Born in Blood



Instantly, Liam's surroundings changed. 

How it happened was quite anticlimactic if he was honest with himself – it occurred in the blink of an eye, and there were no special effects of the sort.

A spotlight focused on Liam's figure – at the same time, the audience was basked in complete darkness, but that didn't deter Liam's sight.

Thousands and thousands of eyes scanned him thoroughly. Specifically, Liam could feel a plethora of venomous gazes coming from the Royce family booth… and for some reason, even Erivol's.

He could even see through the one-way mirror and look at Adrian's tense face, along with all his uncles and aunts staring at him with disgust.

There was one more gaze that Liam felt, but he didn't need to look at who it belonged to – Eve was probably watching with worried eyes, scared dreadful for him.

The crowd began booing, with some people throwing food and drink on the stage. Particularly, those from Erivol looked visibly enraged. 

'...Why, though? Was it the nickname?' 

Realization dawned on Liam, causing him to chuckle and shake his head behind the mask. 

'Revel, you old dog. Was this your name before you kicked the bucket?'

"Oi!" Ivan shouted, bringing Liam out of his entranced musings. "You dare ignore me, bastard?"

Liam didn't respond, unsheathing his blades and holding them passively.

Ivan growled in anger. 

Before long, the inscriptions on the arena floor started to glow, erecting a protective wall of force.

"And… begin!" 

Ivan scoffed, shooting at Liam with his body low to the ground and sabers clenched tightly.

Through the King's Eye, Liam saw how his aura grew much more powerful.

A stream of wind gathered beneath his heel, doubling his speed and pushing him forward with each swift step.

Liam tuned out the obnoxious crowd and the announcer's annoying voice from his ears.

Ivan was Richard Royce's youngest son, although older than him and his half-siblings. He was considered a 'prodigy' of sorts, since his father had trained him from a young age.

His features reminded Liam of Adrian.

A dark expression formed under the Oni mask. Liam didn't move as Ivan grew closer, standing still with his blades lowered like a statue.

Ivan was only an arm's length away from him when the grip on his katana and wakizashi tightened.

Cartilage Brace, Corroding Touch, and Lethality Mantle were activated at the same time.

Clang!

A loud metal bang echoed the air and rang, followed by gasps of shock sounding throughout the stadium.

The audience watched incredulously as Liam's blades swung vertically against Ivan's sabers and metal chest, piercing through it in one swift slash and splitting it down the waist.

The noble's inscribed sabers and armor had shattered at the same time. Shards of metal paired with streaks of blood hung in the air as he scraped across the ground.

He laid unconscious, with his face kissing the floor, his bum sticking out like a camel's hump.

A deafening silence ensued.

Even Whyte had nothing to say, and he spoke with every breath inhaled.

A devilish grin grew behind the mask as Liam's eye scoured the audience, his gaze falling on the Royce's accommodation. 

Lisa Royce, Richard Royce, and Adrian Royce – the three highest ranked members of the family – all stared at Liam, stupefied.

Liam put his index finger on the mask's lip in a shushing motion, causing them to seethe.

Ian and Elsa were watching the fight from their own rooms. They had looked up to Ivan like their own older brother, yet he was defeated with a single move.

A tiny spark of fear in their hearts gradually grew, steadily consuming them from within.

Meanwhile, the Yin & Yang Sisters descended from the floating platform and inspected Ivan's state, covering him in a small black and white handkerchief cloth that healed his chest gash.

Their eyes fell on Liam to assess him for wounds, but the latter had already started to head off stage.

A delayed booing followed, with hysteric and demeaning chants.

"Cheating pig!"

"He's using pills! The nerve of this peasant!"

"Someone unmask him so we can see how ugly he is!"

Yet to Liam, their utterings were meaningless.

Whyte jolted from his stupor and shook his head.

"The win goes to William, the Blood Demon!"

Liam went past the tunnel and entered his room, instantly inspecting the state of his blades.

The frail katana and wakizashi were both riddled with cracks, yet Liam was thankful to have such a thoughtful forge master – he still had eight blades remaining.

'There's still a long time until I get done with all of these. As long as I don't use their special ability, that is.'

Using his spare time, he began cultivating and nourishing his mental energy. 

Before long, the TV in Liam's room flickered on, and Whyte regained his lost composure.

"Noble guests! The next series of bouts will begin after a short break! From 24 contenders, 12 remain!"

As midnight came to pass, the stadium walls started to rumble and shake. Stone grinded against stone, as a large see-through dome started to cover the colosseum's top.

On the colosseum's furthest wall, a larger and much bigger 'TV' screen revealed itself. It flickered with lights dancing on its surface, displaying the brackets with the remaining fighters.

Liam's eye fell on his next opponent.

It was Jacob Ovlar.

Most of the remaining contenders were powerful enough for Liam to fight seriously.

'I'm still above them mental wise. They just have more abilities.'

Like usual, the second half started.

The fights were much more difficult and dragged out for longer too, since the contenders were facing much stronger opponents.

At the same time, Liam had the chance to witness much more spells and techniques. Through the King's Eye, he could even see mental attacks being used, letting him know who to be careful of.

Although Liam would've loved to go against him, Ian failed to advance to the next bracket… but Elsa managed to win, only by the skin of her teeth.

After a whole two hours, Liam's turn to fight came.