I observe the sorry-looking, tattered dead body of Jung, which gets thrown off the stage.
The stage is enveloped in a mystical barrier that separates it from the audience, creating a sense of isolation for the combatants.
Exiting the barrier, he underwent complete healing but remained unconscious.
Glancing towards the stage, I observed the audience showering Carl with praise while taunting poor Jung.
"Looks like Jung couldn't handle it. Tough break."
"Acting all high for some bumpkin."
Their insults, though generic, garnered my respect. However, Carl's supporters were a different story.
"Marry me, Prince," another voice clamored, "Marry me, please. I will treat you like a prince." I mean, he is already a prince. He doesn't need your broke simping ass to be treated like one.
Thanking my past self for wearing a human mask to conceal my identity, I avoided the potential onslaught of attention from these girls.
Sipping the Buttermilk, I drifted into a momentary paradise until reality intruded with an announcement, "Jack Gautama vs Obanma."
A sigh escaped me. "a fakir person can't even enjoy buttermilk in peace."
My priority was still to complete another Glass, but fate had other plans.
"Hey, if you're done, let's go," Obanma's voice interrupted as he dashed toward the stage.
Upon his entrance, the circular fighting arena transformed into a desert, surprisingly encircled by the sea.
Meanwhile, I relished another glass of hot buttermilk, oddly struck by a sudden craving for chocolate milk. "Excuse me, could I possibly have some chocolate milk?" I asked a nearby servant.
Regrettably, the response was swift: "I regret to inform you, sir, that it's reserved exclusively for royalty and esteemed individuals." As expected.
"You may have a chance to acquire it, sir, considering you are blessed with a full name, but the name should be officially recognized by the three great theocracies," the servant remarked skeptically, eyeing me.
With an average face like mine, it was no surprise for her to doubt the authenticity of my name.
Amidst these thoughts, an announcement echoed — "Jack Gautama, please proceed to the stage. The battle is about to begin, and absence will result in disqualification."
Alas, a humble soul can't even savor a Buttermilk in peace.
Making my way towards the stage, I flashed a smile at the audience, subtly flexing some muscles, making it appear more nonchalant than deliberate.
As the referee droned on with bureaucratic nonsense and Old Man Gicchu scolded me for something or other, I remained preoccupied with my muscle flexing, hardly paying heed to their words — probably some lecture on punctuality and discipline.
Despite this unremarkable face I currently bear as Jack Hanma, people seem to adore me. That's all that matters in the end. Not that I care, but I still wonder what their reaction will be when they see my actual appearance.
Battle begins!
"You're finally here? I thought you planned to forfeit." He said trying to make me lose my composure.
"Yes you're right, I forfeit," I told him telepathically.
"What?" he said while I paid no heed to his reaction, gradually flexing my muscles.
He remained impassive in response to my remarks and proceeded to draw both of his Katana.
I, on the other hand, maintained an outward appearance of being off-guard.
One of the people in the audience, a veteran martial artist, raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Curious strategy," he muttered softly to his colleagues, recognizing the subtle mind games being played out while bumpkins were supporting Obanma, underestimating me—no need to spell it out more.
Obanma charged toward me swinging his sword, making a vivid image of a Great black dragon behind his back.
I swiftly dodged those slashes.
*Slap!*
Three consecutive slaps come from me and 1 tight slap on his back, it put a pain of a century on him, evident in his face.
His face was full of anger toward me as I fell back.
He was out of breath, out of breath to speak anything. He slowly, breathing heavily, Gradually, he raised his head, his eyes meeting mine.
I allowed him a moment to catch his breath and look clearly.
As he was finally ready enough physically to say something, I say to him in a mocking tone "You seem to excel at reflection but seem to lack in technique,"
The current situation seemed off for him and I swear I saw tears in his eyes but he said with a settled demeanor "I know, I'll improve upon it."
I must admit he is a real man. "Come," I say.
My pupils shrank as he charged toward me but soon he stopped.
He took a deep breath and as he exhaled, a Black lighting was emitted from his sword. Well, not only his sword but his entire body.
ZAP!
sizzling noise, tinged with an element of electric energy was heard and I got absolutely destroyed.
"Till the last you were smirking like a madman. Well, you were still quite the formidable opponent," obanma admitted.
"You too," I said coming behind him, whispering in his ear.
"What?" He asked swinging his sword towards me.
"Remember, there's always more to learn, more to achieve," I conveyed telepathically, considering he attacked me instantly.
"How?" he asked, visibly confused.
"I've been around long enough to learn a few tricks," I replied with a smirk "Well if you really need to know then It's speed mirage."
"Whoa! Did you see that?"He is completely okay. That's insane!"
"That move from Obanma was lit but he is standing there unfazed.
"It looks like Jack is playing around with him"
"Are you kidding? No one can escape such type of move, He is bluffing that he's alright"
I didn't have time to pinpoint, from where those last types of comments were coming or I'll... no forget it. "They are the re....audience, They are idiots." I consoled myself.
SewSweSew
I threw some small but sharp nails towards him. He dodged the first but was hit by the second in his left hand, and the third hit his eyes, which he stopped a bit by grabbing it.
I threw some more in his honor since he didn't let out a scream. Well also because his movement slowed down and I planned to win.
With a swift movement, I then darted forward, my speed a blur. Obanma, caught off guard, barely had time to react before my fist connected with his face, sending him reeling.
I again channeled my energy into my fist and struck Obanma with a force that could shake the entire city if not for the Barrier. Obanma's body was sent flying through the air, landing limply in the sand.
He now completely stopped, lying down in the desert ground, which was very heated, at least for this brat's delicate skin.
It was seemingly over. Not only for me but even the audience as they, now on their feet, cheered for both of us, recognizing the skill and determination displayed in our duel.
I walk toward him, going round and round. He tries to get up, with fucking ass and hand. His eyes and senses weren't able to sense me, I believe.
I kneeled down and asked "Are you giving up? I know any harm you suffer inside this barrier will only be mentally and since you passed trial 2, you'll be handle it at the least" Continuing, I added, "You've probably discerned by now that I'm a True Acquired Realm expert, considering your intelligence, and my ability to create speed mirages. I urge you to surrender."
"Losing is fine but giving up is not acceptable," He said with his sorry ass which couldn't even speak. He was stuttering a lot. It also was uncompressible to me why he didn't speak telepathically.
I nod to what he said. I had a tear in my eyes, at least metaphorically.
"May I take that as No?" I ask gently.
He didn't say anything and was continuously trying to get up to fight me and I was looking at him pitifully. "It must be hard to muster your strength and push yourself up from the scorching ground," I tell him emphatically
I took a deep breath and conjured smoke using one of my artifacts, obstructing the audience's view of the ongoing confrontation.
I was shivering too as I put all that sand I grabbed from the ground and put in his eyes. The sand was imbued with my Qi so I figured, It must be painful.
"Are you ok?" I ask, genuinely interested. Poor him, he could only shiver in pain. "Don't blame me, I insisted you to give up."
He looked at me, still not able to see me. He only glared at me but I could see he bore no hatred toward me.
His gaze reminded me of Shakyamuni who bore no hatred toward Angulimala when Angulimala wanted to kill him and how Muhammad reacted to a Bedouin who pissed in the mosque.
But I'm neither Angulimala nor Bedouin.
I strangled his neck. he was choking and was unable to breathe. He became unconscious but I woke him up every time.
I wanted to continue it for hours so I made a gravity chamber through my Qi telekinesis.
(After an hour)
"You don't seem to understand your place," I told him smiling, making sure my smile didn't seem scary but genuine.
'System, What emotion is he bearing toward me?'
I now yank him up in the air and throw him upside down while simulating his brain slowly. I increase his pain sensitivity by controlling Bio-electricity and all liquid passing in or out in the brain, etc through my Qi-Telekinesis causing him severe hallucinations.
I also time to time stimulate his one eye (He lost another one) and brain with light to repress his memory of me leaving behind only suffering with no recollection of the place and time of the incident. He'll never be able to remember my face and voice with this.
(After an hour)
'System'
I continuously drowned him in the water and pulled him out just before losing consciousness. He is a strong soul, just not compared to the dear dear friend of my past life.
I stabbed him in the stomach, his stomach was quite hairy and it didn't look hygienic. I mean it was hygienic but just not up to my standard. It made me quite happy about myself when I looked at mine but I still cut one of his ears gently.
His stomach was not enough for me so very quickly I stabbed him in his chest. Just kidding, I'm not so inhumane. I stabbed his back, and very gently and not because I was deriving pleasure from it. I wanted to measure the depth of fat in his body. His blood dropped out like a spoiled sauce.
he became unconscious from time to time so I stimulated his brain with light and controlling his blood flow. I talked with him a lot.
(After an hour)
"Who are you?" I questioned him "Hello, Obanma You hear me? " I greeted him, acknowledging his awakening. "Obanma You are awake."
"Obanma It's not time for you to sleep," I told him, emphasizing the importance of staying alert.
He seemed disoriented, searching for answers. "Who am I?" he asked stuttering after a long pause.
I decided to provide him with the information he needed. "Your name is Obanma," I replied, ensuring he didn't suffer from any form of amnesia. And who am I? he inquired.
"My name is Dabura Shia," I responded truthfully.
"And the person beside me is my best friend who I fought for, against the Jack Gautama," I informed him.
"Who is he?" I asked, testing his memory.
"I don't know," he replied, indicating his lack of knowledge.
"He is my brother in arm," I confirmed, reinforcing his understanding.
"Who am I?" I inquired, curious to see if he had retained my teachings.
"Dabura Shia," he responded, demonstrating his effort to recall the details. I nodded in approval, appreciating his attempts to remember
"I don't want to die," he pleaded, his voice filled with fear and desperation.
"I'll kill you," he threatened, his tone laced with anger and aggression.
"I don't want to die," he repeated, his words trembling with vulnerability.
"I'll kill you," he persisted, his voice growing more menacing.
"What's my name?" I inquired "Dabura Shia" He answered.
"Who is your saviour and lord?" I asked him now "Lord Ji Yan, The Divine Child" He answered me.
"Very good," I replied, acknowledging his statement. "Now, goodbye."
Slash
I win.
Alas, It's so relieving to throw away all the burden and stress I accumulated in trial 2. That brute and Dabura Shia should have kept a respectful tone and been obedient toward me. Dabura Shia even broke my trust and lied to me about giving up.
Now Obanma will go after the Dabura Shia and that brute to seek revenge rather than me. My curiosity at that time bore such a great fruit.
"O Allah Kabber, the Most Great, I seek your guidance and protection as I face uncertainty and darkness in the future. Please grant me strength, wisdom, and clarity to navigate the challenges ahead. Adi Buddha, The representation of Primidorial Heavenly Tao, I ask for thee light to illuminate my mind and bring peace to my thoughts. Help me find the path that leads to understanding and tranquility." I do a prayer very loudly and a bit of silent meditation.