad the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards had solid defense, and being bones, their heat resistance was top-notch.

The black flames couldn’t put much of a dent in them.

Suddenly, all four Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards gave a vicious twist.

The bone-deep pain made the Fallen Flame Tiger’s body go rigid, its mouth gape wide, corners tearing as blood poured out.

Then it started having convulsions.

"Clatter!"

Along with spurting blood fountains, the Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guards quickly yanked out their greatswords and without missing a beat, hacked viciously at the tiger’s leg joints!

"Bang!" X4

The sound of blades slicing through bone boomed out.

"Thud!" X4

The Fallen Flame Tiger’s four massive legs hit the deck, with black-red blood gushing from the four stumps, creating four mini blood showers.

"Roar... roar~~"

Mind-blowing pain! Pain like nothing the tiger had ever felt instantly crushed the Fallen Flame Tiger’s spirit. Its mouth corners split from the agony as it let out raspy wails.

"Step step!"

Carlos dropped from the sky, his boots splashing in the blood pool as he walked toward the now-clear crimson gate...

When passing the occasionally twitching legless Fallen Flame Tiger, Carlos’s figure stopped for a second.

There were actually four tiny rainbows in the air!

"Nice little bonus. Put it out of its misery."

Getting the order, ghostly flames flickered in the bone frames.

"Clatter clatter!"

The Purple Thornblade Guards raised their greatswords and drove them toward the convulsing massive tiger head.

"Slash!" X4

[Spiritual Essence +1.5]

Carlos kept walking until he stepped through the crimson gate, and Crimson Gate #1 slowly faded away...

The first qualifier was in the books!

In the audience, folks went absolutely nuts:

"The vicious Fallen Flame Tiger got... got taken down that easy?"

"Look! Young Master Carlos’s straight-backed, ice-cold figure standing in that blood pool!"

"That perfect timing! That incredible teamwork!

Pure class! 100% pure class!!!"

"..."

Up on the fancy viewing platform, the leadership was also caught a bit off guard by Carlos’s performance.

"He’s really only been awakened half a year?

So cool-headed! So ruthless!"

Garrison Commander-in-Chief Raskin unconsciously yanked out a beard hair, his face showing undisguised admiration.

"I’m head over heels!

Don’t any of you try to horn in! Our garrison troops are calling dibs on this kid!"

Don’t let Raskin’s rough-and-tumble appearance fool you—he knew the value of striking while the iron was hot.

Originally hearing Raskin’s praise, Sabina felt pretty pleased,

But hearing the bit about wanting to poach her little darling, she immediately got her back up:

"Little Carlos’s future is definitely with me!"

Saying this, Sabina pulled out three white alchemical cards, each showing different women and children.

"..."

Raskin’s heart sank like a stone. Why could this woman Sabina always dig up his accidentally left behind love children?

And when she found them, she could find a whole pack of them!

But getting squeezed three times in such a short stretch made the high-and-mighty Garrison Commander-in-Chief Raskin pretty steamed.

Even though Sabina played it smart, only flashing each card once, pushing right up to his breaking point.

But this was getting to be a bit much!