Chapter 301: Taste once more
He was already doing his best to stay neutral. Adriana\'s (Lilith\'s) attack was truly fatal; not even Kayden was able to react, and he needed immediate medical attention, or he might have died.... Of course, they could revive him.
\'Not again...Tsk\' Eli clicked his tongue, expressing irritation and a hint of disappointment.
Observing Eli\'s visible displeasure, a collective curse swept through the onlookers, convinced that Eli was already receiving enough biased treatment.
"What happened, Eli?"
Hearing a stern and indifferent voice, everyone redirected their attention to the source and once again found themselves captivated by her beauty.
Adriana wore a smirking face as she looked at Eli, "Are you scared? You could at least do it for me... right?"
It wasn\'t that she was trying to provoke Eli instead she indulged in the desire to tease him before facing her impending punishment.
Acknowledging the inevitability of her situation, she decided to seize the moment and elicit a reaction from him, wanting to feel a sense of achievement.
Eli\'s gaze remained fixed on the woman who had finally directed her words towards him.
"OHHH!" Gasps escaped from everyone as their mouths formed \'O\' shapes. The disparity in treatment from the Vampire Queen was glaringly evident.
"No, Your Majesty... Say a single word, and I will do anything for you... MY Majesty," Eli declared, executing a graceful bow with an alluring smile.
"..." Adriana found herself taken aback by his unexpected choice of words, and like the others, she too was momentarily frozen.
"H-Hey, D-Don\'t tell me!!"
"Y-Yeah, I-I also hope"
"B-But V-Vampire Queen is not r-reacting!"
The arena buzzed with chatter and wild assumptions.
"Though, My Majesty... I want a reward," Eli requested, his expression maintaining a level of seriousness that concealed an underlying smirk.
Adriana\'s composure wavered as she met Eli\'s serious gaze, fully aware that he was concealing a playful smirk.
In an effort to maintain her regal bearing, she responded, "Sure, what do you want?"
"Hmm..."
The audience, caught in the unfolding drama, momentarily forgot the gravity of the situation as they eagerly anticipated Eli\'s request.
"I don\'t mind whatever it is... as long as it\'s \'FROM\' you!"
"..." Adriana\'s face flushed crimson, and she couldn\'t help but inwardly scream, \'Shameless!\'
Truly a rare spectacle for everyone to witness the Vampire Queen\'s blushing face.
This only fueled the speculation that there was more than meets the eye between the Vampire Queen and Asher Eli. Some onlookers even pondered if Asher Eli was just a mere \'Toy,\' as suggested by Carter.
Recognizing that the situation was veering towards chaos, the Master turned his attention to Aadya.
"Ahem, let\'s begin the duel" Aadya declared, clearing her throat before redirecting her focus to the impending contest.
"AAARRRRRR!!!" As soon as those words left her mouth, Kayden, without hesitation, grabbed his sword and with a war cry, launched towards Eli.
The crowd, previously engaged in idle chatter, refocused on the match at the sound of Kayden\'s battle cry. Many had assumed Kayden would emerge victorious, but the unfolding scene left them in suspense.
"The Gods have given me an opportunity to defeat this Evil!!" He shouted with heart-felt justice before striking Eli\'s body.
"I WILL PROVE YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A COWARD!!"
"TING!!"
"H-Huh?" Kayden gazed at Eli with a baffled expression.
\'W-What\'s that weird sound? As if I hit...\' Kayden\'s eyes widened as he observed Eli\'s unscathed body.
"Hmm? That\'s all?" Eli remarked with a carefree attitude, inspecting his body and inwardly smiling at its increased resilience against the sword, \'and what\'s with that dialogue...?\'
While he found solace in this newfound strength, there lingered a pang of disappointment, recognizing it wasn\'t yet sufficient to master the 3-Form of Mana Breathwork.
Amidst the collective anticipation, Eli\'s playful demeanour and Kayden\'s bewildered expressions were more than enough for people to understand the situation.
"Y-You!! Filthy Being!!" Kayden seethed in anger.
\'Ting\'
\'Ting\'
\'Ting\'
/Fire Bolt/
\'Ting\'
....
...
A collective shock swept across the audience as they witnessed something incomprehensible. Regardless of how fervently Kayden attempted to attack, Eli remained unyielding, akin to a statue.
Yes..... Eli adhering to his self-imposed policy \'Just to be safe\', had fortified his body to its limit before stepping into the arena.
While it may not be a conventional form of defence, the coursing mana through his veins acted as an impenetrable barrier.... akin to dragon skin.
Though only Aadya, the Master of Mana Breathwork, comprehended the subtlety, she chose not to disclose it. After all, no one broke any law as long as they didn\'t get caught.
"Huff-huff-ffff"
Kayden panted heavily, his face flushed with shame. Despite possessing a substantial mana reservoir, his stamina proved inadequate for the prolonged exertion.
"H-He was cheating!!" Kayden\'s accusation reverberated, seeking validation from the Head Master. To his dismay, the response was not in his favour.
"Nobody could cheat here!! 7 minutes left!!" The Head Master\'s firm declaration left Kayden disgruntled, casting an accusing glance at Carter, whose countenance mirrored his frustration.
"...Father..." Theo\'s concerned voice reached Carter\'s ears.
"Sigh," Carter exhaled deeply, his gaze shifting towards Adriana, who observed the unfolding spectacle with keen interest. Adriana had inquired of Lilith about Eli\'s sudden defensive prowess, but even Lilith appeared ignorant of this development.
/Holy Grace/
Kayden invoked the incantation, softly brushing his silver sword that emanated a divine glow.
The crowd, initially holding their breath, watched in awe as the Hero unleashed a focused strike, creating a mesmerizing spectacle with the holy light.
"ssssshhhhh"
\'This is my last offensive attack\' Kayden thought, channelling his dwindling stamina into a desperate attempt to break through Eli\'s formidable defence.
The audience, captivated by the Hero\'s determined effort, couldn\'t help but be drawn into the intensity of the match, the air charged with anticipation.
\'That\'s going hurt... isn\'t it?\'Eli, aware of the impending assault, braced himself.
And just as Eli and Kayden thought,
"chkkk"
As Kayden\'s sword struck, gasps rippled through the spectators, witnessing blood flow from the wound inflicted upon Eli\'s abdomen.
"He...hehehe..." Kayden chuckled, his expression shifting from exhaustion to triumphant satisfaction.
"My people, I can now defeat this backstabbing bastard!!" Kayden shouted in anticipation.
People from Theos Kingdom were delighted to see at last their Hero\'s attack working otherwise they would be belittled by Fallen People.
Examining the cut on his abdomen, Eli acknowledged the injury. Though not substantial, the wound pierced his skin and grazed his flesh.
"Now, where is that haughty face, Mr. Toy!" Kayden grinned, relentless in his assault, the atmosphere changed into something else....
"Chukk"
"Chukk"
"Chukk"
"Chukk"
"Hahaha.."
"Chukk"
"Chukk"
....
..
[Don\'t Lilith]
Adriana immediately restrained Lilith, preventing her from interfering once again.
Lilith\'s body trembled as she witnessed her husband being harmed by someone she considered a low-level bastard, unworthy to stand against him.
\'I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry...\' She repeated inwardly, her eyes turning teary. If she had controlled herself a little better, her husband might not have had to endure this suffering.
Moreover, this situation began due to her actions.... If she had only consulted with Adriana or even with her husband, this situation might not have arisen, preventing her husband\'s enemies from exploiting the chance to harm him.
Even so.... Even though..... Even after everything.... she harboured no regrets for her actions. Waiting for opportunities wasn\'t her style, and she didn\'t regret her proactive approach.
Yet, instead of anger, she felt intense pain..... pain for causing her husband to suffer due to her emotional instability. Similarly, Scarlett experienced a mix of anger and pain; she yearned to thrust her sword into Hero\'s throat. Despite her fierce desires, she understood that this wasn\'t the right place for such actions.
"2--I mean 3 minutes l-left!" Head Master announced with a trembling face, realizing the dire consequences that might unfold, he was sure he was so fucked up he might die this time.
"Papa!" Zera\'s body trembled in pain as if she herself were bearing the brunt of the suffering.
The arena\'s floor was now adorned with a sinister hue of crimson blood, painting a sombre picture of the intense duel that unfolded.
"Huhff-Huff-"
Kayden breathed heavily as he surveyed Eli\'s battered body, covered with numerous cuts and wounds. His focus shifted to Eli\'s face, and with each slash, Kayden envisioned the despair he hoped to see on Eli\'s countenance.
His primary goal was to mar Eli\'s appearance, to strip away the charm that might attract any woman\'s affection. Kayden yearned to witness Eli\'s suffering and humiliation.
Once a king-like figure, now reduced to a pitiful boy on the brink of demise, Kayden revelled in the transformation. His initial intention to gouge out Eli\'s eyes was discarded, opting instead to witness the impending despair etched on Eli\'s face.
Despite the relentless assault, Eli remained unperturbed, passively enduring the torment. In truth, he experienced minimal pain, feeling only a chilling sensation coursing through his battered body.... that\'s all.
"Now, let me show this foolish, backstabbing human what it means to be a hero, and I will save everyone from this wretched fate!!" Kayden shouted, unleashing his power.
/Domain/
Carter\'s expression shifted to joy as he felt the Mythical beast within his grasp.
\'Crack, crack\'
The entire arena was now covered with glass-like particles, signalling the manifestation of Kayden\'s Domain.
Head Master and Adriana raised their eyebrows, surprised by the extent of Kayden\'s power that almost engulfed the arena.
With an amused smile, Kayden addressed Eli, "Allow me to introduce you to your \'first friend\' who longs for a taste once more"
/Dimensional Eater/
"Crack, Crack"
"GGGRRRRRR!!!\'