"Third Elder! What do you think you're doing?" the Fifth Elder narrowed his eyes. "You can't interfere in the fights."
"I didn't interfere," the Third Elder replied with a smile. "The crowds have been shouting since the start of the competition. I did the same, nothing wrong with that."
"You know it's not the same," the Fifth Elder shot back.
"The Sect Leader is here. If I did anything wrong, he would've confronted me before you did," the Third Elder said calmly.
The Fifth Elder glanced toward the Sect Leader, who stood outside the platform, hands behind his back.
The Sect Leader remained silent. That silence confirmed the Third Elder' words; all the Fifth Elder could do was watch the fight continue.
Alric managed to calm down after hearing his father's voice.
Desper, on the other hand, felt a sharp sense of injustice. He had overheard the elders' exchange and burned with anger at the Third Elder's action and the Sect Leader's ignorance.
Still, he had no choice but to focus on the fight.
'Calm yourself, Desper. Stick to the plan, he told himself.'
He stared at Alric, raised his sword, and threw it once again.
"That trick won't work again!" Alric shouted, dodging the flying sword. Then he charged forward with his spear.
"Tsk." Desper narrowed his eyes as Alric rushed in. Without his sword, Desper had no choice but to raise his left arm to block.
"Arghhhh!" Desper cried out in pain but managed to sidestep the thrust.
"Hahaha! What are you going to do next?" Alric mocked, smirking. "Oh, you still have the other hand. Let me rip that one off too!"
Desper glanced around and spotted the sword he had thrown at the start of the fight. It was two meters away.
He dashed toward it without hesitation.
"As if I'll let you!" Alric saw through the attempt and slashed his spear at Desper's right arm.
In the stands, Eland smiled wide. "He took the bait."
As the spear was about to land, Desper made a sudden motion with his right arm.
Something shot out from his sleeve toward Alric.
"Wha—?"
Before Alric could react, the object struck his right chest.
"ARGHHHHH!" Alric screamed.
He looked to the ground and saw a wooden object lying near his feet.
"A dagger?" he muttered in disbelief.
"You… You're despicable!" Alric shouted and thrust his spear again.
This time, Desper didn't run. Alric was injured in both his left shoulder and right chest, and he was exhausted, so he was far slower than before.
Desper dodged the spear and lunged forward with no weapon in hand. He slipped behind Alric, wrapped his right arm around his neck.
Then he jumped up, tightening his legs around Alric's torso. Using his left forearm to reinforce his right arm, he began choking him.
Alric panicked. He tried hitting Desper with his spear, but the weapon was useless in this position. He threw it away and used his hands to fight back, but his injuries sapped his strength.
"G...e...t o...f... m...e..." he gasped.
Desper didn't let go.
That was Desper's whole plan: the use of two swords, one as an arrow to injure Alric and the other as a distraction to make him think he had no more tricks. Moving to pick up the sword served as a distraction to direct Alric's attention, just long enough for the dagger to strike and cause another injury, making him slower and weaker so Desper could secure the win.
The Third Elder's body trembled. He made a move toward the blue circle, but the Fifth Elder blocked his path.
"Don't think I'll let you do whatever you want," he warned.
The Third Elder took another step forward.
But then, he froze. A chill ran down his spine.
He looked around and met the Sect Leader's eyes and saw nothing but coldness.
There was nothing he could do now.
Inside the platform, Alric struggled, but he couldn't set himself free.
Finally, the blue circle beneath Desper's feet faded away, and his body radiated golden glow, declaring his victory.
"He... he won?!"
"Oh my god, that was unexpected!"
"Hahaha! What a match!"
"Desper!"
"Desper!"
"Desper!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
...
"He… he did it." Eland murmured.
Even knowing the whole plan, Eland hadn't been sure of victory. But now, watching Desper win, emotion erupted in his chest.
Next to him, Darek sighed. "Yeah. He used a lot of tricks, but a win is a win."
"But this win might become a problem," Darek added, his smile fading.
"What do you mean?" Eland asked.
"Soon, everyone in the sect will know what happened here," Darek said, frowning.
"And so?"
"Think about who else will find out."
Eland's eyes narrowed. "The Great Elder!"
"Exactly," Darek confirmed. "The Great Elder has never believed that his son was killed by a Spoiled Cultivator."
"Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't suspect a thing about Desper's victory. But someone invited the Sect Leader."
"The Sect Leader's presence will attract the Great Elder's attention."
Eland's face paled.
"With some digging, he'll learn that we've been training Desper for twenty days, and He'll find out I brought him into the sect."
" Three of us are interested in the same person, and we were the only witnesses for his son's death" Darek added "He will definitely investigate Desper"
Eland swallowed. "Then… won't he figure out Desper was the one who killed his son?"
Darek didn't answer. He simply stared at the platform.
...
After the blue circle disappeared, Desper released Alric and fell to the ground, gasping.
"I did it…" he whispered.
The pain in his hand vanished; he could move his left hand again.
He stood, breath heavy, listening to the roar of the crowd.
This feeling… it's amazing, he thought.
"HOW DARE YOU!!!"
Desper turned and saw that Alric's face was red with rage, veins bulging.
"I SHOULD BE THE WINNER! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING, YOU FILTHY WORM!"
Though the match was over, Alric attacked with his fists.
Desper's eyes widened. He didn't expect Alric to attack again.
Now that the fight was over, the necklace had removed Alric's injuries. He was at full speed and strength.
Desper had no time to dodge. He raised both arms.
Crack! Crack!
"ARGHHHHHH!" Desper screamed.
Alric's punch shattered both of Desper's hands and struck his jaw.
Desper couldn't retreat, so he threw himself to the ground.
"I'LL MAKE YOU SUFF—"
BOOM!
Alric's head slammed into the floor.
"What—?!"
He tried to get up, but a hand pinned his head down.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" the Fifth Elder said coldly, pressing harder.
"ARGHHHH—Dad! Save me!" Alric cried.
He didn't need to call. The Third Elder was already moving.
"Let go of him!" he shouted.
But someone stepped into his path.
"Step aside, Ninth Elder!" he yelled.
The Third Elder stomped, cracking the tiles beneath him.
But the Ninth elder didn't flinch. "I'm sorry, Third Elder," he said. "But your son crossed the line."
"And don't forget; the Sect Leader is watching."
The Third Elder looked outside the platform, and saw the same coldness in the Sect Leader's eyes.
He gritted his teeth, but didn't try to make a move anymore.
Then, the Ninth Elder approached Desper, who was groaning in pain.
"Sorry, kid. Let me check your hands," he said gently.
Desper didn't answer.
The elder touched his hands. A warm current flowed through Desper's body.
"Both hands are broken. Slight injury to the chin," he announced.
The Fifth Elder nodded grimly. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Alric's wrist.
Crack.