Chapter 72 - I Don't Think I Have Anything Left To Lose!

Aurora picked up Ruth and went inside the cave, she sat there with Ruth in her arms struggling with every breath, her complexion got pale, and her eyelids seemed a weight to her, barely able to focus on the light she could glance was touching Aaris standing in front her, protecting her.

Niran announced Cold Promotion against him, he had no remorse or regret for doing so, after how Aaris prioritized Ruth over him, the only thing that went into Niran's mind was to take the first rank.

"I hope you are ready, and I prefer you don't hold back."  Niran freed his mana in his body and the air around his body started glowing lightly in a golden tint.

"Yup, come at me whenever you want." Aaris took his stance and rigged his body with his mana.

"Before our fight, let's place a bet against Rise," Niran smirked.

"What kind of bet?" Aaris asked,

"Well, an honorable fight should always be fought on equal wages, you already decided to put everything aside and help Ruth, but I declared Cold Promotion, so I want to know if your ambitions are worthy or not." Niran cracked his finger and uttered,

"What do you mean?" Aaris got interested, 

"I mean that if you lose, I obviously get the king status and you'll take Ruth to the coast, but what if you win? If you win against me then I will be the one to take Ruth to the coast, this way both of your wishes can come true, so tell me do you want to make a bet again?"  Niran taunted and raised his brow.

"Well then so be it!" Aaris clenched his fists.

-- Aurora - PoV --

I can't believe he is prepared to fight the crown prince and now both of them are ready to sacrifice their chance to get into Magus Academy.

"Auro- Aurora, whas… happenin?" Lady Ruth tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't and closed abruptly, her hands were getting colder and colder!

'Lady Ruth in your eyes! Stay with me, lady Ruth!'

Gods! And those who rule the upper realms! I beg your blessing on this child! Please save her!

***

"Here I come, Rise!"

[ GOLDEN FLAME ]

[ AURUM ARMOR ] [ Ist - Form ]

The whole body of Niran started to scorch in golden colored flames, and then simmered to his arm and lower legs, encircling his collar bone and making the short cloak on his back.

The flames in his hands took the shape of a dragon claw and flames on his legs like dragon's calves, while his cloak somewhat appeared like closed wings of dragon's.

"Out of all the guys! I have to fight a fucking half, nope a quarter human - dragon…" Aaris simply channeled his mana creating a thin armor under his skin.

"Lady Ruth, open your eyes! " Aurora screeched, 

And something clicked in Aaris's mind.

-- Aaris - PoV --

This voice! Does something happen to Ruth?

Damn, I have to make this quick but,

Even if I fight Niran, I don't know if I can win or not, but if I go all out and lose, then I won't be able to take Ruth then!

'So this how you want to play you, shitty gods?' 

I don't think Niran will like this, but I should put on a little act I think…

Aaris condensed his mana and oozed a strong ominous pressure.

'Let's just get over it.'

***

Feeling Aaris' aura both Aurora and Niran were stunned, every bit of it was nothing but felt like pain and grief, more of a blight than a blessing to live on.

"What is this feeling? The air around Rise suddenly got heavier and more ominous, this black lacquer surrounding his body is of a dead! But how's this possible?

living humans should have a green soothing aura around them, but both of them are nowhere around normal! 

While the Crown Prince is covered in the holy lustrous aura around like deities in the Spirit Realm possess, Rise is covered in the dead's aura. I have seen auras like a prince but Rise, he is alive right?" 

Aurora couldn't believe what she was seeing with her eyes.

Niran also was astounded for moments after feeling such and realized he didn't have any audacity to waste time.

Niran made his fist and leaped at Aaris, he was fast just a few feet away from him he noticed Aaris's eyes were following him, his fist flinched in doubt, 

But was able to thrash Aaris and the ground under his feet broke with force and Aaris crashed into a boulder far away.

-- Niran - PoV-- 

He was able to follow up with my attack, I could see his eyes tracking my moments! But why then?

Why then? He didn't fight back!

Even more, he was still smiling! 

I punched with my flame gauntlet on, I would've killed any other candidate with this, but as I expected he stood up again and taunted me with his hand.

I again leaped at him again, I was prepared for his counter but he just stood there following my moments, what the fuck is he trying to pull here? 

I swung my arm slower than before to check my doubt, and I was correct. He just stood there waiting for the punch and got his head pounded in the ground making a massive hole.

'RISE! Tell me one thing, what are you trying to pull here? You triggered your mana but did nothing but guard yourself against the impacts, why the hell you aren't attacking?' 

I walked into the hole where he was slowly trying to stand up, he strengthened his back and said nothing, but put back his arrogant smug again!

"Not fighting back? Who said that? Can't you see I am fighting for my life here!" He chuckled.

***

That was the moment Niran snapped,

''Then raise your fist!" Niran thrashed him with an uppercut and Aaris went like a shot in the air, 

"Fight me! Rise!" Niran jumped and out soared Aaris and kicked him in the gut, blood came out of Aaris's mouth and he was hauled down in that hole deeper.

Niran's flame cloak turned into the dragon wing in the mid-air and scorched brightly, he fluttered his wings once and scored in the sky, turned upside down glaring at Aaris, 

"If you have the audacity to mock me by not attacking me, then you should be able to survive this! If not, it was your fault to underestimate me, Rise Kier!" Niran uttered in annoyance and rage.

He flapped his wings and a loud wind burst echoed in the land of  Throne and he covered himself completely in frames and came down from the sky like a meteor landing straight on Aaris's chest.

The land around the hollow pit shuddered and a vast area turned into small pebbles and that pit that was just wide as water well at first became like a dried vast lake.

In the middle of that Aaris lay covered in blood and bruises, 

"Oye… don… don't you think...you overdid it? Is Ruth safe?" Aaris spoke in a low voice, his voice was cracking and blood came out with each of the words. Aaris solemnly uttered, 

"Look at you, are you in the state to worry about others? Well if you are concerned I covered the cave in my flames. They won't burn anything inside but turn everything into ashes that touch them from outside." Niran gazed down and squinted seeing him in this pathetic state.

"I see, isn't that a handy spell!" Aaris wide smile appeared again,

"You! Why didn't you fight back? Why did you wait for every attack you could've evaded them! I know you could but you took them straight on, you could've died you-" Niran got more furious but looking at him such weakened he swallowed his anger,

"I won't!" Aaris yelled suddenly giggling, "I won't die! I promised I'll save Ruth! After that, I'll think about dying later, if I die before that my mother will whoop my ass!" He started laughing.

"Guess you have decided on throwing everything away, then forgive me, I will end things sooner for you."

Niran tightened his fist and the flames scorched vigorously, he pulled Aaris by the collar and  raised him in the direction of the cave,

"Fight back you idiot!" Niran punched him in the face and Aaris was shot like a bullet to the flames in the cave and crashed into them. 

His back was sizzled but Niran extinguished before it turned Aaris in the ashes.

*Ping!*

Niran looked at his card,

_____

——» Niran Omer Aziehik has used the privilege  «—— 

——» Congratulations! «—— 

——» Niran Omer Azeihik has been promoted to King! «——

——» Total points -  264 points «—— 

______

Aaris fell down tarted, covered in blue bruises and blood, in front of the cave in front of Aurora, 

"Rise!" Aurora saw Aaris and was shook with fear and dismay, 

"Don't worry! I..am....fine… I don't think I have anything left to lose!" Aaris turned over and laughed.