C36 An Arrow That Made One's Heart Tremble

In that moment, Gu Ritian felt a chill envelop his entire body, as though he had plummeted into an ice cellar.

As Elsa aimed her arrow at him, a vivid image flashed through his mind: himself, fatally pierced by the arrow.

The vision was so lifelike, it seemed to be happening to him in real-time, as if the fatal moment was imminent.

Gu Ritian was acutely aware that Elsa could make that gruesome image a reality if she chose to.

Suddenly, Elsa's icy voice cut through the air, "You have three seconds to surrender, or I'll shoot through your head. The countdown begins now. Three."

Gu Ritian swallowed hard, his mind racing for a way out. He had never encountered an adversary like this before.

What was that deathly vision that had just sprung into his mind? Was it a manifestation of Elsa's powers? Such an ability seemed eerily unnatural.

Gu Ritian realized that no matter how he tried to dodge, he couldn't escape the impending arrow Elsa was poised to release.

If he persisted, he would meet the fate Elsa had described: an arrow through his brain.

This wasn't the War Net; a real arrow to the head meant actual death.

Injuries were commonplace in these competitions, and the death of a competitor was not unheard of.

But dying for the sake of a match? That was a price too steep.

With his face flushed and a bitter taste of defeat, Gu Ritian declared, each word heavy with reluctance, "I concede."

His words sent a shockwave through the crowd.

What just happened?

Why did he concede as soon as he stepped onto the stage?

Was Gu Ritian putting on an act?

If so, his acting was abysmal.

From the perspective of the students in the stands, the fight hadn't even started.

Elsa's initial arrow was clearly a probe, a common tactic among Marksmen at the start of combat.

In this battle, it seemed clear that Gu Ritian had the upper hand.

As a Marksman, Elsa's chances dwindled once her opponent closed in on her—a fundamental lesson from the academy.

If Gu Ritian executed a Warrior Charge and closed the distance, Elsa would stand no chance.

So why, then, did Gu Ritian abruptly concede?

Everyone was baffled by it.

Reira gazed at Elsa, her face etched with solemnity.

As Elsa released her first arrow, Reira felt a distinct tremor in her heart—an emotion that only surfaced when her life was in jeopardy.

Beside her, Selina's face was a mask of confusion as she inquired, "Captain Reira, what was the deal with that arrow?"

Selina hadn't experienced the heart tremor, but her instincts screamed that there was more to it.

Reira shook her head. She had braved innumerable perils in the Fourth Dimension while forging a sanctuary for the empire.

Yet, the mystery of that arrow eluded her. What exactly had happened?

One thing was certain: Gu Ritian had faced a lethal threat, prompting his automatic concession and withdrawal from the match.

In the arena, the unsettling sensation in Gu Ritian's heart lingered even after his surrender.

It wasn't until he exited the arena that it finally faded away.

Almost immediately, a wave of intense humiliation engulfed him.

As the Deputy President of Thorns and a top-ranked expert at the academy, he had just yielded to a newcomer under the watchful eyes of all.

His fists clenched in resolve.

This disgrace would haunt him for life.

Gu Ritian was eager to leave.

But he was aware that departure wasn't an option yet—the competition was ongoing, and Thorns hadn't been defeated.

If they secured victory in this club battle, he could salvage some dignity.

He vowed to seize an opportunity for retribution.

Elsa, too, descended from the arena.

She gave Lin Luo a cold huff and exited through the passageway.

The upcoming duo and quintet battles held no interest for her; she had no intention of watching or participating.

Lin Luo was taken aback.

Why was she so irritable after her victory?

He touched his nose, pondering, "Has she uncovered something about my involvement with her?"

Indeed, a woman's intuition can be terrifying.