308 Trial Begins
Witnessing Gento raise his bat high above his head, I notice a significant shift in his Ki. It's overflowing with lethal intent. It's at this very moment that the realization dawns upon me; Gento is toying with Monk.
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!
The deafening roar echoes throughout the arena as Gento swings his bat, striking the ground without budging from his spot. A massive shockwave engulfs the area, raising a storm of dust and debris. The stadium's foundation quivers and vibrates, as if on the brink of collapse, yet miraculously, it holds.
"Wow, master.... I wish I could create such an attack..." Stella whispers in awe, her eyes fixed on the spectacle below.
"You'll be capable of creating even mightier attacks," I reassure Stella, earning a quizzical look from her.
"But Gento can unleash stronger attacks than that!" Commander Lolan interjects, seemingly skeptical of my words.
"Well, that particular attack wouldn't be enough to take down a Demon-rank beast in one blow. Meanwhile, Stella here can kill Demigod-rank beasts with ease. I even believe she could hold her own against a Demon-rank beast and live to tell the tale..." I explain to Commander Lolan. However, his attention remains firmly fixed on the unfolding battle beneath us.
As the dust and debris gradually settle, revealing the two contenders below, my eyes widen in astonishment. Before us lies an immense crater, spanning an area of roughly three hundred square meters, marked with scorches and burnt remnants. Inside this crater stands Monk, his unconscious form gripping his rod tightly. His body bears numerous cuts, bruises, and burns, clearly showcasing the toll of the battle. His lack of Ki presence indicates his unconscious state.
However, the most astonishing aspect is that he managed to stay on his feet until the end.
Gento, on the other hand, remains standing, albeit with a deep gash on his shoulder, from which blood steadily flows. His face displays a mixture of anger and frustration, seemingly surprised by the injury.
Cradling his injured shoulder, Gento begins channeling his Ki into the wound, staunching the bleeding.
"You bastard!!! I'm going to damn well kill you!!" Gento roars, evidently preparing to charge at the fallen Monk.
PUUUUUHHHHHHH!! The referee's piercing whistle resounds across the field, halting Gento in his tracks.
"Gento! You can't attack an unconscious opponent... By breaking the rules, you've been disqualified from this year's tournament by order of His Majesty. Furthermore, Monk landed two solid hits on you, while you only managed one. The victor of this year's tournament is.... Monk!!!!!!" The announcer's declaration elicits a mix of cheers and jeers from the crowd.
Among the spectators, there are those sulking and cursing their luck. They had wagered significant sums of money on Gento, only to have him disqualified for attempting to strike an unconscious contestant.
In the next moment, the referee approaches Monk, placing a hand on his shoulder and sending Ki into his body.
Monk abruptly awakens, his chest heaving with heavy breaths. The referee grabs his hand and raises it triumphantly into the air, declaring him the winner.
Amidst the cheers and jeers from the crowd, a moment of silence descends when the emperor rises from his seat.
"Hello, everyone, the esteemed citizens of Absar. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year's strongest tournament. But do not rush home just yet, for today promises the greatest entertainment in the history of the celestial monkeys!" The emperor's announcement elicits a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. His gaze then falls upon Monk, and he motions for Gento to remain in the arena.
"Monk, congratulations on your victory this year. Nonetheless, remember that you still have room to grow, especially when compared to Gento. I have faith that you will do better next year, as you have not yet reached your full potential. Congratulations once again..." The emperor's words trigger a cascade of boos from the audience.
He then shifts his attention to Gento.
"Gento, as you are aware, you had another scheduled match later at a private location. However, due to your overconfidence and consequent loss this year, I grant you another opportunity to redeem yourself and your pride..." A sly grin creeps across the emperor's face as he speaks.
Surprised by the emperor's offer, Gento's eyes gleam with renewed determination. "I will prove myself and never underestimate my opponents, Your Majesty," he declares with a deep bow.
The emperor smiles in response.
"Dear citizens of Absar, I promised that this year's tournament would be nothing short of spectacular. We are graced by the presence of an esteemed guest—none other than the heir, or should I say, the crown prince of the vampire race, one of the greatest and mightiest races in existence. He is currently the strongest vampire alive. Please, show your support and cheer for Prince Jake!!!!" The emperor's announcement prompts the crowd to turn their attention toward me.
"What is Paprius up to...?" I mutter under my breath, keeping a close eye on his actions.
"That's precisely why I was against your decision to spectate the match. This is highly concerning..." Commander Lolan whispers with visible unease etched across his face.
"Well, it'll certainly make things more interesting," I reply, maintaining a calm demeanor.
To my surprise, the crowd refrains from booing me. Instead, they remain silent for a moment before bursting into applause and cheers, which momentarily catches me off guard.
"Prince Jake, why don't you stand up and address the people with a few words," the emperor suggests, gesturing with his hand.
Sighing inwardly, I rise from my seat. A small device flies towards me, stopping about a meter from my face—a device that amplifies my voice so that everyone in attendance can hear me.
Exhaling another sigh, I begin, "Hello, everyone. I am Prince Jake, the future king of the vampire race. As the emperor mentioned, I am here to challenge the strongest of the celestial monkeys. Let's consider this match a friendly and fun competition," I declare with a grin forming at the corner of my lips.
The celestial monkeys respond with cheers and applause.
With a swift motion, I remove Excalibur from my waist and raise it high into the air. "Though I am a skilled swordmaster, in this match, I choose to handicap myself by not using any weapons," I announce before handing the sword over to Arthur.
"Good luck, my friend. Don't disappoint the vampire race," Arthur says with a genuine smile.
"Trust me..." I reply with a confident grin before leaping down into the battlefield.
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