The selection event had transformed the Azure Cloud Sect. Market stalls crowded every path. Vendors hawking spirit pills, talismans, and beast cores. A blend of the smell of grilled meat and incense smoke.
Merchants, families, and even rival sect observers.
All here for one reason, to watch young disciples destroy each other.
Karman, Tono, Putri, and Bonar each stood in their arenas and achieved consecutive victories. But in the arena at the far end, where Bonar was, it looked somewhat quiet. Bonar's way of defeating his opponents in a single move made several students hesitant to step onto the arena to face him.
Amidst the crowd, a light step full of confidence climbed onto the arena calmly.
SUHERI
The second son of the Spear King, Warito. Rumors suggest that Suheri's talent surpassed his father's in his youth.
But there was no fight. The two of them stood staring without moving for almost 5 minutes.
"Bonar, it seems you have switched sides," whispered Suheri via telepathy.
"Yes, I don't deny it, but that doesn't mean I'm not taking this seriously. It's just..." Bonar answered through telepathy.
"What are you two doing just standing there? Get down if you don't want to fight!" said one of the students in the crowd waiting in line to fight.
"You should stop. I have seen with my own eyes what has happened," Bonar continued.
"I didn't think you were such a coward. Have you forgotten your ambition?" Suheri continued, his expression changing slightly.
"No, I no longer desire to be the heir to my father's trading house. As a childhood friend, I am only offering you advice. Stop."
The silent atmosphere between the two people in the arena continued. They stared at each other for several minutes without moving. Until...
"You dare to order me around!" Suheri shouted loudly while swinging his wooden staff towards Bonar.
Bonar, who had been trained in reflexes personally by Instructor Supeno, was able to dodge with precision.
This small, quiet scene was shattered as the fight began, and it didn't seem one-sided.
Stab! Swung! Clack!
The sounds of swings and clashing wooden weapons were like music accompanying their fighting actions. However, as time passed, Bonar was increasingly pushed back.
"Not bad. But, I was warming up," said Suheri, taking a stance.
Stab! Pow! Bruk!
Just when everyone thought Bonar was the fastest student. At that moment, Suheri, with his explosive attacks, proved everyone's thoughts wrong.
Bonar was thrown into the air after Suheri's spear swing hit his chin.
Bonar collapsed not just because of Suheri's blow, but also due to accumulated fatigue from fighting students consecutively.
Suheri approached the collapsed Bonar. But instead of taking his pin, Suheri started beating Bonar. Everyone was shocked, even the instructor, who almost reacted too late.
Just as the instructor was about to move to stop Suheri.
Clak!
Suheri's staff broke. A student had just stepped onto the arena so fast the eye couldn't follow, blocking Suheri's strike with one hand.
--- A few minutes earlier.
Huh? Isn't that Bonar? Why is he just standing there? I said, turning my head while parrying and blocking my opponent's strikes.
Pow!
A solid punch sent Bonar flying. I didn't react at all. Until Suheri continued beating Bonar.
My blood boiled, not because Bonar was being beaten. But Suheri's attitude, as if he were unbeatable, hurt my feelings. As if I couldn't stand having two tigers on the mountain.
"I surrender," I said, throwing the pins I had collected. Then, with one burst, I leaped over two arenas straight to Bonar's location.
---
The moment I broke Suheri's staff in two. Everyone was shocked because the incident had happened so suddenly.
"Perfect timing, I wanted to beat you up, and you came by yourself," Suheri muttered to me with a slight smile on his face.
"It seems you need to be beaten first to fix your attitude," I said while throwing Bonar into the crowd.
Pow! Crack! Stab!
We continued exchanging blows. I with brute strength and Suheri with his agility. Becoming a spectacle for everyone present, including the spectators.
The fight was so intense that it wrecked the arena field everywhere.
I was no longer hiding my ability; let everyone know. That I have power and skill.
Tono watched me from the arena opposite, his head held high. Seeing my uncontrollable behavior.
However, the difference in experience and length of training made me increasingly hesitant.
Suheri took distance, preparing to deliver his final attack.
The spectators shouted, "That's the Dragon-Slaying Spear, just like the Spear King!"
I didn't have time to react. The broken staff formed a sharp point that pierced through my chest.
Everyone fell silent. Breath stopped. That sight was horrifying to them. However, this was my chance.
I grabbed Suheri's hand, pulled it, and then slammed him down. With the staff still stuck in my chest. Then I spun around once more and kept pounding his face until he surrendered.
Plak!
Instructor Supeno's hand caught my arm, which was about to swing again at Suheri's face.
"Enough."
---
Meanwhile, the observer stayed before leaving. "Hm...."