"Haaah!"
Buck roared, his sword humming as he unleashed a textbook Armor-Piercing Slash, aiming squarely at Gru's face.
"Die!"
"ROAR!"
Gru's eyes burned crimson. Instead of retreating, he stomped forward, his massive Mountain-Cleaving Axe swinging up in a ferocious Parry!
Parry!
The clash of steel erupted in a deafening shriek that tore through the air. Sparks flew.
Using the terrifying recoil from the parry, Gru spun his colossal body in a violent arc. The Mountain-Cleaving Axe traced a lethal curve, slicing through the air with a vicious wind, sweeping toward Buck's waist!
Foaming at the mouth, Gru roared maniacally, "You dare sleep with my woman! I'll slaughter your entire family!"
The two men fought with murderous intent, each clash shaking the ground and igniting primal frenzy in the crowd.
The roars surged like a tsunami.
They're both around level 30. Not bad for their level, Lin Qingyue lazily observed inwardly.
Skill combos, offensive and defensive transitions—all barely passable.
Too bad, that's all there is to it.
These two tied together wouldn't even be enough for Adela, that fox spirit, to flick her tail.
With a hint of amusement, she tilted her chin, gesturing for her teammates to look to the other side of the stands.
"The real show's happening off the field."
Lin Xiyue followed her gaze. The next moment, her bright, sparkling eyes widened in shock.
Then, a burst of uncontrollable laughter erupted from her lips.
She laughed so hard her whole body trembled, nearly losing her breath.
Amidst the crowd, the two female protagonists of this farce—Lina and Sherry—had already changed into the same skimpy outfits as the other female spectators.
Their upper bodies were wrapped only in wide strips of fabric around their chests, brazenly exposing their contrasting figures—one shapely and curvy, the other voluptuous and exaggerated—to the sweltering air.
Their lower halves were draped in loose, flowing skirts that allowed for easy movement, radiating a raw, untamed, primal beauty.
Their gazes didn't linger even for a second on the two men on the field who were risking their lives for them.
Their eyes were filled with undisguised disdain and boredom for these "outdated models."
Lina was currently entwined around a muscular, battle-scarred Bear-man Warrior like a sinuous water snake. Her slender fingers traced slow circles across his bronze, imposing chest. Her breath, fragrant as orchids, and her voice, sweet to the point of cloying, whispered in the Bear-man's ear:
"Wow, your muscles feel so much better than that weakling Gru's! I love it!"
The Bear-man Warrior rumbled contentedly in his throat, his massive, fan-like hand squeezing her waist forcefully as he replied in a deep, booming voice:
"Nice waist! Firm enough... Let's find a place later and take our time playing."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Sherry—a woman built like a mother bear—displayed even more brazenness.
She cradled a slender, handsome Fox-man Ranger in her arms, handling him like a large canine pet. She plucked purple-red berries one by one and stuffed them into his mouth.
"You're so much better, all soft and tender," Sherry cooed, her critical gaze raking up and down her "new pet." "Unlike that pig Buck, always sweaty and brutish, with no charm whatsoever."
The Fox-man Ranger looked utterly enraptured, his cheeks nuzzling against the pre-equipped armor, which was even larger than his head. He narrowed his eyes coquettishly, his large, fluffy tail wrapping solicitously around Sherry's waist, the tip wagging with unrestrained delight.
He leaned close to Sherry's ear, his voice soft and seductive:
"As long as Sis likes it, I'll do anything to make her happy. Want to try out a new use for my tail tonight? I guarantee it'll be a hundred times more fun than Buck!"
Just then, Lina suddenly called out loudly to Sherry:
"Hey, Sherry! Is your new little fox sturdy enough? Don't want him being too soft—you need someone who can keep up with you!"
Sherry let out a low chuckle, pinched the Fox-man Ranger's cheek, and retorted loudly:
"Don't worry, he's a real performer! Unlike your bear—big and bulky, but probably a three-second wonder like Gru!"
Lina giggled, playfully slapping the Bear-man Warrior's rear with seductive flair:
"I've personally tested him—rock solid! Say... why don't we swap partners later and share notes live?"
Sherry's eyes lit up with a mischievous grin. "Alright then! Let's see if your bear's brute strength can match the tricks up my fox's tail!"
On the arena floor, Buck and Gru were fighting tooth and nail over their so-called "ownership," nearly beating each other's brains out.
Meanwhile, off the arena floor, the women were already eagerly launching their "cross-performance review" of the "newly upgraded high-end models"!
"Pfft... HAHAHAHA! I can't stop laughing! I'm going to die laughing!" Lin Xiyue clutched her stomach, tears streaming down her face.
"Are those two the ultimate suckers? They risked their lives for a prize, only to sell themselves off second-hand and now be subjected to a cross-performance review! What's the point?!"
Xia Lian watched with flushed cheeks, a mixture of absurdity and anger churning within her. She clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "Incomprehensible! Are those men blind? This entire farce is utterly meaningless!"
Su Wan's brow furrowed deeply as she squeezed out two words through gritted teeth:
"Ridiculous."
This wasn't so much an evaluation as a warning. Her gaze bypassed the two pathetic duelists, locking instead on Lina and Sherry as they flirted with their new conquests.
In her eyes, the shadows of the two women gradually merged with the shadow of Adela, the fox spirit from the previous night.
Their behavior patterns were identical: find a target, seduce them, drain their value, then discard them as backup options, seeking the next stimulating prey.
An icy chill rose from the depths of her heart, rapidly spreading through her limbs and bones.
Instinctively, she reached out and pulled Lin Xiyue half a step closer behind her, as if the women's gazes could burn her precious treasure.
This, then, was the true face of this world.
A hunting ground teeming with potential threats to her naive girlfriend.
See? A perfect closed loop, Lin Qingyue silently mused.
Men's possessiveness and jealousy are amplified, driving them to engage in meaningless duels.
Women's hedonistic desires and craving for novelty are also magnified, compelling them to endlessly seek the next source of excitement.
The rules have turned everyone into puppets, staging an absurd, cyclical drama. How utterly fascinating!
[Ding!~ You have profoundly grasped the essence of the rules and enjoyed a top-tier spectacle. Your understanding of this world has been elevated. Elation Value +1500!]
Watching the chaotic melee on the field and the seamless player substitutions below, Lin Qingyue snapped her fingers with satisfaction.
This free public spectacle had perfectly validated her theories, leaving her utterly pleased.
Her smile grew even brighter as she turned to her companions, who were still either laughing or fuming, and announced:
"Let's go, everyone."
"Huh? We're leaving already?" Lin Xiyue protested, wanting to watch more of the two suckers' humiliation.
"We've already sampled the appetizer, and it was quite tasty," Lin Qingyue replied, glancing back with a mischievous grin that hinted at lingering satisfaction. "Now, it's time to savor tonight's main course."
She gazed toward the city's most dazzling and mysterious district, announcing softly, "As planned, tonight's target: Tender Village."