Chapter 129: Enraged Lioness

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After Irauk's abrupt actions, both he and surrounding folks widened their eyes in shock. While he meant to deal with the youth, he didn't intend for this odd situation to occur. Before his very eyes, both Apollo and Sapphyr's lips locked.

Similarly, standing next to the two, Teresa was stupefied. The situation had undergone an abrupt turn of events. Not only did the atmosphere turn awkward, Sapphyr started to hyperventilate, knocking Apollo into the distance, only to be caught by the cackling Irauk.

"Ahahaha, you've gone and kissed that fiery woman? I must say, my youth you have balls!" Irauk laughed boisterously, slapping his knee the process. However, Apollo's countenance darkened into a frown.

Due to Irauk's action, Sapphyr was left staring daggers at him with eyes screaming bloody murder. All things considered, from the way her childhood transpired, this was essentially her first kiss. Although it was accidental, her thoughts weren't exactly rational.

"Damn! What do you mean? This is all your fault, you idiot!" Apollo bellowed to Irauk, turning his head to the side, "I had no intention! Look at my forehead, you did this! You're the cause of it."

"Oh whatsoever do you mean? Little ol' me is innocent," Irauk shrugged, ending his words with a wink. In response, Apollo could only stare at him incredulously. Frankly speaking, he was beginning to regret ever meeting this man.

Meanwhile, Sapphyr rose to her feet with a frigid gaze, "You two idiots! It's always you two! One can't stop causing mayhem while the other is ridiculously childish. I've had enough!" She screeched, withdrawing a silver rapier with a polished gold quillon and loop guard. It seemed to be a staple in the Braum Family as all of the female offspring were taught to wield it with stellar skills.

"Oh? It looks like you have enraged the irrational temper in that lioness. I'll leave this matter up to you," Irauk grinned, distancing himself from the confusion. While he retreated, Sapphyr advanced with lightning-quick movements.

In light of this, all Apollo could do was frown. This wasn't his doing and yet he would have to deal with the repercussions. In the future, should he get the chance, he would definitely remember this ordeal. 'I will repay you for this Irauk,' Apollo thought to himself, glancing at Irauk giddy expression.

Unfortunately, he couldn't avert his attention for long. With a single step, Sapphyr had appeared before him, thrusting her rapier. Despite the sharp momentum and her unbridled rage, she didn't aim for his vitals. Instead, it seemed as if she wanted to poke him full of holes.

Thus, Apollo was left on this defensive. Against her precise torrent of simple thrusts, all he could do was defend. However, that didn't abstain him from suffering damage. In fact, because of his hasty preparations and using his arms to guard, innumerable nicks could be seen littering his arms.

At a glance, however, one could tell Sapphyr was holding back and simply venting her anger on the lad. With every move, she repressed the use of Natural Essence, using pure strength but that coupled with the grade of her weapon was still a force to be reckoned with.

'Damn...why is she so angry? That was MY first kiss, not to mention, I haven't even had my coming of age rite yet. I should be the angry one, not her,' Apollo mentally grumbled, sucking in a sharp breath with the appearance of each new cut.

"Dammit! Have you had enough yet?" Apollo scowled, frowning at her relentless barrage. Even though he tried utilizing his technique, he came to realize she could keep up effortlessly. Against an opponent of this standard, it was useless for him to try to retreat nor retaliate.

'Is the disparity this large? Come to think of it, I don't even know her standard of body cultivation. The fact she's using her body to keep up with my technique means that she should be at the least tens of times stronger than me. The current level of my Partial Shade Silhouette doubles my speed at the minimum,' Apollo thought, estimating the difference in their strengths.

While in thought, an alarm rang in his head, prompting him to hastily lean back. When he did so, Sapphyr's rapier passed against his face, "Shut up, this is your fault. So, just remain quiet and accept your beating. Based on Xezym's words, you should be good at healing, so this much is enough!"

After her growl, Apollo fell quiet but signs of anger appeared on him. In accordance, his emotions seething caused the immediate space, 2 centimeters away from him to boil. Shortly after, the film surrounding his body seemed to alter as his eyes grew crimson. Despite trying to control it, his anger was getting the best of him.

Irauk's eyebrows raised when he noticed this change. 'I'll intervene, I don't like that fluctuation emitting from the boy. It seems the damage he's suffering is causing some unforeseen mental problems. Not to mention, back then I already determine he possessed both dark and fiery tendencies. In my absence… they may have grown.'

'Whoosh!'

Unable to sit on the sidelines any longer, Irauk made his move. Appearing before the two with a trail of flames, he placed his left index finger on the tip of Sapphyr's rapier catching it and the other on Apollo's forehead.

"Okay, okay, simmer down now. Both of you are getting too riled up. Control your emotions lest you alert some existences in this place that prove to be rather annoying," Irauk chided in, alternating his gaze between the two.

It took some time but Apollo's anger diminished. Fortunately, in his case, the revolution of the crystal in his mind contributed to the mitigation of the overwhelming emotions but unlike the previous times, there was a foreign emotion mixed in.

'Fear? What was I scared of? No...it wasn't my fear. This must have something to do with opening my temple. If I'm not mistaken, I believe fear is the inverse of anger. Together, they should complete Ira but then...what does Ira fear?' Apollo pondered, falling into deep thought.

"Are you decent now?" Irauk asked, glancing at Sapphyr's whose eyes still contained traces of vexation.

"Yes, leave me alone. Go take that boy to register and get out of my sight!" Sapphyr scoffed, waving her arm and leaving the premise. As he felt her emotions, Xezym trailed behind her.

Only after reaching a suitable distance did Xezym offer his thoughts. "My Lady… why did you target the boy and not Irauk?" Xezym questioned, arriving by Sapphyr's side, however, for awhile she didn't respond, her eyes seeming vacant. As a result, Xezym continued, "Is it because he stole your first kiss?"

A small rection to this sentence took place, Sapphyr lifting her head, "Yes and also because I can't do anything to Irauk. You don't know it… but that man never shows his true strength. That playful appearance hides a strength that is just nonsensical. Don't you remember that incident in the past?"

"Ah, that's right… He was the one who saved you, wasn't he? How could I forget this matter; my apologies, my Lady," Xezym nodded, bowing his head. The conversation between the two ceased as she relocated to the area the examination would take place, there were still some mandatory duties she needed to fulfill. 

Meanwhile, Irauk dragged Apollo to the same general area, just a different section, "Oi, you got what you deserved. How dare you lie to me. You did indeed hail from a small noble family! I have been surveilling you this entire time. You came with a group of 12 you imbecile," Irauk muttered, digging his knuckled into Apollo's head.

"Damn, what the hell? Let go of me!" Apollo groaned, trying his darndest to escape from Irauk's grasp vice grip. Of course, his actions were to no avail. He only released his when they arrived before a sea of people. 

Located before their very eyes was an expansive coliseum construct spanning farther than the eyes could see. Inside were innumerable platforms for countless battles to take place on. Additionally, half of the area was cordoned off and resembled that of a grandiose labyrinth.

Alongside this was another edifice but it seemed more like a tower than anything else. In front were 6 extensive lines spanning thousands of yards.

"That tower is where you will register and conduct your exams and inside that coliseum over there is will you will undergo the combat section of the trials. I wish you luck, I have other matters to attend to," Irauk winked, catching wind of a few people approaching Apollo's general direction.

In a flash, Irauk disappeared, leaving the shocked Apollo. Ogling at the buildings, a flash of memories belonging to someone else flashed in his mind, 'What a grand palace. It seems multiple battles took place there.'

"Apollo!" A voice called out to him.