"Finally!"
"Alright, let's go!"
"About time!"
"Did she get lost in the tunnels or something? Move your little ass!"
Miss Ruby's reception by the crowd was mixed at best. Most participants were savvy enough to understand that the girl spelled trouble. Anyone who was connected to or took part in the organization of this event and would willingly enter the fights with handicap rules had to be either dangerous or incredibly stupid. However, the average spectator would not know or care who this random new girl was. All she accomplished so far was delay the games.
Number Four did not let go of his giant spiky ball of death and continued to chant or channel, or mediate, or something. Nobody except Number Forty could have known for certain.
"What concentration from our resident niece-fucker!" the announcer's hyping voice reverberated through the mines. "Not only does he not flinch when he sees his opponent approach, he does not even acknowledge her presence! Will this be an unexpected upset? Or is Number Four simply coming to terms with his imminent, bloody death?"
"I gave you plenty of time to prepare," the white-mask girl said after she stepped on the giant arena platform and walked toward Number Four. "I hope you did not spend it all on your knees praying for a swift end to your shit existence."
"…" Number Four gave no reply, not even a glance at his opponent.
"Well then, it looks like both duelists are done with pleasantries and ready for some action!" the announcer said. "I must remind you that you cannot use any other weapons than the ones you have now. So, please ignore the ones that Number Four so carelessly scattered around while throwing his little tantrum! The match will end if either of the duelists is killed, or if Number Four survives for five whole minutes. Killing anyone else in the crossfire is strictly forbidden and will be immediately punished by death, please pay attention!"
"Anyone stupid enough to get killed by a stray arrow or something deserves to be dead anyway!" someone in the crowds shouted.
"The opponents are ready! The crowds are most certainly ready! … Begin!"
Number Four thrust the metal ball forward, striking the white-masked girl directly in the head with a savage thud and bouncing upward away in ricochet, sending the girl flying across the arena. She hit the ground, tumbled over several times, and only stopped her rough slide across the rocks at the very edge of the arena.
"Pfft!" the announcer snorted audibly with her enhanced voice. She tried to cover her mouth and nose but ended up placing her hand over her mask to no effect.
And while the announcer seemed amused with the outcome most of the people in the crowds gasped in shock.
"Woah!" Olivia jumped up when she saw the savage hit.
Beatrice could understand Olivia's amazement as she too did not expect such a drastic development. Wait, could I survive such a strike? Would I be able to dodge it? Beatrice hoped she could avoid such a devastating attack, but she could not convince herself she'd be able to dodge a ball that slammed into its target at blinking speed. Aren't there too many overpowered people in these games?
Silence again fell over the arena. The giant viewing orb displayed the robed figure that still lay on the ground, face down. Even the hood of the robe was still over the girl's head, and it seemed that she managed to keep her head on her shoulders after a blow that should have cleanly decapitated her. Careful viewers also noticed that the figure had one arm stretched out over her head, away from the edge, clasping the grip of her dagger that was driven into the rocks all the way to its cross-guard.
Though the people were shocked by the sudden brutal strike that sent the 'surprise' challenger flying across the arena, they were absolutely astonished when that same challenger rose to her feet with not only her head but even with her white mask completely intact. Not cracked, not even a tiny scratch on it. Though her fiery robe was dusty and torn in several places, revealing small glimpses of scale armor underneath.
"Not bad"—the masked girl took a confident step forward—"For a little old shitter! Got any more in you, or was that it?"
For the first time, the old man let his emotions show. They escaped him. The disbelief paled his wrinkly face.
The announcer giggled and asked, "If I put the offer of you having sex with your niece to save your life back on the table, would you consider taking it now?"
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