Odis's lips curled into a faint smile when he saw Bishop...
Bishop wasn't alone, he was accompanied by a Beyonder bodyguard. However, he had the bodyguard stay a bit further away since he was about to perform a grand speech, and he didn't want the audience to be distracted by the bodyguard's presence.
With arms outstretched, Bishop addressed Odis, "Young man, you've done well, providing the audience with a truly spectacular performance." Then he turned to the spectator stands, "Today, the fighting arena has welcomed another outstanding contestant! Although his combat experience is still somewhat lacking, his weapon designs are full of ingenuity. He will surely bring us even more exciting matches in the future!"
The nobles who frequented the arena immediately burst into applause. They had recognized Lelouch's potential and knew that under Bishop's tutelage, he was sure to become an excellent fighter.
"Come here, young man," Bishop beckoned to Odis, "Kneel before me, and I will preside over your initiation into the 3N Party."
As Odis approached, Bishop continued his speech, "The 'N' in the 3N Party stands for Noble. The meaning of this organization's name is Three Leaders Loyal to the Nobility... Some say that possessing a robust physique and extraordinary abilities is enough to become a prominent figure in Backlund. But they are only half right. One also needs our recognition to truly become a prominent figure in Backlund! The times may change, but our bloodline, our honor, and our status are unshakable!"
Many in the audience clapped enthusiastically. Among the nobility, there were many supporters of the 'bloodline theory'.
However, many newly ascended nobles, or those with more progressive ideas, had little interest in such ideologies. Some didn't even bother to lift a hand to clap.
Odis was now within a dozen meters of Bishop. To lull the arena manager and his bodyguard into a false sense of security, he placed his large bag on the grass and removed the sword from his waist.
Observing his actions, the distant bodyguard continued to stroll leisurely, though still keeping an eye on him, but not with the same intensity as before.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Audrey felt deeply conflicted: 'Will he kneel? Will Lelouch really kneel to Bishop? It would be better if he did kneel...'
Bishop's speech had already positioned him as a superior figure. If Lelouch refused to kneel, it would leave Bishop in an awkward position. He might feel humiliated and order his bodyguard to attack Lelouch out of anger...
"Nobles are noble from the moment they are born!" Bishop's speech continued, "They are entitled to enjoy everything this world has to offer! Those of lowly status, if they wish to live a dignified life, must gather around us, attentively listen, and diligently fulfill our needs!"
Then he looked at Odis in front of him, "Young man, you must remember this; it's the nobility who built the prosperous Backlund, providing you with a good living environm–"
Odis abruptly interrupted him, "To be honest, everything you just said makes me sick."
As he spoke, he skillfully took out a mystical incendiary bomb from his pocket and threw it at Bishop's feet.
*Woosh!*
Intense flames erupted from the ground beneath Bishop, engulfing the noble who had just been delivering an impassioned speech.
It all happened too quickly. Only after Odis leaped backward did Bishop let out a piercing, agonized scream. He threw himself to the ground, rolling desperately to extinguish the flames on his body.
The bodyguard immediately raised a hand towards Odis, intending to subdue him. But he saw colorful light erupt from the young man's shoes, granting him astonishing speed that allowed him to escape the range of the bodyguard's Beyonder abilities.
The man had been keeping an eye on Odis, but he hadn't shown any suspicious behavior before his sudden attack.
The moment Odis threw the incendiary bomb, the pacing bodyguard had been a bit behind Bishop, leaving him no time to react.
At this moment, the bodyguard realized a serious problem; his abilities couldn't extinguish the fire!
By now, Bishop was barely alive, his screams having ceased, but the fire continued to burn fiercely. A moment later, it burned through his abdomen. And just like that, the lofty noble met his end.
The bodyguard hurriedly gave chase. If he could catch the murderer, he might still avoid severe punishment.
The nobles in the spectator stands finally realized what had happened and let out a series of screams. Everything had happened too fast. At first, some had even thought it was part of the performance...
*Boom!*
Then, a violent explosion rocked the arena. Odis used a javelin with some armor-piercing capability to blast a huge hole in the wall.
He paused briefly at the exit and shouted to the audience: "I don't hate nobles, but I despise those who are so arrogant and insist on dividing people into rigid classes! This manager's crimes will appear in the mailbox of the Backlund Police Headquarters tonight, as well as in the mailboxes of major newspapers. It's time for this devil and his lackeys to receive their due punishment!"
He had more to say, but the bodyguard was closing in. Odis immediately fled through the hole in the wall, casually tossing another incendiary bomb behind him to block the man's pursuit.
Odis dared to act like this tonight primarily because the protective barrier around the spectator stands. While the barrier safeguarded the audience, it also prevented any Beyonders there from assisting Bishop.
Only a Demigod could instantly break through that barrier, but the Demigods among the nobility were all busy, with no time or interest in watching such Low-Sequence matches. Therefore, Odis only needed to deal with Bishop's personal bodyguard.
Furthermore, Bishop was merely the son of a Viscount, and his bodyguard was only an 'Interrogator'.
Based on intelligence he had gathered, Odis deduced that, given Bishop's personality and habits, he would most likely use 'Lelouch' who had won two consecutive matches as a prop, showcasing the arena's future exciting matches to the noble audience while promoting his own Nobility Above All ideology.
If Odis had used a knife or gun, it might have been stopped by the 'Interrogator', since drawing a blade or a gun would easily arouse suspicion.
However, using a mystical incendiary bomb was different. The man had never seen such a device before, so the success rate was higher. Moreover, 'Interrogators' possessed no fire-extinguishing abilities.
Additionally, Odis's bag was engraved with a weight-reduction array, and his shoes could significantly increase his movement speed.
The 'Interrogator' had no abilities to enhance running speed. So, Odis only needed to be careful not to be surrounded by the arena's other guards at the outset.
The arena also housed other Beyonders, even one or two Sequence 6 individuals. However, they were employed by the arena's behind-the-scenes bosses and did not have the responsibility to protect Bishop.
They were usually in the guards' command center, coordinating from there. It would be difficult for them to quickly grasp Odis's movements.
Just like when dealing with that 'Spirit Medium', Alva, Odis had made thorough preparations to achieve his goal.
As his laughter echoed outside the arena, he threw incendiary bombs into the arena's windows, and fire immediately raged inside...
...
The nobles screamed in panic, leaving the audience seats under the protection of their bodyguards.
Audrey, however, remained very calm because she observed that although Lelouch had set fire to the competition venue, he had not set any at the exits of the spectator stands.
This meant that Lelouch had given the audience time and space to escape.
The manager seemed to have done many despicable things, but because he was a noble, he and his subordinates had not received the punishment they deserved. So Lelouch had taken action.
He must have had a meticulous plan, gradually getting closer to the manager, and then, at the right moment, he made him face his due punishment!
Now, following at the tail end of the noble crowd, Audrey heard Lelouch's voice again: "Nobles! It's time for you to pay the price for your disregard for life! You may stand high above others, but you must not lack humanity! I'll help you destroy this arena. From now on, being an arena manager will become a high-risk occupation!"
*Boom!* *Boom!*
Explosions rang out continuously.
The entire Unit 155 King's Avenue was engulfed in soaring flames.
Audrey felt a faint worry for Lelouch: 'He should flee this place immediately, or he'll be intercepted and captured by the guards and the Beyonders hired by the arena...'
Moreover, setting a fire so close to the Sodela Palace on King's Avenue will likely draw the official Beyonders here to investigate very quickly.
But once she descended the stairs and exited the arena building, Audrey's worries dissipated immediately because the noble audience had already descended into chaos.
Not every noble who came to watch the matches was a Beyonder or had Beyonder bodyguard. Most of them were ordinary people.
The surrounding fires and the occasional explosions reminded them of the gruesome fate of Alva and Bishop. They couldn't help but urge their coachmen to leave immediately. But the explosions and flames had terrified the horses. The scene descended into utter chaos, with frequent carriage collisions and overturning.
Influenced by the example of the late manager Bishop, some of the arena's guards and Beyonders first thought to assist these injured nobles. This gave Lelouch the opportunity to set fires everywhere.
Audrey calmly assessed the situation and called out to a few friends to join her on the open grass. In the midst of the chaos, fleeing would be unwise, and for now, the fire had not yet spread to the open area, offering temporary refuge.
Her friends watched as the entire arena complex fell into disarray. Many people were trampled or injured by panicked horses, some were even pushed near the flames, their clothes catching fire. Order within the arena had completely collapsed. They were grateful to have a temporary refuge on the grass.
Audrey's spirituality tingled, and by the firelight, she saw Lelouch running swiftly towards their location. His bag and waist pouches were nearly empty, indicating he had used his weapons effectively.
In the glow of the fire, she observed Lelouch's mask, which seemed even more enigmatic, and his slender frame exuded boundless power. However, the colors of his shoes had dimmed considerably.
Lelouch halted on the grass and cast a glance at Audrey and the other nobles. He cheerfully said, "Remember, I am Lelouch of the rebellion!"
As he spoke, his ill-fitting coat emitted an ethereal light, and Lelouch himself seemed to become intangible.
In the next instant, he vanished right before Audrey and the others' eyes!