Chapter 529

Chapter 529: Named Challenge

Named Challenge.

At the Black Dragon Conference, every Black Dragon warrior gets one Named Challenge chance without any restrictions.

When continuous losses drop a warrior’s Dragon Energy to critically low levels, they can challenge opponents of similar levels holding abundant Dragon Energy for an instant reversal.

Hence, fighters call this their "revival opportunity."

Normally, Children of the Dragon never use Named Challenges.

Their superior cultivation prevents major Dragon Energy loss, keeping them far from desperate situations even in worst-case battles.

They also avoid targeting regular Black Dragon warriors since the vast power gap makes such challenges beneath their status.

Yet now, the frosty Ice Queen Catherine recklessly challenged Midi himself.

This revealed both the depth of Midi’s offense against her and her iron determination to destroy him.

Midi’s terrifying leveling speed likely unsettled even these lofty dragon-blooded elites.

"This is trouble!" Zaknavan, Risen, and Mason exchanged worried glances.

While fully confident in Midi’s potential, their faith relied on time – time for him to reach level 67 and match Warrior Thor’s realm. At that stage, he might withstand level 69 opponents, retreating safely if defeated.

But current level 66 Midi faced different math. Beating level 68 Shelly at 65 didn’t mean he could handle level 69 Catherine now.

The gap between Catherine and Shelly transcended mere levels. Even at equal level 69, Catherine’s magic power would dwarf Shelly’s several times over.

Catherine’s Ice Dragon Bloodline purity eclipsed Shelly’s completely. Where Shelly used simple attacks, Catherine employed varied tactics that wouldn’t crumble against Midi’s defenses. Her Eastern Temple-crafted epic equipment added further advantage.

Any single factor might be manageable, but combined in the Ice Queen? Impossible.

Like facing a card player whose every move demands exhausting resources to counter, only to confront worse threats before resolving the first. This trump card avalanche overwhelms any ordinary warrior, genius or not.

Only Children of the Dragon can oppose their kind – a truth written in challengers’ blood throughout Black Dragon Conference history.

“Since the Ice Queen has named me, what else can I say but ‘honored’?” Midi shrugged with a faint smile. “Though if I must add something, I’m curious about the Dragon Energy on that gold token!”

“Enjoy your boasting—it’ll be your last chance to speak,” Catherine retorted coldly, not hiding her killing intent.

Their gazes collided midair, sparks nearly flying between them.

At that moment, the dragon’s shadow’s voice boomed across the Dragon Tooth Arena.

“Competitor 300 issues a Named Challenge to Competitor 321! Challenge accepted. Both parties, enter the arena!”

Catherine’s challenge had first caused a stir only on Arena 3.

But once the dragon’s shadow announced it, nearly everyone at the Black Dragon Conference turned to watch.

“That white-haired girl actually launched a Named Challenge? Wonder how bloody the slaughter’ll be…” The Killing God Ivanov licked his lips, grinning hungrily.

The western temple hadn’t given him treasures like the Devouring Sound Orb.

Black Dragon warriors facing him often held back or surrendered outright, leaving Arena 4 bloodless for days.

Now, watching another Child of the Dragon crush a Black Dragon warrior excited him.

In contrast, the Behemoth Queen and Iron Wall King on Arenas 1 and 2 scoffed.

They weren’t defending Midi—they simply found Catherine’s outburst beneath a Child of the Dragon’s dignity.

“Ice Queen? More like Gunpowder Queen. Explodes at the slightest touch,” the Behemoth Queen Imudissari sneered.

The northern and eastern temples shared tense borders, fueling the queens’ mutual disdain. Imudissari seized this chance to mock her rival.

Though their reactions varied, all Children of the Dragon focused on Catherine’s loss of composure.

None spared a thought for Midi, her target.

Why bother? In minutes, he’d be reduced to icy fragments.

Yet while the others jeered, the Central Temple’s Thunder King Odin studied Catherine’s challenger.

“Midi Asreks…” Odin murmured, eyes glinting with interest.

The Central Temple’s influence meant Odin could unearth every detail of Midi’s life.

Reports of Midi’s actions since joining the Wolfspider tribe’s caravan had already reached him—even snippets from the Crystal Dragon Fortress.

A human dragged into the Shaded Realm as a level 60 life slave, not even a slave warrior. That was Midi’s start.

Yet within five months, he’d risen from an overlooked slave to a Black Dragon warrior—among the Shaded Realm’s elites.

His level had surged from 60 to peak-level 65 by the Conference’s start.

One level per month.

For Children of the Dragon, such progress was a myth.

After reviewing Midi’s records, Odin suspected this human had timed his arrival specifically for the Black Dragon Conference.

“This Conference holds no surprises for me—not even against fellow Children of the Dragon,” Odin mused, a faint smile forming. “Can you offer something new, little human? But first, prove you’re worth my attention by surviving Catherine. If you can’t beat the weakest Child of the Dragon, you’re worthless.”

As the crowd’s focus settled on Arena 3, Midi and Catherine took their positions.

“All this fuss over hating humans? Seems excessive,” Midi remarked, eyeing Catherine.

“Words won’t unsettle me. They just show your fear,” she snapped. “Weaklings like you rely on tricks. But here, only strength matters!”

“Level 69 versus 66? You’re not strong—just a bully,” Midi shot back. “If you were truly strong, you’d challenge the Thunder King instead.”

Catherine’s face tightened. She had no retort.

She, a Child of the Dragon, had harassed a mere Black Dragon warrior, using her status to make unreasonable demands.

In the Shaded Realm, strength ruled—but logic still favored Midi.

Though no spectator believed Midi could win, none supported Catherine’s actions.

The Black Dragon Conference was the Shaded Realm’s grandest event. Banishing someone over personal bias set a dangerous precedent.

Expel a human today—Dragonkin tomorrow? Black dwarves or lizardmen next? What if factions started targeting cities they disliked?

Catherine’s petty challenge had angered the crowd. Her status couldn’t shield her from their disdain.