“CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT INTO THE TOP EIGHT.” Brendu appeared out of nowhere. I’m on my way to our stand. I’m surprised, I didn’t expect to find her halfway there.
“Thanks.” I reply with a big smile as I return her hug. “Why aren’t you with the others? Did something happen?” I ask, quite intrigued.
“No, nothing happened, you were just taking too long, so I decided to come look for you.” I understand her concern. I stayed talking with Reynal for almost ten minutes about his constructs and fighting style, I got some good ideas to give Arisa a few recommendations.
“Sorry, I was exchanging advice with my new acquaintance.” I answer. Brendu looks at me with a bit of suspicion, then shrugs and moves on.
“Let’s hurry, Humyr’s fight is about to start.” She grabs my hand firmly and pulls me along, we both run toward the stand. We can’t miss this match, we need to support him, this fight will be very difficult for him.
“Damn it! This doesn’t look good!” Shawu is squeezing my arm with a lot of force, I have to reinforce my body to dull the pain. She was doing the same to Brendu and in the end they sent her with me because I can heal myself.
Shawu’s concern is obvious, not just in her, but in everyone in this room. We knew how difficult it would be for Humyr to defeat Saule, almost impossible, but we didn’t think it would be this one-sided.
Humyr is holding on very well so far, his affinity with metal and his great control over Imra turn him into a wall that’s hard to break, his defenses are impressive, but in front of that powerful spear they look like fragile barriers.
My friend is giving everything he has to not fall without a fight, his great axe is blocking as many thrusts as possible, unfortunately he can’t block everything that’s coming. The spear moves at a ridiculous speed, the speed of light affinity is several levels above.
Saule isn’t giving him any opening to properly defend or find a chance to counterattack. The limit breaker is always positioned in the exact place and perfect moment to have the advantage over Humyr.
For the first time I see Saule frown during a fight, my friend’s efforts are paying off and the battle is dragging on longer and longer.
Humyr isn’t just a defensive wall that’s hard to break, his mind is an unbreakable wall as well, as long as he can keep fighting he will stand until the very last moment. He’s one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met when it comes to fighting.
Saule, slightly thrown off by how tough Humyr is, makes a small mistake in his thrust, the positioning wasn’t as perfect as it could have been. Humyr isn’t a novice, he has plenty of combat experience and recognized the mistake at a glance, he knows he can’t let this opportunity pass.
Humyr’s axe, which carries steel mana that expands in all directions, allowing it to block like a shield. That same mana forms a massive and powerful blade meant to cut through everything in its path.
Saule is equally a prodigy with the spear, a boost from his strengthening ability and an agile movement place him in a somewhat stable stance to receive Humyr’s attack. Both weapons collide, the impact clearly has a winner—Humyr.
The weight and strength of my friend were enough to push Saule’s spear, the limit breaker doesn’t stay still, he uses his mana to give even more momentum to the axe. It might seem like a foolish idea, but it isn’t, the axe continues its path and sinks into the ground, carving a massive trench.
That quick reaction and proper response leave Humyr without a weapon as well. My friend doesn’t waste time, he adapts immediately and doesn’t hesitate. A massive punch reinforced with Imra, steel mana and everything he has goes straight toward Saule’s face, even though he tries to avoid it, he can’t move in time and the blow sends him several steps back.
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Humyr tries to keep the momentum, but Saule doesn’t allow it, a massive spear of light mana shoots toward Humyr, almost piercing his chest. Another yellow spear made almost entirely of light mana, the same size as his weapon, appears in his hands.
Saule’s face is bloodied, his nose is in an awkward position, but even in that state he is still in much better condition than Humyr.
Humyr has been taking damage since the beginning of the fight, he has deep cuts all over his body, one of his eyes is closed due to the blood flowing from a large wound on his forehead.
Saule goes all out, becoming even faster than before and several light spears appear surrounding Humyr, the latter tries to protect himself by creating several mini steel walls.
“It’s over…” Shawu murmurs softly.
She’s right, a light covers Humyr’s body to prevent further injuries. The light spears were too much for him, he couldn’t stop the first wave and one pierced his stomach, then another his leg and so on until he was eliminated.
“You don’t look sad.” Areci, who came to hug her friend, comments, she looks a bit shaken.
“I’m not. Humyr gave everything he had, he never lowered his arms and tried until the very end.” Shawu forces a smile. I can see it in her eyes, her words are true, but there are still traces of sadness.
“In one round it’ll be your turn, you need to push yourself at least as much as he did.” Brendu hugs Shawu from behind.
Humyr opens the door to the stand and his expression is the complete opposite of what we expected. He’s smiling from ear to ear, he doesn’t look sad at all.
We all freeze for a moment when we see Humyr with his hands on his hips striking a proud pose. I’m the first to speak. “Aren’t you sad? What am I supposed to do with all the encouraging words I prepared?”
“Not at all, I have no reason to be sad.” His answer only confuses us more.
“Didn’t you see that hit? I felt like I broke his nose and several bones in his face.” Humyr says proudly. “I know I’m not weak, but I never thought I could push a genius destined to reach the top like that, not yet, everything will change from Ruby rank onward.” His fierce smile appears.
I’m glad not to see Humyr sad, it doesn’t suit his personality at all. He always tries to stay positive and this is a clear example.
“Maki.” He continues, everyone looks at me when I’m mentioned. “Now I understand the people who fight you, they must feel powerless, you even defeat them without giving your all. I’ll hit you hard if you lose without trying your best, you’re forbidden from holding back in future fights.”
His words touch something inside me, even bringing back memories from my past life that I had buried or forgotten. Twice someone picked a fight with me after a championship, those two people felt humiliated not because they lost, but because I didn’t give my all, not seeing them as rivals hurt their pride deeply.
This case is a bit different, back then it happened during my most arrogant phase when I never greeted or thanked anyone in competitions. The second time was a turning point, even my uncle scolded me for my behavior.
I’m not holding back to humiliate my opponents, but to see them give their best and put on a good show, but Humyr is right, I need to stop holding back at certain moments. Playing around in my last match almost cost me the fight.
“I’m not going to lose to anyone in this tournament, get ready to see me with the trophy in my hands.” I reply with a big smile. “I’ll try not to hold back in the next matches… No, I’ll be forced not to hold back and I won’t disappoint you.” Everyone at this stage is exceptional.
“That’s what I wanted to hear, my friend.” He extends his fist. I stand up, walk toward him with a big smile and bump my fist with his.
The rest of our friends stand up and rush toward us, coming at full speed until we can’t hold them and we fall to the ground. Laughter echoes throughout the room.
The next match was much more even and exciting, the participants of this tournament are truly special, I haven’t seen anyone weak, they’re all capable of fighting monsters a grade above.
“Give Charles a good beating, you need to scare him a bit.” Areci winks at Shawu as she sees her off.
“I’m very motivated, Charles better be careful.” Shawu replies with a big smile, they hug tightly.
We all give her words of encouragement before sending her off to her match. Out of everyone here, excluding Areci and me, Shawu is the one with the highest chance of putting a limit breaker in trouble, if you’re not careful with her, you’ll regret it.
Shawu is already in the arena with her daggers, her gaze is fixed and serious, completely different from her usual personality. Charles looks focused and locked onto his opponent, he’s not taking Shawu lightly, he also knows what she’s capable of.