"The heck is this kid's problem." Ezio jumped back in actual fear. Ever since he stepped onto the stage, this was the first time he felt threatened. The pressure of the Signium was burning his skin, as if he was touching something unholy, sucking away all the good in him. It was a strange feeling that actually scared him.
"Signium Skill: Dark Fire!" Adrian raised his arm into the sky. His Qi flared and in the next second, head-sized fireballs started to rain down from the sky. The range of the attack was the whole stage and Ezio had nowhere to run.
His dagger was covered with the wind as a golden wind started to cover his body. He didn't want to use the golden wind because it might resemble to others the feeling Master Yontu was emitting. So he did his best to press down the aura of the wind and focused on the speed enchantment it supplied.
He dodged left and right, dodged the balls falling down from the sky. The silver lining was that they weren't all falling at the same time. It gave him a breather. Those which he couldn't dodge, he sent them flying with the help of wind.
The fireballs were brutally strong. Wherever they fell, they would burn and corrode the ground. Ezio couldn't help but shiver. If he got hit by one of those, he wouldn't just lose some skin and blood. The fire would probably melt even his bones.
The attack lasted two full minutes before it died down. Ezio was worn out but Adrian was heaving even heavier. His face was pale and his arms were shaking. Although it wasn't easy to dodge the attacks, it was probably harder to maintain them for a long time.
"How?" He asked in disbelief. This was his ultimate attack.
"Took a toll on you, huh?" Ezio smirked as he dashed towards his opponent.
"I am going to kill you!" Adrian shouted as green fires with dark tentacles surrounded his body. He swung his sword to stop Ezio's charge, but Ezio had already jumped. Adrian grinned as he looked up.
"Signium Skill: Intimidating Eyes." In the next second, Adrian's purple eyes turned pitch black and an aura of fear instilled itself into Ezio's mind. Ezio, who was in the air, lost his balance and was about to fall on his head, but a wolf howl brought his mind back.
"Signium Skill: Star Crushing Howl!"
His own intimidating aura clashed back with the darkness and pushed it away. Adrian who was smirking triumphantly, lost his smile as he fell onto his knees.
"NO! You cannot make me kneel! NOOOO!" He shouted but his body wasn't listening to him. The dark flames around him vanished as Ezio landed behind him. He placed the dagger on his neck and said, "Forfeit!"
"No! Kill me!" Adrian shouted as he tried to get up.
Ezio hit him at the back of his head and Adrian fell down, unconscious.
"Winner, Number 1!" Knight said as he looked at both teens in amazement.
Ezio walked down the stage, as Grandma appeared to take her disciple. "Thank you for sparing him, I will thank you back."
Ezio turned to smile at the old lady and jumped out. The others waiting looked at him in trepidation, as he made his way.
Only three contestants remained now, except him. Two of them would battle, and the third one would move to the next round without fighting.
Ezio looked at the potential opponents and sighed. Only the best of the best remained. Alein Hervi won most of his battles easily. He still hasn't shown his second Signium. Li Long from Zeus's Fury had two explosive Signiums with lightning elements and was quite strong and Gu Xiang from Prometheus's Suffering had two magma Signiums. She was good at Fire and Earth elements. She could even use magma skills.
The next battle began, while he was pondering. Alein climbed to the stage with Li Long, but before they could battle, Li Long forfeited. He long realized Zeus's Fury was in a cabal with Prince Consort. And Alein Hervi was the youngest knight of the Kingdom. He was the first person who has been bestowed Knighthood ever since the King was poisoned. It was obvious he was working with Xiao Chen.
At first, Ezio wasn't sure about this, after all, Alein accepted the Vice-President of the Blacksmith Association as his master but after thinking it through, Ezio realized what was going on. The Vice-President hated Aodhfionn. Although Ezio didn't know why, he knew for a fact that the Vice-President would try his hardest to make things difficult for Aodhfionn. So, what if his new star disciple whispered to his ears about this devious plan that would make Aodhfionn sorry. Would the Vice-President do his best? Of course.
Since Alein was working with Xiao Chen and Zeus's Fury was involved in some of his plans, it was expected for this disciple to forfeit before the battle, so Alein wouldn't be tired for the next fight.
The Knight nodded and called out the next fight. And to no one's surprise, it was Ezio versus the girl. Alein bypassed the round and would fight for the finals. In the meantime, Ezio would either lose or use more Qi.
"You are already in the top three, forfeit now." As he was about to climb to the stage, his master's voice arrived in his ear. Ezio looked at the dwarf master and shook his head. He couldn't just yet. There were still some cards he hadn't used.
"I suggest you forfeit." The girl said without any slight in her voice. "You killed my fellow disciples but I don't hate you. Still, my power is destructive and I can't control it fully. Even if you win, you will be hurt heavily. You had no time to rest, while we had, so you must be tired."
"Thank you," Ezio said with a smile. "Please teach me."
"It is your funeral." The girl sighed as she raised her arms.
"Anon, come out!"