When Simyon eventually made it back to the same spot as last time, his wobbling legs started to steady. He straightened them out and placed both of his hands by his side, determined to give it another go.
The audience members were worried because of his condition and the blood that came out of his mouth. An internal wound was no laughing matter. Sure, Pagna warriors had stronger bodies. However, at the lower stage, they were still closer to being human than some type of martial arts god.
If he was badly injured and didn't receive treatment, then there was a good chance it could mean death for the warrior.
"Wait, maybe he's going to use that!" Liam said. "The same thing that he used against one of the main disciples back then."
What Liam was referring to was the bounce-back effect that his earring had. Allowing him to reflect the damage that he would receive back to the attacker. It was perfect in this situation. Although he had no idea if hurting the opponent that they might disregard the contest, but it was better than him losing his life.
Hearing this, Safa was looking into Simyon's eyes, and she was shaking her head. She had noticed something, every time Simyon did use the skill, he would touch his earring, but his hand was nowhere near the earring, and she had a bad feeling about the whole situation.
She was right as well.
Simyon couldn't use the effect of the earring because it needed to store Dark Magic. Raze hadn't stored Dark Magic in the earring so there was no such effect at the moment.
Not only that but Safa was paying attention to Mantis as well.
"I would lose? You think someone like me would lose to the White Dragon from the Dark Faction?"
Mantis' hand was shaking, and that's when he switched, rather than his left hand, he lifted his right hand into the air. The Qi was starting to rise in his body and the marking on his chest, it started to turn a shade darker, almost turning completely black on his skin.
"Hey, that kid isn't messing around anymore, and the other one is nearly dead." Cronker said, "is everyone really going to watch and let this happen?"n.)O1n
"Did you forget where we are, we're in the Demonic Faction. Firstly, there's the general rule of the regular public not getting involved in the Pagna warrior's business and this is Pagna warrior business." Alba explained.
"In the Demonic Faction, deaths happen all the time due to scuffles and it's down to the clans to solve what happens between them. They should all know the consequences of what they're doing, it's just the Pagna way."
"You might be right," Cronker said. "But it was because of your money that you started this bet!"
Raising her hands, Alba started to push her eyebrows together, massaging them in circles.
"You're right, which is why I'm having a hard time deciding what to do."
Both Liam and Safa were wondering what to do themselves, because they never thought that Simyon would be that stubborn. He didn't seem to even want to do such a thing in the first place, so why was he still up there?
Simyon's mind felt like he was in a different place, as memories were resurfacing for him again. The time he was with his sister, running away from the beasts from the portal break. At the time, she had pushed him away, and the beast had got her instead.
He remembered seeing her struggling, her dying face, and her telling him to run, but what if back then he was able to stand, to take the beast's hit head-on.
'I won't run away.' Simyon thought to himself, shifting his feet, but his eyelids droopy, and more blood coming from his mouth.
That was it, seeing how Simyon's condition was, Safa couldn't take it anymore as she pushed through the crowd onto the stage.
"Safa, what are you doing?" Liam called out, chasing after her.
Rod was the first to notice the commotion as he could hear the footsteps from behind.
"Hey, what are you doing, this was your deal that you made, you were the one that said three hits, and your friend hasn't given up yet!" Rod shouted.
Safa didn't care though, as she continued to charge forward.
"Stop her!" Rod called out.
The students went to grab her, but at the right time, she had slipped past them. Liam was close behind her, wanting to help, but now the students that she had gone past had placed their attention on him instead.
One went to throw out a punch that he managed to avoid, but the other hit him right across the face. He didn't fall but before he knew it they had grabbed his legs and pinned him to the ground.
"Just stay out of it!" The students said.
Lifting his head, Liam was taking a look at what was still going on. He could see that Mantis had finished getting ready, and had gotten into his tiger stance once again. Not only that, but Safa was continuing forward.
"You are not getting in the way!" Rod said.
Safa did the two-step shift again at the right time, but tracking her Rod had followed and grabbed her by her clothing, he lifted her up in the air and slammed her onto the ground on her back.
"You guys may be skillful, but you're forgetting all of us are top students from the Demonic Pagna academy. Mantis isn't the only one who's skilled, and you're not stopping this!"
Safa tried to scream because she could see it, Mantis had jumped off from his position, the visual Qi leaving his feet, and now it was covering his right hand as well. As he threw it forward, claw marks, a trail of black were left from his hand, and it crashed right into Simyon's stomach.
Mantis' fingertips had gone through his skin, into his muscle, they were being soaked with blood and the impact of the Qi hit Simyon like a shockwave. Moments later, a large chunk of blood poured out from his mouth.
Slowly, Mantis pulled his hand out, and could see Simyon looking up at him.
"I… I did it…" Simyon said. "I didn't… run… away."
Right after saying those words, his legs had given in, and Simyon fell straight to the floor.
"You Bastards!" Liam shouted as he wiggled his body, trying to get free from the floor. "You killed him, you freaking killed him over some stupid game, and for what, one or two silvers! Is that all a life is worth to you!"
Safa had gotten up off the floor, and Rod no longer stopped her as she rushed to Simyon's side.
Mantis, on the other hand, stood up standing above him.
"Did what?" Mantis stated. "All you did was prove that I am stronger than you. You shouldn't have said that I was weaker than the White Dragon."
The sound of low soft sobs were heard from Safa. It sounded like a choking pain because Safa was unable to make full noise. Yet she was unable to contain her feelings, as she shook Simyon's body violently.
Everyone looking at the scene was stunned into silence, and they felt like they were unable to move. Although it might have been a scene that happened in the Demonic Faction every now and again, never had they seen so much emotion involved.
In the middle of the silence, footsteps could soon be heard among the crying.
Mantis, who was ready to pack it up and call it a day, looked up and could see someone emerge from the crowd. Pushing past the others and standing there.
"What… happened here?" The hooded man asked, with a small part of his white hair showing underneath.
****
Mass release goals!
1500 Golden ticket's = 1 extra chapter
3000 Power stones = 1 Extra Chapter
Castle gift and Above = 1 Extra Chapter
Currently, 2 Extra Chapters for mass release!
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