After the conclusion of the match, Jake waited for the announcement of the next match.
The referee called the names for the next round, "Fourth Round."
"First match, Joshua Vargas vs. Cheyenne Aztec!"
"Second Match, Jake vs. Jaya!"
"Dean Forst, freeroll!"
Jake tried swinging his healed arm. He was lucky that his name wasn't in the first match.
This would give him time for his arm to "air" off and his health status would become more stable.
Still, he was quite thoughtful about his next match.
It was him against Jaya. This eventual battle wouldn't be anything similar to that of the group playing in the Dark Forest or the zombie mine.
It would be more intense and due to the amount of elemental power Jaya displayed, Jake was sure that he would have to put in his best.
He knew, most of the time, he didn't excel at destructive capabilities, but now that he was unhindered by his sword, he could let loose.
Jake was very proficient in hand-to-hand combat and melee fights. He would once again have to awaken that part of himself to prove to be up to the task ahead of him.
He closed and pictured the rewards of the competition, thinking if they were worth his full strength.
Ultimately, he decided to go along. He would know when to stop, but for now, he just had to play the part of an honest participant.
"Match, Start!"
The match going on on the stage was another match that was already pre-determined.
It was between Joshua Vargas and Cheyenne Aztec.
One of them was the hottest participant in the competition, while the other was among the ones unlikely to win due to their injuries.
Based on this description, it was easier to understand who would win.
Jake's money was on Cheyenne. Although he had an instinctive repulsion for her, he knew strength when he saw it.
While proving to be Jaya's equal, Cheyenne was also proficient in many strange techniques, especially the one she used to nudge a win for herself against Jaya.
That one was certainly interesting!
Jake had some thoughts about it, but it would only be proven when he squares off against her.
Sometimes, he wondered why he always felt a high repulsion towards her. He could have sworn that the first time he met her, he wanted to cut off her head.
Don't get him mistaken, he still wanted to cut off her head…..but still...it just seemed unlike him to let his emotions get the better of him.
He wondered what would happen if he gives in to that emotion. It would certainly be interesting, but not worth it as he would be sent to prison or just be killed for trying to murder a princess of Aztec.
'Rules are boring,' mused Jake.
He looked at the sky and murmured, "It is a free world."
It was true. It is a free world. The world is free!
...…
The moment the match started, Joshua went on the defensive.
He knew his current capabilities and opted to defend while looking for a chance.
Cheyenne noticed this and followed his wish.
She pressed on him diligently and gave no chance for any counter-attack.
She had learned to not do that after fighting with some of the most dangerous participants in the competition.
Plus, she would rather take it easy as her opponent was not in his best shape, instead, he was far from that.
So, after about a thousand exchanges of attacks, he slipped up and Cheyenne punched him out of the stage.
It was then she remembered that she wanted to take it easy on her opponent, "Oops."
Now, he was sure to never be in the best shape.
The referee sighed as he announced, "Joshua Vargas - Zero Points(0). Cheyenne Aztec - Twelve Points(12)."
Cheyenne grinned at the announcement of her points.
Everything was finally in sight.
Normally, she wouldn't participate in the competition and even if she did, she wouldn't try this hard, but this year, it was different.
It seemed that some nobles wanted to display their superiority to the royal family and, in doing so, get recognition and back-up from the masses.
They wanted to rebel!
The best way to do that would be to show that there is no future for the royal family. Utter domination, that was the best way.
If they pit their younger ones against the royal children, it would tell a story about the future and whether or not the other nobles and commoners can put their faith in the royal family.
This movement had almost achieved its goal.
In truth, they might have, if not for her.
She was the only one still standing, her siblings and cousin had been eliminated.
That was why she was currently giving it her all.
From her first battle with Dean Forst, she could smell the treachery brimming to the maximum.
She had opted to be active in the competition and showcased the strength of the royal family, no matter how messed up her family was.
Her mother wouldn't like it if she just watched as everything happened, especially when she had the power to change it.
Cheyenne walked out of the stage, drowned in cheers from the crowd. Her muscles were sore, but she had to go on!
It was the only way she could respect her mother's wish of a happy family!
"Next match, Jake vs. Jaya!"
As soon as the two opponents came upstage, he shouted, "Match, Start!"
Jake removed his focus from Jaya and looked at his hand gear.
Before coming to the stage, he had worn bracers and a skin-tight glove that mixed well with his long sleeves black inner-wear.
The Bracers were for absorbing blade attacks, while the gloves were for protecting his hand when he attacks.
It was a combat set he was used to wearing, though, they weren't exactly made like this.
Nonchalantly, Jake brought up his arm and blocked a slash coming from Jaya.
He looked at his opponent, already two feet from him, and said nothing.
No words were needed. And she knew that.
*Boom!*
In the next moment, all Jaya saw was a blur that snaked its way to her face.
She was sent flying by the super fast punch instantly.
After balancing herself, she knew not to let Jake close, but it was impossible as Jake was chasing her tail, playing the role of a berserker.
Every time she tried to block his attack, she felt her bones crack and knew how terrible Dean Forst must have felt.
*Bang!*
Once, she tried to counterattack, but it only met with the bracers of her opponent.
Taking advantage, Jake bent his neck and threw an upward kick that connected his heel with the lower jaw of Jaya.
The attack was strange as it looked too soft.
*Click!*
Jake's heel pushed Jaya's jaw up a bit, and a clinking sound was heard, despite Jaya not being thrown away or blasted away.
She fell to her knees and a massive amount of blood flowed from her nose and mouth.
Only Jake knew what he had done to her.
It was a technique he had learned in his previous world.
Using his heel as an instrument of precision, Jake pushed up Jaya's jaw, which, in turn, straightened her spine and put stress on all her bones.
The clinking sound heard was something that was only audible when the body is vertically straightened to its limit.
As stated before, the body would then become damaged after giving in to the instant stress.
It was a deadly attack, but Jake tuned it down a little bit. Plus, Jaya's endurance as a cultivator wouldn't let her die easily.
Jake looked down at Jaya and wondered if she would stand up, but when she did, she said to the referee, "I forfeit."
It was not a bad decision for those that understood the match.
If the fight had continued. Regardless if Jaya won, she would have sustained massive injuries which would be detrimental for her future battles.
Jake expressionlessly nodded and left the stage, listening to the referee.
"Match, End!"
"Jake - Twelve Points(12). Jaya - Six Points(6)."
"Dean Forst, freeroll - Six Points(6)"