Chapter 49: First match

"BOO!"

"BOO!"

"How can he even be a candidate? My kid has more soul power than him."

"Toss that joke out of the race."

"I don't want to be governed by a weakling."

"He is a grandson of a Great Admaloo, pay some respect, man."

"So what? Admaloo was great, not this piece of trash."

Safo stood his head down.

{"Don't listen to them, Safo. You know that the results are like that only due to your seal. We both know that you can last much longer than a minute."} Luna pleaded with Safo to not feel down about the crowd's words.

"That's what she said." Safo giggled. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just don't want to make eye contact with them because it will make their ire grow.

He quietly returned to his spot and waited before Yon finished his part in the event.

Yon also was able to call five yellow orbs.

With that, the host ended the contest and hurried to start the dessert of the day before the audience could start an uprising.

In less than ten minutes everything was ready and the madness of the crowd subsided in anticipation of a match where they would witness how Safo would be crushed like a bug.

Explanation of the plan of the event came first so the host was on it. The last battle matches were solely between candidates for the title.

Three rounds of two matches. Each candidate will fight with every rival candidate. Six matches in total.

[ 1) Kardon Gar vs B’hemah Cultrin; Safo Nur vs Yon Ace

2) Safo Nur vs B’hemah Cultrin; Yon Ace vs Kardon Gar

3) Safo Nur vs Kardon Gar; Yon Ace vs B’hemah Cultrin]

By the end, the one with the most wins will be pronounced as a Soul Champion.

Nation's favorite went first followed by nation's anti-favorite. The crowd's anticipation peaked about the fights. Every single soul craved a spectacular show.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Reptiles and Humanoids, my deer Psiora, meet our number one candidate Kardon Gar!"

The last battle allowed everyone to wear any gear that could help the fighter. Kardon was in his military uniform with a loaded rifle by his side along with blasters, hand grenades, and a long plasma-sword.

"His opponent in this match is the biggest candidate. Meet the “Behemoth”, B'hemah Cultrin. The showmen announced the combatants in a screaming tone to win over the yelling observers.

Safo Nur and Yon Aca were in their separate rooms waiting for their turn to fight, meanwhile watching the match to learn about the resources of the opponents.

Right after the referee signaled to fight, B'hemah, who was standing on his back legs, dropped to the front. The big red bull landed trembling the ground and pointed his black horns towards Kardon. Immediately they began to grow at an incredible pace, like some antennas from an old radio, his horns stretched forward, towards Kardon who was motionless.

Two sharp spikes flew zigzagging through the air, when it left a mere meter from reaching the target, Kardon responded with two fast motions of his purple plasma-sword. Two short clunking sounds of metal rang on the hundred square meter battle ring.

“That’s why! They are metallic.” Safo answered Luna’s previous question about the bull's crystal color. They were yellow, indicating something from nature while the ability to elongate one's horns should be in the green color spectrum.

In the ring, the bull didn't stop his assault, despite his horns being constantly knocked away by Kardon’s defensive swings. Like needles with a thread behind them, Behemoth’s horns levitated with great accuracy aiming at the opponent's blind spots. If only Kardon wasn't an experienced spy-soldier he would’ve been pinned, sewed by metal horns all over.

Spectators held their breath, no one had a word to comment or a second to think about one. A highly intense match kept everyone closely attached to their screens or a battlefield.

With the grace of a cat, he deflected every assault. Kardon’s moves were impressive and were admired even by a crimson bull. However, it wasn’t time for respect of another candidate. With determination, he formed a plan and without hesitation began realization.

The Behemoth’s horns started looping around its prey cutting out ways for escape. When the bull was satisfied with his fort, his tail rose from behind and his short hair at the end of the tail became a metal needle projectile, flying to hurt Kardon through gaps between spiral metal fences.

In a heartbeat that seemed to prolong for decades, people saw how the hardened black tiny javelins made their way towards entirely surrounded Kardon. Some very sensitive girls blacked out, unable to bear the tension.

But to the audience’s awe and B’hemah’s frustration, Kardon disappeared right before the projectiles entered the spiral cage of his. No trace of Kardon could be found on the field.

The camera that captured the whole place searched for Kardon but couldn't find him. The two narrators that were commenting on the fight sat in silence flabbergasted.

“Wha… What happened? Is this his resource?”

A moment later one of the guests shouted in excitement. “There he is! Behind the bull.”

And in truth, it was Kardon calmly standing behind his unaware opponent. The bull tried to jump away but was restricted in moves by the weight of his metal horns that covered half of the ring. Instead of jumping, the bull made awkward jerks to the amusement of the crowd.

However, soon the crowd made the sounds of disappointment. Kardon didn’t attack the bull with his hot plasma-sword but just jumped to the side and away from the bull which meanwhile was panicky retracting his heavy horns.

Like a noodle when one slurps it, horns came back to the owner. The loud boom and a bright flash of light blinded people. The red bull had been lifted by the force of the explosion several centimeters up and dropped with even louder noise. The dust raised on the battlefield enveloping the contestants. Seconds later a shriek came within the dust, horrified, full of terror cry of a bull.

Kardon, slowly, in a calm pace without any scratch on him or his clothes came out of the dust carpet. Despite all dust on his bold hardened cranium, it was shiny. Not looking back, to where his opponent was, he stood still looking confident as always.

People waited for the dust to go away, for a couple more minutes, in total stillness. Only when it took too long, a special camera flew in and showed a blooded bull on his side.

The mighty Behemoth had a long and severe cut on his belly going from back to front legs, his guts were on the floor. A pond of blood around the bull, and the overall scene made many throw up whatever they had for lunch.

Two narrators still had no words to say. With wide-open eyes and mouth, they observed the half-dead bull’s helpless sobbing.

“Healers! Faster!” Bendai Cultrin was yelling on top of his three lungs to his hired healers. “I said FASTER!”

Over 5 psiora with healing resources and several other medics hastily ran to the wounded bull and began their magic.

“Kardon, you bastard I will make you pay for your doings. You will see, you will see.” Ptech, multi-billion zee company president sat on his knees praying for any god that could help. He didn’t ask for health for his only son, it was guaranteed that his medical team would succeed, he asked for strength to destroy the Gar family.

No matter what happened on the stage, the show must go on and the host announced the winner of the match.

Viewers had mixed emotions but soon they were overwhelmed by the fan’s cheers.

"GO KARDON!" People cheered loudly, some had tears in their eyes.

“That is how it should be! The King should show the power behind the title.”

“You are damn right, my friend. He is the true King of the New Tenga.”

“We love you KARDON!”

The crowd was unstoppable for more than ten minutes after the match, excited by the bloodshed sport that took place in front of their eyes.

Only the removal of a giant body and announcement of the next fight was able to cool down the audience.

"Haha, let us now see what the loser prepared for us."

"I bet he will die! 20 zees, who is down."

"I think he will be able to flutter like a dying fish for a minute before. Haha."

“Alright, Luna let's go.” Safo stood up from his seat and went towards the exit, his heart was pounding like crazy. The first match was crueler than he thought, it helped him to realize where he was and what he had to overcome to reach his goals.

{“Are you sure? It was a grenade under that bull, wasn’t it? That guy not only threw an explosive but in fact tried to kill the poor fat bull.”} Luna couldn’t control her emotions. It was rare for her to see violence in such a cold manner.

“It is okay, Luna. He is doing what he has to do. We should do the same. Please, help me here.”

{“You do not have to ask me about it, Safo. I will always look after you.”}

“Thank you.” Safo’s eyes got wet a bit. A feeling that someone was always by his side, protecting and warning him in any case was heartwarming. It added to his self-confidence.

On the stage Luna once more called to Safo. {“Is he serious? I thought he was a soldier too? It was natural to assume that he would bring guns too. What is wrong with this guy, Safo?”}

“Ehm, I don’t know, really. He is weird.” Safo was on the stage examining his opponent for the following match.