Chapter 55 The Circus Fruit Farmer Clown 05 Sky Arena
Ayana and Hisoka led a group of terrified children back along the path they had come from.
Although the smell of blood still lingered in the air, hope, like a faint light, dispelled some of the darkness.
The children followed closely behind Ayana, as if they regarded her as their only support.
Before long, they finally emerged from the passage and returned to the corner of the tent where miscellaneous items were piled up.
The light from the outside made the children, who had been underground for a long time, squint.
The tent remained silent; most of the children were still fast asleep, completely unaware of the dramatic changes that had just taken place underground.
Ayana walked straight to the center of the tent, raised her voice, and her clear voice broke the silence of the night.
"Wake up, everyone! Listen, the leader and his evil trainers are dead! You are free!"
Her voice was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
The sleeping children were startled awake, their bewildered and incredulous gazes falling upon Ayana and her companions who had just returned from hell.
"Really...really?" a bold child asked timidly.
“Ligi! You…” Another child recognized Lizzie, and seeing the tear stains on her face and the fear in her eyes, seemed to understand something.
“Yes, it’s true.” Ayana’s tone was firm. She looked around at the young yet suffering faces, “No one will lock you in cages anymore, no one will sell you as merchandise anymore, and no one will hurt you anymore! The Dream Circus, from today onwards, ceases to exist!”
Most of the children in the Dream Circus were picked up by the ringmaster or brought back through other abnormal means. The children here have long harbored resentment towards the ringmaster and the name "Dream Circus," but they are powerless to resist.
Now that someone has said these words, hope has been rekindled in the children's eyes.
Whispers gradually rose, then turned into excited conversations and cries of relief after surviving the ordeal.
Just then, the tent flap was suddenly flung open.
The two were clearly passive.
Their words came to an abrupt halt.
They saw the open entrance to the passageway next to the pile of debris, and Ayana surrounded by children with cold eyes, and Hisoka playing with playing cards with a dangerous smile. They had a vague guess in their minds, and their momentum instantly diminished.
"Where...where is the class leader?" one of the trainers shouted, his voice trembling with fear.
“He’s dead,” Ayana answered calmly, taking a step forward. “He’s down here with his loyal lackeys. You now have two choices: lay down your weapons, leave immediately, and never come back; or…”
Her gaze swept over Hisoka, who then tossed a playing card so that it landed perfectly at the feet of a trainer.
She added, "I'll stay here with them."
The two trainers glanced at the group of children behind Ayana who were staring at them with hatred, then at the bottomless passage and Hisoka who exuded a dangerous aura, and their faces instantly turned pale.
They exchanged a glance, and almost without hesitation, dropped the short sticks in their hands, scrambled out of the tent, and disappeared into the night.
The most important figure is dead, and the rest are utterly vulnerable.
Ayana didn't chase after them. Instead, she turned to all the children and said in a clear and strong voice, "Everyone heard that. The people who oppressed us no longer exist! You can take all the property of this circus for your travel expenses and living needs."
"At daybreak, those with homes, find a way back; those without, travel together to find a new life! Remember, you are no longer anyone's slaves or commodities; you are free!"
The children were silent at first, then burst into huge cheers and cries.
They began searching for places where the class leader and trainers might have hidden money and valuables, their faces beaming with unprecedented hope and energy.
The system notification sounded, marking the end of this main quest.
Ayana breathed a sigh of relief.
Hisoka scoffed, "Tsk, crying and laughing all the time, what a noisy ending."
Although he said that, his golden vertical pupils reflected the leaping firelight, as if he too was experiencing a sense of satisfaction from this scene.
He turned to Ayana, his nonchalant smile returning to his face: "So, little cat? Now that you've taken apart the old toys, where are you going to find new ones?"
The system's voice sounded again.
[Go to the [Heavenly Arena] with Hisoka.]
[Task Reward: 100 points.]
[Note: The Sky Arena is a fighting tower that reaches into the clouds. It is said to have hundreds of floors or even higher. It is a gathering place for the strongest fighters from all over the world. Anyone with the ability can challenge it.]
There are no rules here, only the most direct distinction between strong and weak. Each level has a powerful guardian. If you win, you can climb higher. The higher you climb, the stronger your opponents will be.
It is said that the view and battles at the top are far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Furthermore, this is a legal arena for life-or-death combat; as long as both parties agree, or on a specific floor, killing an opponent will not be prosecuted.
This is a vast stage that exists only for the strong and for battle.
…It sounds like a very bloody place.
But indeed, Ayana estimates that Hisoka would probably really like this place.
She thought for a moment and then said, "Let's go to the Sky Arena."
Hisoka had never heard of this place before, and asked her in return, "Heavenly Arena?"
His eyes sparkled with pure curiosity.
Ayana briefly explained what the Heaven's Arena was, and sure enough, Hisoka reacted like a shark that had smelled blood; his golden vertical pupils suddenly lit up, and his languid expression was replaced by an extremely hungry excitement.
“The Sky Arena…” he repeated the name, a huge, twisted smile spreading across his face. “It’s a fun place where you can fight to your heart’s content and climb to the top.”
He chuckled softly, his shoulders shrugged slightly, and his golden vertical pupils burned with an almost fanatical flame.
"That's awesome!"
"This is practically a playground made just for me!"
He suddenly moved closer to Ayana, so close that his hot breath even brushed against her face: "How did you know about such a nice place, little kitten? Hmm? But whatever~"
He could hardly wait any longer; he turned and looked into the distance, as if he could already see the towering structure he had imagined.
"When are we leaving? Now? I can't wait to have some fun!"
Ayana didn't answer immediately. She glanced back at the children who were busy tidying up, knowing that they were no longer needed here, and then turned to leave with Hisoka.
But then Lizzie and a few other older children came over, tears in their eyes, and expressed their sincere gratitude.
“Ayana, Hisoka… thank you.”
Lizzie said softly, and the other children nodded in agreement.
Ayana patted Lizzie's head: "Take good care of yourself from now on."
Without further farewells, Ayana and Hisoka departed this land as dawn broke.
The dreamlike circus behind them will become a thing of the past as the children disperse.
Based on the general directions provided by the system and information gathered along the way, the two of them finally arrived at the renowned Sky Arena after several days of trekking.
It was a towering, majestic tower that pierced the clouds, its exterior design exuding a futuristic and powerful feel, its body reflecting the sunlight and gleaming brilliantly.
The area below the tower was teeming with people of all kinds, including muscular strongmen, agile martial artists, and mysterious Nen users.
The air was filled with a unique atmosphere that blended sweat, excitement, and a faint, almost imperceptible, smell of blood.
Hisoka took a deep breath, his face showing an almost intoxicated expression: "Ah~ this is the taste, it's so wonderful~"
He excitedly flipped the playing cards between his fingers, as if he couldn't wait to enter the Sky Arena and start battling others.
Ayana, however, remained calm and observed her surroundings without reacting excessively.
[New mission issued: Complete registration and win a match with Hisoka at the Heavens Arena.]
[Task Reward: 200 points.]
The system's prompts once again pointed the way.
“Let’s go,” Ayana said to Hisoka, who was barely able to contain himself, “Let’s go ‘register’.”
Hisoka grinned and led the way towards the imposing entrance to the arena, his red hair standing out conspicuously in the crowd: "Of course~ I can't wait to have some fun~"
The two merged into the surging crowd and stepped through the gates of the Sky Arena.
Inside the door was an extremely spacious and grand hall, where noise, electronic announcements, and the distant, faint roar of battle mingled together.
The signs clearly point to the registration area.
The registration process was simple and efficient, and the two successfully qualified for the competition and registered their names.
Ayana had thought of using an alias, but saw Hisoka register his name without hesitation.
Hisoka's flamboyant personality seemed to make him disdain hiding his identity, and seeing this, Aiana also used her special ability.
The receptionist handed them two magnetic cards.
"Alright~" Hisoka fiddled with his magnetic card, his gaze sweeping over the battle schedule and floor information scrolling on the big screen, his golden vertical pupils burning with a hunting-like flame. "The game officially begins, little cat~ Let's see just how many toys worth destroying are hidden in this interesting tower~!"
His laughter wasn't particularly loud in the noisy hall, but it carried a chilling excitement and anticipation.
Not long after I got the magnetic card, a cold, electronic voice came over the loudspeaker in the lobby.
"Please proceed to the third waiting area. Your match will take place in the seventh ring in ten minutes." (A-734, Hisoka)
"Please proceed to the fifth waiting area. Your match will take place in the twelfth ring in fifteen minutes." (A-735, Ayana)
Perhaps because they were newcomers and were on the ground floor, the front desk staff quickly found them a rival.
Hisoka's smile grew even brighter, and he licked his lips as if he had already tasted blood.
"Looks like the toy's itching to be opened! I'm off, little kitty! Don't lose the first round, that would be so disappointing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared into the crowd and headed towards the third waiting area.
Ayana gripped the magnetic card tightly and followed the instructions to the fifth waiting area.
The waiting area was more like a simple lounge, where some players who were about to go on stage were making their final preparations, and the air was filled with tension and fighting spirit.
She found a quiet corner to sit down, closed her eyes to rest, and regulated her breathing.
Fifteen minutes passed quickly.
"Contestant A-735, Ayana, please proceed to the twelfth arena immediately!"
Ayana opened her eyes, her gaze clear.
She stood up and calmly walked towards the designated entrance to the arena.
The twelfth arena is a standard-sized square space with tiered seating around it. It was already quite crowded with people, and the noise was like a tidal wave.
The referee, a middle-aged man with a blank expression, simply reiterated the rules: except for the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, the game continues until one side concedes defeat, falls to the ground and remains motionless for ten seconds, or falls off the ring.
Ayana's opponent is a burly man nearly two meters tall, codenamed "The Giant Bear".
He looked at Ayana as she walked onto the ring, a hint of contempt and impatience flashing in his eyes.
"What's going on? A little girl? Referee, are you sure you're not mistaken?" the giant bear shouted gruffly, drawing laughter from the audience.
Ayana ignored it and calmly took her place.
The system will promptly issue an audio alert.
[Host, would you like to use the special ability [Powerful Amplification]?]
Ayana shook her head, rejecting the system's suggestion.
She was confident that she could defeat the giant bear in front of her without relying on any special abilities.
"The match begins!" the referee waved.
The giant bear clearly didn't take Ayana seriously. He roared and charged forward like a mad bull, his huge fist whistling through the air as it slammed into Ayana's face, intending to end the match, which he considered a foregone conclusion, with a single blow.
However, at the very moment his fist arrived, Ayana's body tilted backward with incredible flexibility, almost parallel to the ground, narrowly avoiding the heavy blow.
At the same time, her feet, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, precisely hooked onto the giant bear's forelegs, which had become unbalanced due to its forward charge!
"What...?!" The giant bear felt its foot trip, and its massive body immediately lost its balance, causing it to cry out and fall forward.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ayana sprang up like a spring, flipped onto Hisoka's back, locked her legs tightly around his waist and abdomen, and wrapped one hand around his neck to execute a strangulation maneuver.
"Ugh!"
The giant bear suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
A tremendous force began to compress his carotid artery. He struggled in terror, his hands reaching wildly backward, but Ayana held him tightly against his back, making it impossible for him to exert any force.
The laughter from the audience abruptly ceased, replaced by a stunned silence.
"Give up?" Ayana's voice rang in the giant bear's ear.
"No...impossible!" The giant bear's face turned red as it tried to break free with brute force.
Ayana no longer hesitated, and exerted force with her legs and forearms at the same time.
The bear's eyes began to bulge out, and its struggles quickly weakened.
"Stop! Stop! I surrender! I surrender!"
The fear of death finally overwhelmed his pride, and he used his last strength to pound the ground.
The referee immediately stepped forward to separate the two and announced the result of the match: "The winner is Ayana!"
The announcement came on, and the audience erupted in a mixture of surprise and cheers.
Ayana landed smoothly, slightly out of breath.
The battle ended quickly.
She glanced at the giant bear lying on the ground, panting heavily, and walked off the ring expressionlessly.
[Mission] Complete registration and win a match with Hisoka at the Heavens Arena. Progress Update: (1/2), please wait for Hisoka to finish the match.
As soon as Ayana stepped out of the arena area, she sensed another, even more chaotic and dangerous aura coming from not far away—the direction of the seventh arena where Hisoka was.
Even from a distance, one could hear even more frenzied cheers and some unsettling screams coming from the other side.
As she approached the seventh arena, she saw that the audience was almost in a frenzy, with everyone's eyes fixed on the arena.
On the stage, Hisoka's opponent was a man wielding dual swords.
However, at this moment, the man was like a broken puppet, his body covered with wounds of varying depths, and blood almost stained his clothes.
His eyes were unfocused and filled with fear. His twin swords had long since fallen to the ground, and he was crawling on the ground, trying to escape, driven only by his survival instinct.
Hisoka stood behind him, a pure and joyful smile on his face.
He didn't end the fight immediately, but instead played like a cat playing with a mouse, adding new wounds to his opponent's body every now and then with playing cards, enjoying the opponent's desperate struggles and cries.
"Hmm~ Not bad speed, but too bad stamina~" Hisoka chuckled, and another playing card flew out, accurately slicing off a small piece of his opponent's ear.
The referee seemed to want to step forward to stop it, but was stopped by Hisoka's cold gaze.
Here, the referee's authority to intervene is limited unless it is confirmed as a loss or death.
Hisoka finally lost interest and gently swept the last playing card across his opponent's throat with his fingertips.
The screams abruptly stopped.
"The winner is Hisoka!" The referee's voice trembled slightly.
Hisoka flicked the blood off his card, didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground, and walked straight off the ring.
He saw Ayana waiting to the side, her cruel smile still lingering on her face, her golden vertical pupils still holding the excitement of slaughter.
"Oh dear~ Is the kitten game over too?" He tilted his head. "Looks like our games all started well~"
[New quest unlocked: Reach level 50 in the Sky Arena.]
[Task Reward: 1000 points.]
Ayana frowned, wanting to persuade Hisoka not to be so cruel, but Hisoka saw through her intention and spoke first.
"Kitty, don't disturb my game~"
He put the playing cards to his mouth, revealing a twisted smile. The Joker on the cards bore a striking resemblance to his own smile: "If you disturb my game, even a kitten will get angry~"
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