The Oracle Paths

Chapter 1215: When Underdogs Go Under

The snarling, tiny Chihuahua’s landing smack-dab in the arena didn’t exactly cause an uproar in either army. Still, Crunch’s earlier performance had brutally schooled the crowd on the harsh reality that looks could indeed be deceiving. For their enemies, this lesson hit even harder.

Master Eldrion narrowed his stormy gray eyes skeptically as he sized up the pathetic little mutt the opponents had sacrificed, yet he refused to underestimate any potential threat. Better safe than sorry.

After a careful silence, he ventured cautiously,

”That dog... doesn’t look nearly as fierce as the cat we faced earlier.”

Around him, the high-ranking officers and other Radiant Conclave members solemnly nodded their agreement. After the previous upset, none dared be overly confident, yet they silently shared his assessment.

”Faye, you’re our resident beast expert—your thoughts?” Lady Lyria asked lightly, genuinely curious.

”Impossible to say,” Faye replied evenly. ”I judge creatures based on their combat prowess. When it comes to reading auras or lifeforce levels, you and Calyx far surpass me.”

”Unfortunately,” Lyria admitted with a bitter smile, ”stealth is not my forte. If our opponents actively hide their strength, I can’t read them clearly.” She turned to Lord Calyx.

Feeling everyone’s expectant gazes, the spymaster grimaced slightly and reluctantly confessed,

”I didn’t detect anything unusual with the cat earlier—until it transformed, of course. Either that feline had extraordinary energy control or it flat-out overpowered me. This Chihuahua... He’s concealing his abilities, but I can still gauge his strength. Unless he’s leagues better at hiding his power than that black cat, he’s... weaker.”

A ripple of cautious optimism visibly spread among the others, prompting Eldrion to urgently follow up, ”How much weaker?”

”Assuming this is his true strength, just slightly above the centipede from earlier.”

Relief visibly surged through Eldrion, releasing his pent-up tension in a sigh. ”In that case, victory for this round is assured!”

Yet moments later, the battered ground shuddered violently again. From the same crater previously carved by the centipede, an even larger, nightmarish beast clawed its way out. As the quake subsided, the armies saw clearly the monstrosity awaiting the Chihuahua.

At the terrifying sight, the soldiers of the Dusken Throne instantly paled. The Chihuahua—though his straw-colored fur masked it somewhat—visibly wilted as well.

”Woof! Fuck, I didn’t sign up for this shit!”

His opponent was another canine—one infinitely bigger, nastier, and engineered for slaughter. Forget the majesty of a wolf or the stoic might of a mastiff. This beast could casually devour an entire pride of lions for breakfast without breaking a sweat.

Picture a pit bull crossed with a giant, carnivorous gorilla and some freakish alien monstrosity with way too many eyes and tails—this abomination was the outcome. It boasted an elongated frame, absurdly muscular limbs ending in monstrous clawed hands, and dark fur oozing an unsettling black Lumyst. Most chilling of all were the six rows of three glowing, pupil-less orange eyes, blazing like hellfire.

Honestly, Jake had never laid eyes on a dog this terrifying.

”We’re screwed,” Will sighed, shaking his head.

”Not a snowball’s chance in hell for that Chihuahua,” the twin sisters bleakly added.

”Shame Crunch can’t fight multiple rounds,” Asfrid closed her eyes, refusing to stain her dreams with the inevitable slaughter.

Jake stayed silent, meticulously restoring the arena’s original state while shooting a sideways glance at Mani, feeling oddly sympathetic about the hopeful confidence he’d regained. If only he could see the uncontrollable, terrified trembling of the monkey and lizard awaiting their turns...

Clearly, they’d gravely underestimated their adversaries. Forget extending battles or losing honorably—their new priority was pure survival.

”It’s starting!” Elsa shouted gleefully, her bloodlust oddly clashing with her upbeat mood.

The giant monster, summoned by the Radiant Conclave, was already charging forward, its aggression reaching fever pitch—perhaps still sensing its predecessor’s corpse, despite Jake’s cleanup. It wasn’t Jake who had removed the centipede, but Crunch, who’d claimed it as a snack.

ROARRRRRR!

A bone-rattling roar thundered through the air, sending a shockwave ripping through the freshly leveled battlefield—and blasting the Chihuahua sky-high!

”What the hell?!” Cho Min Ho’s doppelgänger jumped from his seat, staring as the small dog vanished like a speck of dust in the heavens.

Sure, the dog was small, but Rank 14 fighters weren’t supposed to fly away like leaves in a storm!

In sharp contrast, the previously dejected monkey and lizard suddenly sparkled with hope. ’Brilliant!’

Paralyzed by disbelief and fury, Mani clenched his fists, then took a controlled breath and calmly reached out to the Chihuahua through his bracelet.

”...”

Enduring the humiliating, mocking stares of both allies and enemies alike, Mani, his face twisted and convulsing with suppressed rage, finally coughed up blood and begrudgingly announced,

”It seems our participant has forfeited the duel.”

A shameful day for his faction! Not only had they failed to stall for time, but they’d lost in the most cowardly fashion imaginable. The sole consolation was that the abandonment stemmed from genuine cowardice, not betrayal or trickery. Neither Mani nor Cho Min Ho would suffer a hit to their Ordeal Rating.

ROOOARRR!!

The pit-bull gorilla beast roared its frustration, murderous impulses unquenched. Its blazing eyes settled on the spectators, radiating a savage, overwhelming threat.

”Heel, mutt,” Jake growled, Cosmic Eyes flooding the beast’s nervous system with adrenaline.

The beast snarled defiantly, baring its teeth to salvage some pride. But after this empty display, the monstrous creature swiftly retreated into the pit it had emerged from, disappearing forever.

Silence.

”We lost this round,” Jake coolly confirmed for the opposing team.

*****

On the Radiant Conclave’s side, Master Eldrion raised his fist in the air, yet his expression was strangely constipated.

”We won, but why do I taste defeat?” Lyria muttered to herself, making everyone around her twitch uncomfortably.

”Ahhh... whatever. A win’s a win.” Eldrion sighed wearily before proceeding to announce the third duel.

If they stuck to their established pattern, Jake’s side would send out their next contender. Eldrion was clueless about how many more monstrosities Anthace secretly sheltered within its roots.

’In that case... Let’s conserve our strength...’

*****

Moments later, Lord Phenix stood confidently in the arena, eager to prove to everyone that he wasn’t inferior to Crunch. ’Just you wait—no matter what comes out, I’ll roast it!’

The ground began trembling yet again, the twice-sealed crater cracked and reopened explosively, kicking up a geyser of dust. Overly excited and impatient to fight, the orange turkey hurried right up to the pit’s edge, peering curiously into the abyss to see his opponent.

Upon spotting yet another hideous, multi-legged serpentine insect crawling towards him, the bird’s enthusiasm deflated instantly.

’Boring.’

Turning around disdainfully, he contracted his anal sphincter with deliberate contempt, then gleefully relieved himself onto his foe. Mid-flight, the droppings ignited, surpassing the average asteroid’s speed and destructive force in moments.

A fraction of a second later...

BOOOOOM!

The flat, dry arena surface bulged violently upward like a camel’s back, then crumbled inward around the crater, dissolving into a molten lake of white-hot magma.

”I guess... that’s a win for us,” Will groaned, facepalming alongside his companions’ embarrassed sighs.

At that precise moment, had anyone dared ask if they knew that bird, everyone would unanimously deny it.