The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 49 - The Monster

Chapter 49: 49 - The Monster

"WHOAAAAAHH!!!"

"I KNEW HE WOULD WIN!!!"

"THAT WAS BRUTAL!!!"

The audience shouted in excitement after seeing someone get a big gaping hole in their head. Gobong’s face was completely destroyed along with his brain.

"..."

Khan just pulled back his spear and calmly flicked off the blood from his weapon.

’He’s a fucking monster too.’

I thought after recalling the match. It ended faster than Jin’s. And this is when I realized it—

These three aren’t just normal Silver Rank fighters... They’re probably some of the strongest.

"AND THERE IT IS—THE SPEAR MASTER, KHAN, WON!!!"

The announcer declared, and with that, Khan started heading back here. The crowd was still shouting, cheering for him.

And when he got here—

"I’m back."

Khan casually said that. I saw him glance and smirk at me smugly.

Then parting his lips, he mouthed this to me while pointing at himself—

’Spear Master.’

He was bragging about his title like a child.

It was so not him that it made me frown in confusion.

But before I could even say anything—

"Finally, it’s my turn."

Brock muttered that with a smile on his face as he stood up beside me. He looked down at me, and confidently—

"Watch me, kid. You’ll finally see how amazing I am."

He declared that.

"..."

I just decided to stay silent. I didn’t know what to say... I’m still surprised from Khan’s fight.

’Fuck it, I’m just going to watch.’

*****

The three started talking casually among themselves. I didn’t join their conversation as I was focusing myself.

Then, just a few minutes after Khan’s fight... Brock’s fight was announced.

"FOR THE THIRD MATCH IN TODAY’S EVENT—BROCK VERSUS BATO!!!"

The announcer exclaimed loudly. Then without hesitation or beating around the bush—

TAP!

Brock stepped out of the waiting room with a heavy step.

"WHOOOOAAAAHHH!!!"

He was greeted by a loud welcome from the crowd.

"I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, BROCK!!!"

"KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!!"

Brock laughed loudly as he walked toward the center of the arena. One would think he’s the owner of the place with how he’s acting and because of how popular he was.

Then, after getting into the middle of the arena—

BOOM!

He unsheathed his weapon from his back. It was a greatsword. It was bigger and probably heavier than the one I have in my room by several times. Brock let it fall onto the ground.

I just frowned seeing his weapon. Its edges aren’t sharp-looking. In fact—they look blunt, and they’re even chipped.

Anyway, after him—

TAP!

His opponent came out from the other side. He was almost as muscular as Brock, but he’s bigger—probably standing over two meters tall. He’s bald and probably as old as Brock. Then his weapon—

BOOM!

It was a giant steel club with small bumps. He slammed it into the ground and stared at Brock with a smirk on his face.

"GO BATO!!! I PUT MY BET ON YOU, YOU BETTER WIN!!!"

It was a bit weaker than when Brock came out, but a lot of the people watching cheered on Bato too.

And as soon as they got ready—

"WITHOUT ANY MORE WAITING—START!!!"

The announcer started their match.

"I’LL PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT I’M THE STRONGEST IN THE SILVER RANK!!!"

BAM!

Bato rushed toward Brock, then he swung his club horizontally with all his might.

And seeing that, Brock just let out a laugh.

"Sure, try and do that."

He said arrogantly... Then he swung his greatsword horizontally too to intercept Bato’s attack!

C L A N G—!!!

Their steel weapons collided. A deafening clashing sound echoed throughout the arena as sparks flew everywhere!

My face cringed when I heard the clashing sound—it hurt my teeth.

"Ugh...?!"

Bato’s hands bounced back along with his club. A pained expression lay on his face. Looks like his hand throbbed from that exchange just now.

But nevertheless—

"GRAAAAAHHH!!!"

He just raised his weapon up in the air and swung it diagonally down, aiming at Brock again!

And seeing the incoming attack toward his head—

"Man... You’re weak."

TIIIING!!!

Brock just shielded his head with his left arm, then he successfully blocked the attack with his vambrace without much effort! He had a disappointed expression on his face.

"?!!"

Bato’s eyes widened at that. Even mine did!

’Just watching that hurt my left arm... He’s crazy.’

I thought, referring to Brock.

And in that moment—

BAM!

"GAH?!"

Brock let go of his weapon and punched Bato in the face. He stumbled back from the impact.

But as soon as he recovered his balance—

"FUCKEEEER!!!"

Bato jumped at Brock again immediately and swung his club down while holding it with both hands!

He was faster this time!

Though...

FWISH—

BOOM!!

Brock just turned to the side and avoided it. Bato’s attack hit nothing but the ground.

Fwip—

Brock then grabbed Bato’s hands with his left hand. Bato saw this and pulled back.

"...?!"

But he couldn’t... Bato couldn’t get out of Brock’s grasp. And when he turned to look at Brock again...

CRACK—

Brock crushed his hands by just strongly clenching his left hand!

"GAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Bato shrieked in pain as his fingers got squashed.

"Shut up."

BAM!

Brock punched him in the nose with a strong punch!

BAM!

Then he hit him again before he could even shout in pain!

BAM!

And again.

BAM!

And again...

BAM!

And again!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Brock started beating the living shit out of Bato with his right hand tightly clenched into a fist!

Bato tried to retaliate by kicking and all, but Brock didn’t even budge when he hit him! He couldn’t get out from his hold either, and he couldn’t dodge.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Brock kept hitting him in the face. Bato’s head bounced back and forth violently because of it.

And because of that, not long after—

Thud—

Bato fell on his knees.

"..."

His eyes were swollen, red from bleeding, and lifeless. He wasn’t screaming anymore, maybe because of his broken jaw... But Bato wasn’t making any more sound.

He just had his head down—blood dripping from his nose, mouth, eyes, and wounds all over his face. He was almost unrecognizable.

His body was limp.

Brock let go of his hands, and after doing so—

BOOM!

Bato’s hands, along with his steel club, fell onto the ground.

"Hmm, are you dead?"

Brock asked, but no answer came as expected.

"..."

He just stared at his unmoving opponent for a few seconds, then...

Fwip—

He grabbed his greatsword beside him with his right hand.

Swoosh~

Brock raised his weapon up in the air singlehandedly.

And without a hint of remorse or hesitation on his face—

He vertically swung down his greatsword.

B O O M—!!!

CRACK!

Brock hit Bato in the head and slammed it down onto the floor, cracking the hardened ground and Bato’s skull!

I think Bato’s head just exploded!

"..."

Total silence engulfed the arena.

This was the first time it became so quiet. I felt goosebumps all over my body.

Then Brock, looking down at Bato’s dead body—

"I was excited to fight after a long time... What a disappointment."

He just went and casually said that with a bored expression on his face.

The fight ended.

Bato was only able to throw three proper attacks, and all of it were blocked.

Then Brock...

’That monster didn’t take a single step.’