Riven stared at his amused expression.
Something twisted in his gut - not rage, not fear.
Something colder.
"...Get what they deserve." he repeated, voice low.
His eyes never left Jacob's.
The broadcast leaned in.
Craning it's neck, as if to hear their conversation in detail.
'I'll carve that smile off your face'
Riven took a slow breath.
"Tell me".
"So what do you deserve?" His words were calm, almost gentle, but it carried across the arena like a blade drawn silently.
"All these people..." Riven's voice cut through the air, unhurried. "They praise you without hesitation. They chant your name like it's law. They look at you and see perfection -something great."
He took a breath, his eyes fixed on Jacob. "And maybe you believe them. Maybe you've started to think that's all you are; the noise. The applause. The eyes that believe you can do no wrong."
The air in the arena felt tighter, quieter.
"But applause fades. And when it does... when there's no one left to cheer you on-" Riven's tone sharpened, almost demanding an answer. "-what's left of you then?"
A long pause.
The crowd didn't breathe.
Everyone leaned forward.
What was happening here?
Jacob's smile deepened. "Do you want to find out?"
Riven didn't hesitate. "That's why I'm here."
The crowd hadn't roared at all.
This tension...
The silence was heavier than any cheer.
Jacob tilted his head, as if studying a curious insect.
He chuckled softly, waving his hand. "Careful, You might not like the answer...."
Riven's fingers brushed around a capsule in his front pocket.
The click of its release was sharp in the silence.
CLICK!
It was like the first crack of a storm.
Light folded outward, a blade forming in his grip; lean, cold and hungry.
CHING!
It hummed softly in the air, as if ready to join it's master.
Somewhere in the stands, a seat creaked as someone leaned forward. The broadcast caught the faint hum of steel, transmitting it into every home watching.
Jacob's smirk didn't falter, but something in his eyes shifted - just enough for Riven to notice.
Not fear.
Not respect.
Something else.
Tap tap
Riven stepped forward, slow and deliberate. "I'm not here for answers."
The air cracked as the words floated out.
A slight twitch of Jacob's brow, "I'm here to destroy the question..."
In that silence, it was as if the world had stopped...
The temperature in the arena rose, as the lights above cascaded their shadows on-to the tile floors.
There was no more smiles.
They stared at each-other; cold. Measured.
Riven lightly gripped his sword, whilst Jacob had his hands loosely by his sides.
Ayling was silent, expression unreadable as he stared at the two below.
Those at home could feel the air, as the wind howled.
The only constant sound was the whirring of multiple cameras, panning back and forth.
The King slightly leaned forward, a smile running across his lips; one that wanted to see something spectacular...as his children sat beside him, one of them bored, the other intrigued.
The instructors watched below, all containing their expressions.... one with a light smile, others with blank stares.
In that Elite Class room, everyone was surprised. Most wore concerned expressions whilst Fayl and Selle leaned forward, expressions sharpening.
The stage was set....
For one, laying in a recovery room... this would matter more than anything.
Whilst beyond these walls, words of this duel spread as quick as it was announced.
From the capital of Auric Spire City, to the deep north of the Frostveil Plains.
Some even hailing from distant planets...
Commoners whispered of a Silent, daring to challenge those above.
In that circle.
That domain.
It was just two.
Ayling cleared his throat quietly, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere.
It was then, he called out :
"Begin!"
-----------------
The arena had never felt this small.
Not to the thousands watching. Not to the nobles leaning forward. Not to anyone...
It was Jacob who moved first. Not with his body, but with this presence.
OOSH!
The air tightened as he stood there, legs shoulder-width apart. A blank expression expression on his face, as he was covered himself with mana around him.
Riven didn't flinch at the display, sword postured at his hip, still sheathed.
His thumb rested on the guard like a man in no rush to attack, whilst his sword begged to be freed, humming loudly.
A breeze of air ran along his longer brown hair. His eyes always remained forward; unshaken, unreadable.
Huff
A single breath.
Slow. Controlled.
The kind taken by someone who had no intention of backing down.
Tap
Jacob lightly tapped his foot on the floor.
Not loud, but in the silence, it might as well have been a drum.
"Sometimes..." Jacob's voice carried easily, sharp enough to cut through the thick air. "...people get exactly what they deserve."
WHOOOSH!
As soon as the words rippled in the air, Jacob thrusted forward. The air splitting as he zoomed across the field. The ground cracked beneath him. Heat shimmered in his wake, fire blooming and curling around his frame like a crown.
He'd arrived to the left of Riven in a flash, forming a mana sword of his own, swinging it horizontally towards Riven's chest...
CHING!
The two swords sparked as they connected. Pressure rippling off of each-other. Riven's face remained poised, staring at Jacob's amused eyes.
'He's playing around.'
Pushing his sword off, he took a step back whilst Jacob remained stationary for a moment.
Not giving a chance to relax, Riven went forward on his own...
RIPPLE!
His steps were shallow as he vanished.
There was no sound, or vibration.
The only instance was his movements shimmering...before he dissolved.
'Where?' Jacob thought, a little more focused at the display.
'There it is again', Korreth thought, remembering that incident in the trials.
The crowd murmured at Riven's speed. It was as if he disappeared momentarily...before reappearing to Jacob's right.
!
Darting his head over, Jacob formed a mana shield instantaneously...
DING!! CRASH!!!!
Riven whipped his sword horizontally, the speed blinding viewers at home.
However, suddenly the sword disappeared mid swing....
WHOOSH!
It was then it re materialised! Surprising Jacob as his feet skidded across the tiles, trailing backwards.
Prince Samuel raised an eyebrow at the display.
The Elite Class watching more intently as-well.
'How?', one student in the stands thought.
The insect in-front of him actually pushed him back....
'...How?', Jacob questioned, his mana shield still activated, but pushed back.
Jacob looked at his hand.
A small drop of blood trailed, before it splashed to the floor.
Drip
Nobody could see his face at that moment, but his body shook for a second. Palms balling into fists. Arms tensing into weapons.
He slowly raised his head, his sky-blue hair rested gently.
In that silence, those watching from afar were shocked.
A silent keeping up with Jacob? The one coveted as a future S-ranker, and one to help secure glory.
In that bar in Sector 5; it was deathly quiet.
The two men from earlier had already completed their previous bet.
However one of them broke the silence.
"...50 MKR's that silent wins...."
The other didn't tear his eyes from the projection, but whistled, "You're on." lowly, voice holding surprise.
In the arena:
Riven just stared, ever calm expression.
But his eyes were focused beyond measure.
"...It seems you have a little bite to you." Jacob simply commented
He shook his hand, placing it on his chin.
Crack crack
Eyes looking down on Riven, as if he was his better.
The blood had dried by now.
"Let's see if you survive longer than the other."
ROAR!
Flicking his hand upwards in a slow motion. A pack of wolves suddenly appeared in front of him. Dark aura cascaded off of their furs, their paws lightly floating over the air.
They were vicious in appearance, commanding in presence.
Riven re-affirmed his stance, sporting a short breath.
Huff
"You gonna take all day?", he asked with a make-shift bored expression.
In response, Jacob flicked his fingers, the motion was casual.
The ground shivered in response...
For the briefest heartbeat, neither moved.
The crowd's roar was dimmed to silence, as though the arena itself leaned forward.
WHOOSH! RIPPLE!!
They both vanished from view.
Drawn out of the blinding light of the arena and into the shadow.