The following rounds moved differently. Unlike Ro's quick victories, these battles revealed flaws and weaknesses, gaps in skill visible to the trained eye.
"MATCH 8: OWETHU VS ZACK!"
Zack caught Ray's attention immediately. His black hair framed striking blue eyes that radiated arrogance. Every movement, every posture, even the way he breathed, announced skill and confidence.
Zack was a swordsman. A scar ran diagonally across his face, and bruises marked his body. Using a real sword in the arena could be deadly, so he wielded a wooden blade for the match.
The fight began. Owethu, a spearman, thrust forward lightning-fast, aiming for Zack's face. Calm and composed, he parried the strike with a smirk. The spearman pressed forward, but Zack twisted smoothly, placing the tip of his wooden sword at her neck.
Owethu attempted a kick, but Zack swatted it aside with the shaft of his sword, breaking her nose. She crumpled to the ground, holding her face in pain.
Ray's eyes sparkled with approval. "Impressive."
"WINNER: ZACK!"
Zack walked off the stage with confidence, a smirk still lingering.
Elsewhere, at the Outskirts port, a massive ship came to a halt.
A knight in shining armor, green cloak draped over one shoulder, stepped onto the vessel, followed closely by his squad. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. The crew watched silently as the armored men boarded.
"Where are you from?" the knight demanded.
The stout, pale man at the front—a captain with a blond Mohawk and wild beard—shrugged casually. "Somewhere."
The knight's gaze lingered warily on the captain. Tattoos, scars, and the massive axe strapped to his back told him this was no ordinary man. One side of the captain's vest revealed a black cobra tattoo, and the axe itself looked deadly, missing a few teeth from past battles.
"Are you from Mythos?" the knight asked cautiously.
"No. Are you a Division Knight?" the captain replied, smirking.
"Silence! Questions will be asked here!" the knight barked.
"Then we refuse," the captain said arrogantly.
"Insolence! Draw your swords!" the knight ordered.
The captain grinned. "Well, we tried. Boys, jump 'em!"
With a roar, his crew leapt into battle. Weapons clashed violently. The knight's disciplined style met the wild, untrained attacks of the crew. One by one, he dodged, struck, and cut down opponents with precision, blood staining his sword and armor.
Despite being outnumbered, the knights fought with discipline, pushing through the chaos.
"Head back! Alert the Division Knights!" the knight ordered, retreating strategically.
Then one of his men cried out. A saber had pierced his throat.
"No!" the knight shouted, gritting his teeth. "Cover me!"
He infused a red orb with Hashi energy and hurled it upward. Its glow shot high into the sky, signaling an emergency that could force the tournament to halt.
The captain's eyes narrowed. Annoyed, he lifted his massive axe and leapt into the air.
"Supreme Weapon Technique: Beast Cleaver!"
A massive green energy slashed through the red orb. He landed on the ship's deck, tilting it slightly with the impact. The knights stared in fear as his crew cheered.
"Useless rats," he muttered.
The knight, shaking, asked, "W-Who are you?"
The captain grinned, missing teeth showing. "I'm Yellow Maw of the Cobra Gang. Pleasure to meet you." He turned to his crew. "Kill them em'."
The knights tried to resist, but they were quickly overwhelmed.
Yellow Maw strode to the captain's quarters and studied a map of the Outskirts island. Near a mountain by a ruined castle, a yellow marker turned green.
He grinned like a demon. "We're here, baby."