Chapter 22
As Kazein gritted his teeth, he clenched his fist and punched the wall. Kazein's head hurt so much that he thought it will blow up.
"Fighter No.7! Kazein! It's time for the final rounds. Please get to the stage within 5 minutes." A man banged on the door.
"I'll be there shortly!"
As the guy left, Kazein held his screams and endured the torment within his head.
Later on, he appeared at the stage.
"You have guts to make us wait." Iruka said towards Kazein who just arrived.
"I don't know you nor did I tell you to wait for me." Kazein said in response to Iruka.
"Why you!" As he pulled a punch, Arami stopped him.
"Not now, there is still the stage." He said.
"Tsk, you're lucky to have fought such weak opponents. However, this time, we won't be doing the same mistake."
"Come at me, don't bark. Did you know? If you only know how to bark, you'll end up not knowing how to bite." Kazein taunted him.
"Why you little!!!" As Iruka went to punch him, elder Mare, intervened and held the punch.
"No fighting outside the ring." She casually released Iruka's arm. "Kazein, you better watch your mouth. I agree that I admire your field, but against something you can't block. You'll die a dog's death."
"Don't worry, woman. I have my ways of keeping myself alive."
"Hmph, and that attitude of yours." She then left. The other seeded contestants also separated.
Kazein, wasn't acting quite right however. He just went to the arena and waited. When the announcement went on.
"Now! Here we are to the most heated part of the tournament. After two rounds of selecting the best of the best, and here are 35 of them! In the arena there are 5 rings! The lots will be drawn, and 5 of which who are chosen, will stand their ground. If one manages to defeat you, they will claim your position, and until no one challenges you, and only 4 are left, we will move on to the finals which will be held tomorrow!" The announcer yelled wildly.
"Who do you think if the 5 seeded ones to get eliminated?" Elder Kira asked Elder Yun Hai.
"I think it will be Qin Fei from the Eastern warlord's mansion." He replied.
"Oh? Why so? She's very strong, probably on par with Amari and Arthur."
"Though it's true she is on par with the two of them. Kazein might avoid the troublesome ones and go for Qin Fei, who is an expert at the unique water bending magic style. Kazein has the advantage of he uses his technique once again." Elder Yun Hai explained.
"I see. I bet it will be Iruka."
"Why so?"
"He may be from the academy, but he is still an earth walker, a bad match if paired with Anna, who is an expert at water and Amari, who has the royal family's special technique, Royal Golden body art. It's capable of raising one's own powers by up to 70% if used efficiently. He could probably break his earth defense." Elder Kira explained.
"Well, elders. We'll just have to see. I think Kazein will make it to the finals." Elder Han Mao blurted his opinion out.
"Bwah! That blind guy? Finals? He'll probably lose by now!" Sasha had an angry tone.
"Stop it, elder Sasha, elder Han Mao is still a guest of ours." Elder Mare said to elder Sasha.
"Silence, they've drawn lots. It seems the royal family, Eastern warlord's mansion, Iruka and two others were chosen." Elder Joseph hushed them all.
As the lots were drawn, Iruka, Amari and Qin Fei of the seeded spots were chosen to be the first ones and stand their grounds. Kazein seemed quite delighted, he went on and challenged Iruka.
"Ah! Kazein, the dark horse of this tournament is challenging Iruka of the royal academy! What will he do to win?! He won all his fights, be it a bloody battle or a broken bones battle, he'll win. What will it be this time?!"
No one seemed to support Kazein, it seems they hated him for his violent attitude and destructive play.
"Hmph, so you're the one to come to me? Instead of challenging the weaker ones, you're coming to me? Fine then! Come to me!"
"Hmph, it will be your worst mistake to have invite me in."
As Kazein stepped into the ring, Iruka, suddenly disappeared. "Clang!" Suddenly, Iruka appeared from behind and his dagger and Kazein's short sword locked in.
"For an earth walker you're pretty fast." Kazein gave him a praise. At the other side of the ring, Arthur and Anna still didn't challenge the remaining two for the spots. They let others have a chance, but it wasn't because of goodwill, it's to just make themselves look good.
"Ho? That guy is pretty good. To stand against Iruka's attack."
As Iruka once again launched his attack, Kazein dodged and counter hit with his sword's scabbard, setting aside Iruka.
"Draw your sword." Iruka taunted him.
"Hmm? You're not worthy." Kazein talked back against Iruka's taunt.
When Iruka heard this, he went berzerk. No one has ever made him that angry with just two or three exchanges. Earthen scales grew from his back, and his arms grew larger. He threw away his dagger, and suddenly disappeared.
"Oh boy. Iruka went berzerk. Can't stop him now, that boy shouldn't have provoked him." Arthur said.
The elders were quite amused.
"He, that kid from the academy learned one thing. While that blind guy knows from experience. He knew Iruka had an ace up his sleeve, so he taunted him into using it." Elder Sasha pointed out.
"True, even though Iruka should be faster by now, I can still see him. While Kazein's field is accurate, it can only perceive what it can. At his level, he shouldn't be able to use it." Elder Yun Hai was right though. Kazein still couldn't perceive what he can't sense.
As Kazein was suddenly slammed down the ground, he was then kicked into the air. Iruka was so fast Kazein still couldn't sense him.
"Oh!!! Finally! Someone is gonna done it that bastard! He's so ruthless he deserves that!"
"Break his body as he did the others!"
"Make him wish he was dead!"
The audience cheered as Kazein was getting beaten up. Anna watched with worry, she still loved Kazein, she ust believed Kazein still can't look at her as an equal.
"Oh boy. The kid is done in. I'm starting to think that his decision to taunt the kid from the academy to use his ace." Elder Sasha laughed.
"I don't know about that, look at the kid, he must have more up his sleeve, he knows if he uses it, he can't make a surprise to the remaining 4 he'll fight later on." Elder Kira said while the others explained.
"I agree, if what our disciple said was true, Kazein, must have something he wants. Since his village was destroyed and his eyes were slowly burned as if to say, they wanted him to have a hard life. So he must have prepared something to turn tables on others." Elder Mare said in response to elder Kira's statement.
And just as elder Mare said those words. A strong deafening sound blasted.
"There it is! One of his hidden tactics!" Elder Mare pointed out to the others.