*ring*
The match started, and Adrian got into a fighting stance, prepared for Golden Star's attack.
But, Instead of an attack, he heard a voice.
"You vermin! Today shall be the day when you will pay for your crimes.
I, Golden Star, shall punish you for insulting a woman without any reason.
I will make you regret ever uttering those words about a woman... blah blah blah."
Golden Star kept going on, and hearing him speak, Adrian made a cringe expression underneath his mask while thinking, "What does he think this is, a play where he plays the hero and I'm the villain?
This is a fuxking match where you can get badly injured and even become disabled for life by getting your limbs cut off.
Although magic can attach them back, but that is only done by high-level healing magic.
He shouldn't have that much money to afford it anyway. I should just attack him instead of waiting for him to finish his speech."
Adrian got in the stance to attack when he was interrupted by another voice transmitted into his head, "Wait! Let him finish his speech.
That way, when you humiliate him in front of those women, that would break his pride and make your performance more satisfying."
"What difference would it make if I humiliate him in front of women or men?
Let me just go and teach that bastard that this is a match where you have to maintain your focus on your enemy instead of some bulshit dialogues," Adrian snorted in anger, getting back to his stance.
He was a real warrior in his past life, and seeing this man just blabbering without a care in the world, upset him. As this type of men died the fastest when the demons showed up and attacked.
"That's why you were single in your past life, you muscle-head!"
Demios scolded before explaining -
"Why do you think he is acting like that? Do you see who is sitting in the front rows of the arena on your right?"
Adrian looked to his right, where he spotted a beautiful woman sitting with a furious expression on her face as she ginded her teeth while glaring at Adrian.
Yes, she was Macho Husband's wife who was here to see Adrian lose and savor the taste of his humiliation with her own eyes.
Macho Husband was in the infirmary right now, and instead of being with him, she was here. This showed her hatred for Adrian, or more specifically, for Winter Nightfallen.
Adrian took his eyes back from Macho Husband's wife, asking Demios, "Is she the reason for this speech?"
Demios nodded, "Indeed, This Golden Star wants to impress Macho Husband's wife. He wants to become a hero in her eyes, and that's the reason for this long speech."
"Ah, I understand what you mean now," Adrian agreed as he quickly left his attacking stance, returning to his normal position.
"Now, get ready for my fury!" At this instant, Golden Star's speech also ended as he roared.
Golden Star charged at Adrian with his sword laced with aura.
He had already witnessed Adrian's prowess from his previous match, and the rumors provided additional information.
Therefore, he started his attack with his full strength instead of probing Adrian with normal sword attacks.
Adrian also lunged forward, wielding the meat knife with his left hand.
Adrian, in his cook attire, looked like a butcher about to slaughter a chicken.
The knife let out an azure blue light as a blue razor-sharp aura appeared around it.
This time, Adrian had no intention of toying around with this man.
He hated these types of men who fought with other men for women, especially for a married woman.
He understood Golden Star's intentions when he heard Demios' reasoning.
This man had no pure intentions behind defeating Adrian.
If he really wanted to protect her honor, like Macho Husband did, then maybe Adrian would have planned to give him some respect.
Both Adrian and Golden Star quickly appeared in front of one another as they attacked.
Adrian could've just dodged this attack like he did with Macho Husband, but he had no intention of letting Golden Star go.
Both their attacks collided as their auras smashed against each other.
At first, it appeared as if both auras were of the same level, and it was a tie.
But soon Adrian's aura began to overpower Golden Star's, and then,
Boom!
A deafening explosion was heard as a small crater formed under Adrian's legs.
Cling... cling...
A sound echoed similar to metal bouncing on the ground before coming to a stop.
Soon, the upper half of a broken sword appeared in everyone's vision.
After noticing the broken sword, everyone's eyes searched for the owner of this weapon.
"There! There!" A man shouted, pointing to the ring.
Following the direction of his finger, a golden-haired man appeared in everyone's vision, lying at the end of the ring, breathing heavily.
He was injured, with the hand that he was fighting with, being fractured.
His hand had become useless. He looked around before coming to his senses.
Golden Star struggled a bit before getting up.
Adrian just stood still in his position, hands folded behind his back, his mask radiating a mocking aura.
At this moment, Adrian disappeared from his previous position before reappearing in front of Golden Star.
Golden Star's eyes widened as he tried to block the upcoming attack.
Boom!
A punching sound resounded, Golden Star's weapon fell out of his hands as he grabbed at his gut with a pained expression.
His knees half-bent as he constantly resisted the urge to kneel.
Adrian stared at his face standing in front of him before snorting: "Hmph, Is this how you plan to punish me? By letting me bear this disgusting sight of your face?"
There was absolute silence in the arena!
This domineering sight was too unexpected for everyone present.
Adrian's words repeated in everyone's ears as they were too focused on the match to utter a single sound.
At this instant, a grumbling voice said: "You attacked me... when my weapon had broken... and my dominant hand was fractured.
You are in your top condition, it is only natural that... I cannot do anything against you..."
Golden Star was glaring at Adrian with determination.
He had found an excuse for his condition; therefore, he was confident that he wouldn't lose much face if he could gather the audience's sympathy.
However, before anyone could say anything, Adrian sneered: "Oh, so that's your excuse? If that is the only problem, then allow me to help you see the whole situation."
Hearing Adrian's statement, Golden Star was puzzled; he had no idea what Adrian was talking about.
"You say that your dominant hand is fractured and you think that is an advantage for me, right?" Adrian questioned, staring at Golden Star with raised eyebrows.
Everyone's attention was solely on Adrian's words; they were also curious about what Adrian was talking about.
Golden Star frowned at the question before answering: "Yes, that's exactly it! Although it was you who was responsible for my condition, but, it seems I can't fight anymore. Therefore, I would like to forfeit----"
But before Golden Star could forfeit, and anyone could hear what he said about forfeiting the match, Adrian raised his hand, interrupting in between: "Alright, that's enough for the answer!"
After that, he turned towards the audience and shouted in a convincing and heartfelt tone: "Everyone, as you have already heard, his problem is that his dominant hand is fractured.
But is that reason enough for giving up?"
Adrian turned and pointed at Macho Husband's wife questioning: "Should he renege on his promise to punish me and bring justice for that woman?"
A girl from Golden Star's fan club stood up and shouted, "No, he should not! You are right, Sir Golden Star will not give up because of this little problem."
After her, another girl sitting beside her stood up, yelling, "We believe in you, Sir Golden Star! You are a real hero who will definitely avenge that poor woman."
After being implicated innumerable times for no reason, Macho Husband's wife gritted her teeth, roaring inwardly, "Why are you involving me, you bastards! I don't need your pity."
Just as this thought was finished, another thought flashed in her mind as a scheming smile appeared on her face: "Wait! If this Golden Star gets more humiliated than my husband, then the attention will shift from my husband to him.
And even if that doesn't happen, then also, my husband won't be the only one who will be humiliated.
At least, we will have someone who will bear the same shame and hatred for this Winter Bastard!
Maybe this is an opportunity for my husband to be forgotten and live a peaceful life."
As these thoughts raced through her mind, the audience continued to express their support for Golden Star.
The arena was filled with cheers, and some people started chanting, "Golden Star! Golden Star!"
She gritted her teeth before turning her expression into that of an innocent and helpless woman.
She let out a few tears from her eyes before standing up from her seat and shouting in a pleading tone: "Oh, Hero of Justice, Sir Golden Star! Only you can help this poor woman, that is I !"
She let her tears flow even more as she began to cry out in a begging tone.
She joined her hands, falling on her knees: "Please punish this demon and help me avenge my poor husband. I beg of you, don't give up."
Everyone who witnessed this scene was swayed by her acting and had tears in their eyes.
Only Adrian and Demios understood her intentions as they commented with a slight smile, "Clever fox!"
Her acting like this was in Adrian's favor as this put Golden Star in quite a pickle.
Now, he had turned into a hero in everyone's eyes.
He had always wanted to be a hero of women, but now he regretted being one.
After witnessing how the situation had escalated to this degree, he had a baffled expression on his face, "How did this happen?"
But he quickly took control as he forced a smile on his face, questioning, "B-But how can I fight without my dominant hand with someone who has his dominant hand in top condition?"
At this instant, Adrian chipped in as he admitted, "I am right-handed!"
His words echoed throughout the arena as Golden Star's head turned at an extreme speed towards Adrian.
His face revealed a shocked expression, and this expression was shared by all present.
"W-What?" Golden Star asked, taking a step back with a horrified expression on his face. Everyone had a similar reaction to Golden Star.
Golden Star's eyelids twitched as he turned his face towards Adrian, asking with a forced smile: "You must be joking, Sir Nightfallen, right?"
Adrian, however, shook his head as he answered, "No, I am not joking. I am indeed right-handed."
"What? So, does this mean he was fighting all this time with his weaker hand?"
"And here I thought, he was already too powerful."
"Ridiculous, too ridiculous!"
Shouts and whispers containing shock reverberated across the arena.
Ignoring these reactions, Adrian turned his face towards Golden Star before grabbing his own right shoulder and dislocating it.
Clack...clack...
Joints dislocating voices were heard throughout the arena as everyone once again paid their full attention to it.
Silence made its presence known once again.
Adrian faced the audience before announcing, "Here, now my dominant hand is also useless."
Adrian turned towards Golden Star, asking, "Are you alright with fighting now?"
A stiff expression appeared on Golden Star's face as he roared inwardly: "What difference does this make? You are fighting with the same hand that you were fighting with previously,"
"Sir Nightfallen, it is not about the hand. Actually, my weapon is broken..."
Golden Star attempted to give another excuse but stopped when Adrian lifted his knife slightly, grabbing his attention.
This knife was shorter than the length of the sword that was left.
Golden Star had seen Adrian use a rapier in his previous match, therefore, he was certain that this was also not his primary weapon.
It would be too embarrassing to bring a weapon as an excuse.
"If you want, we can exchange weapons, or you can get another weapon, or if you want, I can fight without a weapon," Adrian offered.
"No, it is alright. I have brought a spare sword with me," Golden Star refused, shaking his head before getting another sword from the host.
After getting the sword, both got into the fighting stance as the match began once again.
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(A/N : This novel has been contracted and it wouldn't have been possible without your support. Now premium chapters will be uploaded but I thought about you all and how I could make it more worthwhile. So, from now on, I will be increasing the length of the chapters releasing to more than 1500. this chapter was more than 2100 words.
I have also been working on my writing and I hope you have noticed some improvements. I will keep on working hard. Please keep supporting this novel.
I will attempt to make the chapters premium after the next chapter.
Thanks for reading and I am always thankful to you all. ^..^)