Being poor is no excuse to commit crime. And even if Luvi understood Idhant's circumstances a bit. It doesn't mean he would forgive Idhant for his actions.
Laws exist for reasons, there is a reason humans don't live like animals. Why even a common man can hope for justice, even if he never gets it.
This is not a jungle, so Idhant acting like an animal for some money was unforgivable.
But Luvi considered himself to be a calm individual. Instead of exposing him, he chose to use him the day he learned the truth.
He understood one fact after losing Miriam's help. No one would ever choose to partner up with him. No one sane that is.
Hence, he was suspicious of Idhant from the start. Wondering why someone like this would come to him?
For money?
No, 500$ were too little for the hospital fees. They might be a huge amount as pocket change or even renting a place. But it was not an amount over which an individual would get desperate over.
It was why with some help from FIX, Luvi easily found suspicious messages sent from Idhant's phone in the next few days of their training sessions. Each of them holding some extensive details about his ability and goal.
And if not for scaring the snake who was also employing some good protection methods, FIX would have located them.
Though, there was no need for that. One thing was certain, Idhant had no good intentions in approaching him.
So, Luvi did the next best thing.
Being aware that there would be no one sane enough to partner up with him, while Andy was busy with his own training. Luvi actually chose to abandon his chance at winning the tournament.
Instead, he thought of something different.
'Why not use these people?'
Luvi knew the amount of danger he was putting himself into. And if it was before, he would have never tried to do something so dangerous. But considering there was FIX as well as his own brother who actually forced the organizers to hold their decisions of kicking Luvi out of the tournament?
Which meant that his security was guaranteed in some sense.
And if things go the way he expects them to be. He will exceed his initial expectations.
Hence, the gains outweigh the losses in this plan. Which is why after countless contemplations, Luvi chose to put his life on the line and do such a foolish thing.
"Remember Idhant, I don't mind what you have been doing till now. But after we get in the arena. Remember to choose the right side."
Those words echoed in Idhant's ears, warning him to choose wisely.
"Ye..yes."
It was night by the time their turn came. And as expected, many of the students actually tried the Redforun fungus method and succeeded.
Of course, that was to be expected when Luvi announced this to the other participants in the room.
Which caused the time of hunting of the beast a lot lower than the rest.
Not to mention, there had been complaints by certain institutions over the validity of the test considering how some of the arenas were not provided with such a cheat counter to the mushroom cow.
But Luvi didn't know what his actions did. He was just interested in what was going to happen.
"Idhant, I am giving you one of my points. Use it wisely."
A total of 10 points are given to a team. And they have to use those to buy supplies before the match begins.
Points which are generally divided equally among the participants. Though Luvi was feeling charitable at the moment and chose to give one of the points to Idhant out of his good will.
Which confused Idhant a lot more. But his mind was already too stunned to think things clearly. No, it looked as if Luvi's words barely registered to him. At this point, he was just going through the motions.
But Luvi just ignored all of this and looked in the room and found something he wanted a lot.
"Ah, I will take this shield." A simple shield which was of 3 points, as much as some of the strongest weapons in the room. But Luvi just wanted this.
'Ah, it really feels heavier than the original.'
And as Luvi planned, this shield was placed here by FIX. And its sole purpose of saving life. For Luvi doesn't plan to kill anything in the arena anyways. He too was going through the motions and planning to save his skin when the moment arrived.
As for the last point, he picked up a stiletto dagger, good for stabbing and poking holes in people. Which looked really odd for his giant physique and combat style.
"Are you sure?" The invigilator asked, while looking at Luvi's partner who seemed to be appropriately equipped for his physique while also some extra tools with him.
"Yes, It's perfect."
Leaving the equipment room and entering the field, Luvi was not shocked to see the state of the stadium.
Barely anyone was present in it. Those with families have long left and as this was the end of the hunt event, even those without family were choosing to leave at there was only one match to be held.
'Barely 3% filled.'
And that 3% were not here for the match itself. To them, the matches already ended. They were just passing time as they had nothing better to do and it would be harder for them to take out their cars as the exit was crowded.
'Hah… These bastards want to reduce the impact of the event as much as they can.'
Luvi can already imagine that by this point in the broadcast, it would mostly be adverts on the streams. It was the organizers' attempt to not give these killers any publicity, while saving their own face.
Which was something Luvi didn't want.
Though worry not. Even if the events of this night gets suppressed by the tournament organizers, the videos of the accident would still find themselves over the internet.
So Luvi was not worried.
Insead, he looked forward to the organizers and those powerful people that back this competition to suppress this accident as much as they can.
Because the more they try to hide it, the more the internet will blow up and the farther it will spread.
Just the classic Streisand effect at play.
"Get ready."
Stepping on the platform, Luvi entered the dungeon for the 4th time in his life.
So he was familiar with the feeling of having your insides tremble when the space displacement took place.
Though, looking at Idhant, who was barely able to stand and clenching his stomach tightly, Luvi understood that this was Idhant's first time.
"Man, don't be queasy."
Ignoring Idhant, Luvi checked his watch and then he looked around the area.
'Marshy places make it harder to run.'
The whole arena was only around 200 meters in circumference while the area further ahead of it had been artificially blocked by metallic walls.
There were few dead trees and elevated sports which were good vantage points when taking down the mushroom cow that might be hiding in this marsh.
'Then… I wonder how you are going to do it?'
Luvi wondered and looked at Idhant. "Did they tell you what they plan to do?"
"Hya… whaa?"
Looking at the odd actions of Idhant, Luvi got a bit confused.
Putting the shield on his back and turning to Idhant who was barely able to speak. He held his face in his hand and stretch his eyelids with his fingers.
"No change."
'....'
"Did this guy burst his nerve or something?"
'Fuck…'
This was not in the plan. And Luvi understood that the pressure might have caused some problems to Idhant's mind.
Which would become the main focus of attention and his plan would be ruined as the main victim would be none other than Idhant.
That is unless he exposed Idhant's truth to the world. But Luvi was not going to do it. He might have said it. But it didn't mean he would do that to such a pitiful guy.
"Fuck, this messes up my plan."
"Invigilator… anyones. Seems like my partner is out. I.. I forfeit."
Luvi shouted, but nobody answered him. It was as if there was no one in the arena beside him. Which was odd, considering for the safety of participants, there would always be two to three people present to save students if they make some major mistakes.
Hell, the amount of security personnels in the arena were higher than before due to the threat over Luvi's life. The organizers were not sure when the terrorist might attack. So they made it so that all participants were properly protected.
But when it came to the target of the protection itself, there was no one.
Instead his words attracted something else.
First there were bubbles, but then a giant body crawled out of the marsh, infected with fungus on its body.
And it was not just one.
Slowly, a total of two more crawled out of it, eyes Luvi as well as Idhant who seemed to have lost any semblance of control over his body.
'I might have overestimated myself.'