Tears poured down Yumi's eyes, ''I-I-I lost...''
Ichiro feebly stood up and looked at Yumi's crying figure without any pity.
Suddenly, underneath them, a small black portal appeared, which sucked them inside.
The next time when Ichiro opened his eyes, he saw himself standing on a stage with hundreds of individuals sitting on the chairs some distance away from him.
29 other portals appeared around him, and a crowd of young men and women appeared.
Yumi didn't stand up. Instead, she sobbed quietly. She turned her head slightly and saw Mei standing with a face full of anger.
More tears poured out of her eyes as she knew what this meant...
She can't return to her old life... Ever again.
*Clap* *Clap*
Everyone's attention was locked on the man who was clapping.
Leppercon grabbed the wooden box from the ground and said with a loud voice, ''Congratulations everyone for survival, but only one person managed to win the tournament and earn freedom.''
Some of the young men and women present looked depressed, but some were even glad that they even survived.
Leppercon looked at Ichiro and said, ''Kurogami Ichiro, come.''
Ichiro walked towards Leppercon with his spear still in his hand. His athletic figure, which would gather attention wherever he went, was stained with blood and dirt.
His black hair was disheveled, and his face had obvious signs of fatigue, which told everyone just how hard the tournament was.
Ichiro appeared in front of Leppercon, and suddenly he found a wooden box in his hands.
''?'' He looked at Leppercon with a questioning look.
Leppercon smiled and looked at the tall man with red hair, who appeared on the stage. His tall body made everyone look insignificant and worthless.
Arkenthym looked at Ichiro with a cold look.
''You are Arkenthym's fighter. It would be the correct way of doing things if you were the one to give the Power Limit Remover to him.'' Leppercon said and stepped aside with an amused smile.
Ichiro snorted and looked at Arkenthym's face without fear.
He stretched his arm, which carried the wooden box, and put it straight in front of Arkenthym's face.
Arkenthym grabbed the wooden box and snorted, ''You have earned your freedom, former slave.''
Ichiro didn't change his expression, ''I will remember to send a postcard wherever you are going to go hiding.''
A small smirk appeared on Arkenthym's face, ''I am afraid that it is impossible to send a postcard there.''
''Too bad, then I must deliver it personally,'' Ichiro said and turned around to walk away under intense gazes of VIPs and other fighters.
Arkenthym looked at the wooden box in his hands, 'They have to accept me now...'
Ichiro left the spacious room and instantly fell down on his knees, ''Ahh...'' He gritted his teeth and tried to stand up, but there wasn't any strength in his muscles anymore.
''Need a help, young man?'' He snapped his head towards the voice and saw a familiar-looking woman looking at her with a smile.
''Mistress.'' Ichiro sighed and tried to stand up one more time, but then Elina grabbed his arm and helped him to stand up.
Even with her help, it was incredibly difficult for Ichiro to keep standing with his two legs.
''Let me help you.'' She said and helped Ichiro to walk in the long corridors.
Once they were far enough. Elina stopped and looked at Ichiro's fatigued face, ''You alright?''
Ichiro looked at her and nodded.
Elina bit her lip and said, ''I might need your assistance.''
''It is about your fighter, isn't it?''
Elina's eyes widened in shock, ''H-How?''
''I saw her leaving the stadium suspiciously.'' Ichiro shrugged.
Elina sighed and nodded, ''Kira, come out.''
Ichiro turned his head towards the corridor and saw a girl with a pixie haircut appearing with another wooden box on her arms.
''Hmm?'' Ichiro looked at the wooden box with a frown, and it looked very familiar with the other wooden box.
Kira gave the wooden box to Elina and bowed.
Elina smiled and patted her head, ''Good job.'' She turned to face Ichiro and put the wooden box into his hands.
''What is this?'' Ichiro asked.
''Power Limit Remover.'' Elina's words caused Ichiro to widen his eyes in shock.
''You are about to ask how right?'' Elina smiled mysteriously.
Ichiro nodded, ''Did they have two?''
''Yes, that is the second Power Limit Remover, which is reserved to be the prize of another Underworld tournament, but if we steal this... We get Power Limit Remover and stop another tournament.''
Ichiro nodded, ''Why did you tell me this?''
Elina's face looked conflicted, ''Well... The thing is, I can't take it away without anyone noticing because there is a certain energy signal in it, which will dispel my illusions, and I have to use my illusions to get Kira out safely... You are the only one I can count on doing this.''
''And, why do you think I can leave without being found out?'' Ichiro asked with a frown. He can leave with the wooden box without any difficulties, but he wants to know why she thinks he can leave without anyone finding out.
Elina smiled and said, ''They won't suspect you because you were in the tournament only a second away and you are obviously too weak to travel long distances, and that energy signal isn't that high, so only way for them to find out if they are in a 3-meter radius of you.''
Ichiro nodded, ''Will you come to pick this up one day?''
Elina tapped her chin, ''Who knows~''
Ichiro raised an eyebrow; it almost sounded like she wasn't planning to pick it up.
Elina smiled and said, ''You can walk by yourself now?''
Ichiro nodded, and Elina removed her hand.
She started walking away with Kira and said one last thing, ''Congratulations for winning, disciple.''
Kira took a glance at Ichiro and ran after Elina.
Ichiro looked at the wooden box in his hands, and soon it was sucked inside his Inventory, and the energy signal disappeared mysteriously.
