C17 A Letter

Coline dabbed at the blood at the corner of her mouth as the fiery red glow surrounding her dimmed, reminiscent of the last flickering light from dying embers. Her hands, too, bore a faint redness, as though flames danced in her palms, suggesting she possessed a fire-related skill.

"Hey, look at Coline. Am I seeing things, or is there a red mist around her?" someone in the audience murmured to their neighbor.

"I've heard that some members of the Wild Dance fighting club have mastered spells. Judging by this, it looks like they're using a technique to burn their blood."

"That's right, I've seen a Wild Dance internal match before. Coline used a skill called Blood Burn. I remember they referred to it as Fire Mist," a petite girl chimed in, her voice tinged with excitement.

But Coline wasn't concerned about whether her spell was waning. Her sole focus was on defeating the bastard known as Odin. After the prolonged battle, she had come to the startling realization that her opponent was not as easily subdued as she had anticipated.

Coline's hand morphed into the shape of an eagle's claw as she lunged at Odin. Just as she nearly grasped his neck, she executed a backward flip to land behind him, her claw transforming into a palm as she delivered a fierce slap to the vulnerable nape of Odin's neck.

Odin deftly sidestepped and slid back several meters, widening the gap between him and Coline. He clenched his fists and launched a punch at Coline's face, imbued with a strong psychic force. The force of the punch seemed to penetrate her even before it made contact, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Without missing a beat, Odin swooped down, securing a hold on Coline from the ground. He gripped one of her feet and hands tightly, hoisting her from the earth and hurling her into the air. He then leapt up, hands poised, and with a ferocious downward surge, he struck her ribs before she had a chance to react.

Coline plummeted to the ground, a gush of blood spilling from her lips. The impact had broken several of her ribs, and the excruciating pain rendered her unable to rise. All she could do was repeat in disbelief, "How is this possible? How can this be? How..."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Speaking aggravated the pain in her ribs, causing Coline to cough up another mouthful of blood.

The initial situation was nothing like this. It seemed that Odin's power visibly surged after Coline's attacks, and he even managed to learn some of her combat moves and turn them against her. What she least expected was that this man surpassed her in both agility and strength.

Odin glanced at Coline's frustrated expression and let out a light snort. Had he encountered Coline before his fight with William, he might have met his end on the dueling platform.

Yet, the experience gained from defeating William had enhanced his own strength and agility. Although Coline's fire spells were a nuisance, the battle with her had also steadily increased his psychic force as he countered the effects of her magic.

Coline could tell he was using psychic force to bolster his offense, but she was unaware of his exact capabilities. Her underestimation ultimately led to her defeat.

Medical personnel ascended the stage to carry off Coline, who was now incapacitated. Meanwhile, Odin's fame skyrocketed due to his victories over both William and Coline.

After a moment of silence, the audience erupted into raucous cheers, chanting Odin's name.

Odin paid them no mind, turning to exit the stage through the competitors' passage at the rear.

The passage was usually well-lit, but today, whether due to fewer lights being on or an electrical issue, it appeared dim and foreboding, as if a deadly beast lurked in the shadows.

The match with Coline had drained much of Odin's strength. While he had managed to remain standing on stage, backstage he felt his energy wane. Leaning against the wall for support, he walked slowly, regulating his breath and calming the tumultuous vital spirit within him.

Suddenly, a man in a cap appeared at the end of the tunnel, moving swiftly. Before Odin could react, the man bumped into him as if by accident, then vanished just as quickly into the darkness.

Only after the man disappeared did Odin hear the 'clink' of an object hitting the floor. The man's speed had outpaced the falling object, leaving Odin astonished.

On the ground lay an envelope, its white edges trimmed in pure silver, understated yet opulent. The heart-shaped seal bore a wax imprint of a silver snake.

Odin had the nagging feeling that he'd encountered this symbol before, yet he couldn't quite place where he'd seen it.

The lighting in the corridor was dim, and the figure who had just passed by was wearing a cap and moved swiftly, making it impossible to discern his features. One could only make out a masculine silhouette.

Slipping the letter into his pocket, Odin resolved to find a place to rest before opening the envelope.

He was reluctant to linger, mainly out of fear that the situation might be tied to the Ebon Hand. A moment's carelessness, and he could become a vessel for the Ebon Hand in this gloomy place.

Back at the fighting club, the three siblings hadn't attended Odin and Coline's match due to club responsibilities, but they were already celebrating the victory they'd heard about from others. They were elated; it seemed their appointment as the God of Life was imminent!

"Since you're all up to speed, I'll head back to the dorm. I'm completely drained," Odin remarked, noting the siblings' awareness of the match's outcome. He then turned to make his way back for some much-needed rest.

"Wait," Karna called out to Odin. She reached into a cabinet behind her and produced a glass jar filled with red, slightly shriveled fruits.

"These are Scaleheart Fruits. They're great for a quick energy boost. You look like you could use it," Karna said, offering the jar to Odin.

"Thanks," Odin replied, accepting the jar without hesitation. He was familiar with Scaleheart Fruits and their reputation for bolstering one's physique.

With the fruit in hand, Odin anticipated a swift recovery of his strength without much effort.