The second round of interesting and breathtaking battles had begun. After a signal, the opponents entered the arena to meet in a duel. When the battle was over, joyful relatives surrounded the winner and threw them up into the air with jubilant cries.Some fights were delayed because the partic.i.p.ants were too stubborn to give up. It often resulted in serious injuries.
Most of the fighters valued their lives and asked for mercy in advance. However, things were different with the Stones... The psychological pressure created by the favorites in the family forced the desperate compet.i.tors fight until their last breath.
«I"ve warned you, pig-headed fool! But if you crave death, you"ll get it!» - The girl growled and opened the guy"s neck with the sharp end of hard rock.
The young fighter fell to his knees, gasping for air, clutching at his throat with trembling hands. Scarlet blood spurted out of his neck. Death was slowly approaching, enveloping his body. It was ridiculous to die so foolishly in front of the family idols. Half of them looked disappointed. What did he give his life for? The poor fellow regretted he was born a Stone.
The Stones who surrounded the dying fighter were darker than a thundercloud.
Kyon was delighted to see the tournament grid. He had no opponent in this round. No one had won in the battle. Both fighters knocked out each other and could partic.i.p.ate in the battle no more. He made it to the third round with no effort.
Only a few guests paid attention to the lucky boy but they didn"t make a sound and his moving to the 3rd round was low-profile.
More than 75% of the Stones (not counting those who were destined to meet Kara ahead of time) had lost their duels. Their depression had reached the highest point in contrast to the guests from the other families. They had risen to the occasion, especially the Browns. Boys and girls congratulated each other and sang joyful songs.
When the judge announced Kara"s name, everyone was quiet.
Stephanie came up to the bench, fell on one knee in front of the princess and said loudly:
«Your Highness! Stephanie Stone gives up. I am not fit to fight with you. I am sorry for being such a coward... I do not want to offend you. Forgive my ignorance…»
«I really don"t care. Get out of my face.» - The girl answered imperiously and rubbed her nose on Juno"s ear. It was nice that she didn"t have to let go of the cute little girl. She wished she could always keep her on her lap. She smelled like flowers. She didn"t fidget, played nice and harmless.
Stephanie bowed. She could feel the numerous glances of those present. She was in a terrible mood. But at least she wouldn"t get to hospital like Eric. She pinned her hopes on Lee. With that in mind, she came up to him to support her friend with a kind word...
The last battle ended before it even started.
The third round was about to begin.
After ten fights, the judge announced loudly:
«Simon Brown, the tenth stage of the base phase against Kyon Stone, the seventh stage of the base phase!»
«Oh, that"s the guy! How did he get to the third round?!» … «Ha! The previous opponents didn"t win!» … «Wow! He is lucky! Well, he is out very soon. Our tiger from the Brown family will tear him to pieces!»
When she heard the familiar name, Stephanie said gloomily:
«That"s him…» - she went to arena number three. The rest of her relatives followed her.
A handsome black-haired boy stepped into the center of the ground. He was of medium build, dressed in a gorgeous suit and glossy black shoes. A cold smile on his lips gave him a determined look. The Browns rubbed their hands in antic.i.p.ation of a pretty sight. The weakest in the family they hated was going to be humiliated. The Stones stood gloomy, keeping painful silence, their arms crossed. Among them, Kyon spotted a girl with a cold, impregnable expression on her face.
He also noticed Marina. It made him feel better. However, there was the handsome blond fellow next to her. He was looking at Kyon in surprise, his eyebrows raised high.
A pale tall boy - his adversary - entered the arena. His face was puffy with crimson spots, his lips were swollen, his eyes were black and blue, some teeth were missing. He looked like a tiger ready to attack one last time. Swaying like he was drunk, the big guy took his position.
«Come on, Simon, you can do it!» … «If you beat him with one blow, I will give you a hundred spheres! Ha ha ha!» … «Show him your best shot, the tiger"s blow!» - The angry Browns yelled to support their friend.
The judge gave a signal to start the fight.
~ beeeep ~
The young man slowly pointed to Kyon and like a wounded predator who could not finish off the baby antelope said with a b.l.o.o.d.y grin:
«You should thank G.o.ds that we are not fighting today…» - Simon mumbled and fainted from exhaustion.
«It"s a flawless victory, Kyon Stone!» - announced the judge holding back laughter.
The jubilant Browns fell silent at once. «What"s happened?!» … «How could he lose it? It"s Simon after all!» … «He lost because of the injuries he got in the previous battle! What a shame» … «You screwed up, Simon. I"m ashamed of you! You are not fit to be called the Browns" tiger» … «Lucky a.s.shole» … «The weakest has made it to the fourth round! That"s what I want!» - The Browns were furious incinerating Kyon with their envious glances.
The Stones looked at each other. They couldn"t understand what was going on. How should they respond? Should they rejoice or beat up the lucky guy?
«Ms. Stephanie… Shall we take care of him?» - The tall boy asked.
«Leave him... He is not worth our concern.» - The girl snapped and turned away from Kyon. She was hurt that such an average boy could get to the 4th round while she had lost in the 2nd. What is heaven up to?!
Kyon slowly left the arena. On his way, he noticed Marina leave with the blond guy. Apparently, he was having a fight on the other ground that she wanted to watch.
XiaoBai announced the fourth round to begin. Beautiful Cornelia brought him a milkshake. A couple of envious boys sighed in frustration.
After several fights, the judge announced the following names:
«Timon Brown, the third stage of the advanced phase against Kyon Stone, the seventh stage of the base phase!»
The Browns broke into a heinous laugh.
Kyon ignored them. He went to the center and looked around. A fairly large crowd surrounded his arena. He had attracted their attention for several reasons: he had the lowest development; he got to the fourth round without a single fight.
«Ohhh, that"s it! Our kind will destroy him. The kid is done!» … «Come on, he will give up. Anyway, I will be happy to see his smashed pretty face.» … «You are all so cruel... Timon, break his neck!» - The Browns kept mocking Kyon not taking him for a serious opponent at all.
The Stones kept silent. They believed that luck had left the boy. Even Stephanie came to watch him fight. She"d been trying to ignore him before.
The judge announced the name of Kyon"s opponent again.
«Where is Timon?» … «Has anyone seen Timon?»
Two boys were approaching the arena. One looked like a skinny soldier wounded in a fierce battle, the second stocky guy was dragging him, his friend"s arm over his neck. The skinny boy looked terrible. He was b.l.o.o.d.y-stained, his face was battered, he had blood in his left eye, and his right eye was swollen shut. The previous opponent had given him a very hard time. The d.a.m.ned Stone wouldn"t give up.
«Stay with me, little brother! The Browns expect only one hit from you! For the sake of our family... You need to hit the enemy in the head, and you will win! Do you hear me?! Tell me!» - Pumba, the elder brother whispered near his ear.
«Pfff…» - Timon puffed and spat out a tooth. - «My hand is numb… Let me sleep, please…»
«Please, hit him once! We all believe in you. Come on, you can do it! Go!» - said Pumba and pushed his younger brother to the arena. He could barely stand on his feet.
«Do you really want to fight, young man?» - The judge asked anxiously.
«I don"t… But I will do anything for my brothers!» - The boy cried out, overwhelmed with pride in his great family.
The Browns cheered enthusiastically, expressing their respect. Look at them! They were magnificent, ready to tear anyone to pieces for the sake of their family! The tigers among the dogs! That predator was depicted on their coat of arms for a reason.
Kyon could not hold back laughter. It was time to take advantage of public sentiment. «Gentleman, don"t you have any worthy opponents? I"m tired of fighting the beaten dogs.»
Everyone gasped at his impudent words, the Browns nearly choked. «Shut up!» … «How dare you insult the great family? We will soon take the rank of the Stones!» … «Exactly! A small fry like you should know his place. It"s right at the dumpster!»
The Stones laughed out loud. n.o.body had expected such audacity from the boy. The insult to the Browns made them feel better about themselves, the dense gloominess had slightly dispelled. «The kid has b.a.l.l.s!» … «Small rain lays great dust!» … «He floats like a b.u.t.terfly but stings like a bee!» … «You can win with your words where others win with their fists! It"s half the battle!» … «Indeed, why do the Browns send only beaten dogs to fight, eh?!»
Stephanie, usually cold as ice, couldn"t hold back a warm smile.
Other families joined in their loud laughter. However, they quickly shut up. It"s dangerous to make fun of the future leaders in the kingdom.
The Browns grinned. «You will choke on your own words!» … «That"s right! The great tiger of the Browns will tear your kin to pieces, even being wounded!» … «Exactly! You all should be trembling with fear!»
* beeeep *
It was the signal to start the battle.
Timon slowly walked to his opponent, clenched his fists, concentrated pure energy in them, gradually sped up and roared like a warrior on his deathbed, ready to give his life to kill the enemy.
Kyon calmly took a little stone out of his pocket, tossed it in his hand, took aim, and then threw it directly at Timon"s forehead.
They heard a sound of the cracking skull and amazed exclamations after that. The stone crumbled, the hit sent the boy flying a couple of meters. He fell and did not move anymore.
«Bring in the next tiger.» - Kyon said dusting his hands.
His harsh words left the Browns breathless, their heads throbbing.
The Stones laughed to tears. «Oh G.o.ddess, did you hear that?!» … «Hhha! Bring in the next tiger!» … «I like him! He hit it out of the park! Snuck to the fifth round making only one move!» … «d.a.m.n it, he is daring! I love crazy guys!»
Pumba turned crimson with fury. He pointed to Kyon, totally dumbfounded. «You are lucky, worthless sc.u.m. It"s a miracle that you"ve made it to the fifth round! My younger brother was weakened from the last battle! But when I defeat my opponent, I will be the next!»
«Next beaten dog?» - asked Kyon.
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«Opponent!» - barked Pumba. His eyes hurled lightning bolts, there were red spots on his cheeks. He gritted his teeth in anger.
The Stones couldn"t stop laughing.
There were more and more onlookers around the arena with Kyon. They were curious to find out what was going on, what was so funny. The popularity of the weakest Stone had dramatically increased. Perhaps, a third of the guests will be watching him fight in the next round.
Kyon had easily reached his goal. He"d risen in the estimation of the Stones taking advantage of the contention between the families. His goal of becoming a respected person was approaching by leaps and bounds. It"s time to make family history.