Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Iron Mask's Turn
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Ding ding ding.
The bell rang.
To some, it heralded victory.
To others, defeat.
The third trial had ended.
After a brief intermission, the fourth trial would begin shortly.
The issue was the participants still remaining.
There were twelve contenders waiting in total.
Among them, quite a few of the tricky rookies were still hanging on.
Who would be the next to step up?
If it was him, who would his opponent be, and who would end up as his partner?
That was the biggest question of all.
After all, he wouldn't be taking the trial alone.
Especially his partner...
Screeech.
Lost in thought,
the iron door of the waiting room suddenly slid open on its own.
"......"
The iron door that couldn't be opened freely until it was time for the trial.
No lock release message appeared, so it wasn't locked in the usual sense.
The fact that it had opened now meant it was his turn to head out for the trial.
Sensing this, Luke slowly rose from his seat.
He lightly rolled his neck and stepped out of the waiting room.
Footsteps echoed around him.
At the same time, a long corridor stretched out before his eyes.
Underground.
Or at least, some enclosed space.
Almost no light seeped in, leaving the corridor dim and shadowy overall.
But.
Click! Click! Click!
Along with the announcement of his entry, lights flooded the corridor.
A sharp beam illuminating the surroundings like a spotlight.
It was the colosseum's own dramatic flair for the entrants.
Of course, up close, it seemed rather pointless.
Still, since he was already stepping out, playing along with the theatrics wouldn't hurt.
Thinking this, Luke strolled down the long corridor.
Thud.
One step.
Thud!
Another step.
BOOM!
With every step forward, a booming drumbeat echoed.
And as stairs came into view at the end of the corridor,
a thunderous cheer pierced his ears.
Tens of thousands of spectators.
Their voices.
They were roaring together, awaiting the entrant about to appear.
It meant their expectations for the remaining trials were sky-high.
After all, the major rookies were still in it.
Including himself.
Swish.
The iron mask covering his face.
The cold metal sensation quickly spread across his skin.
In one hand, a kukri.
In the other, a dagger with a black blade.
Flutter!
His cloak billowing in the gentle breeze.
Now he was ready.
All that remained was to climb the stairs and reveal himself in the arena.
Fear?
None.
Tension?
Not in the slightest.
The emotion surging through him now was anticipation.
A massive anticipation pinned on himself.
Step.
Amid that anticipation, he slowly ascended the stairs.
His brow furrowed gradually.
A blinding beam pierced his entire body.
Outside.
He had finally climbed the stairs to the surface.
A soft breeze blew.
Mingled with grains of sand.
Standing there, facing it head-on.
The scene hidden by the light slowly came into view.
Rooooar-!
An endless sea of people.
Iron Mask!
Iron Mask!
Iron Mask!
Cheers echoing throughout the arena.
Tens of thousands of spectators all gazing down at him.
Iron Mask.
Every one of them chanting that name, showering him with eager cheers.
A truly unfamiliar experience.
An atmosphere he'd never felt before his job change.
Thrum thrum thrum!
In the midst of it, Administrator Perril pounding the drums to hype the crowd.
Upon seeing the entrants appear, he set down the drums and grabbed the mic.
"You've waited so long! Finally, the fourth promotion trial! Alright, let's start with the fighter introductions!"
Snap!
Perril pointed to the left.
A woman's figure appeared on the opposite side of the arena.
"First, the red corner: the Witch of Blazing Flames! The fire-element mage said to possibly succeed Dorothy herself!"
Flowing long black hair.
Gentle eyes.
A long crimson robe trailing to the floor.
As Perril said, the current rookie No. 2, highly acclaimed so far.
"Perper Petraaaaa-!"
Rooooar!
It was Petra.
Petra!
Petra!
Popularity befitting a top favorite for the promotion trial.
Petra waved lightly to the stands in response.
But the cheers for her didn't last long.
Because Perril's hand was now pointing right.
"Next, the blue corner: the biggest wildcard of this promotion trial! The physical monster who's been shaking up the south lately. The enigmatic powerhouse whose iron mask is his trademark!"
Indeed.
Popularity surpassing other favorites.
The current rookie No. 1, drawing the most attention in the promotion trial.
Luke had appeared as the blue corner entrant.
"Iron iron iron, Iroooon Maaaask-!"
As Perril's introduction continued,
"Rooooar-!"
"Iron Mask!"
"Kyaaa, Iron Face!"
"Iron Mask, I bet all my money on you—please win!"
a explosive reaction shook the entire colosseum.
Iron Mask Man.
His appearance sparked a massive reaction.
Not just the colosseum's spectator stands,
but the live broadcasts,
and even individual player streams.
Chats exploded in an instant, reminding everyone of his popularity.
Just as things were getting boring,
Iron Mask Man's entry reignited the hype.
The fourth promotion trial.
But with Petra as the opponent, worried voices emerged alongside the excitement.
"Of all people, Petra."
"Sad for Iron Mask, but this match goes to her."
"Yeah, if he gets a good partner... Nah, still tough?"
"Right? Her strength in defense scenarios is insane. If the situation sets up right, she can ignore mob patterns and just keep dealing damage."
"Whoa, that's scary."
The matchup was unfavorable.
He might have aimed for a decision victory against an easier opponent.
But scouts' worst fears had come true with the worst possible foe.
No wonder the sighs.
"Looks like Iron Mask joined knowing he could cover those weaknesses to some extent..."
"Even that won't be enough here."
Even with prep, facing her rendered it useless.
Even surviving to the late game, the score gap would be the issue.
A mage spamming ranged AoE.
Outscoring Petra was nearly impossible.
Thus, the scouts voiced concerns,
some even hinting at Iron Mask's defeat.
A more disadvantageous setup than expected.
That was when.
Administrator Perril began introducing Petra's partner first.
At the same time, a man materialized beside her.
But his appearance was far from ordinary.
Viking helmet on his head.
Muscular, burly build.
And a massive greatsword with a blue blade.
It was Flack, the berserker ranking fourth among rookies.
The scouts eyeing Iron Mask all smacked their foreheads at the sight.
"Oh, my god."
"AoE plus AoE?"
"Damn, the worst combo possible."
'This is fucked.'
Iron Mask Man.
Luke's face twisted.
Berserker Flack.
The next trickiest rookie after Petra had become her partner, of all things.
'Yong Ho-seop, you bastard. You watching the match or what?'
It was so absurd he even suspected operator rigging.
But what was done was done.
No turning back now.
"Sorry about this. Looks like your promotion gets pushed back because of us."
The lopsided matchup was obvious.
Petra, unable to miss it, smirked and taunted him.
A smile brimming with victory.
Her partner Flack behind her wore the same.
"Hey, Iron Mask. Don't feel too bad. Just bad timing."
"Yeah, there's always next time."
"......"
Cocky expressions.
And that mocking tone.
They were utterly convinced of their win.
Well, who could blame them?
The two strongest in monster defense teamed up.
No matter the opponent, confidence was inevitable.
But that was just their thinking.
Long and short would be known in the end.
'Anyway...'
Luke turned his head.
It hadn't been long since Flack was summoned as the red corner's partner.
Next up was his own blue corner partner.
The partner to hold the defense with during the promotion trial.
Who that player was mattered somewhat.
They'd at least lighten his load a bit.
'Hope it's a ranged type at minimum.'
Then he could roam the front freely.
Luke eyed Perril with that in mind.
Who was pointing right, mic in hand.
"Iron Mask, his partner is...!"
The arena fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the blue corner.
Who would pair with Iron Mask Man?
That was another key watchpoint for the trial.
Nine participants left.
One would join Iron Mask for the trial.
Even Luke himself was curious.
All eyes locked on Perril's lips.
Soon, a figure appeared beside Luke.
"Nike!"
Deeply pulled hood.
Adventurer's robe covering the whole body.
Even alias and job fully hidden.
All that was known was Perril's introduced pseudonym.
The name Nike, given at promotion trial entry.
"Nike?"
"Who's Nike? Some big name?"
"No idea, not even on rookie rankings... Who the hell?"
The stands buzzed.
Other players knew as little.
Then,
Flack across the way muttered, dredging up hazy memories.
"Wait, that player. Isn't he the one who was late to the promotion trial today?"
"Oh, yeah."
Petra nodded as recollection hit.
The twenty-fourth participant.
The one who barely entered by kowtowing on the floor.
'Ah, now I remember.'
That's when it clicked for Luke too.
Nike.
A user registered under that alias.
Thus, alias and job fully hidden like his own.
No clue if melee or ranged.
And in the midst of it, Nike slowly walked toward him.
"Iron Mask!"
With a fiercely hostile aura.
A bewildering situation.
As if the opponent knew all about him.
"Finally met you!"
"...?"
"You haven't forgotten me, have you?"
To prove it, he flipped back his hood.
Swish!
Long flowing hair revealed beneath.
Sharp nose.
Defined jawline.
A user once famous as a hidden job holder reappeared in the arena.
"Who's that?"
"Wait a sec. That guy..."
At first, most were skeptical.
He hadn't shown up in ages, absent from rookie rankings.
But some remembered.
"Poison Brewer?!"
"Poison Brewer Kenny?!"
Indeed.
It was the rookie who once teamed with Kotaro.
Poison Brewer Kenny.
The arena instantly erupted.
Petra and Flack opposite looked quite rattled.
And Luke standing right there was no different.
'No way, a VIP in this dump...?!'
Though for entirely different reasons.