When Cermin was finally called out, there was no nervousness in his expression and actions. He stood up from the bleachers, walked proudly, and even with a bit of excitement in his carefree smile.
Volken Argentus did not like that smile.
He held the gridiron ball with his two hands, and passed it left to right on quick speed, acting all calm and indifferent as he twirl it around and did tricks with it. But in truth, the gridiron ball was not some easy ball to just toss around.
In order to survive the impact of these mages' powers, it was made of pure lightweight steel. It was a game that no Commoner could play, and no one with weak limbs could play.
"You do know the rules, don't you, Goldie?" Volken said.
"Of course. And even if I didn't, after seeing you wipe the floor with these guys so many times, I would have to be blind not to know them." Cermin answered.
Ronin could not hear the team captain's thoughts from this distance, but he did not need to. It was very clear from those hungry gray eyes what he thinks.
He even thought it was not possible for someone to hate Cermin so much in this world, except for him.
This made him dislike Volken even more. An enemy of his enemy is not a friend, it's a competitor, a rival on who destroys Cermin first.
"Want to flip a coin on who gets hands or feet?" The captain offered. "Or, you could choose it yourself. Just like I had with anyone. I'm fine either way."
Because there was no point. Whether hands or feet, Captain Volken was the master of this game in their current batch.
"Let's flip a coin. I want to surprise myself as well on what I get." Cermin smiled, really treating this as just a fun game between friends.
He was so naive that it was painful to watch at times.
Volken smirked at this, taking out a silver coin instead of gold in his pocket, and flipped the coin high up in the air, before slamming it on the back of his hand. "This determines what you get. What is heads and what is tails for you?"
"Heads for hands, tails for feet." Cermin answered.
He raised his hand away that was covering the coin....
And it was tails.
Volken chuckled. "Guess you better keep your hands behind your back this time, little Goldie. Remember, you touch the ball with your hands, you lose."
"Yes, and if you kick it, you also lose." Cermin nodded, getting into position on the other side of the divide. "I'm ready."
He was oozing with confidence that some girls could not help but pay attention to him, and some boys too could not believe how chill and relaxed he was towards a beast like Volken. They were at the edge of their seats even before the game started.
The game of Gridiron was really simple, but it was also very dangerous and bloody. There were two ways to win.
You either place the ball on the opponent's X mark, the target.... or you make them use the limbs they should not be using.
Other than that... Anything is possible. It was not uncommon for blood to be spilled, and so, there was always a medic waiting at the side of the game to heal any injuries.
Volken handed the ball to the Main player serving as a referee, and he also get into a starting stance as the referee started to count before he tossed the ball.
"3, 2, 1.... STRIKE!"
Volken made the first move, grabbing the ball as he jumped high up in the air. He was now on the offensive, trying to get it towards Cermin's base and all the way to the target.
Cermin blocked him with his own body, unable to grab the ball with his hands, and yelled. "Blessed Aurion, grant me the Blade of Solaire!"
The sword appeared by his side and he took it. Yes, he could not take the ball with his hands....
But that doesn't mean he couldn't use his hands at all. Using the flat side of the glowing bright sword that shone like the sun, he slammed it on Volken's wrist, trying to knock it out of him.
Volken still managed to maintain his grip on the ball, but a loud, cracking sound could be heard!
"The boy has guts!" One of the spectators exclaimed. "Volken would surely not let him go that easily and summon his rapier!"
But Volken did not show any intention of summoning his own Mage Focus, as he kept on blocking Cermin's attacks with his own hands, and using the weight of the ball to deflect them.
Cermin sweated, as he was slowly pushed back up to the target. He did all he could, he even kicked at Volken but the man's body was like steel itself, not feeling any pain.
It won't be long until he would be standing at the target itself, and Volken may use his fists as strong as a bear's or the metal ball itself to knock him out of it, and win the game.
Ronin sat quietly to observe what he would do. There was something very obvious that Cermin was not using.
'If only he would use his dumb brain for a moment, this wouldn't have been a problem. Volken's pride is what's stopping him from summoning his Mage Focus. He wants to defeat everyone without ever summoning it. That puts Cermin to an advantage.'
As Cermin tried desperately to look for a way out, he suddenly felt an urge to look at his sword. He did look, and there was nothing but the glowing light....
Light...
Ronin grinned, and told Kai. "Close you eyes."
Kai was surprised, but did as told.
"Hah.... Hah... I didn't want to have to do this, Volk, but you pushed me to a tight spot." Cermin smiled apologetically.
Volken was momentarily confused, until he heard Cermin shout---
"Blessed Aurion, give me Sunburst!"
Cermin closed his eyes, as his sword shone so bright that it temporarily blinded everyone who was within 20 meters, also affecting slightly those within 30 meters. He basically dazzled everyone in the Quadrangle, except for Ronin and Kai who smartly closed their eyes.
"Ahhhh!" Volken exclaimed, as his eyes burned from the brightness. He staggered, and tried his best to regain his vision fast, but it was all red.
Cermin shouted as he used his hands to tackle Volken, wrestling and pushing him further and further away from his base, until he reached the division and was now in Volken's base!
"You..... little..... rascal....." Volken's eyes were completely bloodshot. "Haha..... I admit, that was good... Now you'll bring out something I didn't want to do."
He pushed Cermin away, being the much stronger of the two, and with his blurry vision, he summoned with his loud, obnoxious voice.
"Blessed Skollhati, I summon the Rapier Lunis!"