Three days had passed since the preliminary round.
During those three days, Leon never left the Blue Flame Tavern. He trained behind the tavern, repeating the movements he had already mastered. Not to become stronger—but to ensure his body moved without needing to think.
"You're nervous," Satan whispered.
Leon shook his head. "No. Just... wary."
"Wary is good. But don't let wariness become fear."
Leon didn't answer. His hand touched the pendant around his neck. Still warm.
In the front room, Raina played with a wooden spoon, occasionally stealing glances at Leon. Elliot was cleaning glasses behind the counter, his eyes occasionally flicking toward the door.
Kazan entered from outside, his face serious.
"I've got news," he said. "The next round isn't what we thought."
Leon turned. "What do you mean?"
Kazan sat on a wooden chair, placing his two swords on the table. "It turns out it's not just five who advanced. From the 500 preliminary contestants, a total of 15 survived. They came from three different days of battles."
Leon blinked. "Fifteen?"
"Fifteen of the strongest fighters from the 1,500 who registered." Kazan unfolded a small notice paper on the table. "And they'll be divided into three groups of five. The winning group will fight in the finals."
Elliot whistled softly. "Fifteen out of fifteen hundred. Pretty selective."
Leon clenched his fists. "Who are they?"
Kazan looked at him. "You won't believe it."
---
The next morning, they returned to the Bloodsport Bets Arena. This time, the stands were packed. The crowd's cheers were already audible from the gates.
Leon stood in the corridor leading to the arena, his black mask covering his face. Around him, the other contestants began arriving. Not 500. Only fifteen.
His eyes moved quickly, observing them one by one.
In the left corner, a giant of a man with a shield the size of his body stood silently. Wall Keeper, the whispers among the spectators called him. In the right corner, a man who had previously wielded one sword now had two thin blades crossed on his back, walking gracefully with cold eyes. Deathblade Dancer.
Leon recognized some of them—contestants who had also advanced in his round. But there were new ones.
A man in a grey cloak stood alone, his eyes moving rapidly, observing everyone. Keen Observer. Leon remembered Satan's warning about that contestant.
On another side, a white-haired man with two small axes in hand smiled faintly. Thunder Strike. And nearby, an elf with a long bow on his back stood silently, his eyes narrowed toward the arena. Archer.
Leon continued observing. Forest Guardian, a woman in a green cloak. Voice, someone who never opened their mouth. Stone Sentinel, a man with stone arms. Iron Knight, a knight-like figure in full armor. Water Master, a water magic user with a blue bottle at his waist. The Swift, who moved restlessly. Fire Keeper, with small fireballs spinning in his palm.
And in the darkest corner, a white-masked contestant stood still. Not moving. Not speaking. Unaffected by the commotion around them.
Mysterious X.
Leon held his breath. There was something about that contestant's aura he couldn't explain.
"They're different," Satan whispered.
Leon nodded inwardly. "I know."
---
On the highest balcony, Zenless Mammon stood with his fan open. Beside him, Marcus Thorne—the arena owner—stood straight with his hands behind his back.
"Fifteen of the best fighters from fifteen hundred registrants," Zenless said, his eyes gleaming. "This year is more interesting than usual."
Marcus nodded. "There are some well-known names. Deathblade Dancer from the southern assassins' guild. Thunder Strike from the lightning tribe. And..." he opened the register, his eyes stopping at one name. "...Zero. No prior records. No origin. No family."
Zenless smiled. "Zero. The contestant who didn't kill a single opponent, yet still stood. Interesting."
He snapped his fan shut, his voice echoing throughout the arena.
"CONTESTANTS! LISTEN!"
All voices faded. Fifteen pairs of eyes looked up.
"You are the best of the best. From fifteen hundred registrants, only you remain. And now..." Zenless spread his fan. "You will be divided into three groups."
A large board in the center of the arena began to light up.
GROUP 1
· Zero
· Mysterious X
· Voice
· Forest Guardian
· Stone Sentinel
GROUP 2
· Wall Keeper
· Archer
· Walking Shadow
· Deathblade Dancer
· Thunder Strike
GROUP 3
· Iron Knight
· Keen Observer
· Fire Keeper
· Water Master
· The Swift
Zenless snapped his fan shut with one clap. "Group 1 will fight Group 3. The winner will face Group 2 in the finals. Simple rules: no restrictions. Survive, or make sure the others don't. The last one standing in their group will be the winner."
The crowd's cheers filled the arena.
Leon stood in place, his eyes shifting to his group members. Mysterious X in the dark corner still stood motionless. Voice showed no reaction. Forest Guardian smiled faintly. Stone Sentinel nodded toward him.
"You'll fight with them," Satan whispered.
Leon sighed. "I know."
"Alongside them."
Leon blinked. "What?"
"This is a group battle. Not individual fights. You have to cooperate with people you don't know. Or..." Satan chuckled softly. "...you could defeat them all yourself."
Leon didn't answer. From the corner of his eye, Mysterious X moved—slightly, almost imperceptibly. But enough for Leon to realize that contestant was also observing him.
---
They were given one hour to rest before the battle began. Leon stood in a corner of the corridor, checking his sword. Nearby, Forest Guardian and Voice spoke quietly. Stone Sentinel sat on the floor, eyes closed.
And Mysterious X—stood alone at the end of the corridor, their back to them all.
Leon walked closer.
"You're not getting to know the other group members?"
Mysterious X didn't answer. Didn't move.
Leon stopped a few steps behind them. "I'm Zero."
Silence. Then a soft voice from behind the white mask. "I know."
Leon blinked. That voice... unfamiliar. But there was something.
"We've never met."
"Not yet." Mysterious X turned. Behind the mask, dark eyes looked at Leon. "But I've heard about you."
Leon couldn't ask further. From the entrance, Marcus's voice echoed.
"Group 1 and Group 3. Enter the arena."
---
The sand in the arena had been replaced with fresh sand. But the smell of blood still clung, impossible to remove.
Leon stood on the left side of the arena with Mysterious X, Voice, Forest Guardian, and Stone Sentinel. On the right side, Iron Knight, Keen Observer, Fire Keeper, Water Master, and The Swift were ready.
On the balcony, Zenless raised his fan.
"BEGIN!"
Iron Knight immediately charged forward, his shield raised. "Tower Guard!" A flash of light enveloped his body, making him as hard as steel.
The Swift vanished from his spot. In an instant, he was behind Voice, his hand crackling with electricity. "Lightning Rush!" Three consecutive strikes—left, right, center. Voice dodged two, but the third struck his shoulder.
Voice winced but didn't fall. His mouth opened—and the sound that came out wasn't a scream, but a low vibration that made the air tremble. "Frozen Echo!"
The Swift slowed, his movements hampered. Voice raised his hand, gathering energy in his throat. "Sonic—"
"Shield Break!"
Iron Knight was already before Voice, his shield slamming into Voice's chest with force. Voice was thrown back, falling into the sand, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Leon moved. But before he could reach Iron Knight, something shot from the side. Fire arrows—not one, but three, launched from Fire Keeper's fingers. Leon dodged two; the third nearly grazed his shoulder.
"Fire Keeper," Satan whispered.
Leon turned. Fire Keeper stood behind Iron Knight, his fingers still glowing. Around him, Water Master began gathering water in his palms. The Swift had recovered from Voice's attack.
"We'll surround them," Iron Knight said.
But before they could move, roots suddenly erupted from the ground, wrapping around Fire Keeper and Water Master's legs. Forest Guardian raised both hands, her fingers pressed together.
"Vine Prison!"
The roots tightened, entangling Fire Keeper and Water Master in one trap. Fire Keeper growled, flames from his hands burning the roots. But for every root burned, new ones grew to replace them.
"You forgot about me," Forest Guardian said.
Iron Knight growled, his shield smashing against the roots. But Stone Sentinel was already before him. His stone fist slammed into Iron Knight's shield with force.
"Granite Fist!"
BAM! Iron Knight's shield shuddered but didn't break. Iron Knight smiled. "You'll need more than that."
He pushed his shield forward, shoving Stone Sentinel back. But Stone Sentinel didn't fall. He raised both hands, gathering energy in his stone arms.
"Mountain Breaker!"
His fist struck Iron Knight's shield with full force. CRACK! The shield cracked. Iron Knight was thrown back, tumbling across the sand.
Leon didn't waste time. He ran toward Fire Keeper—when suddenly, a shadow appeared before him. The Swift, previously hampered, had recovered.
"Lightning Kick!" The Swift's foot shot toward Leon's stomach.
Leon blocked with his arm, but the force of the kick pushed him back three steps. The Swift gave no pause. Three more kicks—left, right, left—Leon dodged, but the fourth struck his ribs.
Leon gritted his teeth. "Fast."
The Swift smiled. "I'm the fastest."
Leon didn't answer. His hand moved quickly, catching The Swift's ankle as the next kick came. "But I'm faster."
He spun his body, throwing The Swift toward Fire Keeper. Both tumbled across the sand. Fire Keeper screamed, his flames extinguished.
Leon turned. Behind him, Mysterious X stood still, not joining the fight.
"You're not going to help?"
Mysterious X didn't answer. Their eyes behind the mask observed Keen Observer, who also hadn't moved on the other side of the arena.
Leon sighed. "Fine. I'll do it myself."
---
The battle intensified.
Water Master finally cut through Forest Guardian's roots with a high-pressure water blast. "Hydro Cutter!" The water sliced through the roots like a knife. Forest Guardian was forced back, gathering new roots.
But Stone Sentinel was already before Water Master. His stone fist struck Water Master's chest. "Stone Fist!" Water Master was thrown back, falling into the sand.
Iron Knight rose, his cracked shield still in hand. "Knight's Resolve!" His armor glowed, new energy flowing into his body. He charged toward Stone Sentinel.
Leon intercepted. His sword met Iron Knight's shield. CLANG! Sparks flew.
"You're strong," Iron Knight said, his eyes narrowing. "But you can't defeat me alone."
Leon didn't answer. He pushed his sword forward, forcing Iron Knight back. But Iron Knight held firm, his feet digging into the sand.
"Shield Bash!" His shield struck Leon's chest. Leon was thrown back, falling to his knees.
But before Iron Knight could attack again, a thunderous voice shattered the air.
"SONIC BOOM!"
Voice stood behind Leon, his mouth wide open. The sound wave struck Iron Knight, hurling him into the arena wall. CRACK! The wall cracked. Iron Knight fell, unmoving.
Leon turned to Voice. "Thank you."
Voice only nodded. Blood still flowed from the corner of his mouth.
---
Now only Keen Observer remained from Group 3. Fire Keeper, Water Master, The Swift, and Iron Knight had fallen.
Leon stood before Keen Observer. Forest Guardian beside him, Stone Sentinel behind, Voice ready.
"You can't win alone," Leon said.
Keen Observer smiled faintly. "Who said I was alone?"
Suddenly, he moved. Not toward Leon—but toward Forest Guardian. Leon managed to block, but Keen Observer had already read his movement. He spun, avoiding Leon's sword, and his palm struck Forest Guardian's chest.
"Pressure Palm!"
Forest Guardian was thrown back, falling into the sand. Stone Sentinel raised his fist, but Keen Observer was already behind him, appearing from the mist, his hand pressing a point on Stone Sentinel's neck. Stone Sentinel fell, unmoving.
Voice opened his mouth, but Keen Observer had already read it. He leaped aside before the sound wave emerged, then with a swift motion, his hand touched Voice's throat. Voice went silent, his eyes wide.
"Done," Keen Observer said.
Leon stood before him, the only one left from Group 1.
"He's reading your movements," Satan whispered. "Every step, every swing, he already knows beforehand."
Leon gritted his teeth. "I know."
"Then don't move the way he expects."
Leon stopped. Closed his eyes.
Keen Observer blinked. For the first time, he couldn't read his opponent. Leon stood still, not moving, not breathing—like stone.
"You can't win by hiding," Keen Observer said.
Leon didn't answer. Still motionless.
Keen Observer moved. His right hand shot out, reading the weak point at Leon's shoulder. But as his hand was about to touch—
Leon opened his eyes.
And moved. Not left, not right—but straight, fast, without pattern. Keen Observer was startled, his body retreating. But Leon was already before him.
"You—"
Leon didn't give him time to finish. One punch to the solar plexus. Keen Observer fell, gasping.
Leon stood over him. "Done."
---
Marcus raised his hand. "GROUP 1 WINS!"
The crowd's cheers were deafening. Leon stood in the center of the arena, his breathing still steady. Beside him, Forest Guardian and Stone Sentinel had risen, Voice wiping the blood from his lips.
And Mysterious X—still standing silently in the corner of the arena. Hadn't fought, but also hadn't been hurt.
Leon looked at them. "You didn't help."
Mysterious X looked back. "You didn't need help."
Leon didn't know how to respond. But before he could speak, another voice cut in.
"Good. Very good."
Leon turned. Zenless stood at the edge of the arena, his fan open, a faint smile on his face. His eyes—not on Forest Guardian, not on Stone Sentinel—but fixed on Leon.
"Zero. You're interesting."
Leon was silent.
Zenless stepped closer. "You didn't kill. You cooperated with people you didn't know. You even..." he glanced at Keen Observer still lying on the sand. "...defeated an opponent who could read movements."
Leon remained silent.
Zenless stopped before him, his fan closing. "I like that."
He turned, walking away. "Tomorrow, the finals. Group 1 versus Group 2. Don't disappoint me, Zero."
Leon stood in place, watching Zenless's back disappear through the door.
"He's interested in you," Satan whispered.
Leon sighed. "I know."
"That could be good. Could be bad."
Leon didn't answer. From the corner of his eye, Mysterious X still stood, watching him with unreadable eyes.
=== CHAPTER 20 END ===