Chapter 1444 (1/2)

“Azure…… CRAAAAAAAAAASHHHHHH!” The blonde young man bellowed, seeming to throw every ounce of air in his lungs behind the yell. Randidly put his chin in his hand as he watched. Somehow, that same ridiculous guy who had leapt out and been defeated by Fenlin during his initial speech had made it to the top 32 teams.

But he truly was rather weak at the start. Randidly narrowed his eyes as he followed the action on the arena. The blonde young man’s entire arm was wreathed in azure flames and seemed to serve as a rocket, propelling him forward. But this tournament has thrown him against capable individuals and pushed his image to its limits. Everyone participating is developing their images rapidly while fighting. Heh, if I would have known the result would be this good, I would have hosted a tournament a long time ago.

The only problem is my carefully considered bracket is starting to have some unexciting matches because the duos are improving at different rates. But I’m sorry, idiot, this time… you aren’t on the dominant side.

Hank Howard smoothly drew his repeater and fired a Mana Bullet at the domineering blue missile arm. The motion was casual and assured. Compared to the bright illumination of the fire, the bullet was quickly lost in the churn of heat and energy. But when the two attacks met one another, the result was immediately clear.

Clang!

The flames were blasted away and the young man was sent spinning across the arena. He crashed painfully into the ground and bounced several times, leaving a dribbling trail of blood on the ground from a broken nose after he face planted on the sturdy Donnyton marble. He skidded to a stop as he encountered the far wall with a thump.

Hank scratched the area above his ear with the barrel of his revolver and used his other hand to adjust his hat. “I’m tellin’ ya, Ancho is just a horse. Don’t keep attackin’ him, or I won’t stay civil.”

Using the slight distraction, the young man’s partner pounced toward Hank’s back. He wore spiked gloves and seemed quite confident in his own strength; the fool attempted to grapple Hank Howard. Without batting an eye, Hank stepped to the side and slammed the butt of his gun into the partner’s face. Before the kid could even recognize what happened, Hank spun around and brought his heel into the partner’s temple.

The kick was sharp; it barely seemed to brush the victim as it passed. And afterward, there was a moment where his body swayed in place. Then he fell backward, stunned and bleeding.

Hank spat to the side.

“Heh, do you I think this is enough to stop me…? My name is Skyler Ross, and I promise-”

Bang!

Skyler raised his hand and once more erupted in azure flames. His tiger image raised its head and roared. Its shoulders and forelegs were thick with muscles, to the point that Randidly found the image somewhat ridiculous. Those powerful legs rushed forward, empowering Skyler’s attack further.

But even with all of his strength gathered into one point, Hank’s bullet smashed into him and annihilated his image. Skyler was launched backward as though he had been blasted from a cannon, slamming with much more force this time into the far wall of the arena. The Donnyton Marble shuddered but withstood the pressure without cracking.

Which also means that his body endured most of the force himself. Probably broke his ribs… Randidly mused.

Hank sighed and shrugged. “Kids these days…”

Ancho neighed in agreement.

*****

“Who do you think will win?” Donny asked casually as he popped fat, purple grapes into his mouth.

Mrs. Hamilton glanced sideways at the leader of their Village. “You are altogether too pleased with having made it to the top 16. You realize that it isn’t even because of you, right? Glendel’s abilities are almost cheating against small numbers of foes.”

Donny just chuckled. His expression was extremely self-satisfied. Mrs. Hamilton shook her head with amusement and turned back to the stage. The Huangs assumed their typical positions, with Huang Shou sitting on a small stool at the back of the stage while Huang Li drew his wo dao and walked casually forward. Opposite them were the Cortez siblings, Isabella with her arms covered by her two long elongated oval shields and Pan making his daggers spin across his fingers.

“...I honestly believe it will be close. This Huang Li… Zone 7 sure has been hiding deeply. Or more like…” Mrs. Hamilton’s eyes glittered as she sipped her tea.

“...every time he fights, his image and Skills are being refined. At a ridiculous pace. If we had more people in Donnyton with that sort of improvement rate...” Donny’s expression also turned serious as he looked down at the Zone 7 representatives. “Randidly was too fucking accurate with the brackets, at least in Block C. Every fight has been dangerously close.”

“The sort of danger that can stir growth… but still, our Cortez siblings aren’t slouches either.” Mrs. Hamilton said primly. Her eyes were on the light reflected off of Huang Li’s wo dao.

Out on the arena, the Order Ducis member raised his hand. “Begin!”

Mrs. Hamilton’s hair was stirred by the sudden arrival of a breeze as Huang Li launched himself forward. An enormous maelstrom of invisible air began to stir around him and around the arena. And when Mrs. Hamilton didn’t look at the effect directly, she saw the flash of a scaled dragon slowly constricting in the area.