Using all his strength, Guar tried to lift up his head, he was roughly twice the size of the person in front of him, and he knew how to utilise Ki.

  'What is going on, it's not budging, is my Ki not working?' Was his first thought, but then he noticed the ground underneath his feet starting to crumble. His footing was dispersing as the sheer amount of Ki he was using was disrupting the ground.

  Still, he was unable to move which meant one thing. That this man's Ki was vastly higher then his.

  'No, it can't be. I'm the one that's meant to install fear into people.'

  "It's going to be me not you!' Guar shouted. His reach was longer than Ray's, if he reached out he could still hit Ray even if he was holding him by his neck.

  "Unfortunately, magic is not allowed, and it looks like someone is keeping a close eye on me." Ray said, looking at the trench towards the black haired man, who was now smiling more than before.

  Ray let go of his neck, and punched one hand away, and then the next. Guar felt like the bones inside his arms were shattered the second he had felt the impact. Then, throwing out a fist which hadn't even touched Guar, he was sent flying through the air.

  "The Ki blast!" Jones shouted. "It has to be him. They're moves are too similar, unless."

  There was one more dreaded thought. Maybe Nes was just another warrior and these were the things they taught the Redwing members.

  Guar laid there on the floor, he wasn't going to get back up again. The match was called and Ray was declared the winner.

  The crowd was unbiased in this situation. They clapped and cheered due to the sheer dominance that one contestant had shown over the over. These were the spectacles that they enjoyed watching.

  Heading back the trench, Ray walked alone, Guar was the first contestant that had to be taken off for emergency treatment. All the others had made their opponents forfeit in some way, including Harry.

  Before Ray could even reach the trench where the others were sitting, Savanna had ran out and immediately bowed down to him.

  "King of the Redwings,?forgive me if I have ever been rude to you before." She said, as she peaked up. "I just have one question to ask. Are you the warrior Nes that we met before?"

  Roki, hearing this, was surprised at what she was asking. Roki had mostly seen Ray use his swordsmanship which was sloppy. At times he had used his hands but only for a few seconds. He was unaware of what Nes did, and how they had come to this conclusion that these two were the same person.

  But if what they said was true. Maybe there was a chance Roki could redeem himself. Redeem himself for what he had done to Harry. And fight a true fight.

  "My name is not Nes." Ray replied. "I am Ray." When entering the trench, he walked past the old man and the young blonde boy who were at the front.

  "These wounds have healed nicely." Ray said touching his midsection.

  Jones' eyes widened, his heart was thumping even louder than before. They were the same person, and Ray was making Jones aware of it. He was basically threatening him for what he had done before.

  'It might be best if the other kingdoms just forfeit out of this fight.' Jones thought.

  Finally, it was the last fight of the day and the Empire's second man was announced, Sera Demi, along with a silver haired man who used a three pronged small blade that looked like a miniature pitch fork.

  It was a strange pairing, but Ray was just hoping that the other contestant would be able to put up a fight long enough, so Ray could see what this man had.

  When Sera walked out there, there were no cheers like that for Roki. Others were still a little confused as to who this man was. Still, since he was a contestant of the empire they cheered away anyway.

  For those that were unable to sense Ki that greatly, they felt like this man was nothing special, and the same could be said for his opponent. Sera looked so plain, so ordinary and at the same time, with no weapons or armor he wasn't threatening at all.

  "This is a place for warriors." The man said. " I suggest you forfeit now before you get seriously hurt."

  But Sera just responded with a yawn.

  "Do you think this person is strong?" Harry asked.

  "Very strong." Ray replied.

  The others had heard this too, which made them pay more attention then they first thought.

  'So you noticed it too?' Roki thought.

  "Let the match begin!" The announcer proclaimed and the fight had started.

  The man with the two small pitchfork-like weapons came in lightning fast. His speed was far greater then any of the contestants they had seen today. He had moved the moment the match had started.

  However, Sera looked unfazed, and then when the dagger was thrust towards him, suddenly the dagger itself looked as if it turned around all on its own, and had gone through the man's throat.

  Blood splattered across Sera's face from the wound, and taking the dagger out, Sera repeatedly stabbed the man in the neck over and over.

  They had both fallen to the floor and Sera was on top of him. He had yet to say a word, and all he did was repeatedly stab the contesters neck.

  At first there were cheers, as the people saw their empire contestant winning, but soon they had stopped. The stabbing continued with the crowd in stunned silence as no one had intervened in the fight. Even though it was clear the other contestant was now dead.

  This was because it was all on the Empire's Alexander's orders. Whatever happened in this fight they were to allow it, and just sit there and watch.

  The stabbing continued for around three minutes until eventually Sera stood up, threw the blade on the ground and walked off.

  His teammate at first from the same kingdom wanted to come out and stop it, but whenever he tried moving, he felt a strange shiver all over his body.

  "What a freak, what the hell!" Kyle shouted, watching from above.

  "How can the Empire just allow something like that. Why didn't they do anything?" Martha asked, watching horrified but unable to look away.

  "It seemed like it was a message, a message to all of us." Sylvia said. Maybe the Empire had more problems than they wished to admit. They allowed such a crazy person to sit at the dinner table, and be by the Empire's side at all times?

  The first day of events were over and the participants were told to go back to their place and rest. There were so many shocking things that had happened in today's event, but the one thing that stuck in all of their minds was the last fight of the day.

  Maybe because it was the most recent, or maybe it was because Sera's blood splattered face was ingrained in their mind, how he was so emotionless as he had done his actions.

  Inside the room, all of the Redwings were with Ray, discussing what had happened today including Roy.

  "Well, it's official." Roy said. "I think I will be leaving this place and joining you guys after all. There's just too many things going on here. I don't like it, I don't like it one bit."

  "I couldn't agree with you more." Kyle replied.

  "Sylvia, it would be best if you started making preparations." Ray said.

  "Preparations for what?" Sylvia asked nervously.

  "For war."

  A war with the empire, would it really get to that? Even with their strength they could never imagine winning and they still had the problem with the Shadow to deal with. While they were all thinking, a knock was heard at the door.

  When Martha answered it, she was surprised to see it was one of the contestants waiting outside, but not just any of the contestants it was Roki.

  "Your majesty." Roki said in a polite and respectful manner while bowing down. "Is it okay if we can have a talk."

  Sylvia looked at Ray as if to say it was a bad idea, but Ray didn't feel the same way. He waved his hand, signalling everyone to leave the room. Then the two of them had sat down at the corner of the table at the back.

  It was quiet between the two of them for a while until Roki finally spoke.

  "I think it's best if the Redwings leave now." Roki said. "Forget about the tournament, you have already proved your strength to everybody so is there a need for you to stay."

  Ray was surprised by this, he knew what Roki was like. When he saw a strong opponent, usually he would want to face him. That was why he had talked to Nes that time at the arena, but what had changed?

  "Is it because of what happened with the Sera person?" Ray asked.

  Roki nodded before speaking.

  "You don't understand, when he came, things changed. He's not human. He's…"

  "A god…" Ray replied.

  Roki had this look on his face as if he wanted to say how did you know.

  That's when Roki noticed something else, he had never been this close to Ray before, and he could see something around his neck. His eyes widened.

  "That, where did you get that!" Roki asked.

  He was pointing at the pendant that was gifted to him by his mother.

  *****

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