Chapter 49: Combat of Fire and Blood (3)

Ophelia clenched her jaw, struggling to maintain her composure. Despite the intense pressure being exerted on her by the men holding her, she refused to lower her head. Her eyes, once calm, now gleamed with a sharp, furious golden hue, resembling the eyes of a reptile ready to strike. Deep inside, she clung to a sliver of faith in Nikolai, trusting that he wouldn't harm her brother. But the shadow of doubt loomed large, fueled by his past actions that made her question his true intentions. As Nikolai's words echoed through the Arena, the atmosphere shifted. Yakim's face darkened, expecting the crowd to resist. However, after a prolonged, eerie silence, the spectators erupted into wild cheers and excited shouts, their bloodlust rekindled. Yakim sighed heavily, his eyes drifting to the stage where Nikolai stood, gazing back at him with an expression of innocence that belied the carnage he had just unleashed. It was as if the brutal killings he had committed moments ago were mere trivial