Lara remained quiet as she listened to the exchange between Max and Lloyd while also placing her palm on Laura's forehead to ensure she was safe.
She didn't have much to say about what was happening. Even though Max didn't explain anything, Lara could just about figure out what was going on.
She had remained in the Rion household for five years while Max was away. During that period, she didn't suffer as much as Max thought she would, of course, because of Regard.
But that couldn't be said for Cedric.
The poor boy was forced to face so much hardship just to prove himself worthy of the Rion family name.
Lara wouldn't be able to count how many times she tried to help him and he shut her down. He blamed her and her cripple son for everything that was happening to him.
Everything would have been okay if it was just the training and occasional beatings. Everything truly went to the mud after that incident.
That incident caused Cedric to completely lose what sliver of goodness he had left in his heart.
Unfortunately, Lara was powerless to stop it from happening. Subconsciously she blamed herself for what was happening now.
Due to what had happened, Cedric painted Max as the reason for all his misfortunes, meaning a clash between them wouldn't be a simple case of surrender.
Based on what she could understand, Lara could tell that Cedric could very much kill Max if given the opportunity. The possibility caused her to shudder.
At this point, Max had finished addressing Lloyd. "Mom."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know why Cedric turned out like this?" Max sincerely asked as he turned to face Lara.
"…We'll talk after the tournament. For now, be careful." Lara replied, a little hesitant to divulge the information she was privy to.
Max noticed her hesitation and did not press further. "Alright. I'll try to finish this quickly?"
He turned to take his leave when Lara quickly added.
"… Don't hurt Cedric too much, Max. He has his… difficulties."
Max paused in his tracks, seemingly in thought as he gazed down at Cedric as he stood in the arena.
Clicking his tongue, he replied. "I'll try to restrain myself."
With that said, he jumped down from the audience position and landed in the arena.
"I was wondering when you'd show yourself." Cedric grinned as he spoke, his wish finally fulfilled as Mac stood away from him, their fight inevitable.
"Enough talk," Max said as he reached his arm out.
At first, Cedric thought that Max was pointing at him but soon had a change of expression as he realized he was wrong.
As if on cue, Ifrit grabbed him and pulled him up just in time to watch a wooden staff pass by where he previously stood before landing in Max's grasp.
Ifrit appraised the weapon as he remarked. "Nice stick."
Cedric harrumphed as well. "Using a sneak attack like that… asshole!"
Max did not bother to respond as he turned to the jester. "May we begin?"
The jester stroked his chin. "I guess. Match begin!"
Cedric was about to say something when Max suddenly disappeared. "This…"
The next moment, his senses screamed at him to alert him of danger. "Shit!"
"Do you think I am mere decorations?" Ifrit questioned as he swung his arm.
At the same time, a wooden stick smashed into his palm, pushing him back a bit.
Ifrit furrowed his brows. "… Not an easy weapon to defend against. Damn it, why does it remind me of that dastardly ape!"
As Ifrit held onto one edge of the staff, Max held onto the other. "He is clearly at a higher level than me. I need to keep him occupied until I can bring down Cedric.
Meanwhile, the audience was in an uproar at Max's first move. He somehow managed to move so fast that those without Magic or at least at a weaker level than him wouldn't be able to see him.
"This guy is not a cripple!" Elena was already jubilating inwardly as not only one, but three potential prospects for her mission had shown themselves.
It would be a lie to say that she was not amped by how things were proceeding. Out of her expectations but just right up her alley thus there was no need to decline such good offerings.
In the arena, Ifrit let go of Cedric and took a more offensive stance to face
Max was not at all fazed by this as he set his sights on Cedric.
Just then, "Burning hell domain." Ifrit's domain was no longer at an infantile stage with just the heat but now, it was full on flames as the fire danced about the arena.
Flames raged on about the arena inducing a most terrifying temperature that ignited almost everything, yet, Max remained relatively unscathed.
"How is this possible?" Ifrit frowned as he saw that Max was fine.
Unbeknownst to him, Max was merely redirecting the flow of Ordena in the air, effectively ensuring that hot air or the flames wouldn't be able to harm him.
Cedric did not care for any of this as he gripped Scorpion tail tightly.
Max withdrew his staff and gestured to Cedric. "Are you coming or should I?"
"Tch." Clicking his tongue, Cedric attacked.
Whoosh
Scorpion tail snaked through the air and moved within inches of stabbing deep into Max's neck.
Max used his staff to block before nailing the chain once again. Cedric tried to pull back but was met with considerable resistance.
Without warning, Max attacked. Leaving his staff pierced into the ground, Max covered the distance between himself and Cedric in a single step.
Cedric did not expect the whole thing with the staff but he remained calm even as Max's fist closed in on him. "Ifrit!"
"Done!" A domineering voice answered as the shadow of a large circular object was cast on the arena.
Both Max and Cedric looked up to find a massive fireball the size of a wrecking ball charging toward them without mercy.