Mage And Wolf
Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Chapter 94

Morning brings the Outer Disciple combat finals. Alchemy and Inscription, the main life skill categories are over, so the Outer disciples fight in the morning, winners of the 2 matches fight for gold, losers for bronze. In the afternoon, the semi finals for the Inner Disciples takes place.

I’ve drawn first fight, against the Divine Fist disciple. My cheerleaders are ready to go, already getting the crowd hyped up for the fights, but he seems to be having some sort of argument with an Elder of the sect.

He eventually storms away and into the ring, where the referee gets things started. It doesn’t take long to realize there’s something wrong with this guy. He’s turning as red as a lobster and I haven’t hit or even taunted him yet.

Even the crowd is starting to get worked up, wondering what’s going on. He’s starting to grow fangs, did he take a bad pill? I think that’s the most likely case. If he dies in the ring, I’m disqualified. But the referee is resolutely ignoring the issue, much to the crowd’s disdain.

"Seriously ref? The guys half dead from a bad pill that’s still in effect" I call out, with no reaction from the judge.

He lets out a mighty roar and flame spouts from his mouth, burning his lips and face. I launch myself sideways, getting heavily burnt in the process and scorching holes in my robes. More flames are coming though and all I can do is shield my face, so I turn my back and take the full brunt of the blast.

My robes are in tatters and my flesh melted, but it’s best I release them and let my actual clothes appear. Today I was wearing the sect Taoist robes before donning the Priestess Robes, and they reappear in an instant, hiding the scorched flesh, but not the smell.

He’s staggering blind from the self inflicted damage, so I throw a piecing kick to his sternum with all the energy I can muster through the pain. It lands with a dull thud of slipper on flesh and then a shrill scream from outside the ring as he hits the floor, blood pouring from his burnt mouth.

"Bring a medic" The referee calls, finally paying attention to the fight. "If you killed him there will be hell to pay Demon" he declares loud enough the entire crowd can hear him and they boo his negligence while he smirks.

Such a lousy setup. I mean, it might have been effective, as I’ll have to fight again in under 10 minutes, but I’ll be healed by then.

"He’ll live." The medic from the Blooming Lotus Sect declares her verdict. "The kick dislodged the forbidden pill from his stomach and canceled the effects. The tournament council will be reviewing this incident, including the judging"

That last part has him looking worried. Guess whoever thought up that lame idea doesn’t own the council.

"Calm the crowd and keep them drinking" I whisper to the nearest Forbidden Treasure disciple, who immediately runs to her sisters cheering by the bleachers.

The ladies are doing a fine job during the interval before the next fight. The Sacred Thunder Sect member is absolutely dominating the Blooming Lotus fighter I defeated yesterday,

I’m in for a hard battle. But with the luck of fighting first, I’ve had time to recover.

Blooming Lotus loses to a submission hold in the end, tapping out in agony.

The cheer leaders get back to work, encouraging trips to the liquor stands, fresh snacks and to cheer for me of course. From the banter among the Elders it’s much more lively than usual, and the crowd is larger. It seems word of a favored female fighter in the finals has everyone excited, hoping for a new winner after so many years of the same.

"They caught the gambler that drugged your last opponent. He’s got thousands of mana stones in bets out on you losing, and the Divine Fist is taking him for questioning"

"Take the referee too" The head of the medical team says "He’s definitely in on it"

So, with minimal fanfare, my final fight is ready to start, with a new referee and an opponent that’s little better than winded.

"How’s your back?" he asks, sounding actually concerned, as we’re not allowed to take any pills between fights in the finals.

"Tender and scorched, but it shouldn’t scar too badly" I say "How’s your energy level?"

He just grunts and signals for the ref to start the fight.

He might be tired, but he’s very fast. He must have held back a bit against the Blooming Lotus fighter. I struggle to turn away his first few attacks and he lands a solid hit to my chest, staggering me, but knocking himself back with the recoiled energy.

"Not bad, didn’t expect you to be able to reject the energy penetration" he huffs as we continue to exchange blows. I catch him off Guard with Shadow Meld and knock him to his knees, but an explosion of energy knocks me away from him and breaks the skill.

"How many of those do you have in you" I smile, trying to get him riled up.

"Enough. I know you can’t take many more."

Actually I can, the Dragon Armor skill took the brunt of every strike and my Lycan healing coupled with the increased cultivation has already healed the burns and is rapidly dealing with the damage from the energy attack.

Back and forth we go, sparks flying as energy coated attacks clash. He’s forced to use another area attack to drive me back, and it’s visibly cost him. He’s panting for breath, so I push hard, using the flowing Blooming Lotus Style mixed with sudden attacks of the Shadowed Sword style to keep him off balance and pressured, burning through energy to fend me off.

A blast of energy extending from a kick is far stronger than anything previous, possibly a secret technique. It shatters my leg and I am forced to hop on one foot, trying to set the bone while guarding against attacks. There it goes, and I’m rushing energy through it to mend the break as fast as possible.

I’m fighting from my back now, knocked over while fixing my leg, and he’s going for the control so he can beat me into submission. Extended black energy claws dissuade him of that notion, giving me time to roll to my feet.

My leg is healed enough I can stand on it now, though I wouldn’t trust it to take a hit, so I’m back on two feet, shocking him as he clearly saw it flopping broken.

The crowd’s roar is intense, it’s muted during the fight by the barrier, but I can feel the rhythmic thrumming through the ground.

I keep my claws out, controlling the fight as he doesn’t have the energy to constantly block them and he can’t use his body to do it. I land a deep set of gashes across his chest and he doubles over in pain, allowing me a chance to put him in a tight choke hold.

He rolls and prys at my arms, trying to break free, even surging energy in an area attack, but I’ve got him wrapped up tight and he’s soon unconscious.

The referee calls the match and I’m being hoisted up in victory, agony spreading through every bit of my body as the adrenaline wears off.

I am brought to the stage to give a victor’s speech, but nothing is coming to me, so I just look to the announcer to take the lead.

"It’s an amazing upset for the Shadowed Sword Sect everyone. Perhaps the crowd’s enthusiasm got through today, but we had an amazing final match by the Outer Sect combatants."

"Tell me, how does it feel to be a champion?" he turns and asks me.

"Honestly, I’m bruised and sore, I’ve been set on fire and my leg is broken, but the sense of accomplishment is amazing. Thank you everyone, especially my fellow disciples of the Shadowed Blade and the ladies of the Forbidden Treasure Sect for your support throughout the tournament."

The mention of the Forbidden Treasure Sect brought a louder cheer than anything else so far. Even the fight.

Bunch of Lecherous drunks.