Chapter 98: Cerion versus Arcellus

Chapter 98: Cerion versus Arcellus

I sat down next to Cerion, lowering my body tiredly, exhausted after that last match. I closed my eyes and breathed out, relieving some of the pent-up stress that the last match had left me with.

Cerion didnt feel like leaving me to my thoughts, though.

What the hell was that, Art? he whispered.

I huffed, affronted. I just got mad, is all. She knows me from somewhere and mentioned my parents bakery in one of her taunts. I was already wound up from her more childish comments, and that one pushed me over the edge.

Cerion sighed and shook his head.

That didnt look like just got mad to me, though. You were acting like a madman, letting her attack you like that without defending yourself he chastised.

Seeing his point, I stayed silent. I had to admit that on some level, I had given her the edge when I gave in to my affinity fueled simmering rage. At the same time, I had learned a lot from this experiment in mental backseating. For one, the dark affinity really did turn you into a story-like villain. For another, there were certain aspects of my skills that I had been missing out on, or worse, subconsciously ignoring, for a while now. All of these issues needed to be addressed sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, meditation would have to wait, since the next matches would all be important ones I couldnt afford to miss.

The next match would decide who I would face in the semi-finals, though it was all but assured that Gaius the monk would overpower his nameless opponent in minutes, if not seconds. As Gaius left the stands to prepare for his match, I heard Karon talk to him with a strange tone.

Good luck with your match, Gaius. I wonder if your record can even be beaten at this point Are you still hoping to win a match in fewer than 12 seconds? Karon asked politely, almost kindly. From the glint in his eyes, I could tell he was up to something.

Gaius, instead of ignoring him, gave him a polite response. Im not sure, mercenary Karon. Though my previous record might sound impressive, I believe some of the other categories might beat it. he said hu,bly, though the competitive pride was apparent on his face. With that said, the monk left the stands and headed to his waiting area.

Still confused, but having sensed that something was up, I decided to ask the politically savvy Cerion for clarification. Karons sudden change in attitude just didnt make any sense. He didnt strike me as the type to strike up a conversation with a stranger for no reason.

Why do you think Karon did that? It seems out of character for him

Hearing my question, Cerion hummed non committedly.

To break his own record, Gaius would have to pull out all of the stops. Karons calculating enough to rouse that monks competitive spirit, on the off-chance he faces him in the finals.

Arcellus skills were powerful, but Cerions defensive waves were tough to surpass. This, combined with Arcellus unwillingness to dodge any incoming attacks, led to a standstill.

The announcer, too, was getting a little excited, commenting on every change in tactic. Eventually, though, this was all bound to come to a head.

Sure enough, a few minutes of fighting later, the battle petered out and the mist cleared. Both fighters were staring each other down and snarling. Even Arcellus had gotten riled up, presumably by the ineffectiveness of his own skills.

They were getting ready to end the fight, I could tell. Slowly, the sun started to brighten on one side, while clouds formed on the other. The localized weather effect appeared in tandem with the flames that Arcellus emitted from all of his orifices and the tide that had formed around Cerion, lifting him into the air.

Though the barrier prevented the immense heat from leaking to the stands, the shimmering in the arenas air was enough to make me remember the feeling of my burning skin when I had last been exposed to the domain.

I flinched, expecting Cerion to pass out like he did last time. Instead, he held on somehow. The water around him refused to evaporate and covered him like a cloak. More and more of it flooded into the arena, refusing to turn into steam and gathering around my friend. I watched in awe as the water responded to his will and formed a giant eastern drake made out of water.

The imposing creature roared in the face of Arcellus sun-blessed form, as if refusing to die.

I cackled gleefully. The bastard had hidden this skill from me in case we came face to face!

Arcellus roared and formed a giant sun with both hands in reply, before starting to compress it. Cerions drake formed a ball of water in its jaws to match it.

Then, they pointed their creation at each other. The orbs turned into streams of their respective element, giant beams of power that rushed to meet each other in the middle.

The two skills met, and the resulting explosion caused the barrier to shimmer with color as it was supplied with more mana by its creators. The blast had scared most spectators into covering their eyes, but I continued to stare as water met fire and the two forces threatened to destroy each other. When both skills finally fizzled out, I couldnt yet see how it had ended.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the verdict.

As the dust finally settled, the victor became clear. Arcellus stood on one side of the arena, heaving from the extension and with a bloody laceration running along on his chest. I stared wide-eyed, as, on the other side of the arena, Cerions smoking, unconscious body dropped to the floor.

After a long moment of silence, the announcer was the first to recover.

... It- it seems that Peter Arcellus has won the match! Arcellus is going to the semi-finals!