"Ladies and gentlemen, Jule has drawn his weapons, and it appears that the weather is responding to his sickles. Dark clouds have covered the sky, and lightning can be seen flashing between them," the commentator announced.
"Oh, Mother Nature, I invoke your name by my will... please bless me with your powers," Jeffery began to chant as a green aura enveloped his body, and a wooden bow materialized in his hands.
"Oh my god, is that possible? Mr. Jeffery has summoned his majestic bow, 'Renain.' It is said that the Lawson family reserves this legendary bow for use only in the most dire situations in the family, this bow is made out of the tree of life's wood. This bow was also one of the weapons that was used to kill the Counsellor in the demon battle 150 years ago. It seems like Jeffery can't afford to lose this match at any cost," the commentator announced.
"Did you instruct him to do that, Son?" Ion asked Xander with a smile on his face.
"Yes, Father, isn't that a great idea? I know you are proud of me, right ?" Xander asked with a smile as he noticed that his father was very happy.
"We'll discuss it later. Let's focus on the match for now or I will end you before it ends." Ion said with a smile as he went back to his serious face in just one second.
'What? Did I do something wrong again? Eh, I will get a beating anyways, let's just focus on the match for now.' Xander wondered, but he decided to leave it for now and concentrate on the match.
Anon gripped his sickles and fixed a sharp gaze on Jeffery, observing his body's movements and trying to predict the trajectory of his arrows.
"Here you go... bastard." Jeffery shouted as he pulled the bowstring back, and a platinum arrow appeared on it.
He promptly released it towards Anon...
Zzzzzuuup
The arrow left the bow with tremendous force, tearing through the air as it aimed for Anon's heart.
Anon swiftly sidestepped, easily evading the arrow. Upon turning around to look back at Jeffery, he noticed that ten more arrows were heading towards him at twice the speed.
'Ah...fuck, he took my focus off of him with the first attack and used it to imply another attack.'
Anon promptly activated his skill to increase his speed inside the domain, allowing him to react swiftly and dodge all the arrows with ease as they slowed down significantly.
'How can he move so fast?' Jeffery pondered as he pulled the string back once again and summoned twenty arrows this time.
Anon merely smiled, realizing Jeffery's strategy.
'This technique is called 'Overpowering Start.' When fighting inside the arena, you have to play with your opponent's mind to increase your chances of winning. That's what he's trying to do with me. He's using his best attacks at the start to overwhelm me. He wants me to either use all my defensive spells now or believe that these are just his starter spells and he's much stronger. But you're using them on the wrong guy, kid. Let me show you how this trick works,' Anon thought with a smile directed at Jeffery.
Sweat started to bead on Jeffery's forehead as he continued to shoot arrows at Anon.
'What the heck is wrong with him? The more I shoot at him, the wider his smile gets. I tried to overpower him at the start, but it didn't work. Now my attack power is dwindling. I have to stop using multiple arrows at once and save some mana for defensive spells, or I won't survive his attacks,' Jeffery thought as he gradually ceased his attacks.
"What's the matter? Aren't you going to use more powerful spells?" Anon asked, still smiling.
"I want to give you an equal chance to fight... What's the benefit of a one-sided annihilation?" Jeffery replied.
"Well, I guess it's my turn. Let the music play." As Anon uttered these words, a large bolt of lightning appeared in the sky, and he promptly threw his sickle towards Jeffery.
The sickle moved at an incredible speed, but Jeffery easily dodged it.
"Heh...? Was that your attack? Even a child could dodge that," Jeffery mocked, smiling at Anon.
"Jeffery, behind you!" Xander shouted.
Startled, Jeffery turned around and saw that the sickle was returning towards him, this time three times faster.
"Damn it!" Jeffery tried to dodge the attack, but it left a cut on his right cheek and returned to Anon's hand.
"Fuu~" Xander sighed as he settled back into his seat.
"You... bastard. How dare you interrupt someone in a deathmatch, especially in my presence?" Ion said with a very angry expression.
"F-F-Father... let me tell you something, let me tell you—"
Bonk Bonk Bonk
Before Xander could say anything else, Ion struck him on the head three times with his cane.
"Ouch..." Xander winced as he touched his head gingerly.
"Speak again, and I will thrash you right there in the arena," Ion warned, his gaze fierce.
"Y-Yes, Sir," Xander replied, chastened.
"Looks like you're even lower than the kids, huh?" Anon taunted Jeffery, wearing a sinister smile.
"You piece of trash..." Jeffery muttered as he activated another spell and aimed his bow at Anon.
[Your opponent has used, ]
This time, as Jeffery pulled the bowstring back, no arrow materialized. He left the string loose.
Booom
A deafening noise echoed from his bow, but nothing happened.
'That's a bit too much noise for a skill called 'Silent Arrow,'' Anon thought, still smiling.
Suddenly, Anon sensed a powerful disturbance in Death's Domain.
He felt something piercing through his body. It was sharp, and although it had no effect on his skin, it tore through his internal organs and nearly stopped his heart. However, before further damage could occur, the troll locket kicked in, healing him instantly.
Cough
Anon coughed, spitting out a small amount of blood as he continued to smile at Jeffery with a psychopathic grin.
Suddenly, a spine-chilling chill ran down Jeffery's spine.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Mr. Jule is the first one to cough up blood... could this be a sign that Mr. Jeffery has won?" the commentator announced.
"Woohoo, Jeffery boy! Finish him off with the next attack!" Xander shouted as he stood up from his chair in excitement.
Anon wore a psychopathic smile as he stared at Jeffery, sending shivers down his spine, rendering him motionless.
'I can't move... my body parts feels like frozen ice. What should I do ? He is staring at me like a hunter would start at it's prey, what is he going to do next ? I don't know anything about him. Is he preparing his spell-'
Anon's bloodlust surged when he saw his own blood, awakening a primal ferocity within him. The whole kingdom felt his bloodlust even Ion felt it.
'What the hell ? This kind of bloodlust from a kid like him ? What has he been through ?' Ion thought as he looked at Anon wiping off blood from his mouth.
"D-Dad... did you feel it ?" Xander spoke as he noticed that he has goosebumps on his hands.
"I do. This kid is no original kid." Ion answered with a smile.
'My master told me about this, A human child born under the Omega Constellation, who will hold anger and fuel his grudge with it until he removes every single one of his enemies from the face of earth. This is it, he is the one. That bloodlust is definitely not normal for a human kid of this age. He is the perfect heir of my technique.' Ion thought in his mind as he felt sweat on his forehead.
"You're dead," Anon declared with a serious expression as lightning struck him, causing him to vanish from his original spot.
"Huh...? Where is—" Before Jeffery could utter another word, an overwhelming sense of bloodlust loomed behind him.
Without daring to look back, Jeffery activated his running spell to escape as quickly as possible.
A loud bang reverberated as soon as he moved.
BANG
Jeffery hastily glanced back to find a large 'X' etched into the ground, with Anon standing in front of it.
'He's strong. I need to change my attack strategy.' Jeffery thought.
"Wow... Jule is so strong. He's giving Jeffery a tough time."
"Yeah, and his speed is incredible."
Fourth-year girls in the audience began discussing Anon's abilities.
Jeffery took aim at Anon, releasing another Silent Arrow. However, this time, Anon was prepared.
He immediately activated the Crown of Darkness.
This ability allowed Anon to manipulate mana within a 30-meter radius. Anon promptly thickened the mana around him to counteract the Silent Arrow's aura. As aura detached from its user's body, it relied on absorbing mana from its surroundings to maintain its form. Anon's action caused the Aura Arrow to dissolve immediately.
'Why didn't it hit him? Is he using some kind of protective artifact?' Jeffery wondered in confusion.
Anon vanished once again and reappeared in front of Jeffery, aiming to strike him down with his sickles. Jeffery raised his bow to block Anon's attack.
"I won't die so easily, you bastard," Jeffery declared as he struggled to fend off Anon.
Anon pressed his sickle against Jeffery's face, but with a surge of strength, Jeffery managed to push him away.
"You piece of trash... die!" Jeffery shouted, aiming his bow at Anon and drawing the string.
"Huh...?" Jeffery suddenly realized that he couldn't grip his bowstring. He glanced down to find it broken into two pieces. He then looked at Anon, who was smiling, holding a small piece of the bowstring on his sickle.
"HoHoHo... curious when I did that, aren't you?" Anon teased.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the most unexpected turn of events has occurred. Mr. Jule has just broken one of the most cherished weapons from the Lawson house. What will happen next?" the commentator announced.
"B-But... it wasn't supposed to break; it was a highly regarded weapon. Crafted from the strongest vine and wood," Xander murmured as he turned to Ion.
"Well, it's still a weapon. You'll have to handle the Lawson family yourself now. I don't care what you say to them, but if I hear them badmouthing our family, not only will I eliminate them, but I'll erase someone else too," Ion threatened Xander, his expression angry.
"Y-Yes... Father," Xander replied, worried about how to break the news to the Lawson family.
"You utter piece of trash," Jeffery muttered, his anger intensifying. If his father found out that he had broken the family's heirloom, the punishment would be severe.
"Well, while I was pushing my sickle towards your face just a moment ago, you might not have realized that it was merely a diversion. My actual plan was to destroy that bow of yours, and it looks like my plan succeeded," Anon said with a smile.
"You damn son of a bitch. You're going to... Die," Jeffery seethed, summoning a sword to replace his bow.
"Oh my god, I'm terrified. Please, sir, don't do that," Anon mocked him again.
[Your opponent has used the skill, ]
Suddenly, thirteen mirages of Anon appeared, all identical to him, each holding a sword and glaring at him. At first, Anon was confused, but a notification clarified things.
[You have resisted the skill due to the class [Mind Frobrax] ]
The illusory Anons began to fade away, leaving only one, the real Jeffery.
'Gotcha,' Anon thought, pretending to still be unable to identify the original Jeffery among his clones.
Anon continued pretending to struggle with Jeffery's skill, ignoring the real Jeffery.
The original Jeffery noticed and laughed, dashing toward Anon with his sword, intending to decapitate him.
Chkkk
"Ugghhh-" As Jeffery was about to strike Anon with his blade, Anon impaled him in the stomach with his sickle. Jeffery went limp, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Damn it..." Xander cursed.
"Good acting, kid," Ion muttered, smiling at Anon.
"H-How?" Jeffery asked, confusion in his eyes as he looked at Anon.
"Something I can't tell you," Anon replied with a smile.
"What is happening here ? Mr. Jeffery is on his last breath, impaled on Mr. Jule's weapon. He'll die if he loses any more blood. Is this the end of the match? Will this be where the next leader of the Lawson house meets his demise?" the commentator announced.
'I could kill him anytime I want, but where's the fun in that? If you don't play with your prey, it won't feel like a hunt, will it?' Anon thought with a smile as he casually tossed Jeffery aside like an object.
"Use your healing potions," Anon advised with a smirk as he sat down in front of him.
Cough-Cough
Jeffery coughed up blood as he retrieved a special-grade healing potion from his pocket and drank it. In just 10 seconds, he was restored to his original state. He stood up, looking at Anon in confusion.
'Why would he do that? Why would he let me live ? What is he planning to do with me ? Is he playing with me ?' Many questions started popping up in Jeffery's mind as he looked at Anon with a suspicious expression.
'Shit, my sword.' Jeffery spoke as he looked at the sword that was lying near Anon's foot.
"Here you go," Anon said, kicking Jeffery's sword back to him.
"What do you want to achieve with this?" Jeffery asked.
"Oh, great, here we go again. He's going to play the same game with him. Jule is really cruel," Eve commented with a smile.
"Hehehe... I'm enjoying this more and more," Deris added in an evil tone, watching Anon's actions.
Eve simply observed Deris, choosing not to comment.
All the students from Anon's class were still attending their classes and were not allowed to be present in the stadium. Therefore, only fourth-year students were witnessing this brutal showdown. Unaware of Anon's previous match with Oxmaul, they were perplexed by his decision to throw Jeffery aside and provide him with a healing potion.
"Me? I don't want to gain anything from this... Instead, I'm giving you another chance to rely on your luck. Perhaps this time, you can kill me," Anon said with a smile.
"Do you realize that you've just increased your chances of death, right?" Jeffery asked as he changed his sword to a katana.
"Wow, I think I've seen that sword from Tokyo. What a massacre that was – one katana, 300 men. I turned their bodies into cutlets back then," Anon said, eyeing the katana.
"Nonsense, this sword has a unique design. Only I possess it. Are you saying you've seen it before?" Jeffery inquired with a puzzled expression, holding the katana like a samurai.
"Oh my god... I'm scared again," Anon taunted.
"Prepare to die, Jule. Even God won't save you this time," Jeffery declared as he activated another skill.
Suddenly, the katana radiated a blinding light, as if the sun itself was shining.
"Ouch, my eyes are burning..." Anon remarked, covering his eyes.
Jeffery, seizing the opportunity, sprinted toward Anon, determined to kill him this time. However, as he swung his blade at Anon's neck, something halted his hand.
Anon himself had stopped Jeffery's hand, his face still turned away.
"Just kidding, Bwahhh," Anon said, turning his face toward Jeffery and sticking out his tongue mockingly.
"Y-You..."
Chkk
Before Jeffery could utter another word, a sickle pierced through his lower jaw and tongue simultaneously.
"Huh...? Were you trying to say something? What happened? Did the cat get your tongue?" Anon teased, grinning.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh..." Jeffery screamed, writhing in intense pain from having his jaw and tongue pierced.
"Shut up," Anon said, retracting his sickle and delivering a punch to Jeffery's abdomen. This sent him flying, his jaw and tongue still impaled on Anon's sickle.
Bwaaaaahhhh
Bhwaaaaahhh
One by one, the weak-hearted students began to vomit. Even the sturdiest individuals had to avert their eyes.
"Damn it... I'll kill him," Xander vowed, glaring at Anon with anger.
"Sit down," Ion ordered, gently tapping Xander's head and closing his eyes briefly.
'He's brutal. No, he's a monster. Why does he have to do all this? He could just kill him and be done with it. Why showcase such brutality?' Ion pondered as he watched Anon laugh at Jeffery, who was still screaming in agony.
"Ahhhhhhh... Ahhhhhhhh... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh," Jeffery continued to cry out, unable to articulate any words due to his tongue being gouged out by Anon.
"Oops... looks like I got your tongue before the snake did. Hahahaha," Anon laughed as he approached Jeffery.
Just as everyone believed this nightmare was over, Anon pulled out a special-grade healing potion from his inventory.
"Huh...? Is that a healing potion in Mr. Jule's hands?" the commentator questioned, looking puzzled.
"Ah... crap. Jule won't stop here. Things are about to get really messy, and that expression on his face... Looks like Jeffery is going to experience real hell today," Eve remarked, her gaze switching between disgust and sympathy as she observed Jeffery.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems we now understand why they call Mr. Jule 'The Psychopathic Killer.' He has once again healed Mr. Jeffery with his own special-grade potion. Let's see what happens next," the commentator announced, his forehead glistening with sweat.
In just 5 seconds, Jeffery's jaw had completely healed, and his tongue was functioning normally.
"Y-You... stay away from me. Don't you dare come near me," Jeffery warned Anon as he got up and sprinted toward the other side of the arena.
He was trying to exit the arena but before he could've taken any other step, Anon suddenly disappeared from his position and appeared in front of Jeffery.
"Jeffery, my boy, you can't leave the arena. This is a deathmatch, not a joke. Have you forgotten the rules? If any of us tries to exit this ring, death is certain immediately, isn't it, Mr. Ion?" Anon inquired, flashing a sinister smile at him.
'This kid is a fucking Psychopath. He is going to torture him untill his opponent leaves the will to live. He is merciless.' Ion thought as he looked at Anon.
"Yes," Ion replied with a disappointed expression as he looked at Jeffery this time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Mr. Jeffery is making a desperate attempt to exit the arena due to Mr. Jule's little game that has been ongoing for the past 25 minutes. However, he can't leave the arena, as stepping out of it would result in his instant death," the commentator announced.
"He's incredibly brutal," a fourth-year student remarked.
"Yeah, Jeffery is a fourth-year student, and he's the brightest in our class. But in front of Jule, he looks like a small bee that Jule keeps crushing over and over," another student added.
"I can't watch this anymore. This is unbearable," another fourth-year girl stated as she stood up and left the stadium.
Jeffery was in a state of confusion and distress at this point. He didn't know what to do. He was enduring both mental and physical torment.
'I tried to show off my two classes to everyone and prove that I'm the smartest fourth-year student, but I didn't know that Xander Jane would take an interest in me and announce me as the future husband of her daughter. Until today, I thought it was a good thing, but now, I'm feeling extremely sorry for showing off.'
'I had no role in their fight; it was Jule vs. the Jane house, but I got stuck in this situation because I was her future husband. I have to quit this match; I can't take this anymore,' Jeffery thought as he stood in one corner of the arena, eyeing Anon cautiously.
"Come on, Jeffery. Why are you just standing there like a pole?" Anon asked with a smile as he dismissed his sickles and approached him.
"Y-You, don't come near me," Jeffery warned Anon as he brandished a red pill in his hand.
"I-I'll eat this if you take one more step," Jeffery threatened, displaying the red pill.
"Hmm...?" Anon wondered what the pill was and used his skill on it.
[Mana Awakening Pill]
[Elves practice to Awaken their mana from the age of 50 years, and it takes them around 500 to 1000 years to complete this process. Once they Awaken their mana, they enter a whole new world of using magic.
They can see the mana strings, manipulate mana, and the properly Awakened ones can even nullify their opponent's spellcasting with just one flick of their eyes.
Mana Awakening Pills are made to help elves reach that stage faster, but they failed... the product that resulted was a red pill. This pill's real name was 'Force Awaken Pill.' This pill can forcibly allow an elf to breakthrough to the Awakened mana state for 5 minutes, but it has a major drawback.
It consumes the life force of the elf, killing them without leaving any chances of survival. Once in the Awakened mana form, the elf's strength is boosted by up to 400%, and their speed is increased by 1000%.]
Anon was left surprised after reading this information.
'Wow, that's even more dangerous than the overcharge,' Anon thought as he gazed at Jeffery.
"Who gave him that pill?" Ion demanded as he rose from his seat.
Xander lowered his head, sweat forming on his forehead.
"I asked, who gave him that pill? That's a prohibited substance," Ion shouted, grabbing Xander's hair and forcing him to look up.
"Look at me, you piece of shit. Tell me, did you give it to him?" Ion asked.
"N-No, Fathe-"
Slap
"I want the truth. Tell me the truth, or I will really kill you today, Xander. You are the only drug dealer who can access that drug," Ion shouted.
Xander remained silent, his face showing misery.
"ANSWER ME!!!!" Ion bellowed.
"Y-Yes... Father. I-I did..." Xander admitted.
"You damn piece of shit. Do you realize what you've done? The Lawson family won't stay quiet after this, and they'll want you first. Do you understand that?" Ion inquired.
"I-I do, Father," Xander acknowledged.
Ion then walked toward the Principal.
"Tell him to discard that pill. It's a banned substance. He can't use it," Ion instructed.
"I'm sorry, sir, but these rules are in line with your family's tradition. Do you really want to change them now? The use of drugs is allowed in this competition, and you were a witness to this rule, weren't you?" the Principal asked, maintaining a stern expression.
"Damn it," Ion cursed, returning to his seat.
"F-Father... please-"
"Shhh.... I will deal with you later. Just pray that he doesn't take that pill, because if he dies at Anon's hands, everything will point to him. But if he takes the pill and then dies, it will be our fault as well. I'll hand you over to the Lawsons without a second thought. Keep that in mind. I may be the strongest man in this kingdom, but I have a reputation to uphold, and I can't go back on my word," Ion stated, looking at Xander.
"Hey, I told you not to come near me. I will really take the pill and enter the Awakened mode. Then you'll die. I don't think any of us want that. So, let's call this match quits and go back to our homes without any injuries. I promise to sever all connections with Jeena and her family. I won't show my face to anyone in this kingdom. Just let me go," Jeffery pleaded.
"No, bitch," Anon replied as he used his skill.
Anon hurled the javelin at Jeffery, piercing through his hand and chest.
Zzzzzzzz
"Ugghhhh" Jeffery fell to the ground.
Thud
Jeffery's life seemed to flash before his eyes as he gazed at the sky.
'I'm dead... I'm coming, God. Please take care of my family,' Jeffery thought as he slowly closed his eyes.
"Hey, eat this and show me the power of this pill," Anon said as he forcefully made Jeffery swallow the red pill.
The entire stadium fell silent, gazing at Anon in confusion.
Then, suddenly, Jeffery's eyes began to close, and he died.
"Heh...? Nothing happened? Well, I guess I am the winn—" Anon's words were interrupted as Jeffery's lifeless body abruptly grabbed Anon's hand and started moving.