Ever since the Dread Emperor was defeated and the Kusha nation was destroyed, all Kusha people on the continent, for 600 years, have been branded with the stigma of being a people of sin.

They take on the lowest jobs and are subjected to discrimination, utterly unable to afford running a gladiatorial arena like this.

"Really?"

"I also want to know, that's why I came here to see for myself."

Dio replied, adding: "If the information is correct, that Kusha man must definitely be hiding some secret. Aren't you curious?"

"Indeed, we ought to find out more."

Griffith showed no sympathy for the Kusha people's plight; he admired King of Milante's achievements and worshipped the Milante Ancient Scripture as a classic.

In the present, even other countries liked to quote the Milante Ancient Scripture, and there were a plethora of scholars interpreting it.

Anyone who occasionally doubted it would face intense criticism.

Griffith believed in the prophecies recorded in the Milante Ancient Scripture and matters related to the divine.

Therefore, he held strong suspicion towards the Kusha people.

The Mitan Ancient Scripture clearly documented the brutality of the Kusha people and stated that these people must never be given a chance to breathe.

...

The whole underground gladiatorial arena was square-shaped.

There were four doors, three of which were entrances and exits.

The northern door led to the arena owner's room, requiring passage through a long corridor.

Four people guarded the entrance of the corridor.

At the end was a door with a bronze surface.

Inside the room beyond the door, a dim blue flame flickered, leaving most areas shrouded in darkness.

Tas was cloaked from head to toe, with the mark of the people of sin engraved on his face.

Every Kusha person would be engraved with the mark of the people of sin at the age of five.

And thus, they would be deeply alienated from other children.

Six hundred years have passed, and the Kusha people have spent 600 years yet still haven't washed away their sins.

Since that's the case, why continue to cleanse them?

Wouldn't it be better to let the world feel the terror of the Kusha once more?

This was the thought that formed in young Tas's heart, but he never found the opportunity to realize it.

Until one day, he heard a call from deep within his soul.

Guided by that call, he gradually escaped the fate destined for Kusha people to engage in the most inferior jobs.

Reaching his current position, he also knew who had been calling him all along.

It was the existence that made the entire Eastern Continent tremble 600 years ago.

The Dread Emperor.

Most Kusha people hated the Dread Emperor, believing he was the reason for their downfall.

Yet there were Kusha people like Tas who thought the Dread Emperor wasn't evil; he merely failed, hence was vilified by various countries, being scapegoated for all the brutality towards Kusha people.

"My great Lord, as you wished, two future Angel Envoys have already appeared within my gladiatorial arena."

Through the crystal ball, Tas could see Dio and Griffith whispering to each other behind the audience stands in the arena.

He had secretly given the information to Dio.

Otherwise, how could the identity of the arena owner being a Kusha person be casually disclosed to a student?

He believed that Dio was also aware that something was amiss, but the teenager's curiosity couldn't be suppressed.

Dio was bound to come to this gladiatorial arena to seek the truth.

"Very well."

The blue flame flickered, and a low, hoarse voice emanated from within, "Proceed according to the original plan. It's time to let the world feel fear once more.

We Kusha people are the true rulers of this world."

"As you command."

Tas nodded, knowing that the Dread Emperor was trapped in the Demon Realm. To leave, the Noble Phantasm Crimson Wheel created by the Second Generation King of Wisdom needed to be broken.

From the Dread Emperor's research, it's apparent that destroying the Noble Phantasm's seal from the inside wasn't feasible.

It would require the power of the Angel Envoys from the outside, while he would sabotage from within, perhaps only then could he leave the Demon Realm.

However, the current Angel Envoys are not only hard to find but also unlikely to help the Kusha people.

Excluding the existing Angel Envoys, they could only focus on the unawakened ones.

Tas's plan was to obtain their blood and preserve it before the two awaken as Angel Envoys.

Afterwards, if the two could be stimulated to become Angel Envoys, their blood would naturally become Apostle blood, possessing the power of the Apostle.

Tas stood, donned a bronze mask, and opened the door.

The flickering oil lamp cast a tall, wavering shadow on the ground.

He silently stepped forward, determined to personally extract the blood from the two.

...

The sword fell, the lion's head was chopped off, and a massive spray of blood emerged, causing the audience to shout loudly.

"Sparta!" "Sparta!"

They were ecstatic.

Those who lost their bets were utterly annoyed, cursing the lion for being useless.

Dio glanced towards the northern corridor where the owner would be and saw a tall man in a cloak, wearing a bronze mask, emerge.

After their gazes met in mid-air, Dio sensed something was wrong and whispered, "Let's go."

"Alright."

Griffith replied, quickly moving with him towards the southern corridor, running up the stairs from there.

Dio pushed open a trapdoor leading above.

A sword instantly thrust down from above; he tilted his head to dodge and grabbed the man's wrist with his left hand, pulling him down and delivering a heavy punch to the man's face with his right hand.

Crack!

The nose seemed to cave in, and amidst the Iron Fist, even fallen teeth were swallowed back with the cries of pain.

Griffith cooperated well, grabbing the man's long sword and stabbing another person's thigh.

"Ah!"

The man screamed as his knife swung downwards.

Dio instantly transformed his fist into a palm, swiftly grabbing the man's throat and lifting it up.

He used the person as a shield in front of him, then charged forward, pushing the knife-wielding man to the ground.

Both Griffith and Dio were rare students who passed both literary and martial tests.

As their teachers said, they were naturally endowed with strength, not needing complex skills, as their inherent power could handle most crises.

There were still three people in the house holding swords, but Dio and Griffith were not afraid.

"Since we've been discovered, why not take a stand here and fight it out with this guy."

"Did you know all along that there was a trap here?"

At this moment, Griffith realized that Dio probably knew from the start that this was a trap.

"Haha."

Dio chuckled nonchalantly and replied, "Isn't this more interesting than being cooped up in the library all day reading the Milante Ancient Scripture?"

"Stop joking, how could these people compare to the Milante Ancient Scripture."

Griffith shook his head.

He loved reading the Milante Ancient Scripture because each read brought different insights and interpretations, like an inexhaustible treasure trove.

"You dare belittle us!"

The tall and thin man shouted and raised his sword to charge.

A flash of cold light hit first.

Griffith's sword pierced through his brain like lightning.

It was too quick for him to even react.

Dio was just about to praise Griffith's swordsmanship.

Silently, a figure approached from behind.

A chill rose, Dio quickly leaped aside, but his right arm was still grazed by a blade.

Strangely, the sword absorbed his blood.

The wound on his right arm healed automatically.

"A Noble Phantasm?!"

Dio's face showed shock, not expecting there to be a Treasure User in such a place.

Griffith's expression changed dramatically too, shouting, "Run!"

Dio retreated swiftly.

Tas did not obstruct, but rather, like a snake, approached Griffith with extreme cold, swinging his sword.

He felt his back being slashed open but did not look back, rushing out of the building, sprinting across two streets.

Warm sunlight fell on them, and despite their physical fitness, both broke a sweat, showing their anxious mind.

They exchanged a glance, confirming they were alright.

"Haha!"

They both laughed heartily.

Then, Griffith's smile faded, saying, "We must inform the Guardsmen Team."

"Yeah."

Dio nodded, wondering in his heart why they had been spared.