The tournament began, there five fighting rings with fights happening simultaneously. Zia was against a man who looked strong and burly. But she defeated him in an instant. She was extremely fast and graceful. Her technique caught the eye of many. Some were even captivated after watching her fight.
Avon's first fight was against a man who looked weak. Still he didn't let his guard down. As soon as the fight began, the man charged towards Avon. Avon was easily able to predict the attack and counter attacked. After landing some hits Avon understood that this man was not proficient in fighting. His attacks lacked power and he lacked speed. Still, the man was not falling. He had a good defence. Avon understood why the man passed the second round. The man was not yielding, like a cockroach, he was still standing.
But it was clear that the man could not defeat Avon. Finally Avon decided to change his plan and attacked the man relentlessly and pushed him backwards. The man realised Avon was trying to throw him out of the ring but couldn't do anything to retaliate. He was weak and had no speed. Avon completely overpowered him and threw him down the ring. While the man was not giving up or fainting, he had no choice but to leave once he was out of the ring. Avon had won the first match.
That was enough. Many people had been eliminated already and Avon's selection was now guaranteed. With a burden gone, he fought with a free mind. He won four more matches. His next match was with Surang. They both came face to face and began fighting. Surang was fighting with a technique that seemed to target the joints. Avon was having trouble defending against him. Still he continued adapting and was able to land a few hits here and there.
They were around same level in cultivation. Surang seemed to have more experience than Avon in fighting though. Overtime Surang's stamina and form began to drop.
Their match went on for a long time before Avon was able to kick Surang in the face. This enraged Surang extremely.
"How dare you kick my beautiful face! You will pay for it peasant!"
He said aloud. Avon could hear people in crowd pity him for being Surang's next victim. Surang lost his senses when he saw blood drip from his nose. His attacks were very aggressive and unrefined. This made it easier for Avon to land few more decisive hits and knock Surang out of the ring.
Avon had won but the moment he got out of the ring he was surrounded by the group of people who were always with Surang.
"You will pay for what you did to young master!"
"Yes! We will teach you a lesson!"
"How dare damage young master's face!"
He ignored them and tried to walk across but couldn't. They had him surrounded. The sect elders were simply watching with no intention to help. Avon was hoping they'd help but it seemed hopeless now.
"Leave me alone, he lost fair and square. Plus what do you mean I can't hit his face, in a real battle the enemy will attack anywhere and you must defend against it."
But it turned out reasoning with them was pointless. They kept on rambling about the same thing as if they didn't hear him at all. It made sense to Avon, they were foolish enough to worship a person just because of his status and follow him around.
Surang came towards Avon and the mob quietened.
"You made a grave mistake. But since I am generous and my face has no permanent scar, I will excuse you this time. Leave "
Saying so he left and mob followed behind saying,
"Young master, you should have punished him!"
"Yes how dare he attack you!"
"Master is the indeed the most generous of all"
"Yes yes"
Avon laughed at this roaming circus and searched for Zia.
He found her watching a match near some other ring and approached her,
"Big sister, how is it going?"
"Good for now, my next opponent will be from these two. It seems I might lose my next fight"
"Oh..."
Avon looked at the two fighting and indeed they were very skilled. Their movements were quick and attacks powerful.
'I would probably lose too..'
He thought.
So the matches went on and Avon and Zia both lost their following matches. Avon stood no chance against his opponent who seemed to have extraordinary power. The man's one punch sent Avon to the edge of the ring. Avon dodged for a long time and had managed to land a few hits but the man's body was just too hard. In the end the man's stamina was superior too and Avon who was becoming slowed got hit square in the chest and got thrown out of the ring.
Zia had a very close match, it was a match that could have gone both ways unlike Avon 's one sided match.
After all the matches were done, the leaderboard was shown again.
Avon was in 42nd spot and Zia in 23rd. The man who beat Avon was in 4th place.
"Participants, congratulations, for all of you present here are part of the legendary Spiral sect!"
The elder spoke.
A banquet was arranged for everyone, to celebrate their qualification.
Avon and Zia were enjoying the food together when people began approaching Zia. Her fighting style and grace had been gaining attention. She was getting invited by many, including those of high stature whom she couldn't afford to refuse.
Soon Avon was left alone. He took a drink kept on the tray began gulping down.
Suddenly, he felt his mind becomes hazy and his vision blurry.
'What's happening? My eyes! Was there something in the drink?ugh!'
His eyes began to hurt and the next moment he couldn't feel them. All of a sudden he lost all vision and sensation in his eyes.
It was more than just going blind. It seemed as though his body had forgotten about an organ called the eye. It was as if he never had eyes from the beginning.
He never knew it because since birth his brain was connected to his eye but now that the connection was cut off, he noticed how his connection that He never was conscious about was cut off.
He quickly searched for support using his free hand, in his other hand he held on to the glass firmly.
He was panicking, he had to find Zia. He needed help.
"Sister Zia!" He called out loud.
"Sister Zia! Are you there, please come here!"
He shouted again.
"Anyone! Please help, I can't see!"
Avon heard the noises die down slightly. He asked for help again, his heart beating harder and harder. He was scared, scared that he was blinded.
"Little brother what happened?!"