As the tournant carried on, each clash seed to raise the intensity, with fighters continuously stepping up to prove their worth. Jack observed in silence, his keen eyes scanning the arena. Faces familiar and unfamiliar passed through his gaze, their skills cataloged and noted for future reference.
'These are all potential threats,' he thought, a faint smirk touching his lips. 'Enemies I'll need to eliminate quickly… but there's no rush. Let's see how they handle themselves here, and then we'll see on the planes.'
The next bout caught his attention. Luther's voice bood, echoing across the stone walls. "Kenny Hefferson of the Kingdom Ciriaus versus Norman of Eloria—the kingdom of alchemists!"
Two figures stepped forward toward the platform. The murmurs from the spectators swelled into a mixture of dread and curiosity.
"Kenny Hefferson?" one of the Elorian alchemists whispered, eyebrows furrowed. "Isn't he one of the Duke's infamous twins, the one they call the 'Child of Flas'?"
"Heh, not quite," his friend laughed in reply, giving a dismissive wave. "This one's the younger brother. They call him the 'Clumsy Ice,' and it's not just a nickna. He's nothing compared to his twin. Look over there."
He pointed toward a figure standing near Arin, soone with fiery red hair and a cold, distant stare. It was Umbra Hefferson—the Child of Flas himself—towering at an impressive height and projecting an intimidating aura. He watched his brother with an air of disdain, lips curled in a sneer as Kenny climbed the platform.
The disdain in Umbra's voice was unmistakable. "What a disgrace," he muttered, loud enough for Arin to hear. "He shas our family just by standing there."
Arin, always quick to judge, added with equal venom, "The Duke should've disowned him. Look at him—weak, trembling." His lip curled in contempt. "Why even show up?"
The weight of their scorn hung heavy in the air, and Jack caught the exchange, his eyes narrowing as he watched Kenny's struggle. For a mont, he almost pitied him.
'A lost soul, clinging to the hope of acceptance,' Jack mused, though his sympathy was tinged with irritation. 'How pitiful to live for soone else's approval.'
anwhile, the alchemists from Eloria exchanged smug looks. "At last," one of them crowed, "an easy win. Kenny doesn't stand a chance. Norman even brought his puppet!"
Their confidence was evident; this fight was already won in their minds. As the two fighters reached the center of the platform, Norman cast a respectful glance toward Kenny, though his tone betrayed the inevitability of his own victory.
"Kenny, I know of your… reputation," he said, choosing his words carefully. "But I'm afraid I can't hold back. My kingdom's honor is at stake."
Kenny's face tightened. He looked down, his white hair falling over his eyes, concealing the sting of humiliation. "Do what you must," he muttered, barely eting Norman's gaze. But the words tasted bitter as he swallowed his fear.
"Very well." Norman reached into his cloak and pulled out a crystal, crushing it between his fingers with a practiced ease. The crystal's shards floated, swirling in an arcane dance before assembling on the ground to form an array that glowed with ethereal brilliance. And from that light erged a puppet—a sleek, humanoid figure with a polished black tallic surface.
The puppet, Tenabaus, stood almost as tall as its master, its form gleaming in the sunlight. Embedded within its fra were several crystals, each positioned to channel and store energy in an optimal, deadly balance.
Norman wasted no ti. "Tenabaus! Attack!" he ordered, his voice carrying an edge of command.
With a whirr of machinery and a hiss of released mana, the puppet charged toward Kenny, moving with an unnerving grace and speed. Kenny's heart thundered in his chest as he raised his hands, focusing his trembling mana to summon an ice spell.
'Stay calm,' he told himself, breathing deeply to focus his energy. With a shout, he ford a small, jagged spike of ice in his palm.
"[Ice Spike]!" he cried, hurling it with all his might toward the advancing puppet.
The spike flew straight, shimring with the faint light of weak mana. But as it struck Tenabaus's tal surface, it shattered into harmless shards, barely scratching the puppet's armor.
Undeterred, Tenabaus lifted its hand, a hole opening in its palm. A red glow emanated from the core embedded within, gathering power. Then, with a fierce hum, it released a blast—a beam of pure red energy that seared through the air toward Kenny.
Kenny barely managed to leap to the side, landing in a heap as the beam streaked past him, leaving a scorched hole in the wall far behind.
'Damn it! That thing's quick!' he cursed silently, pushing himself back up. He stole a glance at Norman, searching for a weakness. 'If I can get to him… take him out, maybe I have a shot.'
His plan was short-lived. Before he could even complete the thought, Tenabaus had closed the distance, landing a brutal punch to Kenny's gut. The force of the blow sent him sprawling backward, his body skidding painfully across the rough platform.
Norman's voice rang out confidently, tinged with pride. "Alchemists may not be warriors, but we know how to make our creations fight. Tenabaus here is both a combat and mage-type puppet, upgraded with the finest materials." His eyes glead with satisfaction as his puppet struck Kenny again, sending him tumbling like a ragdoll.
Jack watched in fascination, his system window flashing an analysis of Tenabaus's specs.
**[Tenabaus: Monster Slayer, Mage Type – B-Rank]**
**[Weapon Mastery: Enchanter]**
Jack's eyes widened. 'An enchanter-level weapon master?' he marveled. 'I'd never have guessed… that kind of power in a puppet.'
On the ground, Kenny struggled to rise, his body bruised and bloodied, his spirit battered. He cast a desperate glance at his brother, hoping for a hint of encouragent, but all he received was a glare of contempt.
'So this is how it ends,' he thought, a pang of sorrow piercing his chest. 'All I wanted was to prove I wasn't worthless… just once.'
The puppet lifted its leg, ready to deliver the finishing blow. But as the foot ca crashing down, sothing in Kenny snapped. A surge of defiance flared within him. With a wild shout, he ford a spike of ice and hurled it, not at Tenabaus, but at Norman himself.
The projectile flew fast and true, carrying Kenny's desperation. Norman's eyes widened in shock, but he acted quickly, slipping on a glove embedded with protective runes. He raised his hand, conjuring a shield just as the spike hit, its impact creating a spiderweb of cracks across the barrier.
Norman breathed a sigh of relief, clutching his chest as the shield faded. "That… was close," he admitted, a flicker of fear breaking his calm deanor.
But Kenny's hopes crumbled. His final attempt had failed, and with it, his spirit. He sank to his knees, tears pooling in his eyes as Tenabaus readied another attack. But before it could strike, Fred activated his array from the sidelines, a quick override command halting the puppet mid-motion.
"An override?" Norman murmured in surprise, casting a respectful nod toward Fred, who remained seated with the other inspectors. Relieved, he made his way down the platform, casting one last glance at the defeated Kenny.
Kenny lay still for a few monts, gathering the shattered pieces of his pride. Slowly, he rose to his feet and walked back to his group, his head down, his heart heavy with sha.
"Useless," Umbra muttered as Kenny passed by, his voice cold and cutting.
Luther stepped up, clearing his throat to regain the audience's attention. "That concludes the round… but wait, one more match remains. Asriel.... From?!"
The crowd fell silent, exchanging curious glances. "From where?" Luther muttered, confused as he glanced at his list. But before Jack could respond, the large figure who stood behind him moved toward Luther, whispering in his ear. Luther's eyes widened briefly, but he nodded in understanding.
"The final match," he announced, "Asriel versus Alisha Marie of the Church!"
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