The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 62 - Provocation [1]

Chapter 62: 62 - Provocation [1]

"..."

Damian stood in silence, looking at the unmoving Rust. He was waiting for him to get up, not letting his guard down.

But seconds passed by...

"..."

And he showed no sign of moving. It was quiet in the arena.

But breaking that—

"LOOKS LIKE WE ALREADY HAVE A WINNER!!!"

The announcer’s voice suddenly echoed throughout the place.

"WHAT?! THAT FAST?!!"

"THAT OTHER GUY IS WEAK AS FUCK!!!"

"HAHAHA—! I WON THE BET!"

The audience started shouting too, riled up. They were complaining how Rust wasn’t able to do anything.

Though honestly, most of them would’ve lost against him if they fought Rust one-on-one... They just think he’s super weak, they didn’t take into consideration that it was Damian’s strength that finished the fight fast.

The difference between their skills is just that high. If Rust had faced a different newbie... He probably would’ve won.

’I won.’

Damian thought as he looked down at his hands. Nobody was cheering for him. Everyone was just laughing at their fight.

In everyone’s eyes, he was just handed the win.

But honestly, he didn’t care that much... He was still alive.

Though, he did look really annoyed hearing the non-fighter audience dissing them.

So looking at the crowd—

’I’ll shut you all up next time.’

He declared that in his head, glaring.

And with that—he started heading back to the waiting room.

His fight lasted for a minute and thirty-five seconds.

*****

(Kaiser’s POV)

"Good job out there."

I said as I saw Damian step into the room.

"Haha, thanks."

He replied, smiling.

’He seems calm. I expected him to be more loud and all after winning.’

Just as I thought that...

"Kai, what will happen to that Rust guy? He’s not dead, just unconscious."

Damian suddenly asked me that. I looked at him and casually opened my mouth.

"Either he gets to fight again in future events upon recovering, or be sold off as a soldier slave to the military where he would be used as a meat shield."

I explained. That’s what Khan told me before as this situation isn’t that uncommon.

"Mhm."

Damian nodded his head, then with a resolute expression on his face...

"I want to get stronger. Can you give me some advice?"

He asked another question.

’What got into this guy?’

He’s acting weird.

Anyway, shrugging that off my head, I patted the seat beside me and pointed at the arena.

"There are five more matches, including mine and the main event. Watch them carefully and study their movements. You can learn things by doing that."

I’m just passing what Jin told me to him.

At my words, Damian nodded his head and sat beside me, his eyes focused on the arena.

"..."

I shifted my eyes back in front of me and just ignored him.

Silence enveloped the room.

And not long after...

"NOW, FOR THE NEXT MATCH—!"

The event continued.

Damian and I watched the fights intently without saying much. We just talked whenever something happened that hr didn’t understand—he asked me, and I answered the best I could.

"..."

I was actually impressed. Because right now... He doesn’t look that stupid.

...

...

...

*****

A few hours later—

Three fights had passed. The second fight ended fast too, but the third and fourth took a while because the fighters were the same strength.

Their techniques were good and all. They were amazing.

Anyway, now...

It was my turn to fight.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! HE’S BACK AGAIN, THE YOUNGEST FIGHTER WE HAVE—KAIIIISER!!!"

The announcer exclaimed.

"WHOAAAAAAA!!!"

"IT’S THE KID!!!"

"YEAH!!! I’LL BET ON HIM THIS TIME!!!"

The crowd went wild. I smiled hearing them.

"..."

Then, glancing beside me—I saw Damian looking at me all shocked upon seeing everyone’s reaction.

I just smugly smirked at him.

"I wouldn’t take long."

Then I said that as I stood up.

And without further ado... I exited the waiting room.

"WHOOOOOOAH!!!"

"DO YOUR BEST, KID!!!"

"I’M ROOTING FOR YOU!!!"

"OF COURSE YOU ARE, YOU BETTED ON HIM!!!"

Cheers greeted me. I ignored them all and walked to my designated position.

"THIS IS HIS FOURTH MATCH NOW!!! HE DOMINATED HIS PAST THREE FIGHTS DESPITE BEING ONLY SIXTEEN!!!"

The announcer introduced me a bit to the audience, and the cheering got a lot louder... It was starting to hurt my ears.

"NOW FOR HIS OPPONENT...!"

"HE’S TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD AND HAD FIVE WINS UNDER HIM, THIS IS HIS SIXTH IF EVER!!! LET US WELCOME—LAGORAAAAAS!!!"

The announcer shouted at the top of his lungs, and the crowd went wild once more.

I frowned.

’I wish they could just all shut up.’

And just as I thought that—

Tap—

My opponent came out from the other side of the arena. It was the guy who tried to recruit me during my last visit to the bath area. He still had that arrogant look in his black eyes.

His messy black hair looked stupid as fuck, and his arms were bulging with muscles. He was fully wearing leather armor, except on his head.

And his equipment... He was holding a normal one-handed sword in his right hand and a circular wooden shield in his left.

Just like Rose’s... He had the same setup as mine, just bigger.

"..."

I frowned deeper. I’m at a disadvantage in terms of reach and coverage.

’I need to approach this carefully.’

I muttered in my head. And just as I was drowning in my thoughts—

"LET THE MATCH BEGIN!!!"

I heard the announcer declare that! I didn’t notice it starting!

I was a bit surprised, but quickly—I got into a fighting stance.

And then...

BAM!

Lagoras started running at me. He was a bit slow... Maybe because his items were heavy and slowing him down.

’I have the advantage of speed, at least.’

I crouched down a little and prepared myself.

"I’LL TEAR YOU TO PIECES NOW, KID!!!"

He exclaimed with an enraged smile as he ran. He probably still couldn’t get over the fact that I beat his ass and dissed his boss when we first met.

(Chapter 54)

Anyway, soon... Lagoras got in front of me, and the first thing he did—was jump forward and try to bash me with his shield!

"...!"

TWHACK!

SHHHHH—

I was able to block with my buckler, but I skidded back. He’s way heavier than me.

SWISH—

I swung my short sword horizontally as a response. Though, he just jumped back a bit...

THAK!

And my blade only hit the edge of his wooden shield.

"...?!"

It even got stuck there!

"DIE!!!"

SWOOSH—!

Lagoras didn’t miss that chance—he swung his sword vertically down in a beautiful arc!

TAK!

I raised my buckler above my head and blocked it.

"Grgh..."

A small groan escaped my mouth. Then at the bottom of my sight—I saw Lagoras raising his right foot. He was planning to launch a kick!

I immediately responded to that—

THUD—

By using my left foot to step on his right knee and stop it in its place!

"...!"

His eyes widened. And in that moment, I used his knee as my footing and kicked off.

BAM!

"Grgh!"

He probably only felt a sting from that, but whatever. I just did it to gain some space between us, anyway.

Tap—

I landed softly a couple meters away, and looking back at him... I saw Lagoras glaring at me.

"You’re lucky..."

He grumbled, squinting his eyes really hard and trying to sound as intimidating as possible.

I just shrugged my shoulders... Then I opened my mouth.

"Nah, you’re just shit... Just like your boss."

I said.

"...!!!"

I immediately saw his face turn red, veins that seemed like they were going to pop appeared on his neck. And he was gritting his teeth really hard.

’Provoking stupid people really is easy.’

And just as I thought that—

"YOU WOULDN’T BE LUCKY THIS TIME!!!"

BAM!

Lagoras dashed toward me again, his shield in front of him... It was a shield bash attack again.

’It’s not going to work the second time.’

Tap-

I planted my left foot on the ground, then with my right—

THUD!

I threw a side kick at his shield when he entered my range!

The leather boots Rai got me have a thick sole so I barely felt it. Lagoras’ left arm shook and I saw his face cringe a little.

"...?!"

He got hurt and stopped in his tracks. And when my right foot got back onto the floor—

Bam—

FWISH—

I got closer to him and followed with a fast downward crescent slash aiming at his head!

TING!

Lagoras slashed upward and parried my blade, then he countered with a thrust!

"FUCK OFF!!!"

TUNK!

I parried his sword too using the metal part at the middle of my buckler, then I jumped forward!

SHIIIIIK—

His blade sliding through the metal surface of my buckler made me cringe. It hurt my teeth.

But when I basically got face to face with him—

BAM!

I slammed my left elbow to his chin!

"GAH!"

Though, he adjusted his head at the last second and I hit his mouth instead.

Fwoosh~

He jumped back to gain distance. I saw his lips busted and bleeding.

"Fuck...!"

He cursed.

And looking at him—

"You’re lucky, huh."

I shot his words earlier back to him with a mischievous tone.

He glared at me. Annoyance could be seen on his expression.

"You wouldn’t be lucky the next time."

Then I added that, mocking him.

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