Chương 110: Chapter 109: Astra and the Bowl of Dragon Chili Soup

The Grand Gladiator Arena of Tartarus reeked of dried blood and sulfur smoke, filled with the frenzied roar of a hundred thousand Demon-race spectators packed onto the black stone stands. Down in the arena's black sand pit, a colossal Dark Demon Dragon, over forty meters long, its body sheathed in jet-black scales radiating dark purple magical fire, threw its head back and let out a roar that shook heaven and earth.

Scattered at its feet were the shattered remains of iron shields and the bones of gladiators just crushed in the previous fight. Up in the honor VIP box, Lucian sat with his feet propped on the stone railing, a magical measuring tape and a black leather notebook in hand, calculating floor area.

"Capacity for a hundred thousand seats... four standard emergency exits... high, open ceiling... tear out these execution platforms, build a three-tier theatrical stage, and this place could pull in at least fifty thousand gold a night in ticket sales." Seated in a jeweled armchair beside him, Lord Morax — a short, fat demon with crude spiral horns, dozens of beast-bone necklaces around his neck — slammed a skull-shaped goblet down onto the stone table. He bared yellowed fangs, glaring at Lucian.

"Young Master Vance! You want to peddle instant noodles in the Demon Realm, you follow the law of this Arena! I formally stake this arena's operating charter against your market food stockpile under the challenge clause. Send a fighter down onto that floor to take down that Dark Demon Dragon, or your stockpile becomes war spoils for my arena!"

Morax jabbed a stubby finger down at a stone platform in the center of the arena — where a massive bronze cauldron boiled violently, sending up clouds of spicy red smoke, thick with a mouthwatering aroma.

"See that cauldron? That's Premium Dragon Chili Soup, made from three thousand volcanic peppers and a thousand-year-old beast heart! The prize of honor for whoever survives to walk out of that arena!" Astra, sitting nearby eating a cookie, suddenly stopped mid-bite. Her small nose twitched. The sharp, spicy aroma of volcanic peppers mixed with the rich, savory scent of dragon bone broth hit her straight in the face. Rustle. Astra said nothing.

She handed the other half of her cookie to Sylvia, picked up a porcelain bowl and silver spoon in her left hand, gripped the hilt of the Sun-Slaying Dragon Sword with her right, and jumped straight over the thirty-meter stone railing of the VIP box. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. THUD! Her ivory floral dress flared wide as Astra landed lightly in the middle of the blood-soaked black sand.

The forty-meter Dark Demon Dragon whipped its head around instantly. Seeing a small girl in a floral dress dare to trespass on its territory, it let out a world-shaking roar, opening its blood-red maw full of razor-sharp fangs, and lunged down at wind-tearing speed. Astra didn't back away an inch. She tilted her body slightly, thumb nudging the sheath open exactly half a centimeter. CLING! A razor-thin streak of platinum blade-force flashed through the air. SLASH!

A line of light cut clean across the Dark Demon Dragon's mouth. Four of the beast's colossal, pillar-sized fangs were sheared off cleanly, scattering across the sand. A terrifyingly focused burst of Astra's blade-force slammed straight into the top of its skull, flattening the entire forty-meter body face-first into the stone floor and sending up a thick storm of black sand. Ting! Ting! A Unified System V2. 0 notification appeared before Lucian. [ASTRA DEPLOYED HER HOLY SWORD IN THE DEMON REALM!] Derived Combat Power evaluation: Rank A Legendary. Exact figure withheld pending calibration against local data. Boss status: 4 front fangs lost, mild concussion, total surrender! [OBSERVABLE INCENTIVE NOTE:] Astra stared at the dragon chili soup before drawing her sword. Probable primary incentive: soup. Confidence based only on visible behavior. The Dark Demon Dragon trembled and struggled back onto its feet.

Seeing the holy sword in Astra's hand, every trace of a thousand-year-old dragon's ferocity dissolved completely. It folded its wings, lowered its massive head, dragging it across the sand, and gently nuzzled its blackened snout against the hem of Astra's floral dress, like a kitten begging for its life. Astra didn't spare the dragon a glance.

She carried her porcelain bowl over to the bronze cauldron, ladled it full of the boiling, blazing red chili soup, and lifted a silver spoonful to her mouth, taking a big gulp. The searing, tongue-burning spice mixed with the rich, sweet flavor of dragon bone broth exploded across her palate. The girl's ash-grey eyes lit up, shining. She looked up at Lord Morax, frozen stiff in the VIP box, and spoke softly.

"This soup is really good. One more bowl, please. Extra volcanic peppers this time." A dead silence fell over all one hundred thousand Demon-race spectators. The skull goblet in Morax's hand slipped from his fingers and shattered on the stone floor. His eyes rolled back, jaw hanging down to his chest, his whole body trembling like he'd been struck by lightning. Per the arena's challenge charter, Morax had formally staked the operating charter against Vance's food stockpile.

His defeat required the charter transfer; the Apex Beast's surrender was merely the very loud proof that he had lost. The hundred thousand demons in the stands dropped to both knees on the stone at once, raising their fists, roaring in absolute worship.

"LONG LIVE THE FLORAL-DRESS QUEEN!"

"ONE STRIKE, FOUR DRAGON TEETH GONE!"

"THE ARENA HAS OFFICIALLY FOUND ITS NEW MASTER!" Morax dropped to the ground, trembling, offering up the solid gold deed of ownership to the arena with both hands.

"I... I hereby transfer the entire arena to Vance Commerce..." Lucian took the gold deed, fingers flying across his abacus, the corner of his mouth curling into a bright smile.

"Sylvia, get Evelyn's construction crew here tonight. Tear down every cage, install an arcane sound system and stage lighting." He looked out at the hundred thousand spectators still roaring below.

"Starting next week, this becomes the exclusive Nameless Knight Musical Theater of the Demon Realm. Flat ticket price: fifty silver a head. No tabs."