Chapter 43
Participating students sat on their thrones, waiting for Round 1 to start.
Jessa stood in front of the arena holding the mic.
"Round 1 combatants, please proceed to the arena."
Honoured Two, Mors, stood and walked over to the arena.
Riley was about to stand.
"Brother, be careful," said concerned Sreya, who sat at the 3rd throne beside Merlin.
Merlin also looked concerned but couldn't bring herself to show it.
"I'll be careful," said Riley with a warm smile. He rose from his seat and walked to the arena, his sword tied to his waist brushing against his sleeve.
Even with his reassurance, the concern wasn't lifted. Both Sreya and Merlin were nervous for Riley.
Simon was also nervous, but for entirely different reasons.
Lisa sat calm, and so did Lugh—leaning against the throne, one leg over the other. Elegant.
Riley stood in the field. Across from him stood Mors.
"One more thing. The safety of the audience is guaranteed, as not only multiple layers of barriers are protecting them, but more barriers will be put around the arena to keep the spells under control," announced Jessa.
Barriers formed around them, grabbing Riley's attention.
"It's pretty."
While Jessa blabbered on about the rules, the rankers' side remained unbothered.
"Lisa, aren't you worried about Riley?" asked Lugh nonchalantly.
"Why should I be? Am I his lover or something?" answered Lisa just as nonchalantly.
Merlin's head snapped toward her in shock, then quickly turned back.
Sreya chuckled at Merlin's cute reaction.
"It's you who should be worried. He's your friend," said Lisa.
"Why should I worry about someone who doesn't need it?" replied Lugh.
"I agree. And that's why I don't feel concern," stated Lisa.
Sreya smiled at their sibling-like argument, but then a realization hit her.
(Did he intentionally lead the topic to distract us? To relieve our nervousness?)
Lisa sighed. "Well, I don't understand if their armor is just cosmetics. It's so flashy."
"Flashy?" An idea came to Lugh's mind.
"With all of that info out of the way, it's time to finally start the ma—"
Lugh shouted over Jessa.
"RILEY!"
The stadium went silent.
Jessa groaned like a frustrated cat.
Riley turned back, focused.
"GIVE US A FLASHY START!" exclaimed Lugh.
Riley smirked.
"WHATEVER! JUST BEGIN THIS STUPID MATCH!" screamed Jessa in confusion.
Mors created an army of stone golems, covering half the field.
"Go!" With his order, a golem marched toward Riley at full speed.
Sreya gasped.
Lugh sat in chilling calm.
Hero Alexi smiled.
The rushing golem charged its giant stone fist. In response, Riley held up his arm, palm facing the golem.
The stone golem struck Riley with immense force and speed—and went past him. Its stone feet grinded against the concrete floor.
Mors looked flabbergasted as Riley drew back his arm. Crumbled parts of the stone hand lay at Riley's feet.
Mors clicked his tongue before ordering the golem to strike again.
The golem turned back, rushing Riley from behind.
As it came within range, Riley struck the golem with the back of his fist without even turning around. The golem crumbled.
"That's just one golem! There's more where that came from!"
All the golems activated and rushed toward him.
In response, Riley took a step.
A step heavy enough to leave a small crater—
A step strong enough to generate a force that crumbled the entire golem army, sending chunks of boulder airborne.
Mors's eyes protruded with shock.
Lugh smirked.
Sreya smiled.
Merlin stared in awe.
Lisa was flabbergasted.
The hero gritted his teeth.
For Riley, everything slowed down, as if time itself obeyed his will.
The falling boulders slowed as he took a stance.
"Flashy start? I'll give you one hell of a start," exclaimed Riley before kicking a boulder, hitting Mors square in the face.
Mors flew back as blood spewed from his nose and mouth. Unconscious.
The hero party froze in shock.
Lugh simply sat as he was.
Lisa—who knew the outcome—was still taken aback.
Sreya smiled in relief.
Merlin sighed.
The audience was speechless.
"Miss Jessa, I believe the victory is decided," Riley's voice sliced through the silence.
Jessa, regaining her composure, announced Riley as the winner of the first round.
…
Lucious sat impressed in the VIP seating.
"He's quite strong and talented… his potential is very high too. Intriguing."
"He's Lugh's friend. One he trusts deeply," said Aria.
"What did you say his name was?" asked Lucious.
"Riley… Riley Kerma," she answered.
"Kerma!? … Interesting… I might have seen him a few times with Lugh, but I can't really remember," murmured Lucious.
"But one thing's for certain. He deserves the name Sourceless Swordsman. It Fits him perfectly—
even more so than that other title I've heard.
Riley Kerma."
.
.
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