Since the challenger came from the Sky Pavilion, it would be an away match. That is, the arena that would be used would be the Earth Arena..
The Earth Arena is in the Earth Pavilion.. A square field covered with coarse red sands that shimmer faintly under the overhead light, stretching across several yards. At the edge of the field were metallic poles, dull and worn from countless battles, which were connected to black reinforced ropes surrounding it while forming a ring..
Inside the ring stood one man... A young man with flowing blue robes that swayed slightly with the breeze, and his hands placed calmly behind his back..
This man is the Champion of the Sky Pavilion of the Northern Guild — Merkules..
He stood there unmoving, his posture straight and composed, as behind him were members of the Sky Pavilion, all dressed in blue robes, their expressions filled with anticipation as they prepared to witness this spectacular event.. The members of the Earth Pavilion were also present, their yellow robes forming a sharp contrast against the sea of blue..
It's not every day one gets to see fights between Champions.. So there were many audiences there, mostly the members of the Sky Pavilion and that of the Earth Pavilion, their murmurs blending into a low hum that filled the arena..
"Where's the champion of the Earth Pavilion?"
"Why isn't he out yet?"
"Don't tell me he won't come?"
"He can't.. It has been mandated by the system."
"If he doesn't come, it'll be an automatic defeat, and the Champion of the Sky Pavilion will win the match by default and take the token."
"Probably he already knows what the outcome will be and won't bother himself."
"Look over there.. The Son of Trueblood has arrived.."
All heads turned around as they all wanted to see the Son of Trueblood, who was draped in his yellow robe, the fabric loose yet distinct, which he wore atop his mechanical suit..
He wore a straight face as he walked towards the ring, his expression calm but distant, everyone present giving him space to pass as he proceeded forward without hesitation, his boots pressing into the red sand with each step..
Discussion resumed among the audience as they watched him enter the ring and stand opposite Merkules while gazing directly at him...
He didn't nod his head the way he did the first time, nor did he offer any greeting.. He just stared at Merkules face to face as if they were equal..
"Interesting.." Merkules clapped his hands lightly as a smile formed on his face.. "This is going to be interesting."
His voice caused everyone to remain silent as they watched him scrutinize Socrates with his gaze, sharp and probing..
"I thought you wouldn't show up and would allow me to get the token with ease." Merkules said to Socrates, who shook his head...
"You have a golden token too.. You should know how hard it is to acquire one.. Why should I just give it up easily?" Socrates asked angrily, his grip tightening slightly..
"Huh.. Yeah, I actually understand that.. The Golden Token is not an easy feat... But is it your doing? Aren't you also enjoying the benefits of the man that died by your own hands?" Merkules teased Socrates, his tone laced with mockery, as the anger in Socrates' mind rose up... A burst of emotions spiraled within him as he quickly pulled out both battle axes from his system inventory, the metal glinting under the arena light..
"I'll kill you.." Socrates cried out in a voice filled with raw emotions as he charged blindly at Merkules, his steps kicking up red sand, while Merkules gave out a sly smile.. His plan had worked, he had successfully instigated Socrates' emotions, blinding his judgment..
Now Socrates was fighting based on feelings and emotions, not calculation, which made him easier to deal with...
First Strike...
Socrates swung his axe wildly when he got into range, the weapon cutting through the air with force, but it was an overhead slash which Merkules dodged by taking a simple step back.. He followed up with a downward slash with the other axe, but the Champion of the Sky Pavilion sidestepped calmly with both hands still behind his back, his movements precise and effortless..
"You don't dare talk about Mr. Jaggers in front of me.." Socrates said as he turned to the direction Merkules sidestepped to and swung his axe there, but instead of slicing through Merkules' body, it met the empty air instead..
"Is that his name? Mr. Jaggers... He's such a fool.." Merkules whispered into Socrates' ear from behind.. How he got behind Socrates, the warrior didn't know, but that wasn't his concern..
He's being broken, not physically but emotionally... and that weighed far deeper than anything....
"I'll kill you.. I'll destroy you.." He turned around and started swinging, cursing wildly as he launched strike after strike of attack, his movements growing more erratic, but all of them were missing Merkules by narrow inches..
It was as if Merkules was toying with him as they circled the ring for more than a dozen times, the Champion of the Sky Pavilion having both hands behind him while Socrates attacked with heavy emotional weight, his breaths growing rough..
"The foolish man got an opportunity everyone here could die for.. The heavens favored him, and he got the opportunity to become a Cultivator... He knew if he condensed his energy, he'd be alive, and he had no choice but to kill you... SO HE CHOSE TO ALLOW HIS ENERGY TO BURN JUST TO PROTECT A TRASH LIKE YOU.. THE GREATEST LOOPHOLE EVER WHICH CAUSED A TRASH LIKE YOU TO BE HERE... YOU DON'T FIT TO BE HERE..."
Merkules' words sank deep into Socrates' mind as they broke him completely emotionally, the echoes reverberating in his head as he stood there and cried to the heavens...
"Aaaah..." His voice tore into the sky as his skin started emitting an orange glow.. The temperature of his body was rising rapidly as faint sparks of electricity began flashing in his eyes, unstable and violent..
"Don't dare talk about Mr. Jaggers that way... I'll kill you.." Socrates cried as he activated [Steam Burst] at once...
Bursting out in one swift motion, the ground beneath him cracking slightly from the force, as he struck out with both axes at once while flying in the air, his speed visibly increasing..
'He's fast..' Merkules' eyes widened for the first time as he had to release his energy, concentrating it into his legs while jumping backward instantly..
The axes cleaved the ground where he once stood, splitting the red sand apart and raising a cloud of dust that momentarily obscured the view..
Socrates didn't hesitate as he pulled out both weapons and dashed towards him in an instant, his figure slicing through the settling dust..
This time, Merkules didn't dodge but welcomed Socrates with a counterattack..
Socrates jumped into the air and came down with a downward strike, but Merkules stopped his momentum by grabbing the two axes with his bare hands..
This caused a gasp to escape Socrates' mouth as he didn't expect his momentum to be stopped so easily, the impact dispersing into nothing within Merkules' firm grip..
"You've fooled around for a while now, Boy... Let me show you what true power really is..." Merkules said as he exerted strength into his right leg and then initiated a kick...
Every part of Socrates screamed for him to run... To find a way to escape this place....
To abandon his weapon and move, but there was no way for him as the right foot of Merkules had already connected into his stomach before he could even make a decision..
The force pulled him back dangerously into the air as his body skidded without control, tearing through the ring as he was launched meters away... The crowd gave way instinctively as they watched him fall to the ground yards away from the ring, his body bouncing once, then tumbling again while kicking up clouds of dust before finally landing flat on his stomach...
Socrates' eyes almost rolled in from where he lay as he tried to get up, his fingers digging into the sand, but his body refused to move..
All his body went numb due to one attack... His weapon had already flown out of his grip — stuck in only God knows where...
As he lay on the floor, the force of the hit crashing down on him and pinning him there, he realized something..
'He's strong... Very, very strong... and I can't beat him.'