[T.L: punisher87]
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The two men, who had a shocking 22nd match, were unconscious for over a week.
During that time, battle god Vahn stopped the progress of matches. Originally, even if an 'accident' occurred, the Great Tournament of Battle kings always continued immediately, but this time was different.
This was because Jin was the only hope for the Plutonian tribe to get out of the dead world. His death means stopping the history of the Plutonian tribe again.
"Brother 5th battle king!"
"What happened, are our brethren alright!?"
"Brethren? Hey, brother 8th battle king! Didn't you see what Jin did to the brother 10th battle king after the match…!"
"Brother 10th battle king was the first one who treated brother Jin like an enemy. It's not that brother Jin also did a good job, but brother 10th battle king should not have to go that far in the first place."
"So stabbing the unwary brother in the chest and even exploding sword energy in it? This is not an accident, it is an intentional attempt of murder."
"Brethren, calm down! Listen to what Brother 5th battle king has to say!"
Boras had a haggard face from the intensive surgery that lasted over a week.
"... both of them are fine. They won't suffer any disabilities, and their lives are not in danger. But they need extreme rest, so don't meet them until I say it's okay."
The Plutonians nodded.
Boras, anticipating any unforeseen circumstances, had separated the two individuals' hospital rooms. The Plutonians took their places in front of the rooms of the individuals they supported.
Even before the 22nd match, the Plutonians were divided and engaged in daily skirmishes.
However, there were now overwhelmingly supporters of Kaio compared to before when the faction had been split in half.
It had to be. It's true that Kaio acted as if he couldn't acknowledge Jin at first, but he didn't cross the line.
Jin, on the other hand, clearly crossed those lines. Moreover, strictly speaking, Kaio followed the traditions and principles of the Great Tournament of the Battle Kings.
Until Jin's provocation, Kaio had not directly attacked Jin.
The battle kings in front of Jin's hospital room were Linpa, Beliz, and Garmund.
Since there were less than 10 ordinary warriors, including Shaku, it clearly showed how the majority of the Plutonians felt.
However, even among those gathered on Jin's side, there wasn't an unconditional stance of supporting him.
They also believed that Jin had committed a grave sin.
Still, it was only to point out that Jin isn't expelled from the position called 'brethren'. The rest of the brethren were mostly in the favor that Jin should be expelled, and not just expelled, but that strong punishment should accompany it.
"Darn it, how did it come to this...?"
Garmund said, touching his forehead.
He felt the greatest responsibility for this incident.
He believed that if he had fought properly, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.
"Stop blaming yourself... Brother Garmund. It's not…. your fault."
"Yes, let's think about how to solve this problem. Ha, is this the extent of our brethren's unity? This way, we're no different from the stupid other races we used to hate in the past."
Those who wanted to expel Jin, and those who didn't.
Actually, they didn't have a choice. The absolute decision-making power of the Plutonian tribe rests only with the battle god, Vahn.
Vahn only stopped the Great Tournament of Battle kings, but she still did not express her intention otherwise.
Not only that, but she completely isolated herself with Lingling from everyone.
"Sister battle god should say something at a time like this."
"This is the first time sister battle god has stayed quiet at a time like this. What on earth is she thinking?"
While the concerns and anger of the Plutonians grew, Jin and Kaio woke up only two more days later.
Upon awakening, Jin immediately expressed his thoughts to the brethren who ran to him after receiving permission from Boras.
"Unless sister battle god personally disciplines me, I will continue to participate in the Great Tournament of Battle kings as scheduled. If necessary, I will continue to adhere to the same methods as defeating Brother Kaio."
It was unexpected for the brethren who had been waiting.
They naturally expected Jin to reflect on his excessive actions and apologize to enraged Plutonians.
"Brother Jin, are you crazy!? Are you going to do that again?"
Jin quietly nodded in response to Beliz's furious voice.
"Yes. The Great Tournament of Battle kings is fundamentally not just a sparring match, but a fight, sister 7th battle king. And I will prove my will and qualifications in this fight."
"Is it okay to do such things just for victory? Do you really think trampling on the faith and affection of brethren and winning is truly fair competition!?"
"I can do even more than that. If you think it's unfair, the brethren who fight against me can do the same."
"... Unlike brother Jin, brother 10th battle king suffered injuries so severe that he can no longer continue the Great Tournament of Battle kings. Brother Jin, you exploded your sword energy in his chest! It will take at least a year for him to recover. He is currently at a point where he can't even eat alone! Can't you feel anything?"
"I also almost lost both my eyes to brother 10th battle king. In the end, my whole head was about to disappear."
"But that didn't happen. Why? It is because brother 10th battle king was not able to shoot you in the end."
"That's right. Whether they really couldn't finish me off, I don't know. Anyway, brother Kaio lost, and I will win in the next match. Can't kill me because we're brethren? From the start, participating in a battle where accidents and deaths are inevitable, adopting such a withdrawn mentality is the problem."
"What...?"
"And do you think the reason brother 10th battle king didn't shoot the arrow at me was because he really cared about me? It's probably because if it's not me, the hope for the brethren to go outside disappears."
Beliz raised her arm as if to slap Jin. Then, she lowered her trembling arm again.
"I hope the brethren treat me properly. If you truly accept me as a brother, you shouldn't have denied me being Sigmund's successor just because another possibility arose now."
"Not all of my brethren did that."
"But many did. Even sister battle god did not restrain the atmosphere. And what's the result? The brethren are already divided, and most of them support brother Kaio. In a way, it's not even a division. Now that the opportunity to deny my succession, which they haven't liked from the beginning, has come, it's closer to unity."
To Jin's malicious words, the brethren by his side all bit their lips. It's to the point where they wonder if it's the same Jin that they knew.
"... I guess we might have misunderstood Brother Jin."
"I have never truly felt included in the words 'our Plutonian tribe.' Now even you, in the end, will turn away and stand on the other side. After all, the arm will eventually bend inward."
When Beliz turned around and left the hospital room, the ordinary warrior followed. Linpa and Garmund stayed for a while and looked down at Jin.
"Brother Jin…. why are you….. doing this?"
"Brother Jin! You aren't like this. It started with my fault, but now you are definitely wrong! Brother 10th battle king might have been a bit rough, but do you really think the reason he couldn't shoot an arrow at you was because he wanted to go outside?"
"Please leave."
Jin closed his eyes, and the two stood in silence for a while.
"... Brother Jin….. just remember this. If you continue like this, all the brethren might truly... turn away."
* * *
On the other hand, the atmosphere in Kaio's hospital room was a bit heavier.
Everyone was silently suppressing their anger. If the thunderbolts had exploded in a slightly more dangerous position, Kaio's illuminating heart would have been shattered and he would be almost crippled.
"He should be banished."
"You are right! Brother Jin, Ha. Now I don't even want to call him a brother, he has crossed the line. This is clearly an attempt of murder against a brother."
"If we banish him, we won't be able to leave forever, but we can't just sit still."
Kaio silently swallowed the porridge that Battle King Baba fed him.
"Sister battle god just gave the order!"
Mouka, who had just entered the hospital room, shouted.
"What did she say!?"
"She said the Great War of Battle Kings would continue as soon as Brother Jin fully recovers."
Sighs flowed from everywhere.
Of course, they knew she would punish Jin, but it was not easy for them to accept it since it was announced that she would proceed with the Great war of battle kings.
The fact that the Great Tournament of battle kings continued again meant that Kaio would be excluded.
Kaio is now in a state where he can no longer participate in the Great war of battle kings.
"... This made it clear. Sister battle god has no intention of directly disciplining Brother Jin."
However, the Plutonian tribesmen did not think it was Vahn's favoritism.
Rather, they considered it as giving them a 'choice'. About what to do with Jin. Or, they thought it was giving Jin one more chance.
To see how he behaves in the next match and how he treats his brethren.
"Sister battle god must have the same thought. Even if it means we can't get out, we can't just get over it."
"Yes. If she meant to never punish Jin, she would have given orders never to avenge."
"Brother Jin is not qualified to inherit the battle god. Not only was he lacking in strength, but he even tried to kill brother 10th battle king by using the fact that we couldn't go outside if brother Jin died."
"When it's my turn, I'll take the place of brother 10th battle king...…."
When several members of the Plutonian tribe revealed their intentions to kill, Baba put down the porridge.
"By the way, brother Jin didn't kill brother 10th battle king in the end. Everyone, let's calm down a little bit."
"Sister 9th battle king. You mean we need to think more?"
"When brother 8th battle king did something stupid, the reason why brother 10th battle king got so angry was because of sister 9th battle god. Don't tell me you don't know that."
9th battle king, Baba.
Until their destruction, most of the Plutonian tribesmen thought that the person who will succeed Vahn would eventually be Baba.
The battle kings, including Kaio, have been struggling to defeat her all their life. Baba was the final winner in the last Great War of battle kings before the destruction.
"Ha, I know. I know but do you really want to kill Brother Jin? It could be a mistake. Besides, in fact, even if everyone says so, you don't have the confidence to banish or kill brother Jin."
"Baba...."
Finally Kaio raised his head with a hoarse voice, and everyone looked at him.
Kaio opened his eyes and said.
"If…. if Jin makes another mistake. Then you end…. him yourself."
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