Meanwhile, in the abode of Silverstone, Agnar was busy getting his bags and that of his sons ready to leave.
"They're not back yet?" Demas asked, taking small steps towards Agnar who sat outside on the portico.
"If they were, I wouldn't be sitting here," Agnar answered. "I'm in no hurry anyway, so they can take their time."
"Take it easy on those boys, Agnar. Not just their bodies, you have trained their minds for what they're going to face."
"Minds?" Agnar rested his chin on his hand looking ahead. "They lost that a long time ago."
"I suppose that's okay, every one of us has lost it. I am quite surprised they are doing well. I never pictured you to be a father, never mind a good one."
"Are you taunting me?"
"I'd never." Demas gasped with a wry smile.
********
Still in the town's square, the little gathering of children had grown even more intense with excitement.
Some of them were busy helping Jarett, others awed at the twins, and others anticipated the next fight.
"Twins huh? Tch, looks like they already picked their opponents," Chandrel said to himself.
"What do you say, let's have a go?" Kiyan asked, growing impatient at Chandrel's hesitance.
Chandrel's grit changed into a grin.
"Bring it on," he answered.
"Yeah! Another one!"
"Give it your best Chandrel!"
"If he's as good as his brother, this is going to be another thrilling fight."
"But, don't these twins look rather pale? Do they have some sort of disease or something?"
"How is that our business? Fight on!"
"Hey, are you okay?" Lecter asked Raten when he got to him. "Should I just take you to your cousin now? You're really beaten up." He said with concern.
"I'm fine. I need to watch him fight," Raten said and touched his nose.
"This really is broken." He sighed. As he stood, he felt something wrap around his head.
"Huh?"
Lecter had ripped a part of his sleeves and tied it around Raten's head injury. "You shouldn't stand here bleeding like this then." He said.
He tore his other sleeve and gave Raten to place over his nose.
Raten just stared at him nonplussed.
"Would you quit looking at me like that?!"
"Why would you tear your clothes?"
"You're bleeding. And besides, I have others I can wear," Lecter said bluntly. "Besides, this is partially my fault. I told you two about this place."
"Seriously, how are you still fine?" Lecter wondered, looking at Raten.
"For the next match, Kiyan Silverstone will go against our first runner-up, Chandrel Ford! Are you both ready?" The young announcer asked the two standing at either side of him.
"Always." Chandrel answered.
"Get on with it already." Kiyan hopped slightly from one foot to the other, unable to keep his excitement at bay.
"Fight!" The announcer shouted and got off the platform.
Kiyan cracked his neck and took a stance. Chandrel readied his fist but then unexpectedly threw a kick to Kiyan's head.
Kiyan caught his ankle and didn't even flinch. He moved his fist forward to land a blow. Chandrel quickly drew his foot back and bent to avoid it.
While under, he lifted his hand and landed a blow to Kiyan. Kiyan bent over in pain. He instantly felt like he could spew the contents of his stomach.
He held Chandrel's hand, stopping him from drawing it back. He quickly moved his foot and kicked Chandrel on the side of his head.
Chandrel's eyes rolled back a bit. He was about to fall to the side, but was stopped by Kiyan who was still holding onto him. A punch was delivered to his gut. The pain instantly brought him back.
*Gag..
"What the..? This strength rivals Jarrett's. Don't tell me he's one of them." Chandrel gritted his teeth. He noticed a fist head his way. He quickly moved his head and caught it.
Kiyan sent another fist, but that was caught as well. Both his hands were held by Chandrel who had risen to his feet. Chandrel collided their heads in a devastating headbutt, causing his head to burst open and blood to spill.
Kiyan on the receiving end didn't get it likely either as his head was flung back and he staggered.
Kiyan was stunned for a moment. Chandrel took the opportunity. He let go of Kiyan's hand and moved his foot to land a kick on the head. Unexpectedly, yet not, Kiyan bent over causing the kick to miss him, going completely over his head.
He moved to the side quickly and punched Chandrel on the face. The hit threw Chandrel off to the side. He fell with a thud.
"That looked like it hurt," the audience flinched. They felt as though they could hear his bones breaking from impact.
Kiyan's knuckles were sore now.
"Chandrel get up!"
"Go twin newcomer!"
"Beat each other up!"
"Bloody maniacs, that's what you all are!" Lecter shouted at the audience. Raten kept observing.
"His hits are not as strong as Jarett's."
"Dammit!" Chandrel gritted his teeth as the taste of iron filled his tongue. He pushed himself off the floor and turned to Kiyan who was looking rather disappointed.
The headbutt also caused him a wound as bits of blood were seen dripping from his forehead.
"Show me how you stood your ground against him." Kiyan said and moved forward.
"With pleasure!" Chandrel dashed forward as well. "I can't have two losses."
Both fighters met in the middle getting a taste of each other's fists. Chandrel made some space between them. He stomped one foot on the floor and the other one kicked Kiyan right on the jaw… hard.
Kiyan's head was flung back. He was knocked off his feet and fell back.
"That's it! The dirt kiss!" One of the children said.
"Woo, Chandrel!"
When it was expected of Kiyan to hit the floor, he instead placed his right hand on the wooden stage, did a flip and landed on his feet.
The taste of blood he knew all too well filled his tongue as blood formed due to his now broken jaw and few broken teeth.
Kiyan spat out the blood unfazed. He wiped off the trail that trickled down the side of his mouth with his sleeve.
"He's still standing?!" Someone from the audience shouted in disbelief.
Lecter looked at Kiyan then at Raten, then back at Kiyan again.
"Something is definitely off somewhere." He said watching Kiyan's disappointed expression switch to one of thrill.
Chandrel was shocked for a moment but was even more creeped out by the wide grin on his opponent's face.
Kiyan placed his hand on his jaw to check if it was okay. It was not. He was still in a crouched position, but pushed himself forward. Like a predator pouncing on its prey, Kiyan launched at Chandrel.
Kiyan's body dived into Chandrel's midsection like a spear. Knocking him off his feet as well as the air out of his lungs, toppling him over and slamming his back on the hard bloodstained wooden floor.
Chandrel's body vibrated with pain. He looked up at the person on top of him and a fist that was lifted to hit him on the face.
Kiyan began raining punches down at Chandrel who instinctively lifted his hands over his head to block the hits.
"Garrghh! I can't keep taking this!" What was the point of blocking if your arms were just getting damaged and by someone else's fists?
He removed his hand causing a few hits to collide. As Kiyan lifted to deliver another one, Chandrel caught his hand and punched back.
Kiyan's eyes widened as he felt a stinging pain on the side of his face. A pain different from that caused by a punch. Chandrel used this opportunity to punch him off. It had little impact due to how he was laid, but hitting the newly formed wound had done it.
Kiyan rolled off and got on one knee. He touched the part of his face that bled and noticed a cut.
"He...cut me?"
"Ha! Looks like the silent slasher has struck!" The audience said.
Chandrel was back on both feet. He licked the blood that oozed from his burst lip and went on the attack again.
Kiyan, seeing him moving with a greater speed than he initially did, quickly rolled out of the way avoiding a kick to the face. He immediately got up and went on the attack. He threw a punch at Chandrel who swung a fist of his own.
Both fists collided with their faces.
"Argh!" Kiyan flinched in pain and immediately drew his arm back. While they were both moved back, Kiyan was left with an expected bloody fist, but his arm was filled with cuts that bled.
Seeing the blood fall, the audience roared with cheers.
"That's our slasher! You'll never see it coming."
"Deal with that newcomer!"
The voice of the exhilarated audience put Chandrel in action once more. Kiyan clenched his fists and got ready for the fight, this time more determined to win than he was before.
Chandrel staggered to maintain his posture. He wiped the blood that dripped from his nose and attacked head on again. Chandrel was very fast, even faster than Jarett but not so fast Kiyan couldn't keep up.
He usually sparred with his brother anyway, so a speed factor is something he was all too familiar with.
Chandrel grew more aggressive, punching and kicking every part of Kiyan. Kiyan barely had an opening to hit back and could only avoid the attacks or block them.
He didn't seem to have any weapons in hand, but somehow, Kiyan was getting caught all over. Not too deep that it would be considered a major injury. But enough to hurt and slow him down.
"I'm not letting another monster stomp all over me!" Chandrel shouted and did his signature kick again.
The bloodied Kiyan was sent flying back and this time he fell to the floor with a thud.