Chapter 306 Monk vs Gento

Chapter 306 Monk vs Gento

As Gogo and the guard depart on their mission to gather beast corpses, I shift my attention to the others.

"Now that the match is set for noon, what should we do in the meantime?" I inquire, directing my question at Arthur.

"Maybe we should spar!" Arthur suggests eagerly, his eyes lighting up at the prospect.

"Wait, Prince Jake! You two are going to wreak havoc on the surroundings if you spar here. There's a special place I can take you to," Commander Lolan intervenes, preventing Arthur and me from engaging in combat.

"Where's that?" I inquire, curious about this designated sparring location.

"This building was meant for guests, so there's a field for sparring behind it," Commander Lolan explains.

"Before that, I need to contact someone. He's my friend and also a celestial monkey," Arthur interjects.

"Who is it?" both Commander Lolan and I ask in unison.

"His name is Monk," Arthur responds.

"Monk... I think I've heard that name before..." Commander Lolan mutters, absentmindedly scratching his beard still stained with yesterday's food crumbs.

"He mentioned something about living in the temple," Arthur adds.

"Ah, now I remember! That guy who wields a strange rod just like his grandfather, right?" Commander Lolan exclaims, seeking confirmation from Arthur.

"Yes, that's him," Arthur confirms.

"Damn... He's pretty strong. He's currently one of the top fighters on the leaderboard. It's a shame he's going up against Gento in the final," Commander Lolan says, shaking his head.

"What...?! Monk is quite powerful, and I believe we're evenly matched if he fights at his full strength. However, I've never seen him push himself to the limit, as he doesn't see the need to exert himself for meager rewards during our usual group missions. He may look innocent, but he's a cunning one. Don't underestimate him..." Arthur warns, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"I'm not underestimating him. Even I wouldn't stand a chance against him. But, unfortunately, he won't stand a chance against Gento, who has consistently outperformed him in previous tournaments," Commander Lolan explains.

"Ah, I see... This Gento must be really formidable," Arthur remarks.

"I can't wait to face these guys. It seems the emperor acknowledges my strength, which is why he placed two formidable opponents before our match. He wants to study my fighting style. How cunning of the Celestial Monkey Emperor. It only makes me want to hit him harder!" I declare with a grin.

Silence hangs in the air as both Arthur and Commander Lolan contemplate my words.

"Commander Lolan, I need your help with something. I want you to contact Monk for me," Arthur requests.

Commander Lolan scratches his head, looking somewhat perplexed.

"Well, I don't think I can contact him for you, Arthur. He's currently participating in the tournament, and he's actually facing Gento today!" Commander Lolan reveals, as if recalling an important detail.

"What?!" Arthur and I exclaim simultaneously, disbelief etched on our faces.

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We find ourselves in a stadium-like arena, surrounded by thousands of spectators, all of whom are Celestial Monkeys. The field where the event will take place occupies the center of the stadium, a vast expanse. Seated beside me are Arthur, Stella, and Commander Lolan, with several empty chairs separating us. This section is known as the "high-seats," reserved for important individuals who prefer a bit of space.

A few meters away, I spot the Prime Minister seated next to someone who appears to be the emperor. They are surrounded by numerous guards. Also seated nearby are individuals who seem to be part of the upper echelons of this society.

Suddenly, the emperor turns his attention in my direction and waves his hand. He appears to be saying something, but the constant noise from the crowd drowns out his words.

"Wait... Is that the emperor? He looks like a blooming teenager!" Arthur remarks, waving back at the emperor. Our actions draw Commander Lolan's gaze toward us.

"His Majesty may appear young, but he is over a hundred years old. Well, in our standards, he's still considered young. Vampires and Celestial Monkeys seem to age similarly," Commander Lolan explains. "Should I move our seats closer to the emperor? If he had known you were coming, he would have invited you to sit with him. I apologize for my oversight," he adds, clenching his fists.

"No need to apologize... I have no interest in talking to him. I'd rather let our fists do the talking," I reply with a smirk, cracking my knuckles.

I shift my attention to the announcer, attempting to listen to what they are saying.

"Hey ladies and gentlemen!! Today marks the final round of the Celestial Monkeys' Strongest Tournament... The last battle we've all been eagerly anticipating, yet for the past two years, it's ended with the same result. But since both sides have shown significant improvement, there's a chance we might witness a new record in history. Without further ado, let me introduce the contestants for today's final match—the two fighters who have consistently made it to the final for the past two years, Gento and Monk!!!!!!" The announcer's declaration is met with thunderous cheers and boos from the crowd.

Abruptly, two figures emerge from opposite sides of the field, both shirtless. One wields a long golden rod and sports light brown facial hair. His tail is unusually long compared to other Celestial Monkeys and is brown in color. The other fighter brandishes a short black iron bat, possesses a bulkier physique, and boasts black facial hair. He is noticeably taller than his opponent.

Simultaneously, a short Celestial Monkey who appears to be the referee steps onto the field, positioning himself between the two fighters.

"That one with the long rod is Monk!" Arthur exclaims with excitement, tapping my legs unconsciously.

"It seems you and Monk are close," Commander Lolan comments, although his attention remains fixed on the fighters, as if he doesn't want to miss any details.

The arena is filled with a mixture of cheers and boos for Gento, with a few voices rallying behind Monk. Some even go so far as to label him a loser for dashing their betting hopes in previous years.

However, I have a burning question on my mind.

"What about the one called Zeno? Isn't he participating in the tournament?" I inquire, curiosity piqued.

"Zeno is a girl. Unfortunately, Zeno was banned from participating in the tournament due to her brutality and overwhelming power. She literally tore Gento limb from limb and crushed his manhood... It took a year for Gento to recover," Commander Lolan explains, his voice filled with unease as he swallows hard.

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