Challenger

They gathered at the back of the academy, which now showed an entrance into what looked like an underground arena. They were instructed to go inside and find a place to sit, awaiting further instructions.

As they made their way down, they were astounded to find a vast amphitheatre, capable of seating more than a thousand people. With a spacious area in the middle, it boasted the perfect environment for the next event, hand to hand combat.

Lodre, standing in the middle, was already prepared to start his next event, waiting for everyone to arrive. When the students stopped coming, he began to speak.

“Welcome back everyone. As most of you are aware, I’ll be overseeing this event as well.”

“The way this will work is as follows,

1. You will be fighting, hand to hand, one on one. If you win, you advance. If not, you are out.

2. Obviously, the boys and girls fight separately. While I’m sure there are a few girls here who would give the boys a run for their money, please understand that a man must not lift his hands on a woman.

3. For the Minae faction, there will be one representative per academy. For the domestic students, like mentioned before, you represent yourself. But there is a twist.

4. Since there are more boys than girls in the competition, we will limit the number of male students that can participate, to match the girls. What this means for the students in the Minae faction: if your academy has more than one representative, one of which is a female and the other a male, the male will not participate. The female student will automatically be chosen as their academy representative. The domestic students don’t need to worry about adjustments, since they represent themselves.

5. The points will be granted with each victory. The first win will grant you one point, the second will get you two points, the third, three more points, and so on. With the adjustment from before, there will be 256 male competitors and 256 female competitors. This means that the most points you can get is 36. Of course, no one expected a single group to find four Tyche beetles, so make sure to use this opportunity to bridge that gap.”

“That’s basically it. Those from the Minae faction who have a choice regarding their academy’s representative, please decide now. When you finish, tell me and after everything’s settled, we will begin.”

After he finished talking, chatter filled the amphitheatre. A mix of anxiousness and enthusiasm loomed over the arena, as students mentally prepared to fight.

“You want to take this one?” Atsuo asked Lord Kaiser.

“I probably should,” he answered seriously, “can’t see you getting very far…”

Atsuo didn’t retort. He really believed Lord Kaiser would do better.

“Okay, I’ll go let Lodre know” Atsuo said and went down the stairs to the middle of the arena.

When he returned, he was a little flustered.

“It’s quite intimidating being down there” Atsuo said uneasily to the group, pointing at the arena.

“It’s a shame you won’t be able to compete” Atsuo told Crod.

“I don’t mind,” Crod said, “Eskasa is more than capable.”

Surprised, hearing that from Crod, they all turned to Eskasa, wondering whether there is some martial arts prodigy behind that unassuming smile.

“What about you Rivia?” Crod asked, “Do you feel ready?”

“Huh? Oh…” Rivia uttered a little uneasily, “well I’ve done some martial arts before, but it’s been more than ten years…”

They all looked at her, concerned.

“That doesn’t mean I forgot everything” she quickly said, seeing their worrisome expressions, “I’d say I’m slightly above average.”

“That’s good to hear” Eskasa said, “What about you Kaiser?”

“Undefeated… though I don’t have many fights under my belt,” Lord Kaiser replied, “people usually choose to avoid me.”

“Well, now that Crod isn’t participating, I don’t think there’s much competition” Atsuo said, looking around.

“You’d be wrong…” Crod said seriously, “I can feel a troublesome foe across the arena. I’m getting cold sweat all the way from here.”

They looked at him in shock, unable to believe their ears.

“Can you… figure out who exactly?” Rivia asked uneasily.

“There’s not much to figure out” Lord Kaiser said, motioning with his head.

Among the entire stadium, there was a single spot, where other students refused to sit. In that spot, sat a single boy, impatient to begin.

“He’s raring to go, by the looks of it” Atsuo said.

“Out of everyone here, I would watch out for him” Crod said.

Suddenly, the boy flinched and looked in their direction. He smiled creepily as Lord Kaiser stared back at him.

“Looks like he wants a piece of you,” Atsuo said to Lord Kaiser, who wasn’t listening.

Before more could happen, Lodre started speaking again, breaking the tension in the air.

“Alright. With everyone ready, we will now announce the first fight! We will start with the boys’ bracket first.”

…

“Arube vs. Terno”

…

“Red vs. Wern”

…

“Drai vs. Igoteso”

…

The matches were unimpressive and didn’t raise any concerns in the friends’ eyes. Until the next match was announced.

“Ruiz vs. Eboro”

As soon as his name was called and he got up, everyone’s attention was drawn to him. Not out of fascination, but out of fear. It was the boy from earlier, who was sitting alone across the arena.

Eboro was moderately tall, and had a refined build, highlighting his physical prowess. He had short, dark-blue hair, and jet black eyes that were mercilessly locked onto his opponent.

He jumped down to the arena and along with Ruiz approached Lodre.

Ruiz got goosebumps and his hair stood up on the nape of his neck as his brain sensed the danger in Eboro’s gaze.

They stood a few meters apart and once Lodre moved away, he sounded the signal.

“Ready? GO!” Lodre said.

‘HUH? Already?’ Ruiz thought to himself, looking at Lodre in disbelief.

Before he had time to turn back, Eboro already closed the distance and delivered a devastating uppercut. The match was settled in just a few seconds.

“Congratulations Eboro,” Lodre said calmly, as the spectators were filled with mixed emotions.

“NEXT. Qis vs. Omre” Lodre called the next fight, as people were still trying to comprehend what happened.

Eboro stared down Lord Kaiser as he went back to his seat, to which Lord Kaiser smirked.

“WELL?” Lodre exclaimed, “Qis vs. Omre! Let’s get moving, we don’t have all day!”

…

After more than a hundred battles finished, it was finally time.

“Icarus vs. Lord Kaiser” Lodre said.

Atsuo looked at Lodre, wondering whether he heard him correct. Hearing someone else saying ‘Lord Kaiser’, let alone a professor at Drezore, came as a shock to Atsuo, and yet everyone else acted like they didn’t hear.

Confused, Atsuo wondered how Lodre even knew Lord Kaiser is royalty.

Lord Kaiser stood up, but his attention wasn’t directed at Icarus. It was concentrated solely on Eboro, who’s eyes glistened with impatience and bloodlust. He was clearly raring to go.

“That bastard, he isn’t even looking at me!” Icarus exclaimed.

“Fix his attitude” one of Icarus’s buds said.

“Making him regret looking down on Drezore nobility!” another said.

Lord Kaiser took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, preparing to take on the enraged Icarus. Atsuo and the others wished him luck, as he entered the arena with Icarus.

They went up to Lodre, who was ready to start the fight. The fighters nodded as he asked them a question, and he began the fight.

Icarus stared down Lord Kaiser, looking deep within his crimson-red eyes, with the intent to intimidate and make him hesitate. But that didn’t go as planned.

Icarus’ eyes widened, as he slumped over on the floor. He was panicking as his eyes darted erratically, not able to comprehend the emotions he was experiencing.

With his head down, he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders rendering him immobile.

“I… I…” he muttered in a trembling voice, “…resign…”

Everyone in the stadium was stunned and confused. After a few seconds, booing erupted, criticizing Icarus and his cowardice.

Lord Kaiser looked at Icarus expressionlessly, before turning to Eboro.

The guy was on the edge of his seat, laughing as he stared back at Lord Kaiser.

“By resignation… the winner is Lord Kaiser!” Lodre announced, while clapping.

“NEXT. Rorrian vs. Acco,” he said, “Please make your way down!”

The next fight started, but no one cared, everyone had already made up their minds on the two people they wanted to watch. Coincidentally, the both of them would fight in the finals if they remained undefeated.

Lord Kaiser, went back to his friends, who were eager to ask what he did. Atsuo didn’t know what it was about Lord Kaiser’s eyes, but he felt like he could relate to Icarus. Judging by the way he behaved, it was similar, in a way.

“Hey Kaiser,” Atsuo called to him as he approached.

“Hmm?” Lord Kaiser uttered.

“How do you do it?” Atsuo asked seriously.

“Do what?!” Lord Kaiser asked irately, sitting down besides Crod.

“Invoke helplessness, or fear… or both” Atsuo said, looking at him.

“Just my overwhelming presence” Lord Kaiser prevaricated.

But the truth was, he didn’t understand it either. To him it was just a habit, which got to the point where he stopped questioning it. However, with his friends’ curiosity, he began wondering what it really was, himself.

The battles proceeded at a normal pace, until it was Eboro’s turn once again.

This time his opponent was Drai, who seemed more experienced than Ruiz, and yet Drai too, was feeling anxious in front of Eboro.

The moment Lodre began the match, Drai made distance between himself and Eboro. But this measure backfired.

“Eboro is faster,” Crod said observing the fighters, “Drai is just cornering himself by trying to keep his distance.”

Lord Kaiser watched the fight with his arms crossed, wearing a serious expression on his face.

As soon as Drai moved back, Eboro took that as a retreat. His expression changed, showing disappointment and irritation as he glared at Drai.

“Is prolonging the fight the only you can do?” he asked him.

Drai, embarrassed and on edge, walked back towards Eboro. In a panicked state, he attempted to take the initiative, by running at Eboro and sending a flurry of punches.

Eboro effortlessly avoided all of them, without even lifting a finger. Then, with a quick turn of his torso, he countered the last of Drai’s punches with a spinning hook kick. It was a smooth knock out that left a lot of people speechless.

As soon as Drai fell to the ground, Eboro looked up at Lord Kaiser from the arena.

With all eyes trying to trail where Eboro is looking, people ended up at Lord Kaiser, who grinned, looking down at Eboro.

“Too slow” Lord Kaiser goaded, to which Eboro’s brows furrowed.

Atsuo and Rivia, concerned by Lord Kaiser exchanging words with the fight-crazed boy, were looking at him, wondering whether he should really be trying to instigate Eboro.

“Are you sure you want to provoke him?” Rivia asked, looking at Eboro’s irritated expression.

“That wasn’t a provocation,” Lord Kaiser said seriously.

“Those were words of ‘encouragement’ and ‘motivation’” Lord Kaiser corrected them, to which Crod chuckled.

“I don’t know…” Atsuo said uneasily, looking at Eboro who was glaring back, “he might kill his next opponent due to your words of encouragement.”

After Eboro’s quick win, the next fights seemed to be happening in slow motion. Then, in half an hour, it was Lord Kaiser’s turn again.

“NEXT. Lord Kaiser vs. Opolo” Lodre said.

Eboro, who was half-asleep, jerked in his seat at the announcement, his eyes shooting open. He sat upright and looked at the arena.

“That pathetic Icarus is a disgrace to Drezore” Opolo said, “I’ll take care of him and show him the pride of the domestic students.”

The students and Opolo’s friends surrounding him, cheered and wished him luck as he went down to the arena.

Before Lodre even began the fight, Opolo’s ego got the better of him and he started staring down Lord Kaiser, who wore a stern expression on his face.

It was a terrible mistake, and Opolo understood that right away.

Lodre began the fight, but Opolo was unable to move as he stared down at the ground, terrified.

Seeing that he wasn’t even going to move, Lord Kaiser approached Opolo himself.

Trembling as Lord Kaiser got nearer with every second, his instincts didn’t dare him move a muscle.

Lord Kaiser stopped besides the motionless Opolo, looking up at Eboro and grinning condescendingly, who was intently watching. While eyeing Eboro, he placed his palm on Opolo’s shoulder, causing the fighter to lose consciousness and collapse to the floor.

Everyone in the arena was speechless. They didn’t know whether to cheer or not due to Lord Kaiser’s yet another peculiar victory. Meanwhile, Eboro was gripping the railing as he struggled to restrain his desire to fight.

He glanced at Lodre impatiently, who heavily sighed.

“Congrats Lord Kaiser. NEXT. Ertos vs. Moria” he said, “Make it quick.”

The rest of the fights were quicker, as fighters got more and more worn out. Though among the fighters were two who barely used any energy. Eboro and Lord Kaiser were still in perfect condition.

With previous words from Lord Kaiser, Eboro finished all of his fights as quickly as possible. Pouncing at the opponent right after Lodre’s signal, he was repeatedly beating his own record for the quickest victory of the tournament. Of course, each victory wasn’t concluded without a glance in Lord Kaiser’s direction.

Similarly, Lord Kaiser beat all of his opponents with his ‘overwhelming presence’. With every fighter saying how pathetic Lord Kaiser’s previous opponents were, and claiming to be the one to beat him, they eventually suffered the same fate. Most of the fighters, either chose to resign on the spot, or stood completely motionless and helpless after facing him.

It was now becoming a recurring pattern, Atsuo thought. He felt like Lord Kaiser has some ability to instill fear in anyone, making them feel helpless. Yet it made him wonder whether he would be able to do the same with Eboro.

With the rest of the matches concluded, it was finally time.

With seven wins each, Lord Kaiser and Eboro both advanced to the finals.