章節 27: Fighter's Triumph
With his knee pressed against Maverock's neck, Noa could see the fear reflected in his opponent's eyes. Each breath became a struggle for Maverock, the air growing increasingly scarce.
"Submit," Noa commanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
Maverock closed his eyes, defeated. "I submit," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
A surge of triumph surged through Noa as he released his grip and stepped back. "Enjoy your deaths soon," he taunted.
Slowly, Maverock rose to his feet, still gasping for breath.
"You despicable scum!" Maverock spat, his voice laden with curses.
Noa observed the lingering anger in Maverock's eyes as he stood there, desperately trying to catch his breath. He understood that his words had struck a nerve.
Yet, Noa merely smirked. He knew that Maverock's insults were empty attempts to salvage his wounded pride. Noa had no fear of being called names or facing the hatred of those he defeated. It was all part of the game, and he reveled in it.
"I'll be seeing you around, Maverock," Noa stated, turning to leave. However, as he took a single step forward, a sudden jolt of pain shot through his side.
He glanced down, only to discover a knife embedded in his flesh, its blade tainted with his own blood.
Noa turned back to face Maverock, his eyes widening in disbelief. How could Maverock have attacked him once again, even after their fight had ended? "You stabbed me," Noa gasped, staggering backwards.
Maverock sneered at him, the flames of rage still ablaze in his eyes. "You deserved it," he spat.
The excruciating pain in Noa's side drained his strength as he crumpled to the ground. He fought to remain conscious, attempting to rise to his feet. Yet, as his balance faltered, a circular cylindrical device materialized in the air, unleashing a laser beam aimed at Maverock.
The unexpected assault originated from Cloud, Noa's AI companion. Endowed with autonomous decision-making capabilities, Cloud instinctively defended its master. Noa had specifically programmed Cloud with defensive and offensive protocols. Thankfully, he prioritized it over Cloud's materialistic customization.
The laser struck Maverock square in the chest, propelling him backward. He crashed onto the ground with a resounding thud, his body limp.
Noa watched in astonishment as Cloud hovered in the air, the barrel of its laser gun still emitting tendrils of smoke.
"Thank you, Cloud," Noa whispered weakly, his voice barely audible.
"No problem," Cloud replied, then descended back down to the ground.
Noa retreated to his corner, seeking a moment to catch his breath. Sweat poured down his face, and his heart pounded rapidly. The rush of adrenaline still coursed through his veins.
Slowly, the plate floor began to descend, returning them to the normal position in the middle of the bridge. Amidst the ensuing silence, a sound emerged, echoing from the audience.
It was difficult to discern whether they were applauding Noa's victory or expressing their disappointment towards Maverock's failure. Death had become an accepted part of daily life in Neo Arcadia. Fear of it had been long gone, as it was considered an honorable fate, far preferable to the humiliation of surrendering in the midst of a fight.
Amidst the crowd and the clamor, Eden called out to Noa from a distance. He hurried over, offering him a bottle of energy water.
"You're doing great," Eden said as he gave a bottle to Noa. "Are you okay?" he asked. "He attacked you."
"Thanks. I think I'm okay," Noa replied as he took the bottle and drank from it.
After consuming several bottles of energy water to replenish his nearly depleted stamina, Noa also consumed nutrients to accelerate the healing of his wounds.
Taking a deep breath, Noa stepped back from the bridge's plate. The crowd erupted in cheers, rising to their feet. The system officially declared Noa as the winner, and the victory belonged to Shadow Syndicate.
[Shadow Sydicate won the monthly guild's tournament.]
The entire System would recognize their triumph, adding to the guild's status rating. A surge of exhilaration coursed through Noa as he raised his fists in victory. He had achieved it, emerging victorious from the fight.
As Noa exited the arena, he was surrounded by guild members and well-wishers, all offering their congratulations. Noa smiled and shook hands with each of them, feeling a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment.
"Noah!" So-Rin's voice rang out from a distance as she applauded him. "You fought brilliantly."
Before So-Rin could reach him, Blue, the AI puppy, jumped into Noa's chest. His reflexes kicked in, and he held the adorable robotic companion in his arms. Meanwhile, Cloud stood by Noa's side, a silent and loyal presence.
"It seems Blue likes you more than me," So-Rin protested as she caught her breath.
"That's natural. I'm a lovable person," Noa responded.
So-Rin rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Confident, too, I see."
Noa laughed and affectionately petted Blue's head before the robotic companion jumped back down to the ground.
"Hey, congrats anyway," So-Rin said.
Noa grinned appreciatively. "Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without my military training," he replied. But with Infrablack's selectivity, the military training itself was a show of Noa's natural talent.
"I believe it's more than just training," Eden chimed in. "Your alien hand syndrome gives you a natural ability that sets you apart."
"Well, yeah," Noa acknowledged. "My weakness eventually turned into my strength."
"Exactly," Eden agreed, nodding. "And your unwavering determination and perseverance played a significant role too."
Noa smiled, feeling grateful for the unwavering support of his friends. Even though he had only recently met Eden, he knew he could always count on him and So-Rin.
Noa and his friends made their way to the park, where the atmosphere was filled with the sounds of cheering and excitement. The crowd enthusiastically cheered for their favorite guilds as the battles raged on.
The system's announcement resonated in the air, revealing the list of guilds that had emerged victorious in the monthly tournament, along with the names of the winning members.
"Looks like we're in the spotlight now," Noa remarked.
"Does that bother you?" Eden asked.
"Not at all. Perhaps it's time for me to reveal myself to the entire system," Noa responded confidently.
"Same here, man. I've been hiding and avoiding public tournaments like this for so long. But I'm enjoying the challenge and the thrill of the battles. We should do this more often. Besides, I have you two now, shields," Eden said, smirking.
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