BATTLE FOR STARS

Lina then walked toward a nearby viewing window. From there, she could see the entire arena.

The Gladiator Center was shaped like a gourd—wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The reason for this design was that the upper levels were filled with private viewing boxes for guests, allowing them to overlook the entire arena from above.

Different positions offered different viewing angles, and naturally, different prices. Of course, the best and most comfortable boxes were not available for sale—they were reserved for the most powerful slave owners.

The lower section was much smaller, as it was only used for fighters to train, undergo inspections, and prepare for matches.

At this moment, Princess Belina and Ding Yufei were on their way to the Gladiator Center. General Frederick had finally returned—whether out of concern for the expenses of Belina’s entourage or because he had truly finished his business was unclear.

In any case, as soon as he returned to Boman, the general invited Princess Belina to meet—and to watch the most famous gladiator matches on the planet.

Their flying car did not land at the base of the building. Instead, it stopped directly at a VIP प्रवेश入口 suspended mid-air outside the structure. From there, Belina and Ding Yufei entered directly into a private VIP box.

As soon as they passed through the outer door into a hall before the box, Ding Yufei noticed several soldiers on guard. In one corner stood a soldier wearing a mech suit, clearly equipped with heavy weaponry. Security inside and outside the box was extremely tight.

Soon, a soldier holding a scanner approached and scanned both Belina and Ding Yufei from head to toe. Belina showed a hint of displeasure—after all, as a princess of Kramic, meeting a general of the Resk Empire shouldn’t have been this troublesome.

But there was no helping it—this was someone else’s territory.

These soldiers were clearly different from normal troops. They had almost no noses—just two upward-facing holes resembling nostrils. At a glance, they looked eerily like pig snouts. Ding Yufei immediately realized these were the infamous “pig-faced” troops Belina had mentioned—the Resk Empire’s elite forces.

Some said this design improved breathing efficiency, while others claimed it was meant to inspire fear. The real reason had long since been forgotten.

These soldiers had undergone genetic modification from childhood. They possessed rapid reflexes, immense strength, and had been thoroughly brainwashed into absolute loyalty. They executed orders without hesitation.

The only drawback was their shortened lifespan—typically only fifty to sixty years due to extensive genetic alterations. However, for the Resk Empire, this was hardly an issue; new soldiers were bred every year.

After confirming the scan results, the soldier stepped aside and opened the door to the private box. Belina led Ding Yufei inside.

“Princess, welcome,” said a man seated inside. He appeared to be under forty and did not stand.

“Emperor Hogan?” Belina was surprised. She hadn’t expected the person inside to be the general, but the emperor himself.

However, she quickly composed herself and offered a respectful greeting. Though she was a princess, in terms of status, she was still slightly beneath the emperor.

Ding Yufei was also startled. The man before him had a thin face, completely bald head, pale skin, and an otherwise ordinary appearance—except for his striking emerald-green eyes, which shone with intensity. This was the emperor of the Resk Empire.

He wore no formal attire—just a coat-like casual outfit. He didn’t appear particularly strong.

No wonder the security outside was so tight. In the corners of the room stood several fully armed women. Ding Yufei recalled Belina mentioning them—the emperor’s personal guard, the “Red Rose” Royal Guard.

This unit consisted entirely of female slaves. Not only were they all exceptionally beautiful, but they had undergone rigorous training. Most importantly, they were absolutely loyal to the emperor. They could neither buy their freedom nor retire—their entire lives belonged to him, and he held absolute power over their lives and deaths.

“Sit,” Emperor Hogan gestured, indicating that Belina should sit beside him.

“Among the carnival events, gladiator matches are my favorite—thrilling and spectacular. Knowing you were here, I had you invited under the general’s name to watch,” the emperor explained briefly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Belina replied. She knew that an emperor’s movements were always kept highly confidential.

“This type of match is very popular among the public. Princess, have you seen one before?”

“Not in person,” Belina answered honestly.

She had seen recordings of such matches, but never attended one live. In truth, she wasn’t particularly interested in them. She had come mainly to discuss fleet matters with the general, yet now found herself face-to-face with the emperor. According to previous statements, the emperor didn’t involve himself in such affairs, so she wasn’t sure how to steer the conversation.

“Is this your male attendant?” Emperor Hogan glanced at Ding Yufei standing behind her.

“Yes,” Belina replied after a brief pause. On Earth, she could have called him her boyfriend, but explaining that concept here would be complicated—accepting the emperor’s assumption was simpler.

The emperor smiled slightly at Ding Yufei. “I haven’t heard news of you in recent years. Even your father wouldn’t say where you were. Did you run off somewhere to play again, like when you were younger?”

Emperor Hogan and Belina’s father were both leaders of their respective nations, maintaining relatively close contact. As a child, Belina had been deeply loved by her parents and had met Hogan through projections several times.

“Yes, I found an interesting place,” Belina replied with a smile.

“I can see that,” Hogan said, glancing again at Ding Yufei. “Now then, let’s watch the match.”

The entire viewing box began to move downward, bringing them closer to the arena. In fact, all the aerial boxes in the Gladiator Center could move within limited zones, but only the most prestigious boxes had access to the best viewing angles.

Two men were walking out from opposite entrances onto the arena floor. One of them was Jace—the sword fighter owned by the same master as Lina.

He was relatively small and thin, parts of his body protected by armor-like gear. In his hands were a blade and a shield. The other man, however, was nearly two heads taller. His physique alone radiated power—muscles bulging across his body. He wielded a halberd-like weapon, similar to a spear, and his vital areas were also protected by armor.