The group was in despair. They had essentially lost the challenge, with the score standing at 3-0 in favor of their opponents. Now, they didn't know what to do.
Dakota: "We won three challenges. I'm pretty sure that means we won the whole thing."
The group fell silent, the weight of the situation hanging over them. Andri, however, broke the silence with a smirk on his face.
Andri: "No, you haven't won yet. This round will count as three points instead of one."
Dakota raised an eyebrow, slightly irritated.
Dakota: "Oh? You're still not going to admit defeat? How arrogant can you be? Just accept the fact that you can't defeat us."
Andri's smile remained, unfazed by Dakota's words.
Andri: "...Shut up. We will defeat you. And you better accept this challenge if you're not a coward."
Dakota: "...Fine. I accept. I know you won't beat us anyway."
Dakota crossed his arms, giving Andri a cold, challenging look.
Dakota: "Now, what is the fourth challenge?"
Andri: "The fourth challenge is... a duel."
Dakota's interest piqued at the mention of a duel.
Dakota: "A duel, huh... Interesting."
Dakota: "If it's a duel, then we choose Henry. And I'm guessing you're going to choose that guy."
Dakota pointed toward a tall figure standing behind Andri, a man who was wearing a smug expression.
Andri: "Yes, indeed. This guy is going to challenge Henry in a duel... but with a twist."
Dakota: "A twist? What twist?"
Dakota was confused but intrigued, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Andri smiled wickedly as he explained.
Andri: "There will be someone helping Joseph."
Dakota: "Oh? Someone is going to help him? Hm, okay, fine. We accept."
Andri grinned at the acceptance, clearly pleased with the turn of events. He seemed more confident now, convinced that this fourth challenge would be their victory.
Dakota: "But who is going to be this helper of his?"
Andri: "You'll see. Let's go to the fighting grounds, and I'll show you."
Dakota couldn't shake the feeling that the helper wouldn't be human—and would likely be much stronger than Joseph.
After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at the fighting grounds. As Dakota and Joseph entered the barrier, Andri appeared, carrying a large, heavy-looking bag. The bag was so big that Dakota wondered if it might be hiding something—perhaps even a person. But to his shock, it wasn't a person inside. Instead, it was two mid-ranked Djinns.
Dakota: "What the hell! Are you really trying to make two mid-ranked Djinns fight Henry?"
Andri looked at him with a cold smirk, unbothered by Dakota's reaction.
Andri: "Did it say in the rules that Djinns weren't allowed?"
Dakota stared at him as if he was dealing with a madman.
Dakota: "I thought that didn't need to be said. There's no way we're going to allow this."
Andri: "...Are you that much of a coward?"
Dakota clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin.
Dakota: "Screw off with your coward talk."
The frustration was evident in Dakota's voice, but just as he was about to say something else, Henry stepped forward. To everyone's surprise, Henry spoke up, his voice calm yet confident.
Henry: "...No, let's allow this, Dakota. Even with two mid-ranked Djinns, he still can't beat me."
Dakota blinked, his eyes wide with shock.
Dakota: "What? Are you sure about this, Henry?"
Henry: "Yes, I am. Now, please, start the challenge."
Dakota was speechless for a moment, processing what Henry had just said. But after a long pause, he finally nodded in agreement.
Dakota: "...Ah, fine. Make sure you don't lose."
Henry gave a small smirk, exuding confidence.
Henry: "Don't worry. I won't."
Dakota: "Of course you won't. You are the main character, after all."
With that, the fourth challenge began. The two mid-ranked Djinns, along with Joseph, rushed at Henry. They attacked with great speed and precision, but Henry moved faster than they could react. In a single, fluid motion, he cut off one of the Djinn's hands, causing the creature to scream in pain.
Before the Djinn could recover, the second Djinn attacked from the right, while Joseph came at Henry from the left. But Henry effortlessly blocked both their attacks, a look of sheer focus on his face.
He then summoned a fireball in his hand and launched it toward the two Djinns. The flames hit them both, sending them reeling.
Henry: "This is easy. Please, try harder."
Joseph and the two Djinns were enraged at Henry's taunting.
Joseph: "Don't take us lightly!"
Fueled by anger, Joseph fired a fireball, while the Djinns used fire breath. The attacks collided mid-air, creating a massive explosion that engulfed the entire area in smoke. Henry, however, remained calm.
Using the smoke to his advantage, Joseph and the Djinns tried to catch Henry off guard. But Henry was too fast. He pinpointed the Djinns in the smoke, attacking with brutal precision.
In a flash, he cut off one of the Djinn's arms. The creature screamed, but before it could react, Henry finished it off.
Joseph, desperate, appeared behind Henry, sword raised.
Henry: "Too slow."
Henry appeared behind Joseph in an instant, pushing his face into the ground with a force that made the ground tremble. Joseph barely managed to stay conscious, but he kicked Henry in the back, trying to catch him off guard.
Henry: "So you're still conscious. That's impressive for you."
Joseph gritted his teeth, clearly furious.
Joseph: "Stop acting so cocky, you fucking bastard."
Joseph, his pride wounded, screamed at the Djinns to use their full power. With a roar, both Djinns summoned their full strength, their flames growing more intense. Joseph also powered up, his fireball exploding with energy.
The three of them rushed at Henry together, attacking with ferocity. For the first time in the battle, Henry took a few hits, and smoke billowed around him. But even with the combined assault, it wasn't enough to defeat him.
With an angry roar, Henry cut off both of the Djinns' arms, rendering them useless.
Joseph, desperate, leaped forward, his sword aimed at Henry's heart. But before he could strike, Henry turned with blinding speed and hit him square in the face, sending him flying.
Joseph: "Ahhh... Fucking hell, that hurts."
Henry's eyes glinted with amusement.
Henry: "It hurts a lot, right? Do you want me to knock you out so you don't have to feel the pain?"
Joseph: "...Fuck you, bastard. You can go to hell."
Joseph, ignoring the pain, raised his hand and shot another fireball at Henry. It hit him, but Henry barely flinched. Joseph watched in shock as Henry effortlessly raised a shield, deflecting the blast.
Joseph: "Ah, for fuck's sake."
Henry smirked.
Henry: "So, are you going to admit defeat now?"
Joseph: "...Nah. But you should look behind you."
Henry immediately turned, his senses on high alert. He saw the two Djinns in front of him, trying to bite him. With lightning speed, Henry grabbed their faces, crushing them in his grasp.
The Djinns let out one last, agonized scream before falling limp in his hands.
Joseph's eyes widened in disbelief.
Joseph: "No way... Two mid-ranked Djinns were killed that easily...? Just how much of a monster are you?"
Henry's smirk deepened.
Henry: "A monster? We are no monsters... At least not yet."
With a final, effortless motion, Henry kicked Joseph in the head, knocking him out cold.
The crowd watching gasped in awe as the fourth challenge came to a close. Henry had won.
Dakota: "Looks like we won again, huh?"
Henry: "Yeah, it wasn't even a challenge."
Joseph lay unconscious on the ground, defeated. His team's spirits were shattered, and Andri's expression darkened. The group's plan had failed.
Dakota turned to Henry with a proud smile.
Dakota: "I knew you'd pull through. Nice job, Henry."
Henry nodded, his confidence unwavering.
Henry: "Thanks, but don't get used to it. I'm just getting started."
With that, the group stood victorious, having claimed the fourth challenge as their own.