On the stage, Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs would face off against their hardest opponent yet. Everyone's eyes were on their fight. Curiosity and excitement got the best of the audience, for this was a high-profile match with a nameless guild against a very popular and powerful one.
Millions were at stake, and the whole world was watching.
Six against four. Numbers against skills. Who would win?!
As the seconds burned, Leonel and Roxy felt like they were heading toward their grave as they waited for Black Lion to come on stage.
"My eyes are sweating," groaned Leonel, panic pulsing against his words as he wiped the perspiration from his palms. Why was this game so damn realistic? He felt like the sweat on his armpits were enough to fill a bucket.
Roxy seconded. Her anxiety rose up, clutching her throat. Dread was drying her mouth. It shortened her breath. "One hundred percent of my fear is in my legs now."
Ren huffed a chuckle. "Fear is often greater than the danger itself."
"I'm fearing of making a fool out of myself in front of this audience than fighting a powerful enemy, to be honest," Leonel said and took a giant breath and let it out in one long blast.
Giggles and screams filled the arena. The tense air was now damp with perspiration and anticipation at the event. The girls held tight to one another in a mock effort to contain themselves. In contrast, the men flailed their hands upward, and voices echoed in varying tones.
The moment was here!
Black Lion went up the stage.
As Scar and his team waved at the audience, Ren studied them as they went to the podium. Their leader was Scar, a Black Mage. Their DPS, Gerald the swordsman, and Hidey the Brute. The two would surely protect Scar while Amarika, the thief, was in charge of stealing items and dealing with sneak attacks.
Though they were only four of them, their team composition was enough to get them to the top.
Faced to face with Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs, Scar's mouth kicked up a smile despite the rising tension in his voice when he spoke, "Sumeri and . . . Ren? How did you two meet?"
Sumeri half shrugged. "Connections."
"I got to admit that I'm shocked to find you two together," Scar chuckled. There was a hidden meaning behind his suggestive words.
Ren was going to correct him about whatever he was thinking when Sumeri didn't deny anything and spoke.
"Like I was shocked when I found out about you and Invayne?" Sumeri said, wide eyes with fake surprise.
Scar's mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only being pompous. "I already told you that we already broke up before Invayne and I got together."
Sumeri's palms itched till she had to clench her teeth to keep her screams. She curled her fingers into the palm of her hands, not even feeling them dig in. "There's no smoke without fire, Scar. Don't try to hide your smell. It's rotting all over the place."
Scar was silent before he gave a lazy half grin. No longer denying it. "The forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest," he said meaningfully. Pleasure rolled off him in smug waves.
Thorns of anger poked the back of Sumeri's eyes, and furry set her heart afire. Revenge was burning a hole in her heart. "Don't try to live nobly, Scar. You won't succeed. Sooner or later, all your dirty laundry will be aired in public," she hissed in an unsteady breath.
Scar merely laughed. "Sorry to burst your bubbles, but that's never going to happen. Like you winning against us in this match."
At the side, Ren couldn't help but let out a soft laugh drawing Scar's and Sumeri's attention.
"Sorry." Ren snorted while coughing between his fist, pretending to clear his throat. "You making promises again reminded me of what you said about clearing Vulcan's Cave."
Scar's face darkened. That issue left a spot in his pride, and he would never recover from it. Even if he did clear Vulcan's Cave Hard Difficulty, he did so in so many tries.
Ren's gaze glowed in focus. "There can only be one conclusion in this match . . . and that is our guild going into the top ten," he said in an unwavering breath.
Battle was how they always did things in COVENANT, and battle was how they would end things.
Looking over at Ren, Sumeri's anger dissipated. The confidence of his grin grounded her, and she released a big sigh.
Scar's lips thinned in a sour line, and the smile on his face was wavering. "Is that so? Then I hope you put up a good fight. I'm looking forward to what an Arcanist can do besides . . . let's say . . . appraising items?"
Ren chuckled. "Oh, don't worry . . . I won't disappoint."
While Ren, Sumeri, and Scar were having their bout, Leonel and Gerald were also picking fights with each other. At the same time, the MC Rabbit was still talking and hyping the audience while the battle countdown flashed over the horizon.
"I see you still have that shield with you," Gerald started, nodding at Leonel's equipment.
Leonel banged his shield against the floor. "Ah . . . this baby has served me well. And now I'm going to defeat you with it." Leonel hadn't forgotten what Gerald did with him in Snowflake Village. He remembered clearly how the guy wanted to acquire his shield that he even threw him out from the expedition team going to Icy Cave.
Leonel might be kind and naïve, but he was not the type to forget easily.
Gerald snickered. "You can keep that shield." Another round of heavy metal sounds banged the floor while Gerald flexed a golden shield in front of him. "You can keep that crappy piece of equipment. This baby is the real deal. It adds plus ten to DEF and MDF. How about yours?"
Leonel's eyelid twitched while Gerald drew his hand across his neck in a cutthroat motion.
On the side, Hidey, Roxy, and their Thieves were looking at each other, didn't know if they should also start a drama like the others.
Everyone then took their position on the edge of the arena while the countdown neared twenty seconds.
On their way to their position, Ren asked Sumeri, "How are you feeling right now?"
"Do you want the honest one or the lie?"
"I don't need the lie."
"Then I'm feeling sick. My mind is mess up. My nerves are tearing me apart. The lump in my throat wouldn't go away, and I'm suffering from diarrhea and constipation at the same time."
Ren laughed a little. "You're good then. But be careful if you got dumped. Being dumped could lead to frustration attraction that only means that you who were dumped would love and lust over the one who dumped you. I don't want any feelings to ruin our plans."
Sumeri was silent before she said with an edge to her tone, "All I know is, I love him so much . . . and I was hurt so much . . . that even in hell he'll pay."
Ren looked at Sumeri. Her eyes bared her heart open. An endless pool of restless blue and an ocean of hopeless grief. Looking at her, he was reminded of his past self, and he looked away.
Ren wanted to see her exact her revenge . . . even if she had to die doing it. "Shallow resolve is not enough."
Sumeri scoffed. "Oh, believe me. As long as my blood still runs, I will not stop until I get my revenge on those two."
"Good luck, then."
"You saying that in a cold voice doesn't make me feel any better."
"Sympathy is the luxury of the rich. I don't have it."
Sumeri ran her teeth over her bottom lip while she shook her head a little with a small smile on her lips.
"I was a fool for loving him," she said after they got to their position and awaited the countdown for the fight.
Leonel shrugged. "You were in love! The common madness of them all!"
He then elbowed Ren and wiggled his brows. "Right, Ren?"
Ren cut him a pointed look.
Breaking the noises was the buzzing sound of the start of the fight. The area quaked with the loud cheers of the crowds as the battle started.
Gerald made the first move and dashed forward while Roxy and Leonel met him with their own strike.
Amarika hid in the shadows waiting for an opportunity, while Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs' Thief did the same.
At the back, Scar was protected by Hidey while Nikolai closed their distance.
"I will take care of Scar," Sumeri hissed through the gap of her gnashing teeth, and a soaring fire shot into Scar's location.
However, with a quick step, Scar easily avoided it in the middle of casting while maintaining a good position and directing the overall fight of his team.
"Shit." Sumeri cursed. "That guy already has [Mobile Casting]."
"Stop aiming at Scar and support Nikolai, instead" Ren said. "We have to kill their Thief first."
"But if we leave Scar alone, we're going to die. We have to aim for him first. He's the biggest threat in here–!"
Sumeri stopped arguing at the sight of Ren's serious face.
"Remember what I told you? Stick to the plan," Ren said with an edge, adding, "Don't waste my item."
". . ." Sumeri groaned and took deep, calming breathes before she refocused her eyes on the prize.
"Fine."
A/N (Doesn't consume coins)
If I can't publish another chapter today, know that its not my intention of doing cliffhangers 😆
I probably fell asleep in the middle of writing again 🥱😴
