Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Reputation Through Blood

Kai stepped onto the bloodstained sand of the Crimson Sands Arena, deciding that playing small was a complete waste of his time.

Hiding in the shadows would never get him close to the Scarlet Matriarch. He needed to make a statement loud enough to echo through the entire royal palace, so he paid the entry fee and walked right into the largest underground fighting pit in Sunfall Oasis. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Captured men and condemned criminals usually died very quickly here just to entertain the rich noblewomen sitting in the elevated stands. Kai intended to change that script entirely.

Three opponents lay groaning around him in the dusty ring.

He dominated the consecutive fights with brutal, calculating efficiency.

When a scarred gladiator swung a rusted iron halberd at his head, Kai simply caught the wooden shaft with his bare hand.

Freezing mana poured from his palm, turning the weapon into brittle ice in a fraction of a second.

He shattered the halberd with a quick upward kick and drove a frozen spear straight through the man’s shoulder, pinning him cleanly to the arena wall.

Women in the high balconies cheered with wild, uncontained excitement.

Wearing expensive silks and drinking sweet wine, they leaned over the stone railings to get a better look.

They became completely fascinated by the cold-eyed outsider who fought without breaking a single sweat. He moved like a dancer, freezing his enemies’ limbs and shattering their weapons before they could even blink.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

’These fighters are too slow,’ Kai thought, wiping a stray drop of sweat from his forehead.

’They fight like sluggish drunkards, and this crowd loves every second of it.’

A female guard wearing polished bronze armor approached him just as the crowd tossed silver coins and red roses into the ring.

She escorted him up a winding stone staircase and led him into a private viewing box overlooking the pit. Baroness Veyra sat on a plush cushion, fanning herself with exotic peacock feathers.

She wore too much sweet perfume, and her brown eyes held a very greedy, calculating gleam.

"You fight beautifully, outsider," Veyra said, gesturing to a silver tray overflowing with gold coins sitting on her table.

"I can offer you plenty of wealth and a very comfortable place in my personal guard. Loyalty to me comes with many pleasant rewards, and I treat my favorite men quite well."

Kai looked at the gold coins and laughed quietly.

"I’m not looking for a new collar, Baroness. Keep your money."

Veyra dropped her feathered fan immediately.

Her pleasant smile twisted into an ugly, offended sneer.

"You forget your place, boy," Veyra hissed, standing up from her cushion.

"I can have you thrown into the lowest slave pens before you even take another breath. My guards will break your legs and drag you through the streets."

’Arrogant nobles are always the same,’ Kai thought, stepping closer to her chair.

’They think a little bit of money makes them invincible.’

He reached out and grabbed her wrist before her two bodyguards could even react to his sudden movement.

Freezing the guards’ boots firmly to the floor with a quick pulse of ice magic, he turned his full attention back to the Baroness.

Tapping into the Devouring Sovereign energy pulsing in his core, he pulled a tiny fraction of her life force right through her skin.

Veyra gasped loudly, and her knees buckled.

A strange, flushed warmth spread across her face as the energy left her body.

The sensation was terrifying yet highly intoxicating, sending a euphoric rush straight to her brain.

She trembled under his firm grip, suddenly addicted to the chilling high of the drain.

"Tell me about the Scarlet Matriarch," Kai demanded coldly, releasing her wrist so she could stand up.

"Tell me her weaknesses and her schedule, or I will take a lot more than a taste next time."

Leaning weakly against the stone railing, Veyra struggled to catch her breath.

Her eyes were blown wide with a mix of fear and undeniable lust.

"She’s hosting a public sun ceremony in three days," Veyra stammered, rubbing her wrist where his fingers left cold marks.

"The Matriarch will leave her palace to bless the celestial ruins in the center of the city. Her royal guard will be stretched very thin across the grand plaza to control the crowds."

"Thank you for the pleasant chat," Kai smiled, turning his back on the shaken noblewoman. He walked out of the viewing box, leaving her guards still frozen to the floor.

Night had fallen completely by the time he navigated the bustling market streets and returned to room twelve.

Opening the wooden door, he found Yena sitting on the edge of the mattress. She was sharpening her spear with a small whetstone, and her face looked incredibly serious.

The playful flirting from yesterday was completely gone, replaced by the stern demeanor of a veteran scavenger.

"You made a lot of noise today," Yena stated quietly, testing the sharp spear tip against her thumb.

"Multiple factions are watching this inn right now. You put a giant target on your own back, and you painted one on mine, too."

Kai walked over to the wash basin and splashed cool water onto his face.

"I want them to watch me, Yena. Hiding in the shadows will not get me close to the desert queen, so I’m forcing her hand. She will hear about the arena, and she will want to see what I can do."

"You are acting recklessly," Yena warned, finally looking up from her weapon.

"The boy I met in the dunes would have planned a stealthy approach to gather intel. You are changing, Kai, and I am not sure I like the direction."

Grabbing a linen towel, he dried his face and looked at his own reflection in the copper mirror.

He noticed the emptiness staring back at him, realizing the old version of himself had died in the collapsing temple up north.

"I don’t care about being a good person anymore," Kai admitted softly, turning to face her. He tossed the towel onto the table.

"Playing nice got people killed. Following the rules just makes you a victim in this world. If I have to become a monster to tear this city apart and find Meriel, then I will gladly be a monster."

Yena remained perfectly silent, absorbing the chilling honesty in his voice.

She could see the grim hunger completely taking over his mind, and she recognized the dangerous path he was walking.

She didn’t argue with him or try to change his mind because she knew grief rarely listened to reason.

[Reputation in Sunfall Oasis: Notable]

[The Scarlet Matriarch’s Interest: 31%]