Garion leaned back in his seat and looked toward the giant tournament screen. "So..."

He glanced at Slifera and Elisa. "When will Rovak come out?"

Slifera crossed his arms and looked at the match schedule floating nearby. "In a moment. His match should be next."

Elisa nodded calmly. "The arena is still being repaired after Dahlia’s fight, so there is a short delay."

Garion laughed. "Hahaha! She really did hit him pretty hard."

Slifera’s mouth twitched. "Pretty hard? She smashed him into the wall like trash."

Before Garion could reply, the giant holographic screen suddenly changed.

A new match announcement appeared above the arena.

[First Round - Second Match]

[Rovak]

[Drakhor Race]

[VS]

[Miraq Veln]

[Stone Scale Race]

The moment Rovak’s image appeared, Garion’s eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, there he is."

On the screen, Rovak walked into the arena with a huge grin on his face.

His tall, muscular body, backward-curving black horns, and faint dark-red aura made him look like a battle beast in humanoid form.

Garion rubbed his chin. "I only met Rovak recently, so I don’t know him as well as you two."

He turned toward Slifera and Elisa. "Is he strong?"

Both of them nodded without hesitation.

"He’s very strong," Elisa said calmly.

Slifera added, "Annoyingly strong."

Garion raised an eyebrow. "Annoyingly?"

Slifera pointed at Rovak on the screen. "The Drakhor Race is ranked among the top one hundred physically strongest races in the Cosmic Universe."

Garion’s expression finally showed surprise. "Top one hundred?"

Elisa nodded. "Their bodies are naturally powerful. High durability, explosive strength, strong combat instincts... they are born for battle."

Slifera sighed. "And Rovak is especially troublesome because he actually enjoys getting hit."

Garion stared at Rovak on the screen for a moment.

Then slowly, his grin widened. "Hahaha... interesting."

He leaned forward, eyes shining with curiosity. "Then let’s see how good he really is."

---

Rovak stepped into the arena with a huge grin on his face.

Across from him stood Miraq Veln of the Stone Scale Race.

Miraq’s body was covered in thick gray scales that looked like layers of natural armor.

His shoulders were broad, his arms were heavy, and every step he took made the arena floor tremble slightly.

The announcer’s voice echoed loudly.

"First Round - Second Match!"

"Rovak of the Drakhor Race versus Miraq Veln of the Stone Scale Race!"

The crowd immediately became excited.

"Drakhor Race!"

"Stone Scale Race too? This is going to be a physical fight!"

"Both races are known for strong bodies!"

Inside the private viewing room, Garion leaned forward slightly. "Oh? His opponent also looks tough."

Slifera nodded. "The Stone Scale Race specializes in defense. They’re hard to hurt and even harder to knock down."

Elisa added calmly, "But compared to Rovak, Miraq’s explosive power should be lower."

Back in the arena, Miraq stared at Rovak coldly. "You’re smiling a lot."

Rovak cracked his neck loudly. "Hahaha! Of course I’m smiling. A strong-looking opponent came out right after Dahlia’s match. That means I’m lucky."

Miraq frowned. "You’re underestimating me?"

Rovak suddenly remembered Dahlia’s fight earlier.

The way she had simply stood there and let Karn attack first...

Then he grinned wider. "Actually..."

Rovak crossed his arms and stood still. "You can attack first."

Miraq’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

Rovak lifted his chin proudly. "That Dahlia girl did it earlier, right? Looked pretty cool. I wanna try it too."

Inside the private viewing room, Slifera immediately covered his face. "...Idiot."

Elisa sighed softly. "He’s really imitating her?"

Garion burst into laughter. "Hahaha! I like this guy."

Miraq’s face darkened. "You dare mock me?"

His stone-like aura erupted around his body as he stomped forward. "Fine! Then don’t regret it!"

BOOM!

Miraq shot toward Rovak like a moving boulder.

His massive fist gathered gray energy before slamming directly into Rovak’s chest.

BANG!!!

A heavy impact echoed across the arena.

Dust exploded outward.

But when the dust cleared, Rovak was still standing in the same place.

His grin had only become wider. "Hahaha..."

He looked down at Miraq’s fist. "Not bad."

Then his dark-red aura slowly rose. "But you’re gonna need more than that."

Miraq’s eyes narrowed slightly.

For the first time, surprise appeared on his rough stone-scaled face. "You’re serious..."

Rovak laughed loudly. "Of course I’m serious! Come on! Hit me harder!"

Miraq’s expression darkened. "Fine."

Gray energy erupted from his body as the stone scales across his arms suddenly thickened.

His fist became larger, heavier, and covered in sharp rocky edges.

The arena floor trembled beneath his feet.

[Stone Titan Impact]

BOOOOOOM!!!

Miraq’s fist smashed into Rovak’s chest with terrifying force.

This time, Rovak’s body finally moved.

His eyes widened slightly as the impact exploded through his muscles.

The next moment... BANG!!!

Rovak was launched backward like a cannonball.

His feet scraped violently across the arena floor, tearing two long trenches into the ground as he was forced all the way toward the boundary.

The crowd instantly roared.

"He got pushed back!"

"That attack was strong!"

Rovak gritted his teeth and slammed one foot down.

CRACK!

The arena floor shattered beneath him.

His body finally stopped just before reaching the edge of the battlefield.

For a moment, he stood there silently and then he slowly looked down at his chest.

A faint crack had appeared across part of his armor.

Rovak’s grin twitched slightly. "Damn..."

He raised his head and stared at Miraq. "That was strong."

Inside the private viewing room, Slifera sighed in relief. "At least he didn’t fly out."

Garion laughed. "Hahaha! So he really tried to copy Dahlia and almost failed."

Elisa calmly nodded. "Dahlia’s defensive ability and body strength are clearly on another level."

Back in the arena, Rovak cracked his shoulders loudly. "It seems I can’t imitate her after all."

Then his dark-red aura surged higher.

His playful expression slowly disappeared, replaced by fierce battle intent.

He turned fully toward Miraq and grinned. "Alright then."

His fists clenched. "I’ll get serious now."

Miraq stared at him for a second.

Then a slow grin appeared on his face too. "That’s what I wanted."