Damage numbers appeared continuously. Mkulme screamed from the burning pain. The white flame not only burned his body, but also his soul. If even the mythical-grade archdemon was greatly damaged by this technique, what more of a rare elite orc?
Even with the increased HP from the beast form, Mkulme's HP still decreased at a fast rate. His HP bar was also not in the best condition when the rune technique hit.
Mkulme moved about and flailed his arms frantically but the flame just won't die.
Jack was about to send Mkulme some hits to hasten the orc's demise but a flying knife came flying and forced him to jump back.
"Mkulme…!" Tumwa came running while continued throwing flying knives and casting fire bolts.
Jack was pushed back further and further. Four Winds also retreated. His Royal Barbarian Blood just ended and all his stats were currently reduced.
"Where is Therras?" Jack asked. His link with his pet made him look up. Therras was up there flapping its weird wings.
'It can fly!' Jack thought excitedly.
Therras opened its mouth and yellow mana started to gather.
"Oh, crap! Move away! Move away!" Jack shouted at Four Winds.
The yellow mana solidified into a yellow ball. Therras then fired this earth core bomb down, right on top of Tumwa and Mkulme.
Mkulme's mind was in a frenzy. He couldn't think straight, much less ran away from the blast area. Tumwa tried to keep Jack and Four Winds from approaching Mkulme to deal him more damage. But when she looked up at the incoming earth core bomb, she knew then that her effort was pointless.
The earth core bomb landed near them and detonated into a huge blast. The blast radius it produced was even larger than when Therras was still a rare elite. It now rivaled Terraxx's earth core bomb when Jack used the Judgement of Past Kings.
Jack and Four Winds had run to the edge of the arena. The blast almost hit them. If it did, then it would have been a disaster. A mythical grade like Tumwa could still survive the damage but he and Four Winds were surely toasted.
But Therras was an intelligent beast. It knew its attack radius and had adjusted the bomb detonation point after seeing Jack run to the arena's edge.
After the explosion subsided. Only Tumwa remained at the center. She was in a very pitiful state. She already suffered plenty of damages during her prior tussle with Therras. This earth core bomb almost took her out.
Her survival only lasted a short moment though. She was soon stomped by Therras who dropped from the sky with all its weight. Her body vanished and reappeared outside the arena, right next to Mkulme who had appeared there earlier.
The crowd was silent. Since the start of the fight, everyone had expected the Giantkiller to come out victorious, including the spectating players. Even Cipher Flight's members who were watching thought that it was a far cry to expect a win against these two powerful natives.
Clapping from the VIP section. This time, it was the grand chief who clapped while standing up.
Seeing the grand chief's approval, Makadi immediately announced, "Winner of the tourney, Cipher Flight…!!"
The players in the audience went wild. It took several seconds before the natives joined in the commotion.
Jack heaved a relieved sigh. He looked at Therras gratefully before unsummoning it. "That was close. If my pet didn't become available, I don't think we could have won this match."
"Hehe," Four Winds chuckled and simply gave Jack a tap on the shoulder. He was reveling in the crowd's jubilation.
Cipher Flight's members jumped down to the arena and celebrated. Some natives from the VIP sections came down also, but not by jumping, to offer their congratulations.
Jack took a look at the ten chairs that housed the council members. The grand chief and the other lord chiefs were not there anymore. They had gone somewhere while everyone was celebrating.
"Congratulations!" Umeza said. He was one of the natives who came to congratulate them. "I thought that finally, my tribe will have the chance to shine as one of the council members. It appears fate says otherwise."
Mkulme and Tumwa were behind him.
"You two are formidable fighters. I have no regret losing to the two of you," Mkulme said.
"We are just lucky. You are still too strong for us," Four Winds replied.
Tumwa didn't say anything. She just nodded at Four Winds and Jack.
Umeza came to Jack and said, "You have an incredible pet."
"Thank you," Jack replied.
"How about the two of us go have some tea? The sunset is especially pretty if watched from this town."
Jack momentarily paused before saying, "That will be delightful. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of guild matters to attend to."
"Of course, let's do it another time," Umeza said before going away.
"What guild matters?" Four Winds asked. Jack was not even a real guild member.
"Nothing," Jack replied. He had a cold sweat, though. He looked at Umeza who was walking away. Did that orc suspect him?
After half an hour of socializing around, they were approached by Makadi. He said, "The two of you are summoned by the grand chief. Please follow me."
Four Winds looked at Jack. At the same time, they exchanged messages. "To my knowledge, it is supposed to be only the tribe leader who meets with the council and briefs on the inauguration ceremony. I had prepared an excuse to take you to this meeting. It seemed that I had prepared it in vain."
"Is this good or bad?" Jack asked.
"I don't know. You tell me," Four Winds replied. "You sure you want to follow?"
After a momentary hesitation, Jack said, "Let's go." If he didn't go with Four Winds, then all his effort in the tourney would have been a waste.
Four Winds nodded and said to Makadi, "Please, lead the way."
Makadi led the two to another part of the colosseum. They went into an enclosed hall. Some orcs were already waiting inside. Jack saw nine of the orcs as the nine who sat on the main chairs in the VIP section. They were the grand chief and the lord chiefs from Verremor's Council of Ten.
Next to them were three others. Umeza Giantkill, Makubwa Mountking, and Samuhn Spiritcrier. Several other orc guards were on standby on the sides of the hall.
Makadi excused himself after leading Jack and Four Winds here. Kabaka, the grand chief, gestured for the two to approach.
'Two high-level mythical grades,' Jack thought while walking. 'Only one exit. No windows. Perhaps getting close to the grand chief in a secluded room is not such a bright idea.'
It was too late to back away now. So, he just went with it.
"Halt! That's close enough," Makubwa said. He came forward and stood in front of the council chiefs.
Jack and Four Winds stopped.
"Congratulations again on getting a place in our council, chief Four Winds," Kabaka said. "We will discuss the details of the inauguration, your duties, and your rights as a council member after we deal with another urgent matter."
"What urgent matter?" Four Winds asked.
Kabaka then turned to Jack and said, "An urgent matter that involved an enemy's infiltration into our territory."
The second he finished speaking, the guards by the side rushed over and encircled Jack, cutting his escape path.
