If he was able to, he wanted to surrender even before the match begin.
But sadly, the unwritten rule said he can't. He had to accept the match.
And it goes with the official rule that said that you can only gave up after taking a hit.
You had to raise your hand and said the words.
Unfortunately, he couldn't.
His opponent was merciless.
He was now under the Golden Lion feet.
Trampled by one of its limbs.
He felt immense pressure from it.
He tried his hardest to keep breathing.
He cursed in his mind.
'Why isn't anyone stopping the fight!?'
What he didn't notice and heard was that his opponent was making a speech.
"My opponent here is Rayn Arcvicc. The son of our idols. The glorious star of our Academy. The proud of our Nation!"
The murmurs in the audience became even more intense.
"I'm here to teach him a lesson. So, that he will realize that what he did was wrong."
In one of the areas, a crowd was cheering up loudly.
They maight be fans or followers of the blonde guy.
"He was able to enter this academy because of his father's name and I've proven it wrong. He is unworthy! He is just a disgrace!"
Boo!
The golden lion lifts up his limb and steps back.
The blonde guy did it intentionally so his opponent could heard the mockery loud and clear.
'Uhuk.. uhuk.. hoek!'
Rayn is finally able to breathe. He is laying down helplessly.
He was in the center of the attention.
There were people who felt sorry for him.
There were those who cursed him mercilessly.
And there were those who did not know what to do.
For him, all of them were the same.
Feel sorry? Bullshit! It was the biggest nonsense here!
The golden lion grabs his uniform with its bite, he was being lifted.
He took a good look at the opponent in front of him.
The blonde guy had a disgusting smile attached to his face.
Do it! Do it!
Crowds are giving momentum.
It shouldn't work like this. The referee was the one who said not to overdo things, but why didn't he stop this?
He had a lot of thought passing through her mind.
Unfortunately, he couldn't even turn his head. It was best to say that he could not move a single muscle in his body.
He couldn't check what happened.
"Hear my order! Spiritshift! Roars of the Phantom Lion!"
The human in front of him was channelling energy.
His right hand was veiled by a golden aura. Head of a Lion was formed on that hand.
"Don't be angry with me, this is your own fault."
The blonde guy said that with a sinister smile and began to ready his stance.
Do it! Do it!
Crowds were still cheering hard.
'What did I do wrong? I am trying my hardest. It's not my fault that my body is weak! It is the Dragons!'
He cursed on his mind. In the presence of the Spiritsummoner in front of him, he was helpless. They were in the same grade, but the level gaps are too big.
He took a good look on his opponent's arm. The arm surrounded by a golden veil started to move. It was coming closer and closer.
He didn't dare to face the upcoming blow and closed his eyes tightly.
"Open your eyes, Rayn."
Blast.
A loud sound formed upon the collision.
He didn't get any hit.
There was someone between them.
A man was blocking the punch with one side of his sword.
That collision silenced the whole crowd.
The bluish-black sword stand firm facing the upcoming blow.
"Si-Siron.."
"Referee, what is the meaning of this?"
The referee on the side was startled by the sudden question.
Whistle.
"Match is over. The winner is Gigra Gerian."
"Are you joking with me?"
"I-I do not dare. I-I apologize Mr. Sternstea."
"What is your name?"
"M-My name is Z-Zaiyan."
"Full name."
"Z-Zaiyan Gerian."
Snort.
"And who are you?"
Siron was pointing his sword to the one colliding with his sword before.
"Me? Gigra Gerian. The referee mentioned my name already."
"No. Who are you to judge people?"
Flustered with the sudden question, he answered hastily and irrationally.
"I-I am the 2nd son of the Gerian, noble of the Golden House."
Snort.
Siron picked up his little brother from the Golden Lion with a slash.
The Golden Lion dissipated with that one slash and lets out its last cry.
Growl..
He held Rayn on his shoulder and started to walked away from the Main Hall.
After they've completely gone from the sight of the crowd, the silence gradually disappeared.
"L-Look! That is the power of Gerian Noble Family. Even the infamous One-handed swordsman, Asron Sternstea, back off upon hearing the name!"
The blonde guy was starting his monologue.
Golden House! Golden House!
The crowd's cheering began to fill the Great Hall once again.
-------------
In a room, a pitiful brown-haired kid was laying down helplessly.
Near him was a man with a weird colour hair. His hair was a mixed of blue and black colour.
The wavy and messy hair was easily swayed by the wind.
He was at the nearby table. Standing there making a drink.
"Siron.."
"Ah! Hi, Rayn. Feeling better?"
"I don't know."
"Haha. It's okay, suit yourself. I am making a herbal medicine to help you recovers."
"Thank you, Siron.."
"Nah nah."
"I am a loser and a coward, am I not?"
"Yep. True."
"Ugh! You are still the same person I knew."
"Hehe. Well, it is normal to be a loser and a coward, you know."
"Are you saying that it is normal for the weak to trampled by the strong?"
"Yep. True."
"Ugh! Can you soften your words, at least for now? I can not take any more damage."
"Sorry for that, but it is a fact."
Siron brings the drink to the table next to the bed and sat down in a chair nearby.
"I know.. but still.."
"It is not your fault. Just remember that feeling deep down in your heart. The Dragon is still there and you have to keep that feeling."
"But! How can I even seek revenge with this body!"
"Don't worry. Yera will be back from his long journey. I am pretty sure he will bring good news."
"Brother Yera? Really?"
Tears began to flowed through his cheek.
"Hey hey! Crying again, you crybaby."
"Ugh!"
"By the way, how do you feel about the Gerians?"
"I.."
Siron remembered the humiliation and unfairness he got.
From that referee.
From that noble.
He was clasping his hand tightly.
"Just remember that feeling."
"I will."