The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 288 : The price of understimating your oponent (II)

Cainʼs presence became more and more notable as people began to focus on him, and soon, everybody in the amphitheater could see his figure. There was a calm expression on his face as he stared at Jeremy, not bothered with mockery or disdain.

Now that he had evolved to Wave Champion, he was capable of physical feats much greater than before, and he could perform Void State to a much higher degree.

Jeremy trembled momentarily before a sensation of rage and embarrassment filled his heart. He had been boasting all this time about Cain being too afraid to show up while the man was right in front of him, but he could not see this one.

The Blood Championʼs face twisted, and he seemed ready to jump toward Cain and shred this one to pieces, but the battle had yet to start.

There was a small spherical drone above the platform. It was a simple artifact that would act as the referee of the battle. Since it was a machine, there was no danger of bias, and everybody could trust the result.

”Jeremy Samsan. Are you ready?”

Usually, the machine would have made the question the moment both fighting entered the platform, but Jeremy did not stop talking.

”I am!”

When the machine heard Jeremyʼs answer, its hundred mechanical eyes turned toward Cain.

”Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?”

Cain did not immediately answer the question but instead turned toward Bloodless #1 in the distance.

”What are the rules about murder in the Blood Champion Final Tournament?”

It confused Bloodless #1 since it was something Cain should have already known. Still, the powerhouses answered.

”The battles will end when one side surrenders or is unconscious. You can continue attacking until one of those criteria is met. If you murder your opponent before that, then it would not break the tournament rules.”

Bloodless #1 did not shout, but his voice echoed across the amphitheater, ensuring everybody would hear it.

Cain nodded and turned toward Jeremy with eyes bursting with red light.

Jeremy trembled as he saw that red light and almost jumped back like a scared cat. The shame only kept increasing, and thinking about the way people would start to see him made his fury grow even more potent.

”Hahaha, donʼt worry, little outsider, I will not kill you, but I will make sure your legs never work again. That should send the message that the Blood Sea is not for people like you!”

Cain did not show anything at Jeremyʼs words and simply focused on the machine in the air.

”I am ready.”

”Fight!”

The machineʼs robotic voice marked the start of the first fight of the Blood Champion Final Tournament.

”My friends, I will demonstrate the might of the Blood Sea and why outsiders are nothing but ants in front of us. Please watch me as I...”

”CRACK!”

Jeremy was amid his speech to the people in the amphitheater when a cracking sound reached his ears. Confusion appeared on his face since the next thing he saw was the rest of the Blood Champions looking at him with disbelief in their eyes.

”Wait, are you... not behind... me.”

The young man could not understand how he could see the Blood Champions since they were on his back and he had been looking forward.

Everybody but Jeremy knew the reason for that. His body was aiming forward, but he was looking back after his neck made a 180° twist. The cracking sound was his spine shattering under the pressure.

Silence reigned in the amphitheater when people saw such a bizarre and gory scene. Cainʼs movements were so fast and silent that most people did not see his attack and only saw him standing in front of Jeremy after the neck of this one shattered.

There was still light in Jeremyʼs eyes as his knees bent since they lost their strength. A Wave Warrior would have perished instantly, facing such horrible wounds, but the vitality of Wave Champion was on a whole new level.

Cain stared at Jeremy as his right hand turned into a red bestial claw.

”STOP!”

That shout came from a middle-aged man on the podium of the Purist Path, but it did not affect Cainʼs behavior since the next second, he used his bestial blood claw to rip Jeremyʼs head off.

”First battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner.”

Shock filled the heart of everybody in the amphitheater when they heard the voice of the machine declare Cain, the winner. Since the mechanical referee bestowed Cain the victory, that meant he had broken no rule.

”You disgusting outsider!”

Of course, that mattered very little for certain people, especially the middle-aged man who shouted for Cain to stop. He was very similar to Jeremy and should be his father or grandfather.

The man seemed ready to jump into the platform but did not lose control of his emotions despite the burning rage in his soul. He first turned toward the High Blood Elder before clasping his hands.

”My Lord. Allow me to get revenge on my grandson. We can not allow an outsider to take the lives of children of the Blood Sea like that!”

The manʼs voice was loud, making sure everybody could hear them and inciting the crow to support him, which half of it did.

”Yes, punish the outsider!”

”Kill the outsider!”

”Revenge for our brother!”

Thousands of people belonging to the Purist Path did not wait before shouting out loud, expressing their desire to take Cainʼs life.

Cain noticed that, but he did not care. If people wanted to hate him, that was their choice. He would follow his heart and fulfill his duty regardless of what others thought about him.

What did matter a little was the silence of the people of the Integrationist Path. While they were not chanting for his head on a spike, they were not supporting him either.

ʼIt makes sense. After all, I did kill a Blood Champion. It is easy to hate something and shout your rage, but harder to care for someone and fight to protect him.ʼ

Cain was not disappointed in the people of the Integrationist Path since he never expected much from them anyways. He was not concerned about the shouts of the Purist Path since he did not live in a world where crowsʼ mentality mattered.

The reason why Cain acted with such brutality was to pay his debt to Radin and Martin. Although he would have preferred to kill two Blood Champions of the Purist Path, he was satisfied with Jeremy, so it did not matter if the tournament ended now.

”Hmph, pack of hyenas, and the rest of you are a bunch of turtles!”

That shout came from the podium of the Integrationist Path, but the one that shouted was not a powerhouse but Shura.

She rose from her seat and walked forward before looking at the people in the amphitheater.

”Where was that thirst for revenge and justice when Radin and Martin, my friends, perished under the hands of assassins sent by those that only dare to act on the shadows like rats.”

Shura shouted toward the people of the Purist Path, and the disdain and loath on her face was evident. She then turned toward those of the Integrationist Path, and the contempt in her eyes was not any less.

”I can understand those ratsʼ selective memory, but Radin and Martin were our people, yet you remain silent when they try to lynch the one seeking justice for our fallen brother. You are nothing more than a bunch of turtles.”

Silence permeated the amphitheater after Shuraʼs shout until an old voice appeared.

”Young Lady, you speak harshly but truthfully. What is the point of calling ourselves integrationist if we can not demonstrate our convictions with actions?”

An old woman with long white hair walked until she was right beside Shura. Despite her old age, the instant she opened her eyes, a powerful pressure permeated the amphitheater as she focused on Jeremyʼs grandfather.

”The pain of losing a grandson is horrible. I still remember when they told me my little Radin would not return. It was like someone had ripped my right arm, but I am a powerhouse from the Blood Sea, so I can not simply go wild with grief and follow my rage.”

The old woman stopped at this point as a dark light emerged in her eyes.

”However, if you make the first move, nothing will stop me from killing everybody I think is responsible.”

When they heard those words, a flash of terror appeared in the eyes of the Wave Kings of the Purist Path since they all knew just how dangerous that old woman was.

A few moments after the old womanʼs speech, someone else stood up and positioned himself next to Shura. He was a middle-aged man with a large body, and his physical appearance was very similar to Martinʼs.

No words came out of his mouth, but the killing intent in his eyes made it clear to everybody what he was ready to do.