Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Chapter 390: Chapter 24 First Contact_1

”First to take the stage is the strongest legend of our Red Stone Arena, Violent Mathews!”

”Here at the Red Stone Arena, Mathews has fought 318 battles, 52 of which were life-and-death duels. He is undefeated. Just two days ago, Mathews officially became a powerful Level 4 professionist!”

”He is also the first Level 4 gladiator in our Red Stone Arena!”

After the host finished speaking, cheers erupted from the skill competition arena.

To most current survivors, a Level 4 professionist was an absolutely unattainable existence. Perhaps, only in the Red Stone Arena, could they watch Level 4 professionists fight without paying anything.

When the cheers subsided slightly, the host spoke again, ”And Violent Mathews’s opponent is our Red Stone Arena’s undying legend: Karl, a man who has lost a hundred regular matches, yet won a hundred life-and-death duels!”

”Just yesterday, Karl also became a Level 4 professionist! So, today, our Red Stone Arena will present to you the ultimate showdown between two Level 4 powerhouses!”

When the host finished, the cheers from the crowd were even more fervent than before.

Then, a middle-aged man, no more than 1.8 meters tall but extremely muscular, stepped onto the stage.

”The betting window is now open for the next 10 minutes! The odds for Violent Mathews are 1 to 0.5, and for Karl, 1 to 2.”

After speaking, the host stepped down from the stage. Meanwhile, on the stage, Violent Mathews was shouting incessantly, periodically flashing his middle finger at his opponent. Karl, however, simply sat quietly in a corner of the stage.

...

Annie quietly summoned a Servant and took out two third-level magic crystals from her space ring.

”Place a bet on Mathews for me, thank you.”

Wen Yu remarked to Annie, ”Physically, that Karl fellow seems a cut above, and he has a better mindset too. I think Karl has a higher chance of winning.”

Annie gently shook her head. ”It’s clear you don’t come here often.”

”I’ve been here once.”

As Annie stroked Cyclops’s fur, she whispered, ”Although their strength is comparable, Mathews has fought so many matches and never lost. Karl is different... How should I put it... he lacks fighting spirit. He treats these fights like a job. Since this isn’t a life-or-death match, Mathews will definitely crush him.”

”Oh?”

Wen Yu raised his eyebrows, took out two third-level magic crystals, and handed them to the Servant.

”Put these on Karl.”

Then, Wen Yu smiled at Annie. ”Then let’s make a little wager.”

...

Ten minutes flew by, and the battle on the stage quickly began.

Mathews and Karl both had extremely aggressive fighting styles. Their brutal, blow-for-blow fight made the spectators’ blood boil.

Unfortunately, with his strength, Wen Yu could naturally see that the gladiator named Karl had no fighting spirit whatsoever.

Karl was more inclined to defend than attack—and everyone knows that a prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat!

In less than three minutes, a heavy blow from Mathews sent Karl to the ground. The referee quickly declared the winner, drawing a wave of boos from the audience.

”See? I told you,” Annie said, smiling as she turned her head to Wen Yu.

Unfortunately, the spot where Wen Yu had been was already empty.

...

「The time went back to one minute ago.」

Just as Wen Yu was watching the battle below with great interest, a black shadow suddenly flashed past the corner of his eye. It moved so quickly that Wen Yu barely caught a glimpse, let alone the other professionists.

Instantly, Star’s head snapped up. A Spiritual Fluctuation transmitted to Wen Yu’s mind: ”Boss, that’s the divine beast!”

”Are you sure?”

”Absolutely! But its aura is very unstable!”

The moment Star finished speaking, Wen Yu transformed into a pool of black mist and sped towards the source of the aura.

...

「In a dark alley behind the Red Stone Hotel...」

With the CREAKING of an iron gate, Wen Yu twisted the Red Stone Hotel’s perennially locked back door into a mangled wreck.

”It’s here!”

Actually, Star didn’t need to say anything more. Wen Yu immediately spotted the black cat lying on the ground.

Its black fur, once glossy, was now dull, matted with blood in places. Its small body trembled faintly, a clear sign of the immense pain this unknown divine beast was enduring.

Perhaps sensing someone approaching from behind, the black cat let out a soft MEOW, then mustered all its strength to open its eyes.

What a pair of eyes they were...

Only at the very center of its pupils could a faint green glow be discerned; the rest was covered in a dense network of blood-red cracks. Yet, within that tiny glint of green, a thread of unwavering determination shone through, fiercely tugging at Wen Yu’s heart.

The next second, countless Memory Fragments, like flashbacks, streamed from the black cat’s eyes into Wen Yu’s mind!

A massive torrent of Memory Fragments poured into Wen Yu’s mind. The sensation was comparable to weathering a direct hit from a psychic storm. In an instant, it felt as if colossal waves were crashing through Wen Yu’s mind. Countless pieces of information surged in, only to be swiftly digested and absorbed by the formidable mental power of a Level 5 professionist.

...

”Boss... Boss, what’s wrong with you?”

A voice, seemingly drifting from a distant shore, pulled Wen Yu back from the psychic storm.

Wen Yu’s vision quickly cleared, and he forcefully massaged his temples.

”Boss, are you alright?”

”HUFF. HUFF!”

Exhaling heavily twice, Wen Yu gently shook his head.

”How long was I dazed?”

”Less than ten seconds. Boss, what happened to you just now?”

”Nothing, I just discovered something interesting.”

”By the way, where did that cat go?”

Star first looked at Wen Yu inquisitively, then turned to glance at the spot where the black cat had been lying, and shook his head.

”It disappeared with a swoosh.”

Wen Yu nodded.

”Let’s go. We should head back. We don’t want to keep Annie waiting too long!”

After speaking, Wen Yu clenched his fists tightly, then took the pendant Yang Hong had given him from his space ring and put it directly around his neck.

Recalling everything that had transpired since he entered Las Vegas, and connecting it with the recent Memory Fragments, a savage glint flared in Wen Yu’s eyes before he forcefully suppressed it.

The time isn’t ripe... And as for you scoundrels, you’ll pay the price sooner or later!

...

「The skill competition arena was in an uproar.」

After the battle between Karl and Mathews, the remaining fights were just small fry messing around.

With a slight smile on his face, Wen Yu walked directly into the private box. Inside the treasure chest, Annie was stroking Cyclops’s fur, while peeling fruits one by one and gently feeding them to Cyclops.

”I just went to the restroom. So, what was the result of the fight?”

Annie smiled and nodded. ”You lost, you know.”

Wen Yu shrugged. ”The moment the fight began, I knew Karl would lose... The guy has no professional ethics. I must bring this up with Claus.”

Annie giggled, covering her mouth, as Wen Yu continued to chat with her about amusing tidbits.

After a while, Annie let out a big yawn.

Seeing this, Wen Yu tactfully said, ”Let’s go. The banquet upstairs should be over by now.”

Annie nodded, linked her arm with Wen Yu’s, and the two walked out of the box together.

...

「Outside the Red Stone Hotel...」

Wen Yu stood with Kuangliu, silently watching Annie and Claire get into their car.

”Quite a nice woman, isn’t she?” Kuangliu said to Wen Yu, a wide smile on his face.

Wen Yu nodded with conviction. ”I like her very much.”

”Oh-ho!” Kuangliu hooted with a smirk.

”You’ve finally come to your senses! Seriously, back in the Demon Suppression Tower Treasure Land, I often wondered if there was something wrong with your sexual orientation.”

Wen Yu raised an eyebrow. ”What’s wrong? Afraid I’d lose control and pounce on you?”

Kuangliu pursed his lips but said nothing.

Watching Claire and Annie’s car recede into the distance, Wen Yu turned and walked into the Red Stone Hotel. Kuangliu trailed behind, still grumbling, ”You’re so strong, and pardon my French, but what kind of woman couldn’t you have? If you ask me, you should’ve just kept that Annie here. Seal the deal overnight—how straightforward is that!”

Wen Yu suddenly turned around, looking seriously at Kuangliu’s face.

His profound gaze made Kuangliu feel a shiver down his spine.

After a moment, Wen Yu gently nodded. ”I’ll consider your suggestion.”