The fourth match began, but Zero didn't pay much attention to it.
"Hey Orrin… any idea who that is?" Zero pointed toward a boy.
The boy had short, yellow hair and red eyes. He was grinning, his teeth sharp.
"Him? He is from the Varkaine noble family, his name is Varek. He is also called the barbaric son of Varkaine." Orrin said.
"Barbaric? Why?"
"He doesn't follow any rules, he has no manners, and he's violent. He also has great talent in fighting, even among nobles. The current patriarch of the Varkaine family, Kain Varkaine, has poured absurd resources into his combat training. And then we have his incidents…"
"Incidents?" Zero looked confused.
"There have been many incidents where he has beaten other nobles half to death during visits. He did it because he likes the violence, and he shows no remorse."
"And he's my opponent? We're the only ones who haven't had our matches yet."
"Yes, I believe so. And you'll most likely lose, you're just a street rat with no training. Street rats also lack in talent. Though I did see your incredible strength in the first phase… but that will not allow you to beat him."
"THE FOURTH MATCH HAS FINISHED! WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE FINAL MATCH BEFORE YOUR RANKINGS ARE SET!" Auctor announced.
Zero and Varek were transported to the same field used in the rest of the matches.
They stood a few meters away from each other.
"You better make this fun!" Varek was smiling like a madman, staring at Zero.
"You're one creepy bastard, I'll give you that." Zero cracked his neck.
A low chuckle slipped from Varek's throat as his arms were consumed by a red aura going up to his elbows. The aura got wider as it reached his hands, five red, sharp claws at the end.
What did that white figure say about activating blackarc again? I just have to think about it? Black and red sparks of lightning then appeared around Zero's arms.
Zero then put his hands up in a fighting stance.
Varek burst ahead, immediately closing the distance. He then swung one of his claws upward.
Zero barely managed to step back in time.
It didn't matter. Varek was already behind him.
Shit! Zero twisted at the last second, claws slicing through the air where his spine had been.
But then, Zero's head snapped to the side as Varek hit his jaw with his backhand. Blood spilled from Zero's mouth as he recovered from the blow.
Varek leapt toward Zero, trying to cut him downwards.
"Tch…" Zero twisted on his heel, his body turning in one sharp motion. His leg whipped upward in a spinning arc, the side of his foot crashing into Varek's temple. Black and red lightning flared at the moment of impact, amplifying the damage.
"Kh—!" Varek's head snapped sideways, blood spraying out as he was sent flying to the side.
Varek landed a few meters away, getting up again. "So you can fight, eh? Where'd you learn that? You're a street rat, no?" Varek wiped the blood off his mouth, his grin growing wider.
"None of your business." Zero put his hands up in a fighting stance again.
"Haha! Doesn't really matter much as long as you're good at it!" Varek bent his knees, his arms struck out beside him. "Get ready!" Varek kicked himself toward Zero with incredible speed.
Zero charged straight at him.
Just before they collided, Varek slammed his claws inward aiming to tear Zero apart. Zero leapt at the last second, the claws clashing shut beneath him. He grabbed Varek's head midair and drove his knee straight into his face.
Varek's blood splattered on the grass beneath them. A sickening crunch came from Varek's nose.
Varek grabbed Zero's leg, pulling him down toward the ground with incredible force. "That's it! Keep it up!" Varek enjoyed the battle.
"Let go!" Blackarc grew more intense on Zero's leg as he slightly pushed himself off the ground and twisted his body, freeing his leg from Varek's grip.
Zero planted his palms on the ground. His body composed for a split second. Then both legs shot straight back, heels driving straight into Varek's face.
Varek's face was bloodied red from his nose to his chin. "Now it's my turn!"
Zero got up from the ground.
"Get ready!" Varek immediately struck zero's chest with his fist.
"Gh—" Zero was winded.
"Forgot I had these?" Varek opened his fist and slashed Zero's chest with his claws.
Blood gushed from the wounds on Zero's chest. "Kh—!"
Varek didn't let up as he delivered a brutal uppercut to Zero's chin.
After that, several brutal kicks landed all across Zero's body. His ears rang, his nose bled, and his bones were about to shatter.
"It was fun… but I think it's time to end this now." Varek grabbed Zero's head with one hand, and prepared to drive his other hand through Zero's chest using his claws.
"This'll make you unable to fight, giving me the win."
Varek drove his hand forward.
"Like hell I'll let you win!" Zero pushed through the pain and grabbed Varek's arm before it could hit him. "I've had worse than this!" He snapped Varek's arm upward, the noise was almost just as bad as the injury.
"Huh?" Varek couldn't fully process what happened before his ribs got shattered by a kick to his side.
Zero pulled his arm back, preparing to punch Varek. "You've lo-"
"NOW THIS IS FUN!" Varek swept Zero's feet, causing him to fall. "COME ON! MORE!" Varek raised his foot, preparing to stomp on Zero's face.
Shit! Zero barely managed to dodge, Varek's foot landing beside his head.
Zero quickly got up. "You almost had me there for a second…"
Zero delivered one final punch to Varek's chin.
Varek's head snapped sideways, and his eyes went white as he fell to the ground.
"THE FINAL RANKING MATCH HAS ENDED! VAREK VARKAINE IS UNABLE TO FIGHT, ZERO IS THE WINNER!"