PART 19 :-
DOMINANCE OF JOYFUL
Dex perspective :-
Most of the matches were over, except for mine and Bright's.
"The next is Dex."
So, it was my turn now.
The guards were carrying different kinds of weapons. One had a spear, another an axe, another a sword, and each of them fought with a different style.
"Are you ready, boy!? We'll go easy on you."
"I'm afraid you'll all pay if you take me lightly."
One of them charged at me, holding a sword and shield.
I drew Kinmir and swung it to block his attack.
He channeled electricity into his sword, but I simply neutralized it by creating an earth shield with my axe.
Because they all used different kinds of weapons, it was difficult to counter every attack. Each one fought differently from the others.
"X Slash!"
My slash broke through two of their armors and knocked them both out.
Now only three were left.
"You're interesting after all."
What!!!?
All of their movements suddenly became much faster. It was becoming difficult for me to react to them.
Well... I knew what I had to do now.
I spread my Aura through the ground. The moment someone stepped within its range, I trapped their feet by raising rocks from the earth.
It was similar to Bright's and Dilsan's fighting style. Though Bright's technique was far more precise and deadly than mine.
Mine was just a copy.
Now it was time to end this.
"Glorious Gale!"
My signature move.
Although the old man told me it hadn't reached its perfect form yet.
A powerful wave of wind, faster than any natural wind, erupted from Kinmir through my Aura. I sharpened that wind until it was as sharp as a blade, allowing it to slice through every one of them.
The match ended with that.
Now only Bright was left.
....
MC perspective :-
Oh... so it's finally my turn. I was getting bored waiting.
"Bright, do your best."
"Thanks, Mini. I'll do my best."
I stepped onto the arena.
"So you are 'TheCurse of Joyful' !!? It's a shame that we have to face him, specially when you don't even use any weapon."
"Then I suggest you leave. Otherwise, after this match, your defeat will only bring you more shame."
"Don't talk as if you can defeat us, you lowly orphan brat. You don't even know your own identity. Someone like you never deserved to be here."
The three guards charged at me at the same time, weapons in hand.
I activated InstantDanceDodge to evade their attacks.
"What is he doing!!??? Why is he dancing!!??"
It's a high-level technique.
No matter how fast they moved, my focus made everything seem slower from my point of view. I could see every attack approaching in slow motion, allowing me to dodge them with ease.
"He dodged our combined attack that easily. That's no ordinary technique."
"I guess that what's you learn from The God Slayer."
"He not only teach me that."
I summon my Aura into my right hand fist.
"Doom Pulse!"
A powerful punch coated in my Aura.
Blood burst from his mouth as he was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground, unconscious.
One down. Four left.
The other two summoned flames and launched a combined fire attack at me.
"What just happened!!!!!!!!?"
"Why didn't it even scratch him!?????? What are you!????"
"Oh... sorry. I forgot to mention this earlier, but fire doesn't work on me. In fact, your own flames can burn you instead."
"Aaaa... Aaaa..."
One of the men's arms was already burning from the very fire he had created.
"If you want to see a real fire attack... I can show you one."
"Sun Storm Slash!"
A powerful firestorm erupted from my fist, created by combining fire and wind.
It moved like a blazing blade. Whatever it touched wasn't just burned—it was sliced apart as well.
Those two were knocked out by my attack.
Well... I expected more of a fight from them.
Now only the last two were left.
.....
PART 20 :-
ARRIVAL OF SHADOWBOUND
Bond perspective :-
"Is he dancing there!!?? I know he has a technique like that, but it looks more like he's dancing. Is he mocking them!!?"
"What kind of punch was that!!!??? It's too powerful."
He got stronger.
"What's going on!!!!!!?? Why didn't the fire attack burn him even after he took it head-on!!!?"
I looked at the old man, but he simply signaled that he didn't know either.
Now that I think about it...
That day, even The Fire of God didn't burn him.
"Did you see that?? It's impossible, isn't it!!?? There's no way a cursed boy could possess a Mythos Core."
Mythos Core!!!?
What's that!?
He had already defeated three opponents with ease.
Now only two were left.
"You're not as weak as we thought. You're even weaker than we imagined," one of the guards said with a mocking smile.
The two guards threw aside their weapons.
"Are you two really going to face me without your weapons? Your comrades were defeated even while using theirs."
"Comrades? Them!!!?? Ha! Ha! Ha! Don't make us laugh. Those weaklings don't deserve to be called our subordinates."
"Who are you two!!???? I don't think you're guards."
Without saying a word, they removed the masks covering their faces.
"You!!!??"
Why was Bright so shocked!!??
Who were they!!??
"Bright! Leave the arena now!"
The old man shouted at him.
What's going on!?
We were all confused.
A gigantic golden wall of light suddenly rose around the arena, forming a barrier before Bright could leave.
"We were busy creating this. Now no one is going to interfere with us."
.....
MC perspective :-
I sensed an unnatural Aura coming from the two of them. It was different from everyone else's.
"Who are you two!!???? I don't think you're guards."
They pulled off the masks covering their faces.
No way...
It's that man.
"You!!!!?"
"I guess you remember me."
"What is that!!??"
"It's a barrier. That way, no one can interfere with us."
"Are you two here to take my soul!!??"
"That depends on how you face us."
"Let's see just how weak you really are!!!"
They charged at me, fighting with nothing but hand-to-hand combat.
I activated Instant Dance Dodge.
But even with that technique, they were still unbelievably fast.
One of them landed a punch on my face, sending me crashing to the ground.
"As we expected, your dodging skill isn't as good as we thought."
"Who are you people!!?"
"Ah... sorry for not introducing ourselves earlier. My name is Rod, and this is Day. We work under the Doomwalkers."
"Doomwalkers!!!!? What is that!??"
"Since you're going to die anyway, we might as well tell you. The Doomwalkers are an organization that brings destruction wherever they go. They were founded by our Overlord."
"So... you two are Doomwalkers."
I stood up and stared at them.
"No. We are no match for them, neither physically nor mentally. We are the Shadowbound. We serve under them. Our duty is to obey our lord's orders. If our lord is satisfied with our work, he may recommend us to the Overlord and make us full members of the Doomwalkers."
"So... you're here under their orders."
"Nah... the Overlord listened to our request and gave us permission to hunt you. After all, we all hate you.
You possess a power that could shake the world, yet you're too weak to use it."
I don't think I've mastered Azuron yet.
That means they came here for another purpose.
If they wanted to hurt Mini or Bond, they could've done it long before this.
So... they're telling the truth.
The organization must have sent them here to judge my capabilities.
"I think we've talked enough. It's time for some action."
They summoned strange, geometric constructs in front of their hands.
"Shall we attack him together!!??"
"Magic Bullets - fifth form!"
Hundreds of bullets came flying toward me.
Thanks to Juha's training, I dodged every single one of them.
I think they're using Hekha.
That's not good.
I don't even know how to counter it.
"Fire Slash!"
I unleashed a blazing slash toward them.
What!!!?
A barrier appeared in front of them and blocked my attack.
"We're sorry, but your attack can't break our barrier."
Shit...
I'm in danger right now.
I can't create a Domain because it requires complete concentration.
They summoned some kind of dark Aura into their hands—the same kind I had seen that night.
Then they drew strange, dark lines across the air.
"Dark breathing — elite form!"
Blood poured from my mouth.
It felt as if a thousand swords had pierced my body.
The pain was unbearable. Every second felt like someone was stabbing me again and again.
"Elite magic... you're no match for it."
I saw them laughing at me.
Am I... defeated!?
.....
PART 21 :-
THE PANDEMONIUM
Bond perspective :-
"What is happening right now!!!??"
Two unknown men had appeared and created some kind of barrier using Hekha.
They were attacking him with pure killing intent.
"Hey, old man! What's happening right now!!?"
"It looks like they're impostors... or perhaps criminals."
"What do they want!!!??"
"How should I know!!!? I'm standing in the same place as you."
"Hey! Go and help him!!?"
I shouted at the officials.
"The match is technically still going on. We can't interfere. It doesn't matter who they are or what they're using. Until the match is over, we can't do anything because of that barrier."
Are they serious!!!?
Or is it just because he has no identity or recognition?
"If no one is going to do anything, then we have to..." Minidra said.
Minidra and the three of us gripped our weapons, ready to join the fight, but the old man stopped us.
"Don't be reckless. The barrier you're seeing isn't an ordinary one. It's a Reflection Barrier with at least a twenty-fifth-form modification. That means no matter how powerful your attack is, it will be reflected back with twice the force."
"So you're saying we should just let him face them alone!? No way..."
"Don't be foolish. The four of you aren't strong enough to defeat them. They're stronger than all four of you combined."
"Then why don't you go!!!!?? You can break that barrier..."
"Aah... well, you're right. But the problem is that I'm not going to use my sword again... for certain reasons. And don't panic so much..."
"Do you think this is a joke!!!!? My friend is in danger, and you're saying you won't use your sword!!!? Then you tell us not to panic!!?"
I grabbed the old man's collar and shouted in frustration.
"Relax. You're smart. Don't think about this situation with your emotions—think with your brain. Do you really think they want to kill your friend? Think carefully. If they truly wanted him dead, they could've killed him long before the match started without causing all this commotion.
They have no interest in you guys either. Otherwise, they would've interfered with your matches as well.
They're only here to examine... or perhaps observe... Bright."
"I don't care what their intentions are. They're trying to hurt him, and that's enough for us to get involved."
We left the balcony and jumped down into the arena.
.....
MC perspective :-
[Bright is going with too much pain to carry. At that brief of moment—]
"Let me take over. I'll show them what true weakness looks like. They dare look down on you... they dare disrespect you.
Let me show them the power that lies within you..."
"Just shut up!!!"
Who the hell was that!?
It was the same voice I had heard at the end of the trial.
I understand now...
It was Azuron's voice.
[For a brief moment, Bright remembered his Shisho's words.]
"Listen, Bright. No matter what the situation is, don't let your emotions be consumed by that fire. It may speak to you or react when it senses your soul or body is in danger. But don't let it take control of you, or it will burn everything around you.
And I don't need to remind you who is always by your side."
[Back to the present.]
Juha... what should I do now!??? Give up!!!???
I saw my friends running toward the barrier to save me.
I knew that if they came any closer, they would get hurt too.
It's always the same.
I'm always the one being protected by others.
No...
Not this time.
I have no intention of giving up.
[Bright slowly stood up... defying the very laws of magic. Something that had never happened before.]
"How did he stand up!!!?"
"Now, now... come on. I thought I might finally get to see Azuron."
"You want to see the fire!!!!?
Then I'll make your wish come true."
[The entire arena descended into chaos.]
.....