As Ifrit finished surveying the crowd, a proud look on his fiery visage, he finally turned his attention to the two insects that still managed to remain in the arena that was slowly becoming his domain.
He was about to speak up when there was a sudden snapping sound. He looked up to find several thin metallic wires breaking due to the temperature rise.
Steel at the other end clicked his tongue. "Tch, I knew that would happen… Didn't think it would happen as soon as he arrived though."
Laura was left speechless as the trump card Steel prepared got taken care of so easily.
As she gazed intently at Ifrit, she muttered. "You are right… we can't win."
Not only was there a gap in their cultivation ranks, but their attributes were also clashing against one another with Ifrit having the upper hand.
Cedric smirked as he watched Laura despair at the appearance of Ifrit. He was about to make a move when Ifrit spoke to him telepathically.
"Why did you summon me, boy?"
Cedric stopped in his tracks. Turning to face Ifrit, he put up a brow. "To fight of course."
It was Ifrit's turn to put up a brow… if one could call it that. "You want me to fight against those two?"
Naturally, he was referring to Laura and Steel. At some point during their exchange after Steel appeared, Laura had canceled the Cockatrice summon to conserve her magic.
"You seem disappointed?" Cedric asked.
Ifrit sighed. "If not for your innate talent, I would have given you a beating. Those two are not worth a fight. My domain is enough to handle them."
Cedric grinned. "But I don't want to let them cook slowly. I want to also slice and dice them until a certain someone comes down here."
It was then Ifrit noticed it. "Our synchronicity is higher than usual… Oh, I see. Who is the target?"
Cedric mouthed. "My brother."
Ifrit surveyed the audience once again before his eyes fell on the intended target. With a glance, he sent his aura across.
Max at the other end seemed to sense something for a moment but casually brushed it off as he waited patiently for Laura to throw in the towel.
Ifrit was stunned!
One must know that he just sent the full extent of his aura across yet Max was able to brush it off so casually.
Cracking a smile, Ifrit said. "Interesting. You have finally found us a worthy opponent, Cedric."
If only he knew that the reason his aura did nothing to Max was that aura suppression based on magic wouldn't work since he can't sense it.
Only if the aura of the attacker is at a high level capable of causing strong enough energy fluctuations would Max be truly affected.
But obviously, no-one was going to tell him that, thus, with a zest, he anticipated their clash with Max.
Just then, Laura's voice was heard. "I surrender."
A smile appeared on the faces of the hopeful trio; Lloyd, Max, and Lara. Thankfully, Laura was not conceited enough to fight a losing battle.
But then again, would things be so easily resolved?
"You can't quit now," Cedric said with a smug look.
A sense of foreboding crept up Laura's spine as she took a step back. "Why can't I?"
"Because I am just getting started." Cedric tugged on Scorpion tail and this time, Steel was forced to let it go from his grasp as the chain suddenly caught fire, fire strong enough to treat his steel like fur as though it were normal hair.
Looking at his burned palm, he clicked his tongue. "We definitely can't win."
Seeing his fur that he took pride in for defensive purposes, burn so easily, Steel could already tell that his initial expectations of them losing was wishful thinking.
"This won't be a simple loss if we fight, it would be a full-on beat down."
Cedric wrapped Scorpion tail around his arm and looked poised to strike.
"Wait, I already surrendered. Why are you still forcing the matter?" Laura questioned with a fearful expression.
Looking toward the Jester, she hoped to be vindicated but then she realized that the fucker wasn't even paying attention as he casually filed his fingernails.
"Sir!" She called out, swallowing the anger about to burst out at the Jester's lackadaisical attitude.
The latter sighed as he stopped what he was doing to attend to Laura. "Yes?"
"I already surrendered but Cedric still wants to attack me, this is against the rules, no?"
The jester tilted his head as though he were looking at an idiot causing Laura to almost spit blood in annoyance. "Your match is a special case so, of course, it won't work according to the normal rules. In this situation, there is only one way for this match to end, either you hit Cedric well enough to draw blood or Cedric defeats you. You cannot surrender."
"What…" Laura could not believe her ears and Cedric at this point was grinning ear to ear. His plan was moving accordingly.
Suddenly, Lloyd's voice was heard. "What rubbish is this?... This was not in the initial agreement between the two parties?... How can you add such a clause and not let everyone know?... Are you intentionally making things difficult for my daughter?"
At this point, The nobles present were already snickering as they watched Laura's precarious predicament.
So far they had been the ones to taste defeat again and again but now one of the thorns in their side would also have no choice but to taste defeat along with them.
No noble felt sympathetic to Laura's condition. They couldn't wait to see the outcome of the match as well as the expression on Lloyd's stupid face after Cedric was done with his precious daughter.
Meanwhile, the jester rubbed his forehead like he was about to have a headache. "Sir Webber, I don't know if you know this but this is the magic tournament, not a business deal that you are trying to seal. I don't have to get into the specifics because my words are law. Whatever I decide to do, that's what is done. I hope you do not try to coerce me to adhere to your wishes. It won't bode well for your reputation."
Lloyd gritted his teeth at the veiled threat. Who cared about reputation?... His daughter's life was at stake and he dared to threaten him with reputation?... If not for the barrier covering the arena, he would have already stepped in to act personally.
He was about to say more when Laura's voice reached him. "Father…"
He turned his attention to his little girl. She had a sad expression on her face as she stared lovingly at her father that didn't care to go against the world for her sake.
It was a wonderful feeling.
"It's okay. I'll be fine." Laura mouthed.