"Don't get tricked by them Renald. I'm sure they're just making us back out because they know they can't win over us" one of Renald's friend interrupted his thoughts.
His other friends seconded the motion.
Although there's still some lingering doubts in his mind, their pride for strength overruled everything.
They settled the challenge and even drafted an agreement.
The stake was changed from giving five favors to the winning group to giving favor to the individual winner for each match by the losing opponent.
Since it's going to be the first "martial arts exchange" between Dewe and other countries, other classes were also invited to expectate the match.
Although it's agreed to be a friendly one but underneath, they're also sounding the attitude and potential of each countries.
The fight started, best of five. One group has to win at least three rounds to consider victory.
Usually the team will arrange their fighters from weakest to strongest, that is the case for Renald's team. They're confident that even their weakest team member is stronger than the strongest of other countries. This is their pride and they have the means to support their claim.
On the other hand, Ember's team decided to put the three guys upfront to secure their win early in the game. Of course Ember has the confidence to trample over the other team by herself but she still needed to keep a low profile on her strength. She decided to take the 4th place.
Ace had been itching to take action so they let him come on stage first.
Ace had an aggressive look, hulking over six feet but with sinewy muscles. Despite that, he carries a proud noble aura as the grandson of the Grand Marshall.
His opponent is also a man of great stature. It was obvious that he has been exposed in ,martial arts ever since he was a kid.
The fight between the two is anticlimatic.
With both straightforward personality, they decided to clash brawn vs brawn. In the end Ace won after exhausting the strength of his opponent.
Renald's face darken a little with the result. He didn't expect that they would lose the first exchange easily. Truly one cannot conclude unless one saw the real thing. But he immediately adjusted his mood. Ace Aksha's strength is recognized even in their country and with the available resources of his family, it's not questionable. He just regret pitting a weaker team member to him. But he doesn't believe that they cannot win the next round.
To Renald's dismay, their team also didn't fare well with Prince Illo. Fortunately, they managed to defeat Lauren, but it really didn't bring that much glory since they knew he is not as well acquainted in martial arts as the first two.
Now it boils down with the two girls.
Darian gave a little frown when he saw that Naria coming on the stage. He tried to ignore her presence for the past couple of days unfortunately he made a little progress to it. Once you saw her, you can never forget her. She had been behaving well, but now she's stirring trouble. How can a fragile girl like her involve herself in such a fight. As if she won't break the moment the other side touch her.
An image of a girl flashed in his eyes. Despite her weak look, she was actually a deadly agent. He tried to ask for her information but he cannot find her profile. It's either her information is highly confidential or that she wasn't with them in the first place.
But Darian was really overthinking this time. Ember was just recently recognized as an agent and her profile was yet to be entered in the company's database.
The moment Naria stepped on the stage, commotion was all over the place.
The was like an ice queen, noble and dainty. They almost couldn't imagine her receiving kicks and punches being crumpled and writhing in pain.
This time the opponent was also a girl. She's beautiful on her own, unfortunately, she was placed side by side with Ember and her beauty just can't make a stand.
This girl has a significant background.
She's the youngest daughter of Major General Alcov Louvre. She had been prideful and willful since she was little but she was well disciplined in martial arts since she was constantly exposed to danger.
Shanna Louvre always looks at people under her nose. She's used in being the limelight of admiration so just imagine her hatred towards Ember who hogged all the attention leaving her a nil.
Shanna will let this people see that this girl only has a pretty face and that thing is something she'll also take from her.
Ember just shook her head upon seeing Shanna's malice. She just needed to flick her finger to grind this girl if not for her act.
The people around her think otherwise.
Lauren felt bad when he saw Naria's opponent. Based on the information he gathered, this girl was tricky. She's known to stab her enemy on the back. So far, it could only be counted on one hand the people who managed to get away from her without a major injury. If only he trained more diligently, he wouldn't lose to his opponent by a hair, Naria didn't have to fight.
Ace, Illo, and Sanna also worried for Naria, but they knew there's no turning back.
"This miss looks fragile, are you sure you wanted to go through this exchange with me?" Shanna is feeling smug about herself.
"That's right. Miss Naria can still back down if you want to, anyway, it will just end up draw" Renald also suggested. Although that would put Naria and her team in a disadvantageous position but he somehow couldn't bear to see her beaten up. it makes him feel uncomfortable.
"That's right. Unlike you I grew up in the military compound and was trained diligently. But you look like someone who didn't even see the sun. I'm afraid I will break you"
Everyone seems to agree to what Shanna is saying, though in her mind she really wished that this girl wouldn't back down so she can destroy her face. She just wanted to show she's magnanimous that why she went to all this trouble.
Just as Ember was about to reply, she heard a deep voice coming from the crowd.
"I'll fight in her stead"