Capítulo 110: CQC
Selene's wide eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked around the arena. Her tiny hands gripped Maruti's head as she sat on her shoulders, marveling at the sea of colors in the crowd.
"Woah… so many people with different hair colors!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike wonder.
Maruti sighed, glancing up at the little girl perched on her shoulders. "Why are you so surprised? Didn't you see plenty of people when we were on our way here?" she replied, her tone slightly exasperated.
The arena was bustling with energy, divided neatly into three distinct sections. The center section was the most prestigious, reserved for high-status individuals. At the very top, special luxury seats gleamed, reserved for Lilith and other royals. The air around them felt distant and unreachable, a clear distinction between them and the rest of the audience.
The second section catered to the academy's students and the wealthy. Rows of comfortable seats lined this area, occupied by neatly dressed nobles and merchants who had paid a hefty fee to witness the battles. For them, this was a thrilling form of entertainment, and their contributions helped fund the academy.
The last section, at the bottom, was vastly different. It was a crowded standing area filled with commoners and non-awakened individuals. The fee to enter was low, allowing ordinary people a glimpse of the extraordinary world of battles. Yet, they had no seats to rest on and stood shoulder to shoulder, craning their necks to see the action. For many, this was a rare opportunity to witness power they could only dream of.
Among the sea of commoners stood Maruti, towering over everyone else in her section. Her tall frame made her stand out, but she didn't seem to care. Sitting on her shoulders, Selene gleefully scanned the arena, her small hand steadying herself on Maruti's head.
"Aunt, which one of them is my daddy?" Selene suddenly asked, her voice curious and filled with innocence.
Maruti rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. Her pupils darted upward to glance at the child. "I already told you, none of them is your daddy. Why do you ask so many questions?" she muttered.
Selene puffed her cheeks slightly, undeterred. "Hmm… figured. I have black and white hair, and Mother has black hair. So, my daddy must have white hair!" she declared confidently, nodding to herself as if she had solved a grand mystery.
Maruti froze for a moment, the words sinking in. Her mind wandered to Kaelith, whose silver-white hair matched Selene's description perfectly. "Now that I think about it… Kaelith does have white hair…" she thought, her lips twitching slightly at the realization.
Her gaze softened as she looked at Selene. "This kid is smarter than she looks," Maruti mused, feeling a mix of admiration and exasperation.
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"Why the rush?" Esdeath asked, a playful smile curling on her lips. Yet her eyes remained cold and unfeeling, sending chills down anyone who dared to meet her gaze. "I'm going to win anyway." Her voice was casual, almost bored, as if this match wasn't worth her time.
She was wearing her usual academy uniform, though, true to her personality, she had styled it in her own daring way—carefree and almost provocative. The outfit clung to her figure in ways that made heads turn, but Esdeath didn't care about the attention.
From the royal seating above, Lilith let out a long sigh of relief as she watched Esdeath enter the arena. "Hah... thank the gods. My problem is finally over," she muttered to herself, slumping slightly in her chair.
Esdeath had been missing for the past week, and her absence had caused chaos in the academy. Lortell, ever the unpredictable force, had threatened Lilith herself. She had made it very clear that if the academy didn't find Esdeath within ten days, she would personally turn the campus into a bloodbath. And knowing Lortell's reputation, Lilith had no doubt she would follow through with the threat.
But now, seeing Esdeath safe, sound, and radiating power, Lilith felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. For now, at least, peace was restored.
The referee's voice echoed across the arena. "Take your positions! Start when I say start!"
All eyes were on Esdeath and her opponent, Gilbert. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, their curiosity piqued. Was Esdeath all talk and no substance? Was her reputation as a top-tier combatant well-earned, or was it just because of her physical prowess in non-magic scenarios?
The referee raised her hand high into the air. "Start!" she shouted, and the match officially began.
Gilbert wasted no time. The moment the signal was given, he began chanting spells at lightning speed. "Physical Strength Boost! Greater Physical Strength Boost! Magic Boost! Magic Boost!"
As he chanted, a faint glow surrounded him, signaling the effects of his buffs. Boosting magic didn't take as long to cast as elemental spells, but it came with its own challenges—it drained a lot of mana. However, Gilbert had prepared in advance. He had consumed several mana-enhancing potions before the match, temporarily expanding his mana pool. He looked confident, assured that his preparation would lead him to victory.
Meanwhile, Esdeath didn't move. She didn't chant or raise her hands. She simply stood there, her cold gaze fixed on Gilbert. Her red eyes burned with an intensity that made even the bravest onlookers shudder.
For some reason, just looking at Gilbert filled her with irritation—no, anger. She couldn't quite place why at first, but then it hit her.
Gilbert's tall, bulky frame reminded her of someone she hated—Ujjain.
The memories came flooding back. Ujjain, the man who had nearly killed both her and Maruti. His towering figure and arrogant demeanor. She had defeated him in the end, but the victory hadn't been enough to satisfy her. His death had been too quick, too merciful.
Now, seeing Gilbert, something inside Esdeath snapped. He wasn't Ujjain, but the resemblance was close enough to ignite a storm of fury within her.
After all the boosts, Gilbert roared as he charged at Esdeath.
"Purgatory Dash!" he bellowed.
At once, two magic circles appeared beneath his feet, glowing brightly. His body shot forward like a bullet, dashing through the air and closing the distance toward Esdeath at a frightening speed.
But then—
As if time itself had slowed down…
<Sharpshooter (E) Activated: Time will slow down for five seconds>
And then—
Esdeath slowly shifted her posture, her movements sharp and deliberate as she took a stance that looked deceptively simple but exuded overwhelming intent. It was "Close Quarters Combat"—CQC—a stance refined for direct, brutal efficiency. Her body crouched slightly, knees bent for balance, with one hand positioned close to her face while the other hovered in front, prepared to strike or defend. Her stance was reminiscent of a predator moments before it lunged for the kill, muscles tensed and ready.
The world around her started to fade into darkness, as though the arena itself was being swallowed whole.
The ground beneath her feet turned pitch black, rippling like a river of endless void. Perfect white circles, sharp and glowing, appeared at measured distances on the ground, radiating outward like ripples in still water. The circles pulsed faintly, creating a stark contrast against the inky blackness.
The noise of the crowd—the cheering, the gasping, the murmuring—faded into nothingness. Silence fell over her ears, leaving her with only the steady rhythm of her own breathing.
In this silent void, Esdeath's mind sharpened to an edge. The circles beneath her became her battlefield—imaginary yet absolute. They represented control, precision, and her dominance over the space.
Her crimson eyes flickered, glowing faintly in the darkened illusion she created. There was no hesitation, no wasted energy. Only the calm, focused silence of a storm about to unleash itself.
From above, to those watching, Esdeath looked like she had melded with something unworldly.
Lilith, sitting at the topmost luxury seats, gasped sharply. "That stance… CQC?"
Her voice carried just enough to startle the nearby professors. One by one, their gazes locked on Esdeath, and recognition dawned.
"CQC?!" murmured several teachers in shock, their eyes widening.
The crowd, though unaware of the full significance, could sense something ominous. All eyes turned to Gilbert, who was still in midair, charging straight toward Esdeath. But his expression had changed.
The confident smirk he wore moments ago had vanished. His eyes were wide, pupils trembling, as a sickening dread crawled up his spine.
*"Why? Why do I feel so scared? I'm fine… I'm completely fine… But why?"* Gilbert's thoughts raced, his breathing quickening.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead, trickling down his face. *"Am I going to die? This is a match, right? Someone… Save me… Please…"*
Then—
Swish....
BAM!..
Srrrk…
A series of sharp sounds exploded across the arena, so fast they merged into one blinding moment. Shockwaves rippled outward, strong enough to make some spectators shut their eyes and clutch their ears.
When they opened their eyes again—
A thud.
Gilbert was on the ground, collapsed in a heap. His entire body was drenched in sweat, his limbs trembling violently. But more importantly, he was alive. Not a single scratch marred his body.
The arena fell into stunned silence. Confusion flickered across the faces of the crowd as their eyes darted toward Esdeath.
And there she stood—completely still—but surrounded.
Lilith's hand was clamped around Esdeath's neck, her face pale and strained. Two professors flanked her sides, blocking her arms from moving, while three female teachers hovered around her with grim expressions, ready to intervene again if needed.
It was clear to everyone who could process the moment: They had stopped Esdeath just in time.
Had they been a second late… Gilbert would have been dead.
Lilith exhaled shakily, though she tried to maintain her composure. She gave Esdeath a forced smile, but her voice betrayed her unease.
"Too bad, but killing isn't allowed," she said bitterly, as if trying to make light of the situation.
She released her grip and stepped back. "You've been given a warning, Esdeath Crimson. If you try something like this again, you'll be disqualified. Oh, and… meet me in my office later."
Before anyone could blink, Lilith was already gone, returning to her seat with a flicker of movement, as though she had teleported. The other professors and teachers withdrew as well, leaving Esdeath standing alone once more.
The referee finally raised her hand, clearing her throat with a shaky voice.
"Esdeath Crimson from Class B wins!" she announced, though her voice carried a hint of disbelief.
Gilbert, still trembling, didn't argue. He stood up as quickly as his shaking legs would allow, nodded weakly, and left the arena without a single word. The crowd watched him go in stunned silence.
Then, as though someone had flipped a switch, the arena erupted into cheers.
The audience roared with excitement, their voices echoing throughout the massive space. None of them understood exactly what had happened, but they could sense it had been extraordinary.
From the side, Ethan's expression darkened. Unlike the others, he wasn't cheering. Instead, his sharp eyes were locked on Esdeath, his brows furrowed in thought.
"How does she know so many ancient martial arts? Who even teaches CQC anymore? Something's not right about her… There's something fishy going on."
Meanwhile, Esdeath stood in the center of the arena, completely unbothered by the chaos she had caused.
"Tch… fucking lolicon," she muttered under her breath as she leaves.
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After the previous duel, the atmosphere in the arena slowly settled back to normal.
The referee stepped forward, raising her voice to announce the next match. "Next match, Maruti from Class B versus Mariah Adler from Class B!"
Cheers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Esdeath didn't stay to watch. She quietly pulled Selene with her, disappearing from the arena. Her movements were deliberate, avoiding unnecessary attention. Esdeath wasn't about to take the risk of someone spotting her with Selene.
Meanwhile, Maruti entered the arena with a carefree attitude, cracking her knuckles as she prepared for the fight. However, the crowd's focus wasn't entirely on her—they were distracted by whispers and subtle glances toward her opponent's absence.
Maruti frowned as the seconds ticked by, glancing toward the other side of the arena where her opponent was supposed to appear. But no one came.
The referee waited a few moments, her voice echoing as she called out again, "Mariah Adler, if you do not come, Maruti will be declared the winner by default!"
The arena fell into a tense silence, eyes darting to the entrance. But still, there was no sign of Mariah Adler.
---
Away from the arena, a teacher approached Lilith, her face pale and grim. She leaned close to the vice principal, her voice a low, urgent whisper.
"Vice Principal, a serious problem has occurred. We found three more bodies of academy students… two boys and one girl."
Lilith's sharp eyes turned to her in shock. "Three more?"
The teacher hesitated, as if reluctant to continue. "I'm afraid… the girl is Mariah Adler."
Lilith froze, her body rigid as the weight of the words hit her. First Bella, and now this. Four students—dead.
"Who…?" Lilith's mind raced with thoughts. "Who would dare kill academy students one after another?" A mix of fury and dread simmered in her chest.
Her expression remained composed, but inside, the anger was boiling. Taking a long breath to steady herself, she rose from her seat, her calm voice barely masking her frustration. "Okay, I'm coming."
The teacher nodded, leading Lilith out of the arena.
---
Back in the arena, the referee's voice rang out, snapping the crowd's attention back to the match.
"Maruti from Class B wins by default!"
Maruti blinked in surprise, scratching the back of her head. "Well… that was unexpected," she muttered under her breath before shrugging and leaving the arena.
---
The day continued as more matches unfolded, the energy in the arena rising and falling like waves. Princess Ravenna's match was one of the highlights, and, as expected, the elegant and powerful princess claimed an effortless victory.
As the matches wrapped up and the sun began to dip toward the horizon, the crowd grew restless, worn from the excitement of the day. The sky turned orange, signaling the arrival of evening.
The referee stepped forward one last time, raising her hands to quiet the crowd.
"That's it for today! All winners will proceed to tomorrow's matches. With that, today's event officially comes to an end. Thank you, and have a good evening!"
A mix of cheers and tired sighs echoed across the arena as students and spectators began to file out.
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