The crowd exchanged nervous whispers. "She can summon… but those beasts are weak compared to true war-monsters," one spectator muttered. "Still—taming an ogre is nothing to scoff at. If she isn't exposed after this, kings may come calling."

Linda didn't listen to them. She nocked an arrow, drew the string, and launched herself into the fray. Two towering ogres lumbered forward, each gripping a massive club that could crush a man with a single blow. Their footfalls cracked the arena sand like thunder.

As they swung, Linda readied herself. She could see their tells now—muscle tenses, the way the club rose—every motion slowed by her enhanced senses. She rolled under the first swing, letting the club whistle over her head, then sprang up and fired a clean arrow into the ogre's waist. The missile buried deep; the creature staggered but did not fall.

The second ogre charged, trying to bury its club into her flank. Linda leapt backward, tucking and twisting midair, and loosed another arrow that shattered bone on impact. The ogre howled, clutching its wound.

Do I go all out? she thought, breath steadying. My mana capacity has grown—I could finish this now. But the crowd wants a show. I'll give them one. Still, if I push everything and slip… I could regret it.

She slowed her breathing, tightened her grip, and smiled—cold, confident. I can handle whatever she summons. No monster will stop me.

With that, Linda surged forward again, arrow after arrow finding their marks as the ogres stumbled beneath her precision and speed.

Linda drew her bow and loosed a single, perfect shot into the neck of one ogre. The great beast staggered and collapsed, sand spraying from where it hit. The second ogre charged, club raised in a crushing arc—Linda didn't hesitate. She squeezed the string and the arrow flew true, finding the creature's throat. It toppled with a thunderous crash.

Cora stared in disbelief. She felled two ogres like they were nothing, Cora thought. An arrow doesn't normally pierce ogre flesh so cleanly… how is she this strong? Panic flashed across her face for the first time. Master is watching… he must see how I fail. I can't let that happen.

Cora forced herself forward, whip cracking like a lash. I know Life Consume can save me, she thought. I won't die. I'll make her suffer first. She charged.

Linda met her advance with cold focus. She nocked four arrows at once, eyes narrowing as she read Cora's movement. Cora lashed out—the whip arced through the air—but Linda flowed with it, slipping aside and releasing her volley.

Three arrows struck home: forehead, neck, stomach. The arena went still. For a breathless moment everyone thought the worst.

Then Cora's face went blank. The blood on the sand began to tremble and rise—tiny threads of crimson pulling themselves back into her wounds. The arrows were wrenched free and slid from her limbs. Flesh knitted, the gashes closed, and Cora inhaled raggedly as she righted herself, unharmed.

A stunned hush fell over the crowd. "What… what kind of skill was that?" someone whispered. "She healed as if the wound never happened." Another voice answered, shaky: "It's the Life Consume technique. It's forbidden—she can't be allowed to use that."

Cora straightened, blinking the blood from her mouth as if it had never been there. Her smile was sick and sure. "You think that's enough?" she snarled. "You think this will stop me?"

Linda's lips curved, cold and certain. "You don't die easily. Fine. Then I'll make you fall unconscious."

Cora charged forward, her whip flashing through the air. Stretching out her hand, she summoned two crimson wolves that materialized beside her in a burst of flame.

She lashed out with her whip, aiming to slash Linda—but Linda slipped aside with precise agility. One of the wolves lunged toward the direction Linda dodged, but she had already predicted it. She turned smoothly, drew, and released. The arrow struck the wolf clean in the forehead, dropping it instantly.

Before the other could react, Linda's next arrow found Cora's leg, making her stumble. The second wolf leapt, fangs bared, but Linda was faster; another arrow pierced its skull midair. It crashed to the ground lifeless.

Seizing the moment, Linda sprinted forward, closing the distance. Cora swung her whip again, a desperate slash—but Linda bent low, sliding past her. Before Cora could turn, Linda twisted her body and delivered a sharp kick to Cora's head.

Cora hit the ground hard, both hands pressed against the floor as she tried to rise. Linda didn't hesitate. She raised her bow and brought it down with full force across Cora's head.

A dull crack echoed through the arena. Cora went limp—unconscious.

The crowd gasped.

"Unbelievable! What just happened? Has Linda won?" the emissary exclaimed.

A healer rushed forward, kneeling beside Cora. After checking her pulse, he looked up and raised his hand.

"The winner is Linda!"

The arena erupted in cheers. Applause and shouts filled the air as Linda stepped back, breathing hard but smiling faintly.

"I didn't believe it," Nolan said, watching from the stands. "That was incredible. She made it look effortless."

"She's remarkable," Lyra added. "Even if she'd kept shooting, Cora's healing would've undone every wound. But instead of wasting arrows, Linda knocked her unconscious. A clever move."

Nolan nodded. "Yes, master. She's outstanding. I didn't expect it to be that easy. That was one of the shortest fights I've ever seen in this arena."

"I can't wait for my turn. I'm going to make you proud," Celia said, determination bright in her eyes.

"You will," Nolan replied with a small, steady smile. "You're outstanding."

"Master—she performed really well," Damian said, voice low. "And that technique… the one Cora used. A human shouldn't be able to wield something like that. It's rare and dangerous."

Nolan's expression darkened a touch. Damian continued, quietly but firmly. "Life-Consume isn't just magic that heals. It's a curse. It consumes life—not simply life force. If the caster refuses to pay with their own life, they must take it from others to feed the spell. That's why it's forbidden."

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