The moment those words left his mouth, Gideon’s expression darkened.

A suffocating pressure erupted from his body as his eyes flashed a brilliant gold. The beast lurking beneath his skin stirred violently, as though it were ready to break free and tear everything in its path apart.

"You dare?!" Gideon growled, his voice carrying a deadly edge that sent chills through everyone present.

"Alright."

Gideon’s anger was extinguished almost instantly by Ashley’s agreement, leaving him momentarily stunned. For a brief second, he simply stared at her, unsure whether her acceptance stemmed from absolute confidence in her abilities or sheer naivety.

He couldn’t help but wonder if she had truly processed what was at stake. The thought only fueled his frustration further. Ashley seemed completely determined to step into that arena and challenge the reigning champion.

He had overheard parts of the conversation between Drake and the other man as well, but unlike Ashley, it had stirred nothing within him. Compassion and sympathy were not emotions he readily spared, so their exchange had little effect on him.

Yet judging by the sudden change in Ashley’s demeanor, whatever had been said had clearly struck a nerve. It was as if someone had touched her reverse scale.

That realization made Gideon pause.

For the first time, he felt as though he was seeing Ashley in a different light. The look in her eyes was unfamiliar, resolute, unwavering, and burning with a conviction he had never witnessed before. It worried him, yet at the same time, he found it strangely captivating.

Before anyone could object or attempt to stop her, Ashley had already turned and headed toward the exit of the VIP section. Her steps were swift and decisive, leaving no room for hesitation. Not far away, the masked man silently signaled the female attendant, instructing her to make the necessary arrangements and inform the emcee of the unexpected challenger.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it seems the match we just witnessed wasn’t quite enough to satisfy everyone’s craving for excitement!" the emcee announced enthusiastically, his voice echoing throughout the underground arena.

"To make things more interesting and keep the entertainment going, the management has decided to add a special attraction. A challenger from among our distinguished guests will be stepping into the ring to face our reigning champion!"

The crowd immediately stirred at the unexpected announcement.

"The rules remain unchanged!" the emcee continued. "Defeat the champion, and the prize is yours! And as luck would have it, the selection process has already concluded..."

As he spoke, a voice crackled through the earpiece hidden beneath his hair. Following the instructions he received, he turned toward the VIP section, ready to introduce the challenger.

Then he saw her.

A stunning young woman was calmly making her way down the stairs.

The emcee’s eyes widened, and the rest of his prepared speech died in his throat.

For several seconds, he simply stared.

Her appearance was far different from what anyone would expect of a fighter. She looked delicate, elegant even, more suited for a high-class banquet than a brutal underground arena. How was he supposed to announce this with a straight face?

The crowd had been expecting a fearsome challenger, someone capable of putting on a thrilling show against the champion.

A woman like her?

Wouldn’t the audience think this was some sort of joke?

Countless questions flashed through his mind, but none of them mattered. The order had come directly from the people above him. He neither had the authority nor the courage to question it.

All he could do was force a smile and continue with the show, while silently feeling sorry for the beautiful woman walking toward what appeared to be an impossible fight.

As for the masked man, no one could tell what was going through his mind when he allowed Ashley to have her way. Perhaps it was the fierce determination blazing within her eyes that convinced him she would not come to harm in the arena.

Or perhaps the earlier match had truly failed to satisfy him, leaving him craving a more thrilling spectacle and a little more bloodshed before the day was over. Even he might not have known the answer himself.

Whatever the reason, he made no move to stop her.

Remaining seated in his place, the masked man simply watched in silence as Ashley descended from the VIP section, his gaze following her every step toward the arena below.

Even Gideon found himself feeling uncharacteristically nervous. Seated in his chair, he intertwined his fingers and rested his elbows on the armrests. His chin settled atop his clasped hands as his eyes remained fixed on Ashley’s figure below.

If he could, he would have gladly taken her place.

Whatever had ignited that fire in her, whatever had stirred her emotions enough to make her step into the arena, he would have preferred to handle it himself. He would have fought on her behalf without a second thought. Unfortunately, Ashley had been adamant about going. No amount of persuasion could change her mind.

For perhaps the first time in a long while, Gideon felt powerless.

All he could do now was watch from the sidelines, his gaze never leaving her, and silently hope that she would come through unscathed and prove everyone wrong.

Before long, Ashley reached the edge of the spectator stands. Without slowing down, she placed a hand on the waist-high railing and effortlessly vaulted over it, landing lightly on the arena floor below.

The movement immediately drew the attention of the reigning champion.

The moment his eyes landed on her, the grin already stretched across his face widened even further, nearly reaching his ears. His gaze swept over her figure unabashedly, and a knowing, lewd smile slowly crept onto his lips. Whatever good mood he had been in moments ago became even more apparent.

To him, Ashley didn’t look like a challenger stepping into the ring.

She looked like a prey willingly walking into his territory.

The champion rolled his shoulders and chuckled under his breath, his eyes never leaving her as anticipation and amusement danced across his face.

"Hello there, pretty lady," the reigning champion said with a chuckle as he leaned over the edge of the arena, his eyes roaming shamelessly over Ashley’s figure. "Are you here to get my autograph, or did you come because you wanted to spend some quality time with the champion?"

His grin was filled with undisguised lust, making him look more like a lecher than a professional fighter.

It never even crossed his mind that the seemingly delicate woman standing before him was the challenger. After all, the emcee had yet to formally introduce the day’s special contender. The management had deliberately delayed the announcement, allowing Ashley to make her way into the arena first to build suspense among the audience.

As a result, the champion naturally assumed she was just another admirer drawn in by his fame and success.

Judging by the ease with which he spoke and the confidence behind his words, this was hardly the first time he had treated women this way. It was a routine he seemed thoroughly accustomed to, one that suggested he rarely faced rejection and had grown used to women fawning over him.

Unfortunately for him, Ashley was neither a fan nor an admirer.

She was the challenger who had come to stand across from him in the ring.