Finally the day has come , one month have passed since Cerlot invited Asterio to participate on the tournament to determine who will become strongest warrior .
Morning came , Asterio woke up early in the morning and started to wipe himself off and was changing to his attire readying to leave .
While walking outside noticably there were many peoples and it was bustling with crowds despite early in the morning .
Asterio headed to where they normally train to find Ales and Norja and go together to where the tournament would be held which is near the Datu's resident but after arriving at the usual place his brother and Norja weren't there .
"Asterio !"
Ugh - ! That voice . . .
What - ugh. Aren't you happy ? I came all the way here to come pick you up .
Cerlot --- I guess it's really you, why did you come here early in the morning , the tournament will be held near your house right?
I told you , I came here to pick you up , you haven't seen our house nor have visited us right? Your brother and his friend are already there , I was worried you might not come since you might get lost fufu .
Certainly I was about to meet up with brother and planned to go together with them but they already went first huh ? What about you , shouldn't you be there since after all you are the only daughter of the Datu surely they are already looking for you .
Why , can't I be here? Both my brothers are already there so nothing will be done even if I stayed there I'll only be bored and here I could assure that you'll come .
I don't plan on hiding somewhere , of course I'll come there was no need to come pick me up.
You should be grateful , someone like me came to pick you up . Feel free to act privileged because you can walk beside me fufu .
I don't want to .
Anyway there will be many men coming after me when our neighboring barangay comes . Having you by my side I can be reassured and I feel safe.
So that's the real reason why you came to pick me up huh ? You're so popular as usual . Well I can understand them a little since you look elegant and beautiful or so they think , not until they knew what you really are .
My ~ So you also see me as beautiful - I can't help it I was born with this .
Ugh --- how can you say such a thing ,you really think highly of yourself huh ?
It's the truth after all isn't it ?
You have the looks but there is something wrong with your head .
How rude ! Enough chit-chat and let's go .
While walking with Cerlot I have learned a lot of things she shared and informed me about many things .
There will be atleast a hundred young competitors who would participate through out the day and as expected it would be elimination. The final battle would be held during the evening .
There was no rules in particular, the winner would advance if he defeats his opponent , knocking him out or making him surrender and if he forfeits its automatically your win but inflicting fatal damage that could result to death is strictly forbidden .
Asterio and Cerlot arrived at the venue Andy and his father were already there .
I guess the preparation for the tournament was successful I'll go say Hi .
Cerlot was still talking when suddenly a loud noise was heard all of a sudden , murmurs and cheers.
The neighbors are here .
Cerlot said on a low voice .
Neighbors? Why would the neighborhood barangay have such a loud cheers of welcome .
They are the favorites to win , also they have much more skilled warriors than us also Keyn is there. Like me he is also a child of the Datu , Asterio in terms of skills he is much more stronger than your brother .
Really? On what basis made you say that Keyn was it? How is he stronger than my brother ?
How come you don't know, you witnessed it last tournament right ? Last years tournament Keyn was declared the strongest warrior. My father kept praising him that he should be the next Datu of this barangay that's why he also said that I should marry Keyn but I kept rejecting him like everyone else .
Have they fought in last years tournament ?
Yes and unfortunately your brother lost against him, it was an overwhelming win . No doubt your brother is one of the strongest here, he could easily be included on our elders in terms of skills but Keyn is on a different level . He is a natural warrior gifted by the gods , he was born a warrior .
I see , he seems strong if you say he's that gifted and skilled but that was a year ago right? No need to worry, he'll lose against my brother .
You're quite calm ? How are you relaxed, isn't this your first time participating also ?
I'm not relaxed , it's just that I know for a fact that brother wouldn't lose the way he is right now instead Keyn should've prepared this year because it's gonna be a whole lot different than last year if he thinks he'll fight against the same Ales as last year he's badly mistaken.
You believe in him that much ?
Of course I do , I have fought him a lot of time and I can say he's atleast at the point where he's on par or better than me already and one thing -- Nevermind see it for yourself.
Are you hiding something from me ? If you say so then that's reassuring.
While Asterio and Cerlot were having a conversation the cheer got louder and louder the noise was getting closer and at the center of it there was a group approaching them .
Five men at their teens and a woman . All of them wear the same red clothes only covering their private parts aside from the girl who uses traditional whole body clothes .
Noticably the guy with a long hair with tattoo marks on his arms and body in the middle there is no doubt he is a skilled warrior since physically he was packing some muscles he must be someone important .
Then the guy on the middle noticed us and walked towards Asterio and Cerlot .